Pecs · Backpacking

The single biggest saving is sleeping out towards the university rather than on Szechenyi ter; after that it is lunch. A market breakfast, a set lunch on Irgalmasok utca and a couple of beers on Kiraly utca is a normal cheap day, and the museums are the small end of the bill rather than the large one. Card is taken almost everywhere, but bring forint cash for the market halls.

The open-air market ground on Megyeri ut, trading Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm from October to March and again on Sunday from 5am to 2pm. Produce, cheap food stalls and a large secondhand section, well outside the tourist centre.

The city tourist office lists the budget end under diakszallasok, including Joker Panzio at Martirok utja 14, a flat walk from the centre. Term dates matter here: September fills up with students, not tourists.

The Barbican and the surviving city wall, Tettye park, Szechenyi ter and the lookout terrace built in 2012 on Kalvaria-domb all cost nothing, and the Mecsek trails start where the streets stop.

MAV runs both the InterCity from Budapest and the long-distance coach, sold through the same site and the MAVPlusz app, so you can take whichever is cheaper on the day rather than committing to one.