Southern Hungary: paprika, Villány wine and Pécs
Down the Danube plain to paprika country, the battlefield of Mohács, the red wines of Villány and Mediterranean-feeling Pécs.
- Distance
- 292 km (181 mi)
- Driving
- 4 h 02 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 8
- Countries
- Hungary
- Updated
- June 17, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 292 km (181 mi) with 8 stops, from Budapest to Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs. About 4 h 02 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Hungary · More road trips from Budapest
Route description
Leave Budapest south along the Danube to Kalocsa, an archbishop’s town known for paprika and for colourful folk embroidery painted even on house walls. In late summer the fields around town are red with drying peppers.
Cross the Danube at Baja and follow the river to Mohács, where a memorial park marks the 1526 battle with carved wooden grave posts. From here low hills rise to the west, the first real relief after the plain.
Villány is Hungary’s red-wine capital, a one-street village of cellars below the Szársomlyó hill. Drive up to Villánykövesd for the terraced cellar rows, then on to Siklós, whose well-kept castle overlooks the Drava plain; the Harkány spa is next door.
End in Pécs, a university town under the Mecsek hills with a mosque turned church on its main square and painted Roman tombs beneath the cathedral square. The M6 motorway (vignette required) returns to Budapest in about two and a half hours.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Budapest
Hungary - 2135 km
Kalocsa
Hungary - 388 km
Mohács Memorial Park
HistorySátorhely, HungaryA memorial on the site of the 1526 battle that opened Hungary to Ottoman rule, with mass graves marked by carved wooden grave posts and a visitor centre shaped like a crown.
- 421 km
Villány
Hungary - 53 km
Villánykövesd Cellar Rows
FoodVillánykövesd, HungaryTerraces of whitewashed press houses stacked on a hillside, the most photogenic corner of the Villány wine region. Many open for tastings of the local red blends.
- 613 km
Siklós Castle
HistorySiklós, HungaryOne of Hungary’s best-preserved castles, in use for more than 700 years, with a Gothic chapel and dungeons. Wide views over the Drava plain.
- 731 km
Pécs
Hungary - 81 km
Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs
HistoryPécs, HungaryPainted burial chambers from Roman Sopianae, a UNESCO site displayed underground beneath the cathedral square. Combine it with the mosque-church on Széchenyi Square.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Budapest → Kalocsa · 135 km · 1 h 52 minOvernight nearby, for example: Holdfény Kemping (11 km); Bungalows Kemping (13 km).
- Day 2: Kalocsa → Mohács Memorial Park · 88 km · 1 h 13 minOvernight nearby, for example: Claudia`s Eden Wohnmobilstellplatz (18 km); Aréna (17 km).
- Day 3: Mohács Memorial Park → Villány · 21 km · 0 h 17 minOvernight nearby, for example: Termál Kemping (17 km).
- Day 4: Villány → Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs · 48 km · 0 h 40 minOn the way: Villánykövesd Cellar Rows, Siklós Castle, Pécs.Overnight nearby, for example: Camping Forrás (14 km); Panoráma Kemping (10 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July and October. Cold, short days in December–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- Hungary: Vignette needed for motorways. Buy the e-vignette online before you drive on motorways. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Southern Hungary: paprika, Villány wine and Pécs?
4-day road trip of about 292 km (181 mi) with 8 stops, from Budapest to Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs. About 4 h 02 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Southern Hungary: paprika, Villány wine and Pécs?
We suggest 4 days: about 4 h 02 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Southern Hungary: paprika, Villány wine and Pécs start and end?
It starts in Budapest and ends in Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs.
Which countries does Southern Hungary: paprika, Villány wine and Pécs pass through?
Hungary.
Where can you camp along Southern Hungary: paprika, Villány wine and Pécs?
OpenStreetMap lists 36 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Haller Camping, Ave Natura and Holdfény Kemping.
When is the best time for Southern Hungary: paprika, Villány wine and Pécs?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
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