5 Best Synagogues in Sydney (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Fenris Morrow, Expert in Professional Services · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

Sydney's Jewish community spans from the heritage sandstone of the Great Synagogue across the road from Hyde Park to a small Chabad house steps from Bondi Beach, Orthodox, Modern Orthodox, and Reform traditions among them. Public reviews for these synagogues in Sydney are modest, 287 in total, and the most-reviewed carries just 101, so what follows leans on what little public record exists alongside a respectful look at each congregation.

Short answer: The Great Synagogue, opposite Hyde Park in the CBD, holds the highest review volume among Sydney's synagogues at 101 Google reviews and a 4.3 rating. The Central Synagogue in Bondi Junction (4.7, 60 reviews) and Chabad of Bondi (4.8, 35 reviews) carry stronger average ratings on smaller review bases. All five welcome visitors free of charge, though most ask for advance registration.

Jump to a business

1. The Great Synagogue
2. The Central Synagogue
3. Emanuel Synagogue
4. Chabad of Bondi
5. Newtown Synagogue
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Sydney's Synagogues Compared

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	The Great Synagogue	4.3 ★	101	Overall, history and tours	View ›
2	The Central Synagogue	4.7 ★	60	Modern Orthodox services and choir	View ›
3	Emanuel Synagogue	4.4 ★	61	Reform, inclusive community	View ›
4	Chabad of Bondi	4.8 ★	35	Visiting travelers and outreach	View ›
5	Newtown Synagogue	4.6 ★	30	Small, close-knit community	View ›

Each synagogue, up close

#1 Overall🕑 Open 5 days/wk

The Great Synagogue

4.3101 Google reviews

The Great Synagogue sits across from Hyde Park in the Sydney CBD and serves as an Orthodox congregation with a long teaching role in the wider community, regularly hosting school groups studying religion for the HSC curriculum. Visitors can join guided tours of the sanctuary, a heritage building whose interior draws consistent praise for its architecture and craftsmanship.

What people praise

Architecture and interior described as beautiful and historically significant
Guided tours valued by school groups and general visitors alike
Staff and volunteers described as knowledgeable and engaging
A meaningful stop for anyone studying comparative religion or Australian Jewish history

Reputation scorecardrank in Sydney

Rating4.3 / 5

Review volume101 · 98th

Confidenceearly

Recency6 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown72% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Its 101 reviews are the highest volume among Sydney's synagogues here, though its 4.3 average is the most modest, still a well-regarded, historically significant landmark for the community.

Website +61292672477 Directions

166 Castlereagh St, Sydney NSW 2000

#2🕑 Open 5 days/wk

The Central Synagogue

4.760 Google reviews

The Central Synagogue in Bondi Junction anchors Modern Orthodox Jewish life on Sydney's eastern side, running a full weekly schedule of Shacharit, Mincha, and Shabbat services alongside youth and young-adult programs through Central Youth and Hineni. Reviewers describe it as one of the largest synagogues in the region, with a chazan-led service and choir for Shabbat.

What people praise

Chazan and choir praised for Shabbat services
Welcoming to visiting families and travelers
Strong sense of community across generations
Well-run youth and young-adult programming

Reputation scorecardrank in Sydney

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume60 · 88th

Confidenceearly

Recency5 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown87% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: At 4.7 across 60 reviews, it holds the strongest rating among Sydney's larger synagogues, on a moderate but building review base.

Website +61293554000 Directions

15 Bon Accord Ave, Bondi Junction NSW 2022

#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Emanuel Synagogue

4.461 Google reviews

Emanuel Synagogue in Woollahra serves Sydney's Reform Jewish community from a recently renovated main sanctuary alongside a separate 1950s-era building used for community events. It presents itself as an inclusive, modern congregation, welcoming visitors curious about Judaism as well as its regular members.

What people praise

Described as inclusive and welcoming to visitors of any background
Modern, contemporary sanctuary praised alongside the renovated seating
Rabbis noted as approachable and engaging
Valued for meeting the needs of a wide variety of family types

Reputation scorecardrank in Sydney

Rating4.4 / 5

Review volume61 · 93th

Confidenceearly

Recency6 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown77% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Its 61 reviews sit close to The Central Synagogue's, with a slightly lower 4.4 average, still a solidly regarded community synagogue in the eastern suburbs.

Website +61293896444 Directions

7 Ocean St, Woollahra NSW 2025

#4🕑 Open 4 days/wk

Chabad of Bondi

4.835 Google reviews

Chabad of Bondi serves the Bondi Beach area with a mix of local community programming and outreach to international Jewish visitors and travelers passing through the beachside suburb. It keeps a more limited public schedule than the larger synagogues here, in keeping with its role as a smaller, community-focused Chabad house.

What people praise

Warmth and hospitality repeatedly praised by visiting travelers
Rabbi described as knowledgeable and welcoming
Valued as a gathering point for the local and visiting Jewish community
A meaningful stop for international visitors far from home

Reputation scorecardrank in Sydney

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume35 · 83th

Confidenceearly

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown89% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Its 4.8 average is the highest among Sydney's synagogues, though its 35 reviews are the smallest base here, a strong but still-developing public track record.

Website +61293652777 Directions

105a Wellington St, Bondi Beach NSW 2026

#5🕑 Open 2 days/wk

Newtown Synagogue

4.630 Google reviews

Newtown Synagogue, known locally as the Friendly Shul, serves Sydney's Inner West with Friday evening and Saturday morning services followed by communal meals. First-time visitors are asked to contact the synagogue in advance to complete a security screening form before attending.

What people praise

Warmly described as a welcoming, tight-knit community
Weekly communal dinners and Kiddush lunches valued by regular attendees
Rabbi and his family noted for making newcomers feel at home
A meaningful, low-key alternative to the larger synagogues in the east

Reputation scorecardrank in Sydney

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume30 · 78th

Confidenceearly

Recencyabout a year ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown87% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Its 30 reviews are the smallest on this list, and its 4.6 average reflects a small but consistently well-regarded community synagogue rather than a major visitor destination.

Website +61295501192 Directions

20 Georgina St, Newtown NSW 2042

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How this list is ordered

We weigh two public Google signals together: the average rating and how many people left one, so a strong rating built on more reviews outranks a similar rating from a handful of visitors. Recency factors in too, whether people are still reviewing a place today. No synagogue can pay to appear higher on this list or change these numbers.

What visiting costs

Entry to every synagogue on this list is free. Most ask first-time visitors to register in advance for a security screening, standard practice at Jewish institutions worldwide, and guided tours, like those at The Great Synagogue, are typically arranged ahead of time rather than on the spot.

Where to find them

The Great Synagogue sits in the CBD opposite Hyde Park, while The Central Synagogue and Chabad of Bondi cover the eastern suburbs around Bondi Junction and Bondi Beach. Emanuel Synagogue serves Woollahra, and Newtown Synagogue anchors the Inner West. Between them, a synagogue near me in Sydney usually means a short trip east or west of the CBD.

What to know before you visit

Do I need to register or complete a security screening in advance?
Is there a dress code for visitors, especially for services?
Are guided tours available, and do they need to be booked ahead?
Is photography allowed inside the sanctuary?
What identification should I bring?
Are visitors welcome at Friday night or Saturday morning services, or only at set tour times?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Order comes from public Google ratings weighted by review volume. A synagogue can never pay to move up this list or change another’s score.

How did you choose these synagogues?

We compared every synagogue in Sydney with a meaningful public review history, then ranked them by rating weighted against review volume.

How often is this updated?

This page reflects Google data verified in July 2026, and we revisit it as ratings and review counts change.

Do I need to be Jewish to visit?

No. Several synagogues here, including The Great Synagogue and Emanuel Synagogue, regularly welcome visitors of any background, though advance registration and security screening apply.

Is there an admission fee?

No. Entry is free at every synagogue on this list; donations are voluntary.

The bottom line

The Great Synagogue is the easiest starting point for most visitors: it’s the most reviewed, offers regular tours, and sits right in the CBD. If you’re after a smaller, more intimate community, Chabad of Bondi or Newtown Synagogue are both warmly regarded. Whichever you pick, register ahead, since every synagogue here takes security seriously.

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