Pécs

A warm southern university city under the Mecsek hills, with two thousand years in its centre: the painted burial chambers of the Roman town of Sopianae, an Early Christian necropolis on UNESCO's list (Cella Septichora), the 16th-century Mosque of Pasha Qasim on Széchenyi Square, still crowned by a crescent and now a church, a four-towered cathedral, and the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter in the old porcelain factory whose iridescent tiles cover roofs across Hungary. Museums line Káptalan Street (Csontváry, Vasarely). In February, Mohács, 45 km away, holds the Busójárás, a masked carnival on UNESCO's intangible heritage list. About 2.5 hours from Budapest on the Mecsek InterCity.

Highlights

• Early Christian burial chambers (UNESCO)
• The Mosque of Pasha Qasim on Széchenyi Square
• Four-towered Pécs Cathedral
• Zsolnay Cultural Quarter and its eosin tiles
• Csontváry and Vasarely museums
• Busójárás carnival at Mohács in February

Things to do

• Széchenyi Square and the Mosque of Pasha QasimMorning · 1h 30m
• Early Christian Necropolis (Cella Septichora)Morning · 1h 30m
• Pécs Cathedral and the old town wallsAfternoon · 1h 30m
• Zsolnay Cultural QuarterAfternoon · 2h 30m
• Csontváry Museum and the Káptalan Street museumsAfternoon · 2h
• Mecsek hills and the TV tower viewEvening · 2h

Tours & tickets

When to go

Best time: April – October

• Busójárás (Mohács carnival) — Men in carved wooden masks and sheepskins (busós) chase winter away through Mohács, 45 km from Pécs, with rattles, cannon and a bonfire; on UNESCO's intangible heritage list. The big parade is on the Sunday; Pécs hotels fill. The date follows Easter.