Pécs’ Zsolnay Quarter is turning the first months of 2026 into a playground for kids and a breather for parents. Expect baby and puppet theater, planetarium shows, hands-on science, crafty afternoons, and educational sessions every day of the week in the city’s creative hub. Multiple venues across the Quarter are rolling out programs designed for toddlers, school kids, and whole families looking for a smart escape that still feels like playtime.
Hands-on Puppetry: Make, Learn, Perform
January 17 and January 31 bring back the wildly popular craft-and-puppet workshops in Pécs. Kids dive into different puppetry techniques and create their own characters tied to Bóbita Puppet Theatre (Bóbita Bábszínház) performances. It’s messy, imaginative, and gloriously tactile—the kind of session where little makers leave with something they built themselves and a new love for theater that talks with its hands.
Stories Sealed in Glaze
On January 18, museum educators welcome preschoolers and first- and second-graders for Tales Sealed in Glaze (Mázba zárt mesék). This session nudges little minds toward the world of ceramics through tales, objects, and guided discovery, showing how stories can live inside clay and color. The program returns on February 7 for those who missed the first date—or simply want another go at it.
Science That Hisses, Cracks, and Wows
January 24–25 features Magic Class – The Icy Breath of Air (Varázsóra – A levegő jeges lehelete), a two-day pop-science hit focused on air and all the chilling, thrilling tricks it can pull. Think interactive experiments, frost-breath moments, and that spark in kids’ eyes when science turns hands-on and a little bit dramatic. It’s built for curious minds that love to ask why, then see the answer fizz in real time.
Playhouse in the Round
Round Forest Playhouse (Kerekerdő játszóház) pops up twice—February 8 and March 8—inviting 4–8-year-olds for folk games, live storytelling, and crafty corners. It’s a warm, throwback mix: traditional Hungarian play, shared narratives, and simple tools that spin imagination into full bloom. Parents tend to linger; kids don’t want to leave.
Bonus Magic: Light, Music, and a Walk Through Time
If you’re planning around the bigger calendar, there’s more. Enchanted Forest of Lights (Fények Elvarázsolt Erdeje) runs October 24, 2025 through February 1, 2026, turning evenings into a luminous forest stroll—an immersive light show that families adore when the days get short.
On January 17, Bóbita Puppet Theatre (Bóbita Bábszínház) stages Cini-cini muzsika, perfect for small ears and big rhythms. January 18 adds Ceramic Painting Experience (Kerámia élményfestés) at the Zsolnay Quarter—ceramic painting for all levels—plus another run of Tales Sealed in Glaze (Mázba zárt mesék). And for history buffs, lace up for In the Footsteps of the Zsolnay Family (A Zsolnayak léptei nyomában) on January 24 and January 31, a guided walk through the family’s former home that shaped the district’s legacy in porcelain and design.
Where to Stay: From Heritage Chic to Hilltop Quiet
Sleep in style at Adele Boutique Hotel Pécs, a 4-star stay inside a protected 19th-century building in the historic center, where period charm flirts with modern design. The Barbakán Hotel sits behind Pécs Cathedral (Pécsi Székesegyház) with 16 rooms from doubles to quads, plus a conference room and garage.
If a tucked-away vibe is your thing, the Mecsek-side villa district has family-run guesthouses that feel both close and apart—forest trails within five minutes, the city just as near. The area puts the Zoo and Da Vinci private clinic nearby, with the Mandulás recreation spot a few hundred meters away, offering playgrounds, fire pits, and trailheads toward the TV tower. Groups can even request complimentary guided hikes.
Over on the breezy Havihegy slope, Bagolyvár pairs fresh air with spectacular views over Pécs. Nineteen rooms are dressed in Hungarian folk art motifs, and six suites channel the character of iconic Hungarian wines. Peace, quiet, and panoramas—plus a restaurant leaning into old-school Hungarian dishes and desserts alongside international picks.
Boutique Hotel Sopianae sits downtown with a heritage exterior and modern interior, delivering personalized service in a cozy, discreet atmosphere. There’s also a fully revamped baroque former convent turned lodging in the city center—historic on the outside, thoroughly contemporary inside. And if you’re traveling in a group, the Büdöskút hikers’ house (Büdöskúti turistaszálló), set about 800 meters off the main road between Remete-rét and Orfű on blue and green-cross trails, can sleep 12.
Where to Eat: Pizza, Paprika, Pint
Grab chocolate, bonbons, and homestyle sweets at Angyali Kísértés Csokoládé in Pécs. For generous plates with the family, head to a cozy local spot serving everything from breaded meats to grills, stuffed specialties, brassói aprópecsenye, fish dishes, oven-baked classics, risottos, pastas, flatbreads, and plenty of pizza, salads, soups, and desserts. Another downtown staple keeps Hungarian kitchen traditions alive with reliable quality, fair prices, and daily changing menus—plus breakfast from 8 a.m. with foamy coffee, sandwiches, house pogácsa, and hand-stretched rétes. They also cater receptions and small events on- or off-site.
Aranykacsa Restaurant (Aranykacsa Étterem) champions local ingredients and wine culture in friendly rooms tailored by occasion: tastings in the Vinárium, casual drinks and meals in the Tüke room, family and protocol dining in the Zsolnay room, and weddings, banquets, and birthdays in the upstairs Dakk room or the garden. Bagolyvár’s restaurant doubles down on classic Hungarian fare in a scenic, folk-styled setting.
For a relaxed bite near the Balkans’ gateway, a bistro kitchen serves homestyle flavors with top ingredients at great value. Big Bell Restaurant (Big Bell Étterem) adds a craft show-brewery and beer garden to its lineup. Bohemia Beer Kitchen (Bohemia Sörkonyha) promises Beer – Burger – BBQ in the city center, while Borostyán Fast Food (Borostyán Gyorsétterem) on Király Street (Király utca) covers weekday lunches 11:00–16:00 with quality at wallet-friendly prices. PAULUS flips from café by morning to self-serve at lunch and pub by evening—and hosts regular events.
Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs.
