Things to do in Pécs – 10 tips in southern Hungary

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Pécs in southern Hungary was a city we had barely heard of before we came here. It was all the more fun to discover a city with Roman remains, Ottoman history, grand churches, beautiful squares and colorful ceramics. Here we give you tips on things to see and do in Pécs, with both our own experiences and things we would have liked to have discovered.

Things to do in Pecs

Pécs is located in southern Hungary, relatively close to the border with Croatia. The city was called Sopianae during Roman times and has been influenced by many different cultures and religions over the centuries. It is home to an early Christian world heritage site, relics from the Ottoman era and the legacy of the famous Zsolnay pottery family.

In 2010, Pécs was one of the European Capitals of Culture. Culture remains an important part of the city's identity, but Pécs is also a fairly easy city to explore on foot. Many of the main attractions are located in or near the city center.

When we arrived here we had almost no expectations at all. It turned out to be a pretty good way to experience Pécs. We were surprised by how much there was to discover.

1. Start at Széchenyi Square

Széchenyi Square, Széchenyi tér in Hungarian, is the city's large central square and a good place to start your exploration. Surrounded by stately buildings, restaurants and cafés, the square is close to several of Pécs' most important attractions.

The square also features the decorative Zsolnay Fountain, which is a nod to the city's famous pottery production. But it's another building that's the hardest to miss.

2. See the mosque that became a church

In the middle of Széchenyi Square stands a building that at first glance looks like a mosque. And it used to be.

The Gázi Kászim Pasha Mosque was built during the Ottoman period in the 16th century. After the Ottomans left the city, the building was converted into a Catholic church. Today, Christian symbols coexist with clear traces of Muslim history.

The mix of different historical and religious layers is one of the most fascinating things about Pécs. It becomes very clear here that the city has changed both rulers and identity many times over the centuries.

3. Visit the Cathedral of Pécs

Another building that impressed us was the great cathedral, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. The church's history stretches back a long way, although the building has been altered and rebuilt several times over the centuries.

Of course we went in and had a look. The interior is at least as grand as the exterior, with paintings, decorations and high arches.

We also went up to see Pécs from above. From here you get a completely different perspective of the city, with rooftops, churches and the green surroundings around Pécs.

4. Discover Pécs' World Heritage Site Underground

One of the most historically interesting sights in Pécs is located underground. During Roman times, the city was called Sopianae, and in the 4th century, an early Christian cemetery was established here.

The burial chambers still contain paintings with Christian motifs, and both underground burial chambers and remains of a memorial chapel have been preserved. The area is so special that the early Christian necropolis has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000.

A good starting point for discovering the remains is the Cella Septichora Visitor Centre. A total of 16 monuments are included in the World Heritage Site itself, while significantly more tombs have been found in the area.

We saw Roman remains during our visit to Pécs, but today we definitely would have liked to spend more time on this part of the city's history.

5. Stroll through the historic city center

Pécs is a city that is great for just strolling around. Outside the major sights, pedestrian streets, smaller squares, old houses and outdoor cafes await. It is also on the walks that you see more traces of the city's different eras. Roman, Christian, Ottoman and Central European are layer upon layer.

When we were here we actually got some help with transportation. We tried Segway for the first time in our lives and went on a guided tour through Pécs. At first I thought it was really hard, while some others in the group were obviously ”natural born segwayers”. But eventually I got the hang of it too and it was so much fun.

Whether Segway is the best way to discover Pécs today remains to be seen. But for us it was a very fun way to get to know the city.

6. Discover the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter

One area that is really worth spending time in is the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter. This was once the site of the Zsolnay family's famous pottery factory, which became of great importance to Pécs and made the city's ceramics known far beyond Hungary.

Today, the old factory area has been transformed into a large cultural district. Here, among other things, there are exhibitions about the family and factory history, ceramics, art, the Zsolnay Mausoleum and various cultural activities.

The area itself is also an experience with its special buildings, decorations and colorful details. You can walk around the public areas of the cultural quarter without an entrance fee, while museums and other attractions have separate tickets.

When we visited Zsolnay, we had time to look at the porcelain and eat a fantastic four-course dinner. One of our party named the dessert the best she had ever eaten. That can still be considered a pretty good rating.

7. Look for Zsolnay ceramics

After visiting the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, you will easily start to notice ceramics in more places in Pécs.

The Zsolnay factory was founded in the 19th century and became internationally known for its art ceramics and special glazes. The ceramics were also used as decoration on buildings, not only in Pécs but in many other places in the then Austria-Hungary.

If you want to delve further, there is also the Zsolnay Museum in central Pécs. But even without a museum visit, you can keep your eyes open for Zsolnay details as you move through the city.

8. Go down to a champagne cellar

Pécs doesn't just have history underground. It also has old wine cellars. We visited the Littke Pezsgőház, whose history dates back to 1859. Beneath the building is an extensive multi-level cellar system, where sparkling wine has been stored.

In Hungarian, sparkling wine is called champagne. Champagne, on the other hand, is a protected designation for sparkling wine from Champagne in France. Of course we were going to try some pezsgő when we were here. It went like this… The pezsgő was gone.

Instead, we got to try another sparkling wine and a white chardonnay, so no major disaster befell us after all. We generally remember the Hungarian white wines as very pleasant.

Littke's historic cellars still exist and are used for visits and events, among other things. Check current visit opportunities in advance if you want to go down into the cellar system.

9. Try the food and drinks in Pécs

Our trip to Pécs included a lot of food and drink. In addition to wine tasting and a nice dinner at Zsolnay, we had time for beers from microbreweries and a hearty dose of Balkan food.

During one of our restaurant visits, cevapcici, pljeskavica, sausages, bread and ajvar landed on the table along with various types of beer. It was hardly a dinner you would leave hungry.

The restaurant scene changes over time, of course, so our old restaurant visits should be seen primarily as part of the story of our trip. But Pécs' location in southern Hungary and proximity to the Villány wine region still make food and drink an enjoyable part of a visit.

10. See Pécs from above

We saw Pécs from above at the cathedral, but those who want to go even higher can head up towards the Mecsek Mountains north of the city center.

Here is the Pécs TV Tower, which rises on Misina and offers views of the city and the surrounding landscape. It is a good extra tip for those who have more than one day in Pécs and want to combine the urban environment with slightly greener surroundings.

We didn't have time to do this during our trip. Next time we would have loved to go up here, not least to see all of Pécs and the landscape around the city from above.

More to see and do in Pecs

If you have more time, there are additional attractions and excursion destinations in and around the city.

• Vasarely Museum: Victor Vasarely was born in Pécs and became one of the most famous exponents of op art. The museum displays works by the artist.
• Bishop's Palace: The historic palace is located next to the cathedral and belongs to the religious and historical area around Szent István tér.
• Barbican: A preserved part of the city's medieval fortifications and another place for those who like history.
• Tettye: A greener area north of the city center with ruins, walking opportunities and views.
• Villany: South of Pécs lies one of Hungary's most famous wine regions. We visited Villány during the same trip and of course sampled some of the local wine.

Is Pecs worth a visit?

We definitely think so. Perhaps because we had barely heard of Pécs before the trip, we were especially pleasantly surprised.

This is not a city where a single world-famous attraction takes all the attention. Instead, it is the combination that makes Pécs interesting: Roman tombs underground, Ottoman traces, large churches, Zsolnay ceramics, food, wine and a city center that is pleasant to just walk around.

And of course we like destinations that can still surprise a little. Pécs did that.

Travelling by motorhome to Pécs?

We travelled without a motorhome this time and have not had time to test any campsites or pitches, but there is a campsite in Harkány (Termal Kemping), which has been scouted out. The campsite looked relatively ordinary and nice, in a green and leafy area.

More to see and do in Hungary

Pécs is a great place to combine with other experiences in southern Hungary. Not far from here is the Villány wine region, where we have also traveled around and tasted Hungarian wines.

Further north, of course, Budapest awaits with its attractions, thermal baths, restaurants and cafes. We have traveled to Hungary several times and have collected our reports and guides from the country for those who want to discover more.

• Things to do in Budapest
• Tata
• Wine regions Villány