Fascinated by how beer goes from grain to glass? Every Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00, Pécs Brewery (Pécsi Sörfőzde) opens its doors for a behind-the-scenes brewery tour and guided tasting. Held at 13 Tavasz Street in Pécs, it’s your chance to walk through the country’s oldest still-operating brewery, see how the magic happens from brewing to fermentation, and sample specialty beers in the showroom at the end. Registration is required by Thursday at 20:00, and tours run subject to a minimum number of participants. If you’re bringing a group of more than 15 people, weekday slots can be arranged too.
The visit fee is 4,000 HUF per person (about 11 USD), which includes the guided tasting. Sign up via the listed email address and include your planned group size. Confirmations are required for bookings to be considered accepted. If you prefer calling, the contact person is József Aradi, with phone numbers provided on the event page.
Tours are scheduled every Saturday across winter, spring, and summer: 2025.11.29., 2025.12.06., 2025.12.13., 2025.12.20., 2025.12.27., 2026.01.03., 2026.01.10., 2026.01.17., 2026.01.24., 2026.01.31., 2026.02.07., 2026.02.14., 2026.02.21., 2026.02.28., 2026.03.07., 2026.03.14., 2026.03.21., 2026.03.28., 2026.04.04., 2026.04.11., 2026.04.18., 2026.04.25., 2026.05.02., 2026.05.09., 2026.05.16., 2026.05.23., 2026.05.30., 2026.06.06., 2026.06.13., 2026.06.20., 2026.06.27., 2026.07.04., 2026.07.11. All in Pécs.
What You’ll See (And Sip)
The guided walk takes you through the full beer-making process. Staff guides explain each step from the brew kettles to fermentation, demystifying ingredients and techniques. It’s straight-up factory-floor access with a sensory payoff at the end: a curated tasting in the showroom, led by an expert who puts each beer into context. Expect history, hops, and a few surprises on tap.
Booking, Cost, and Practicalities
– Time: Saturdays, 10:00–12:00
– Registration: By Thursday, 20:00. Participation is subject to confirmation.
– Price: 4,000 HUF per person (about 11 USD), guided tasting included.
– Group option: Over 15 people? Weekday tours can be arranged.
– Location: 7600, 13 Tavasz Street, Pécs.
– Contact: Register via email with expected headcount; phone contacts are listed with the organizer. Contact person: József Aradi.
Make a Weekend of It
If you’re planning to stay over, Pécs has a deep bench of options within a walk or a short ride of the brewery and the historic center. Highlights include:
– Adele Boutique Hotel: A 4-star hotel housed in a 19th-century protected building in the historic downtown. Rooms and apartments pair period character with sharp modern design, finished to an exclusive standard.
– Bagolyvár: Perched above Pécs on Havihegy, this spot is known for healthy air, panoramic city views, and a uniquely themed interior. Nineteen rooms are decorated with motifs from Hungarian folk art. Six suites echo traditional wine press houses, each designed around the character and mood of a famous Hungarian wine variety. It also houses a Hungarian-style restaurant with classic and international dishes, specializing in old Hungarian recipes and desserts. The view looks toward the Zengő side of Pécs, and the setting is quiet and restful.
– Barbakán Hotel: Just a stone’s throw from the historic center, behind Pécs Cathedral. The hotel offers 16 three-star rooms for two, three, or four people, plus a conference room and underground parking. Handy for sightseeing and events.
– Family-run pension in the Mecsek hillside villa district: A calm, leafy neighborhood above the city center. You can be on beautiful forest paths within five minutes and reach downtown in not much more. Nearby are the Zoo and the Da Vinci Private Clinic. A few hundred meters away is Mandulás, a favorite local outing spot with a playground and fire pits. Trails lead from here toward the TV Tower. Groups can book free guided hikes through the area.
– Boutique Hotel Sopianae: Right in the city center. The building’s exterior keeps a heritage look, while the interior design is distinctly modern. Service is personal, high-level, and discreet, with a relaxed, family feel.
– Büdöskút key house: Midway between Remete-rét and Orfű, about 800 m northwest off the main road, along the Blue Trail (KÉK-túra) and Green Cross (Zöld Kereszt) hiking trails. It accommodates up to 12 people, ideal for hikers wanting to weave nature into a Pécs city break.
– Apartment hotel in the villa district: A short walk from the UNESCO Early Christian Necropolis, the Cathedral, and the famous museum street in central Pécs. Combines residential calm with quick access to the city’s cultural heavyweights.
– Historic lodging in a former convent: Set in the former house of the Canonesses of Our Lady (Miasszonyunk Kanonisszái), a Baroque building from around 1870 that’s under monument protection and has been fully renovated. A character-filled base for history lovers.
Why Pécs, Why Now
Pécs blends Roman ruins, Ottoman heritage, and modern university-city energy with a flourishing food-and-drink scene. A Saturday beer tour is an easy, fun way in: two hours of insider access, lots to taste, and a prime excuse to linger. Pair it with a cathedral climb, a wander through the museum quarter, and a hilltop sunset—and call it a weekend well spent.
