Pécs is setting the table for families this fall and winter, and the Zsolnay Quarter is the main course. From baby theater to puppet making, planetarium shows to hands-on science, plus crafty and educational workshops, the city’s arts hub rolls out family-friendly programs every day of the week. Multiple venues across Pécs join in, so you can mix culture, play, and a little learning without breaking a sweat—or the budget.
What’s On and When
Mark your calendar for November 8, 2025. That Saturday packs a punch with two separate Craft Puppet-Making Sessions in Pécs, perfect for tiny creatives and patient parents alike. The same day, a Tile-Folding Notebook Cover Workshop turns design into play: kids fold and decorate covers inspired by ceramic patterns, then take home a notebook with serious character. If you miss it, the workshop returns on December 27, ideal for post-holiday energy. Puppet making pops back up on November 15 with two more slots, so no need to queue for glitter glue.
Planetarium, Science, and Baby Theater
Beyond the craft tables, the Zsolnay Quarter keeps its cosmos close. Planetarium programs bring the night sky indoors, with shows tailored for different ages—gentle for little eyes, vivid for stargazers in training. Interactive, science-based sessions encourage kids to test, poke, and discover, turning big ideas into small, joyful experiments. Baby theater and puppet theater round out the lineup, built for short attention spans and high delight. The sum is a family day that moves: sit, make, learn, look up, repeat.
Into the Enchanted Forest
Running from October 24, 2025, to February 1, 2026, the Lights’ Enchanted Forest transforms evenings into a wander through glowing paths and illuminated installations. It’s the kind of after-dark walk that turns a regular night into a memory, a gentle nudge to dress warm and let the kids set the pace. Expect photo moments, hushed wows, and the sudden realization that bedtime can wait.
Where to Stay: From Panoramas to Boutique Calm
Pécs makes the sleep part easy. The 4-star Adele Boutique Hotel nestles in a protected 19th-century building in the historic center, where old shapes meet modern comfort in rooms and apartments. Nearby, the Barbakán Hotel sits just behind Pécs Cathedral with 16 rooms—doubles, triples, and quads—plus a conference room and garage.
Above the city, Bagolyvár on Havihegy trades in fresh air and views facing the Zengő side of Pécs. It’s quiet, scenic, and full of character: nineteen rooms decorated with motifs from Hungarian folk art, and six suites styled like wine press houses, each channeling the mood of a famous Hungarian varietal. There’s also an on-site restaurant with both Hungarian classics and international dishes, and a soft spot for old-school Hungarian desserts.
If you want city buzz, Boutique Hotel Sopianae blends a heritage exterior with modern interiors right in the center. There’s also a fully renovated Baroque-style former convent now operating as modern lodging, placing you inside the city’s history without sacrificing Wi‑Fi or sleep quality.
Families with hikers will love the Mecsek-side villa district. A friendly guesthouse sits five minutes from forest trails and the same distance from the city center. Pécs Zoo and the Da Vinci private clinic are nearby, and Mandulás—playground, fire pits, and trailheads to the TV tower—is just a few hundred yards away. Groups can even get free guided hikes.
For self-caterers, an apartment hotel near the World Heritage Early Christian Necropolis and the Cathedral puts you within a short walk of the museum street. Out in the woods between Remete-rét and Orfű, the Büdöskút key house sleeps 12, reachable along the Blue Trail (Kéktúra) and Green Cross (Zöld Kereszt) marked trails about 800 yards off the road.
Where to Eat: Comfort, Craft, and a Little Chocolate
Start sweet at Angyali Kísértés Chocolate Shop in Pécs—bonbons and homemade-style cakes that pretty much name their own temptation. Craving comfort food? A lively local eatery dishes out huge portions with something for everyone: breaded, grilled, or stuffed meats; brassói-style diced pork; fish; oven-baked specials; risottos; and a full slate of pastas, flatbreads, pizzas, salads, soups, and desserts. It’s the place for celebrations, match nights, or a long catch-up with friends.
Another downtown favorite follows the great Hungarian kitchen tradition: reliable quality, fair pricing, changing daily lunch menus, and fast service so your lunch break feels like an upgrade, not a compromise. Breakfast starts at 8 with foamy coffee, sandwiches, house pogácsa, and hand-stretched strudel. They also handle standing receptions and small events on-site or off.
At Golden Duck Restaurant (Aranykacsa Étterem), local ingredients meet modern technique. Choose your setting: the Vinárium for tastings, Tüke Hall for everyday wine, beer, and meals, Zsolnay Hall for family or formal dining, and the upstairs Dakk Room and garden for weddings, banquets, and birthday parties.
Bagolyvár’s restaurant keeps it Hungarian with stylish decor and specialties pulled from classic recipes and sweets. For a more relaxed vibe, a bistro at the gateway to the Balkans serves fresh, homey dishes with good ingredients, casual plating, and honest prices. Beer lovers can duck into Big Bell Restaurant’s microbrewery and beer garden, while Bohemia Beer Kitchen (Bohemia Sörkonyha) stakes a claim in the city center with three Bs: Beer, Burger, BBQ.
On Király Street, Borostyán Fast Food keeps weekdays simple with affordable, quality meals from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. And for shapeshifting hospitality, PAULUS does mornings as a café, lunchtime as a self-service restaurant, and evenings as a beer spot—with regular events to keep things lively.
One Last Note
Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs, so double-check before you go. Pécs is ready; pack curiosity and a scarf.
