Pécs

Széchenyi Square is the open-air living room of Pécs: a wide, paved pedestrian square with the domed former mosque in the centre, the 1907 Town Hall with its tall tower on the Király Street side, a Holy Trinity column and a bronze equestrian statue of János Hunyadi. Cafes and restaurants spread their terraces over the square in warm months, and the Zsolnay fountain with its ox-head spouts is on the southern part. It is lovely in the morning and again in the evening, and in winter it hosts the Advent market. Everything in the old centre is a short walk away; from the main railway station follow the pedestrian streets north for about 15 minutes.

Free

Built by the Ottomans in the 16th century and turned into a Catholic church after their departure, this is the symbol of Pécs and the largest surviving Ottoman building in Hungary. Inside you see a mihrab niche, Arabic inscriptions and Islamic geometric patterns beside Christian altars and paintings. The entrance is at Széchenyi tér 20, right on the square, so it is easy to fit between a coffee and a stroll. A combined ticket with the Cathedral saves money if you plan to see both. Services take place in the church, so a short part of it may be closed at times; no booking is needed.

Adults 1,900 HUF; combined ticket with the Cathedral 3,200 HUF

The four-towered cathedral dominates Cathedral Square and its present neo-Romanesque look dates from a 19th-century reconstruction, with vivid wall paintings and a medieval crypt below. The visit includes the cathedral interior; the south-east tower offers a view over the roofs of Pécs. Entrance is at Dóm tér 2, about a 10 minute walk from Széchenyi tér, and the combined ticket with the Mosque of Pasha Qasim is cheaper than buying both. Opening hours are slightly shorter on Fridays and Sundays, and there are masses in the afternoon and evening, so go in the morning.

Adults 2,800 HUF, reduced 2,200 HUF, family ticket 5,600 HUF

The late Roman cemetery of Sopianae, the predecessor of Pécs, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000. The burial chambers with their 4th-century wall paintings lie under Cathedral Square, and the modern Cella Septichora visitor centre takes you down to them with an exhibition about the Roman town. Plan about an hour, and note that museums in Hungary are usually closed on Mondays. It sits on the same square as the Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace, so combine them in one morning.

Paid entry; current fees are on the official site

The square is the spiritual centre of Pécs and a calm contrast to busy Széchenyi tér. From here you see the four towers of the Cathedral, the Bishop's Palace and the entrance to the Cella Septichora visitor centre, reached from a promenade on the upper part of the square. It is a good spot for photos in the late afternoon light. It is about a 10 minute walk from Széchenyi tér along Janus Pannonius Street, and it is free to wander at any time.

Free

The Bishop's Palace stands next to the Cathedral at Szent István tér 2. To the left of its entrance, on a symbolic balcony, is a plate sculpture of Franz Liszt by Imre Varga, recalling Liszt's visit to Pécs on 24 October 1846 as the bishop's guest; the figure faces the Cathedral. This is an exterior stop that takes minutes, so combine it with the Cathedral and the Early Christian Necropolis. The treasury in Káptalan utca (listed separately) is a different venue.

Free to view from outside

This is the Zsolnay fountain, a decorative well from the famous Pécs ceramics factory, on the southern part of Széchenyi Square. Water flows from ox-head spouts into an arc-shaped basin, and the fountain is a nice stop for a photo of Pécs's ceramics heritage before you visit the Zsolnay Quarter itself. It takes a couple of minutes and is part of the square, so there is nothing to book.

Free

The synagogue at Kossuth tér 1, a short walk from Széchenyi tér, can be visited for a small fee on weekdays and Sundays; it is closed on Saturdays. It is listed as welcoming visitors between 1 May and 31 October, so outside those months check at the tourist office before you go. Allow around 20 minutes. The entry is cheap, which makes it an easy extra if you want to see the Jewish heritage of Pécs.

Adults 500 HUF, reduced 300 HUF (2026)

The Barbican is a round Gothic gate tower that once guarded the Bishop's Palace and was built around 1498 against the expected Ottoman threat. You can see the moat, the arrow-slit corridor and the cables of the drawbridge, and in the garden stands Miklós Borsos's statue of the poet Janus Pannonius with an almond tree. A stretch of the wall is preserved beside the tower, and climbing to the top is encouraged for the view. It is a few minutes' walk from the Cathedral and open daily from 07:00 to 18:00.

Free to see from the garden and walls

Király utca leads west from Széchenyi tér and is the everyday shopping and cafe street of the old town. The Town Hall's tall tower faces the street, and its length gives you a relaxed walk with plenty of places for coffee, cake or a quick lunch. It is a natural link between the main square and the western parts of the old town, free to walk at any time.

Free

Pécs has more Ottoman buildings than any other city in Central Europe, and this mosque at Rákóczi út 2 is a fine intact example, with its minaret and an exhibition about Ottoman times. The ticket also covers the Türbe of Idris Baba. Hours change through the year: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:00 from 1 October to 15 November, only Friday to Sunday from 15 November to 10 January (other days by appointment), Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:00 until 15 March, and then 10:00-18:00 until 30 September. It is closed Mondays and is a 10 minute walk from Széchenyi tér.

Adults 1,000 HUF, reduced 500 HUF

The mausoleum of the Zsolnay family is part of the quarter and shows the ceramics of the factory used for a very personal monument. It is a short, quiet visit. The ticket costs 2,500 HUF for full price. In winter (from 2 November 2026) it is open Thursday to Saturday 10:00-12:00, 13:00-14:00 and 15:00-17:00, and on Sunday with the last block ending at 16:00; it is closed 24-26 December and 1 January.

Full price 2,500 HUF (official site, 2026)

This small church at Tettye utca 14 is open to visitors only on Thursdays between 16:00 and 17:00 (Thursday mass is at 19:00), so it works only if you time your Tettye walk for that hour. It is close to the Tettye plateau, so the two combine well. No admission price is listed. Outside the visiting hour, the exterior is still pretty.

No admission fee listed

The Treasury at Káptalan utca 6 shows church art and valuables of the Diocese of Pécs and is visited on a guided tour that starts at 11:30 every day and lasts about an hour. Because of the single daily tour, arrive a few minutes early; it fits naturally into a morning on Cathedral Square and the street of museums. The ticket costs more than most museums here (3,600 HUF), so it suits visitors who enjoy church treasures.

Adults 3,600 HUF, reduced 2,900 HUF, family 7,200 HUF (2026)

A compact museum devoted to Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka, whose large, intensely coloured landscapes and symbolic scenes made him one of Hungary's best-loved modern painters. It fits well if you like modern or unusual art rather than classical museums; allow about 45 minutes. The address is Janus Pannonius utca 11, a short walk from Széchenyi tér toward the Cathedral. The museum is closed on Mondays, and the second Sunday of the month is free for visitors under 26 with up to two relatives under 18.

Adults 3,000 HUF, reduced 1,500 HUF (official site, 2026)

A museum of the op-art pioneer Victor Vasarely, born in Pécs, in a building on the 'street of museums'. Optical illusions and bright geometric canvases make it one of the more playful museums in town, and 2026 is Vasarely's memorial year in Pécs. The address is Káptalan utca 3; it is closed on Mondays. Combine it with the Zsolnay Museum at number 2 on the same street.

Adults 3,000 HUF, reduced 1,500 HUF (official site, 2026)

This branch of the Janus Pannonius Museum shows Zsolnay porcelain and ceramics in the historic house at Káptalan utca 2, making a good first look before the factory quarter outside the centre. Expect vases, tableware and pieces with the famous eosin glaze. It is on the 'street of museums' beside the Vasarely Museum and is closed on Mondays. If you plan the Zsolnay Quarter as well, pick one of the two as a main visit.

Adults 3,000 HUF, reduced 1,500 HUF (official site, 2026)

A gallery of 20th-century Hungarian art on Papnövelde utca 5, a good fit if you prefer modern art to old masters. Allow about 45 minutes. It is closed on Mondays and, in addition, on 27 October 2026. The fourth Sunday of the month is free for visitors under 26 with up to two accompanying relatives under 18.

Adults 3,000 HUF, reduced 1,500 HUF (official site, 2026)

The Gyugyi Collection at Felsővámház utca 52 shows Zsolnay ceramics from the factory's heyday, with the shimmering eosin glaze and fine porcelain. It is the main indoor exhibition in the quarter. Hours: until 1 November the exhibitions open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-18:00; from 2 November 2026 they open Thursday to Sunday only (10:00-17:00, Sunday until 16:00). It is closed 24-26 December and 1 January. The price is 3,500 HUF for adults; check the quarter's webshop for the current price list.

Adults 3,500 HUF (official site, 2026)

This exhibition tells the story of the Zsolnay family and their factory, which made Pécs ceramics famous across Europe. It is a good complement to the Gyugyi Collection if you want the history behind the objects. The full price is 2,500 HUF and students and pensioners pay 1,900 HUF. Hours follow the quarter's schedule: Tuesday to Sunday until 1 November, then winter hours from 2 November 2026 (Thursday to Sunday to be safe); it is closed 24-26 December and 1 January.

Full price 2,500 HUF, reduced 1,900 HUF (official site, 2026)

The planetarium in the Zsolnay Quarter has an eight-metre dome and shows audio presentations on space and science, plus virtual journeys through time and space. It runs to a schedule, so check the show times on the quarter's website before you plan the day; shows are in Hungarian unless you book a foreign-language group show. Buses 4 and 4Y go to the Zsolnay Quarter, about 50 metres from the stop.

Full price 1,300 HUF, reduced 1,000 HUF (higher in July-August)

Bóbita is a puppet theatre founded in 1961 with a puppet museum in three halls where children can handle historic puppets. A performance ticket (1,500 HUF) includes admission to the museum. Performances are in Hungarian and are aimed at children, so check the programme and times on the theatre's page before you go; it is closed on Sundays. It is in the Zsolnay Quarter on Felsővámház utca 50.

Performance 1,500 HUF per person, includes the puppet museum

Pécs Zoo opened in 1960 on the Mecsek hills above the city and reopened in 2016 after reconstruction, with the aquarium-terrarium moved onto the grounds. It is one of the smaller Hungarian zoos on about 3.5 hectares, which makes it manageable for toddlers and a 5-year-old in a couple of hours. The address is Ángyán János utca 1; a car or taxi is easiest, and city buses climb into the hills from the centre. The ticket is 4,500 HUF for adults and children aged 3 to 14 pay 3,200 HUF.

Adults 4,500 HUF, children 3-14 3,200 HUF, under 3 300 HUF (2026)

The 197-metre TV tower on Misina peak is the tallest structure in Hungary, with a public observation deck at 75 metres and a restaurant just below. The view covers Pécs and the plain to the south, and on a clear day you can see far across the region. Adult tickets are 1,590 HUF and children aged 4-14 pay 1,000 HUF. Take city bus 35 or 35Y up into the hills (there is free parking by the tower); go on a clear day, as clouds hide the view.

Adults 1,590 HUF, children 4-14 1,000 HUF (2026)

Tettye is a 4.5-hectare park on a plateau at the foot of the Mecsek hills, with the ruins of a 16th-century summer palace that hosts an open-air theatre in summer. The Tettye lime-tuff cave has an interactive exhibition, and nearby Mount Havi has limestone cliffs and a Baroque chapel. It is open all day; take bus 33 from the main railway station or walk up from the centre. It is a restful green stop for a family on foot.

Plateau and ruins free; the cave exhibition has its own ticket

From the Tettye plateau you can continue on foot to Mount Havi, which has limestone cliffs and a Baroque chapel, and further into the forests of the Mecsek hills. This is a free outdoor option for a nice day, and it can be as short or as long as you like. Wear proper shoes, as forest paths are uneven, and take bus 33 to Tettye to start. There are no entry fees.

Free

The National Theatre of Pécs is a landmark building on Színház tér, within a few minutes' walk of Széchenyi tér. Visit the exterior as a quick photo stop, and if you want to see a performance check the programme and buy tickets on the theatre's own website; performances are mostly in Hungarian. Since opening times depend on the performance, treat this as a quick look rather than a planned visit.

Free to view from outside; performance tickets vary

The Zsolnay factory, famous for its colourful ceramics, grew into a cultural quarter with exhibitions, the Gyugyi Collection, a planetarium, the Lab with hands-on experiments, a chocolate and sweet shop, playgrounds, a bird-friendly garden and the Bóbita puppet theatre. The grounds are free to walk (06:00-21:00 daily); individual exhibitions have their own tickets. City bus 4 or 4Y runs here from the main railway station. In winter the quarter hosts an evening light park, and from 2 November 2026 most exhibitions are open Thursday to Sunday only, so plan a Thursday to Sunday visit then.

Grounds free; exhibitions have separate tickets (e.g. Gyugyi Collection 3,500 HUF) (official site, 2026)