Pécs region for Explorers - 5 days

If you prefer to take your tours with a ‘professional’, just hop on to the little sightseeing train on wheels and listen carefully. The Dotto train is not just comfortable, but is genuinely local, and may even know things that people from Pécs may not be aware of. It takes you around Pécs in 50 minutes, and during your journey you’ll meet many smiling and waving locals, as well as covering a large part of the town: the tour starts on the main square and runs up to the Zsolnay Quarter through the narrow streets so typical of Pécs, and some busy roads as well. The train on wheels operates every day between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and leaves on the hour every hour from right in front of the Nagy Lajos Secondary Grammar School, returning to the same place. The terminus could not be in a better place, since from here you can start your trip around Pécs and discover the city’s World Heritage relics.

When you are in Baranya county, and whether you are a wine lover or not, exploring this region has to be about more than just sightseeing. The Villány terroir is known far and wide, and is where you will find the very first wine road in Hungary. Those who are familiar with wines know that the products of the Villány wine region are considered one of the best quality and most popular products in the wine market, both at home and abroad. The most romantic wine cellar system in the region must be the one in Villánykövesd. The tiny, romantic village at the foot of Fekete Hill is not only a treat for wine lovers, but is also a favourite destination for photographers, painters and artists, with its captivating beauty. Most visitors want to see the protected wine cellar system, which is the most spectacular complex of the three-level cellar village. Take a look at the characteristic coloured doors of the cellars and you will immediately understand why people fall in love with this tiny village. But let’s see what’s in store in the village for wine lovers: You can see the current phases of wine production in Villánykövesd, learn what tools winemakers use and, of course, also taste the village’s excellent wines

The best place to start exploring the Cultural Capital is the ‘miniature town’, built on the site of what was once the Zsolnay Porcelain Manufactory, in the Zsolnay Quarter, the cultural centre of Pécs. Take a pleasant walk along the street dedicated to shops selling handcrafted goods, where one of the obligatory activities is chocolate tasting in the Csoko-láda Chocolate Shop. But this is not the only sweet memory you will collect here, since you can also visit the Nosztalgia Cukorka Látványmanufaktúra, the home of traditional handmade sweets. The ‘candy-man’ of the Quarter is Gyula Kovács, one of the few Hungarian artisanal candy-makers who is truly dedicated to their craft. Visitors can watch how they are made and, of course, can also taste the colourful sweets. If you are a gamer, the place to go is the ‘palace of wonders’ the Labor - Játechtér, where fans of gaming will find everything from Nintendo to state-of-the-art technology. Art lovers will find interesting pieces at the m21 Gallery, and there are two other must-see places: the Gyugyi Collection, with its 700 unique Zsolnay porcelain items, and the Pink Zsolnay Exhibition. Although the Zsolnay Quarter is a whole-day activity with something to see in every square metre, there are other interesting sights on the Pécs bucket list awaiting you. When you are done with your strong black coffee and ready to discover the rest of the town, head to the town centre.

You’ve been wandering the streets of one of the most beautiful cities in Hungary for four days, but perhaps it’s time to make your way outside. After all, the region hides a thousand secret treasures of its own. If you packed your hiking boots, then now’s the time to begin wandering the depths of the forest. The winding hiking routes of Mecsek attract thousands of walkers every year. It’s no wonder, since the flora and fauna of the region are unique, so much so that it even fascinated famous Hungarian nature-goer Pál Rockenbauer. This is why the South Transdanubian Blue Trail – which cuts right through the Mecsek Mountains, leading you straight to the most beautiful natural sights of the Baranya region – was named after him. The trail also includes the Abaliget Dripstone Cave, which is one of the most interesting sights in the region, at almost 500 metres long. There is also a legend about the healing cave and stream, according to which the people of Abaliget hid in the cave when the Ottoman army roamed the land, but the Ottomans found the hideout and tried to smoke the locals out. They did not succeed, because the people of Abaliget were a smart lot and found an exit in the back of the cave, and once they were out, they attacked the enemy from behind.

To top off your visit to this part of the country, visit the Thermal Bath of Harkány, one of the best places in Hungary to heal. You can soak your tired body in the healing thermal water, as well as enjoying the monthly family and night activities. Spend as much time in the water as you can, for the thermal water in Harkány is unique in Europe, with its mineral content exceeding 1,000 mg per litre. From a medical point of view, the most important mineral in the water is carbonyl sulphide, which helps to rebuild and replace the sulphur-containing compounds that make up joints. Water comes from a depth of 50-70 metres, with an average temperature of 62°C when it reaches the surface, making the hours of healing truly relaxing. Our tour ends in Siklós Castle, at the southern foot of the Villány Hills. Discover the dungeon and the torture chamber, then relax and recharge in the wine museum’s wine shop. At the end of the day, enjoy a good meal near the castle to end this really exciting tour.