By air
Budapest (BUD), ~2.5 h
Europe · Hungary
Pécs, Hungary
Early-Christian tombs and a mosque-church
Getting there
Best time to visit
April to October — mild
Don't miss
The Mosque of Pasha Qasim
The Cathedral
The Early Christian Necropolis
Széchenyi Square
Things to do
The Early Christian Necropolis
The Mosque Church
The Mediterranean-style squares
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Elekes Andor · CC BY 4.0
What to pack
Walking shoes
A quieter corner
The Zsolnay Cultural Quarter
Questions travellers ask
How far is Pécs from Budapest?
About 2.5 h from Budapest's airport (BUD).
When should I go to Pécs?
April to October, when it is mild. Pack walking shoes.
What should I see in Pécs?
The Mosque of Pasha Qasim, the Cathedral, the Early Christian Necropolis and Széchenyi Square. Then linger in the Mediterranean-style squares.
Is there a lesser-known quarter in Pécs?
The Zsolnay Cultural Quarter. Round off the day with Villány red wines.
About Pécs
- Hills
Where it is
Pécs is a city in southern Hungary, the seat of Baranya County, on the slopes of the Mecsek hills in the south-west of the country, close to the border with Croatia.
History
The Romans founded the city of Sopianae here in the 2nd century, and its 4th-century early Christian tombs became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Hungary's first university was founded here in 1367, and during Ottoman rule, from 1543 to 1686, the Mosque of Pasha Qasim was built on the main square; it later became a Catholic church, and in 2010 Pécs was a European Capital of Culture.
People
Pécs is home to Hungarians alongside long-established German and Croatian communities, and its university gives it a large student population. Zsolnay ceramics, with their shimmering eosin glaze, are the city's signature craft.
Known for
- The Early Christian Necropolis
- The Mosque Church on Széchenyi Square
- Zsolnay ceramics and the Zsolnay Quarter
- The four-towered cathedral
- Walks in the Mecsek hills
Did you know?
Frost-proof ceramic tiles from the Zsolnay factory in Pécs cover the colourful roofs of landmarks across Hungary, including the Matthias Church in Budapest.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.