Pécs is rolling out the red carpet for kids and their grown-ups, with a full-throttle season of family programs at the Zsolnay Quarter. From baby theater and puppetry to planetarium shows, hands-on science workshops, and crafty, educational sessions, the city’s arts hub is turning every day into family day. The action is spread across multiple venues on November 15, 2025, and keeps going with creative workshops into the holidays.
Hands-on Workshops You’ll Actually Keep
November 15 is double-stacked with craft-puppet-making workshops in Pécs. Expect scissors, glue, felt, strings, and a very real chance your kid invents a tiny character they’ll insist on naming. These sessions mix simple crafting with performance play, so kids don’t just build puppets—they bring them to life.
Then on December 27, it’s “Csempehajtogatás” (Tile-Folding), a notebook cover workshop. Think tile-inspired folding designs turned into cool notebook jackets. It’s a post-Christmas palate cleanser: creative, useful, and blissfully screen-free.
Planetarium, Baby Theater, Puppet Magic
The Zsolnay Quarter isn’t just artsy—it’s cosmic. Planetarium programs light up curious minds with starry journeys and accessible astronomy. For the smallest audience, baby theater offers sensory-rich performances designed for infants, gentle and immersive. Puppet shows bring classic and original stories to life with expressive craft and lots of giggles. Interactive science sessions tie it together with experiments and discovery stations that unlock the fun side of learning.
Bonus: Forest of Light
Between October 24, 2025, and February 1, 2026, don’t miss “Fények Elvarázsolt Erdeje” (Enchanted Forest of Lights), an after-dark light experience transforming pathways into glowing, fairytale trails. It’s the kind of thing that makes kids whisper “wow” and adults secretly plan their Instagram captions.
Stay Where the Charm Lives
Pécs does sleepovers in style. Adele Boutique Hotel brings four-star comforts into a 19th-century protected building in the historic center. Inside, vintage soul meets modern polish for an upscale, one-of-a-kind stay.
Barbakán Hotel sits right behind the Pécs Cathedral, a short stroll from the old town. With double, triple, and quad rooms, plus a conference room and garage, it’s practical and central.
If you want views and calm, Bagolyvár on Havihegy is a local legend. Its rooms nod to Hungarian folk art, and six suites are modeled after wine press houses, each capturing the vibe of a famous Hungarian wine. The panorama stretches toward the Zengő side of Pécs, and the on-site Hungarian restaurant leans into old-school specialties and sweets with style.
Prefer a villa-district vibe? Head uphill to a family-run guesthouse on the quiet Mecsek slope. From there, it’s five minutes to woodland paths and five to the city center. The Mandulás area nearby offers playgrounds, fire pits, and walking routes up to the TV tower. Bonus: free guided hikes for groups.
Boutique Hotel Sopianae plants you downtown with a neat twist: historic façade outside, modern interiors inside, and friendly, discreet service. There’s also an apartment hotel a few minutes from the World Heritage Early Christian Necropolis, the Cathedral, and the famous museum street, tucked into the villa quarter. And for a slice of history reimagined, check into the former Our Lady Canonesses convent—an 1870s Baroque building restored to modern comfort in the heart of the city. Another central hotel sits in a quiet pocket, with the Knowledge Center and Kodály Concert Hall a quick 1,640 feet away.
Got a group? The Büdöskúti key house, halfway between Remete-rét and Orfű, sleeps 12 and sits 800 meters off the road along the Blue Trail and Green Cross hiking routes.
Eats: From Grandma’s Secrets to Brewed on Site
Start sweet at Angyali Kísértés, a chocolate shop with bonbons, bars, and home-style cakes that are a little too easy to love. In town, you’ll find a cozy tavern perfect for family feasts, match-watching, or long chats. The menu runs the gamut: schnitzels, grilled and stuffed meats, brassói, fish dishes, oven bakes, risottos, pastas, flatbreads, pizzas, salads, soups, and desserts. No one leaves hungry.
Craving heritage flavors? Several kitchens in Pécs channel Hungarian culinary traditions with reliable quality, fair prices, and daily changing lunch menus. Breakfast kicks off at 8 with foamy coffee, sandwiches, homemade pogácsa, and hand-stretched rétes. They also handle standing receptions and small events on-site or off-site.
At Aranykacsa Étterem (Golden Duck Restaurant), local ingredients and modern techniques meet wine culture. Try tasting flights in the Vinárium, casual drinks and meals in the Tüke room, family or protocol dining in the Zsolnay room, and weddings, banquets, and birthdays in the upstairs Dakk hall or the garden.
Bagolyvár doubles as a Hungarian restaurant with stylish décor and a menu that swings between national classics and international dishes. Over in bistro land, one spot near the Balkan gateway does comfort food the proper bistro way: fresh, homey flavors, fuss-free plating, great value.
Beer lovers, step into Big Bell Restaurant with its craft show brewery and beer garden. In the center, Bohemia Sörkonyha serves Beer–Burger–BBQ without pretending it’s anything else. Quick lunch? Borostyán Gyorsétterem on Király Street serves weekdays 11:00–16:00, designed to cover your weekly eats with quality at wallet-friendly prices. And the shape-shifter PAULUS starts as a café in the morning, a self-service eatery at noon, and a beer spot by night—plus hosts events when you’re in the mood to gather.
Plan, Then Stay Flexible
Dates and programs may change, so keep an eye on updates. But the spirit is set: Pécs wants families out, curious, and smiling. The Zsolnay Quarter is the launchpad—bring your sense of play.
