Pécs’s Zsolnay Quarter is going all-in on families in late 2025, rolling out a steady stream of kid-focused shows, hands-on workshops, planetarium adventures, and crafty learning sessions—every day of the week. From baby theater and puppetry to science demos and creative studios, it’s the city’s go-to arts hub for curiosity, play, and time together. Multiple venues across the Quarter will host programs, with highlights running from late November through the end of December, plus a dazzling seasonal light trail that stretches into 2026.
What’s On and When
The calendar kicks off on Saturday, 2025.11.29 with Varázsóra – Nem élhetünk mágnesesség nélkül! (Magic Hour – We Can’t Live Without Magnetism!). Expect a lively, interactive science session that demystifies magnetic forces in fun, hands-on ways that kids actually remember. The same day, Bóbita Bábszínház stages Ali király ünnepi vacsorája (King Ali’s Festive Dinner), a puppetry delight from Pécs’s beloved puppet theater company—perfect for families who want story, visuals, and humor wrapped into one cozy hour.
On Sunday, 2025.11.30, it’s Kerámia élményfestés a Zsolnay Negyedben (Ceramic Experience Painting in the Zsolnay Quarter), a chance to sit down, get creative, and paint ceramics inspired by the city’s porcelain heritage. No pressure, no perfection needed—just color, pattern, and take-home keepsakes.
As the season turns festive, the planetarium lights up on 2025.12.06 with A világűr felfedezése (Exploring Outer Space), a family trip across the cosmos under the dome, guiding kids through stars, planets, and big-sky wonders in an immersive format that beats any textbook.
Between the holidays, on 2025.12.27, Csempehajtogatás – füzetborító műhely (Tile-Folding Notebook Cover Workshop) flips the script on stationery with a craft session inspired by the Zsolnay motif world—think smart folding, patterned elements, and a notebook cover kids actually designed themselves.
Don’t-Miss Seasonal Extra
Running 2025.10.24–2026.02.01, Fények Elvarázsolt Erdeje (Enchanted Forest of Lights) brings an after-dark glow-up to the season. It’s a luminous outdoor walk that threads artful light installations with a fairy-tale vibe, great for bundling up and strolling through with kids, grandparents, and visiting friends.
Stay Close to the Action
If you’re making a weekend of it, Pécs has plenty of family-friendly stays near the Quarter and the historic center. Adele Boutique Hotel Pécs sits in a protected 19th-century building and blends period character with modern comforts in both rooms and apartments.
For a hillside escape with views, Bagolyvár above Havihegy is known for fresh air and calm. It stands out for 19 rooms decorated with Hungarian folk-art elements and six suites modeled on press houses, each themed to a famous Hungarian wine style. Guests get quiet surroundings, city panoramas toward the Zengő side, and a Hungarian restaurant that leans into old-school dishes and sweets alongside international classics.
Barbakán Hotel, just behind the Pécs Cathedral, offers 16 three-star rooms—double, triple, and quad—plus a conference room and garage, all within easy reach of the old town. In the Mecsek hillside villa district, a family-run pension puts you five minutes from forest trails and about the same distance to downtown. The Zoo and Da Vinci Private Clinic are nearby, as is the Mandulás recreational area with playgrounds and firepits; hiking paths head off toward the TV Tower. Groups can book free guided hikes.
Boutique Hotel Sopianae anchors itself in the city center with a heritage façade and modern interiors, pairing personalized service with a homey vibe. For hikers, Büdöskúti keyhouse sits between Remete-rét and Orfű, about 800 yards off the main road along the KÉK and ZÖLD KERESZT trails, and sleeps up to 12. There’s also an apartment hotel minutes from the UNESCO Early Christian Necropolis and the Cathedral in the villa quarter, and a freshly modernized lodging set inside a former 19th-century convent of the Our Lady Canonesses right in the center. Another downtown hotel keeps things calm yet central, a short walk from the historic core, with the Knowledge Centre and Kodály Zoltán Concert Hall just 550 yards away.
Eat Your Way Around Town
For a sweet break, Angyali Kísértés Csokoládé sells chocolates, bonbons, and home-style cakes. Casual family feasts are easy to find: one cozy local restaurant throws everything at the menu—breaded, grilled, and stuffed meats, brassói-style pork, fish, oven dishes, risottos, classic pasta, flatbreads, and lots of pizzas, plus salads, soups, and desserts. Another spot in the heart of town serves trusty Hungarian fare at fair prices with a changing daily menu; breakfast starts at 8 a.m. with foamy coffee, sandwiches, house pogácsa, and hand-stretched rétes, and they handle receptions and small events on- and off-site.
Aranykacsa Étterem champions local ingredients and wine culture in friendly rooms tailored to the occasion: tastings in the Vinárium, casual drinks and bites in the Tüke Room, family and protocol dining in the Zsolnay Room, and weddings, banquets, or birthdays upstairs in the Dakk Room and garden. Bagolyvár’s restaurant reprises its folk-tinged charm with hearty Hungarian and international plates. A bistro at the Balkans’ gateway focuses on fresh, homey food with relaxed service and good value. Big Bell Étterem adds an on-site craft microbrewery and beer garden to the mix. Downtown, Bohemia Sörkonyha nails the Beer–Burger–BBQ trifecta, while Borostyán Gyorsétterem on Király utca handles weekday lunches 11:00–16:00 with budget-friendly quality. PAULUS shapeshifts through the day—café in the morning, self-service at noon, pub by evening—and hosts events, too.
Plan Flexibly
Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs, so keep an eye on updates before you go. Either way, the Zsolnay Quarter is stacking the deck for families this season: science, stories, stars, and crafts, with good food and easy stays all over town.
