Pécs in 2 days
Day one is the centre around Széchenyi Square, day two the Zsolnay Quarter and the Csontváry Museum — both routes take two to three hours on foot, leaving room for a day trip or a closer gem.
- How long
- 2 days
- Getting around
- On foot
- Book ahead
- No need
This plan follows the side of town, not a list of sights: day one is the old centre around Széchenyi Square, day two the Zsolnay Quarter and the Csontváry Museum, a little further from the core. Arriving via Budapest usually means reaching Pécs only by evening — so the plan starts the next morning.
Pécs has no airport of its own — arriving from abroad usually means landing in Budapest first.
The centre: from Széchenyi Square to the necropolis
Széchenyi Square, the main square — free, with the Mosque on one side and a street running straight to the Cathedral on the other.
Mosque of Pasha Qasim, the largest mosque ever built in Hungary, now a Catholic church, open Mon–Sat 9–17, Sun 13–17; entry €4.14.
The Cathedral, with four towers visible across the centre; a visit takes 30 min (minimum). Entry €9.93.
Lunch: goulash soup for €6.62 or pork pörkölt for €6.07.
The Early Christian Necropolis (Cella Septichora), the underground burial chambers of Roman Sopianae from the 4th century. Entry €10.76; the same ticket opens the other two sites the next day.
The Zsolnay Quarter and the Csontváry Museum
Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, the former porcelain factory, now museums, studios and the m21 gallery; a visit takes 1–2 h, free (grounds); Heritage ticket €33.11.
Csontváry Museum, on the way back towards the centre — the largest collection of Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka's paintings, open Tue–Sun 10–18 with entry €8.28 (closed Monday).
Lunch downtown, €6.07–8.28 for a main course.
The afternoon is a choice: half a day on the Villány wine road, or a shorter walk to the Tettye Ruins, a gem with a viewpoint above the city.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
How many days do you need for Pécs?
One day covers the old centre; a second adds the Zsolnay Quarter, the Csontváry Museum and a day trip or a gem closer to town.
How do you get to Pécs?
Via Budapest — bus 100E to central Budapest, MÁV InterCity train to Pécs, 3 h 10–4 h 05, €6.90 (bus) + from €9 (train).
Does one ticket cover all three necropolis sites?
Yes — the Világörökség ticket opens Cella Septichora, the Early Christian Mausoleum and the site at Apáca utca 8.
Ready for Pécs?
Where to next
Day trips from Pécs
→The Villány wine road, the fortress at Siklós, the spa at Harkány and the Abaliget cave — all four fit into…
Lake Balaton · 102 km
→Central Europe's largest lake, with a north shore for wine and abbeys and a south shore for sandy beaches — plus one day to spare for the hills above the water.
How well does Pécs suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
Front row for the next trip
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