Sopron is rolling out the welcome mat in 2026 with a full calendar of free guided city walks led by local experts. Starting Saturday, January 10, and running every Saturday through December 19, the Sopron Tourinform Office invites you to explore the city’s landmarks, storied churches and sacred sites, and the wildlife of the surrounding Sopron forests—all without spending a dime. The meeting point is 9400 Sopron, Szent György u. 2. Want to join? Just give them a call to secure your spot and get the details on timing, meeting logistics, and any last-minute updates.
The recurring theme of the program—Giants’ Shoulders: In the Footsteps of Famous Sopron Families—anchors each weekend’s walk. Guides trace the legacies of influential families that shaped the city’s culture, economy, and architecture, weaving personal histories into the streets and squares they once called home. Expect stories of merchant dynasties, civic leaders, and patrons whose footprints still mark Sopron’s courtyards, façades, and institutions. The tours are a lively way to meet the city through its people, connecting Renaissance and Baroque layers to modern everyday life.
Each Saturday from January 10 onward is dedicated to this signature route, making it simple to plan a visit around a weekend in the City of Loyalty (Hűség Városa). Dates run uninterrupted: January 10, 17, 24, and 31; February 7, 14, 21, and 28; March 7, 14, 21, and 28; April 4, 11, 18, and 25; May 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30; June 6, 13, 20, and 27; July 4, 11, 18, and 25; August 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29; September 5, 12, 19, and 26; October 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31; November 7, 14, 21, and 28; December 5, 12, and 19. Every date is in Sopron, with the same theme guiding you through different angles of the city’s story depending on the guide, group, and what the streets offer that day.
Beyond urban heritage, the program opens a window onto Sopron’s spiritual and natural sides. The city’s churches and religious sites are rich with tales, from medieval foundations to Baroque rebuilds and the quiet persistence of local traditions. Guides unpack architectural quirks, devotional art, and the small details that most visitors miss. Step out of the old town and you’re in the Sopron forests, where the walks point out native species, seasonal changes, and conservation stories. Even if the headline tour focuses on famous families, the broader series sparks curiosity about everything that makes Sopron tick: layers of borderland history, the rhythms of a wine region, and a civic identity forged at the edge of empires.
If you’re traveling in, accommodation options cluster conveniently near the center and in the leafy Lővérek district. Guesthouses like Adorján Guesthouse (Adorján Vendégház) span two levels with seven rooms in 1-, 2-, and 3-bed setups, hosting up to 32 guests. The old town is a 10-minute walk, making it a handy base if you want to roll straight out to your tour in the morning. In the Lővérek’s green pockets near the swimming pool, you’ll find quiet, independent buildings tailored for downtime between strolls. Alpokalja Guesthouse (Alpokalja Vendégház) sits in a calm neighborhood about a 20-minute walk from the historic core, balancing peace with easy access.
Anita Apartment Sopron (Anita Apartman Sopron) positions you at Hungary’s western edge, at the foot of the Alps and roughly 37 miles from Vienna—ideal if you’re weaving Sopron into a cross-border trip. For classic pension vibes, head to the Lővérek: one house stands about 15 minutes on foot from the center, with the hiking quarter just beyond and signed trails spreading out into the hills. Lower Austria’s ski resorts—about 37 miles from Sopron—tempt with reliable runs and all the trimmings if your winter weekend needs a snow fix before a Saturday tour.
Closer to the city’s pulse, Atrium (Átrium) waits just a short walk from the historic downtown, run by a young, welcoming team ready to point you to the best coffee or wine bar after your walk. Bastion Pension (Bástya Panzió) leans right against the more-than-700-year-old outer city wall, beside a small bastion in the heart of town—hence the name. The two-story hotel rises near the city’s old gate toward Vienna, at the corner of Vienna Street (Bécsi utca) and Stream Street (Patak utca) on the slope of Coronation Hill (Koronázó Domb). It’s a postcard-perfect setup: fortress stones on one side, the old town’s maze on the other.
Prefer apartment living? A central, quiet apartment house near the old town—about 150 meters away—offers easy car access and that elusive combo of silence and proximity. This setup suits anyone who wants a home base for a week of tours and forest walks without sacrificing evening strolls to Sopron’s main squares.
How to Join
– Meeting point: 9400 Sopron, Szent György u. 2.
– Schedule: Every Saturday from January 10 to December 19, 2026, under the theme Giants’ Shoulders: In the Footsteps of Famous Sopron Families.
– Cost: Free.
– Booking: Call the Sopron Tourinform Office to register, confirm start times, and check language options.
Why Go
– It’s the city, but alive—with guides turning façades and family crests into stories you’ll remember.
– You get history, faith, and nature in one thread, paced for curious travelers and locals alike.
– The calendar’s simple: Saturdays mean Sopron, no guesswork.
– Free means you can bring friends and family, and still have budget left for a glass of Blaufränkisch (Kékfrankos) after the tour.
Sopron wears its history out in the open—on bastion stones, timbered courtyards, and hillside paths that smell like pine. These free guided walks give you the keys. Show up on a Saturday, follow the footsteps, and start seeing how the city came to be—one family, one church, one forest trail at a time.
