Baranya, southern Hungary · Hungary
A sunny southern city with Roman tombs, a mosque-turned-church, a four-towered cathedral and the colourful Zsolnay ceramic quarter.
Photo: Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pécs is a city of about 140,000 people at the foot of the Mecsek hills in southern Hungary, and it has one of the mildest climates in the country. It has been settled since Roman times, when it was called Sopianae, and its layers of history are unusually visible: Roman-era Christian tombs, a medieval cathedral, an Ottoman mosque, and Art Nouveau ceramics from the Zsolnay factory.
The most famous building is the Mosque-Church of Pasha Gazi Kasim on Széchenyi Square, built in the 16th century during the Ottoman occupation and later converted into a Catholic church, with Islamic prayer niche and Christian symbols side by side. Nearby, the four-towered cathedral is a neo-Romanesque giant, and the Early Christian Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains painted burial chambers from the 4th century.
The Zsolnay Cultural Quarter celebrates the local porcelain, with its shimmering eosin-glazed tiles visible on rooftops across the city. Pécs was European Capital of Culture in 2010, and has good cafés, museums and a warm, unhurried feel. To the south, the Villány wine region produces some of Hungary's best reds. Two days is ideal.
Why visit
Pécs is a layered, sunny city with a fine cultural life and few tourists.
A relic of Ottoman rule.
UNESCO-listed and painted.
Colourful and iridescent.
Villány reds.
Mild climate.
Main attractions
Sights are close together in the compact centre.
A 16th-century Ottoman mosque, now a Catholic church, with Islamic architecture and Christian symbols.
Tip Look inside.
A grand cathedral with four towers and a dazzling interior, largely rebuilt in the 19th century.
Tip Visit the square.
UNESCO-listed 4th-century burial chambers, with wall paintings.
Tip Book a guided visit.
The former porcelain factory, now museums and cafés.
Tip Look at the tiles.
The main pedestrian square, with cafés and fountains.
Tip Good for people-watching.
Forests and viewpoints above the city.
Tip Take a bus.
Things to do
Pécs is for wandering and tasting.
Ceramics and museums.
Tip Allow half a day.
A guided look.
Tip Limited slots.
Red wines.
Tip Book a tasting.
Trails.
Tip Take water.
On Széchenyi tér.
Tip Try cakes.
Art and archaeology.
Tip Buy a combined ticket.
Local food
Pécs food is southern Hungarian, with rich wines.
Cabernet Franc and blends.
Where to try it Wine cellars.
Southern-style halászlé.
Where to try it Restaurants.
Local sweets.
Where to try it Cafés.
Paprika stew.
Where to try it Restaurants.
Fruit brandy.
Where to try it Bars.
Accommodation
Stay in the centre.
Transport
Pécs is in the south.
The centre is walkable.
When to go
Pécs is the warmest part of Hungary.
Blooming and mild.
Hot.
Harvest.
Mild but grey.
Worth planning around: Hot July afternoons.
Itinerary
Historic sights and ceramics.
Mosque and cathedral.
Zsolnay and Villány.
Travel tips
A few tips help you plan.
FAQ
Yes.
About 3 hours.
An Ottoman mosque now used as a church.
A famous local ceramic.
Spring or autumn.
Two.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Pécs, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Transdanubia, western Hungary, Hungary
A 77-km-long lake with the Tihany Peninsula, Badacsony's basalt hills and wine, Balatonfüred's promenade and the Festetics Palace at Keszthely, popular for swimming, sailing and wine.
Don't miss Tihany Abbey on its peninsula above the lake at sunset, with lavender fields in July.
Explore Destination — Lake BalatonCsongrád-Csanád, southern Hungary, Hungary
A lively southern city rebuilt after a great flood in 1879, with the Votive Church, Reök Palace, riverside promenades, halászlé fish soup and Szeged paprika and salami.
Don't miss The Votive Church's twin spires above Dóm Square, the heart of the city.
Explore Destination — SzegedCentral Hungary, on the Danube, Hungary
Hungary's capital, with the Parliament, Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion, Széchenyi thermal baths, the Great Market Hall, ruin bars and Danube views.
Don't miss The Parliament building lit up on the Danube at night, seen from a river cruise or the Buda bank.
Explore Destination — BudapestRead next
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