Brno

Understand

The city was founded about 1000 years ago, it received city status in the year 1243, and for centuries it served as the capital city of Moravia, until 1948 when communist government abolished Moravia's autonomy. The city flourished mainly during the 19th century. Today's Brno is a mixture of many different architectural styles, there are many beautiful places. But it remains home to significant cultural offerings, and countless beautiful buildings, the city has the third largest historic preservation zone in the country (the biggest one is in Prague, the second in Olomouc). There are three castles, Špilberk (former royal castle, and former seat of rulers of Moravia, fortress and prison), Veveří Castle (near the Brno reservoir), and Líšeň Castle. Brno is not particularly well known by tourists so you can easily avoid crowds and overpriced services. Brno is the cultural hub of Moravia, it's the home to several notable Moravian institutions, e.g. Moravian Gallery, Moravian Museum, National Theatre Brno, and Brno City Theatre. It's a city with a long tradition of motor racing (on the Masaryk Circuit), huge exhibitions and trade fairs (in the Central European Exhibition Center), and a vibrant university city. There are about 89,000 university students in Brno, a city with 400,000 inhabitants, which makes it the country's largest student city by percentage of population. Since 1998, there has also been an international firework competition held annually at the end of May and beginning of June – Ignis Brunensis, it attracts about 100,000–200,000 visitors every day it's being held. The most interesting places in Brno include the Brno Underground, a labyrinth of underground cellars which includes the second biggest ossuary in Europe (after the Catacombs of Paris), the two (or three) castles in Brno, the cathedral on the Petrov hill (Pope Benedict XVI visited the cathedral in 2009), the Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady in the Old Brno District, the St. Jacob's Church, the Moravian Museum (the biggest museum in Moravia and the second biggest in the country), Lužánky Park which is the oldest public park in the country, Denis Gardens, and various historical squares, churches, palaces, and other interesting buildings. There are also many places worth visiting outside the city centre, such as an old Jewish cemetery in Brno-Židenice (by area, the biggest one in Moravia), or the Marian Valley in Brno-Líšeň, a cascade of lakes between forested hills. From the north, Brno is surrounded by hills and very pleasant countryside, the most notable place is probably the Mor

Getting there

By train

Brno is on the Prague–Vienna and Prague–Bratislava–Budapest routes, and all IC, EC and Railjet trains stop here. Some trains originating in Prague terminate here.

Prague: 2½ hr, IC/EC/RailJet trains every hour: Standard tickets are expensive (the regular fare is 360 Kč), but there are cheaper ways: You can either get the SuperAkční fare for 119 Kč or a Včasná ticket for 205 Kč. The SuperAkční ticket can be used for a particular train only. There are limited numbers of SuperAkční and Včasná tickets for a particular train or day and they are generally only available when you buy the tickets in advance. You can buy all types of tickets both online and at the ticket office at the train station. For regular journeys, it is good to buy a ČD loyalty card (In Karta), see Czech_Republic#Train_tickets. A private operator RegioJet provides train service ten times a day. Tickets are sold online and at the station. €11-16. Olomouc: 1½ hr, every 2 hours: Be careful that you get the direct train, because another train to Olomouc via Břeclav departs at around the same time which will add 40 minutes more to your trip. 150 Kč. Ostrava: 2¼ hr, hourly. Operated by Regiojet, €9. Bratislava: 1½ hr, EC trains every 2 hours, 290 Kč. Regiojet trains four times a day, €7-9. Plzeň: 6½ hr, every 2 hours, 500 Kč. (it's better to take a train to Prague, 1⅓ hr, 219 Kč; and transit there) Vienna: 1½ hr, Railjet trains every 2 hours (depart from Wien HbF station, though you can also depart from other stations further from the city center), €30. Regiojet trains five times a day, €15. Rijeka: the overnight Regiojet calls here on its way to Prague. (no longer running as of Oct 2024) 1 Brno hlavní nádraží (Brno Main railway station). Close to the city centre, almost all attractions are just within a few minutes walk. These attractions are to the north of the station, to the left coming out; follow the sign marked "Centrum," not the one marked "Centra." (updated Nov 2020)

By car Using highways - D1 highway from Prague and Ostrava or using any of the national roads, D2 from Bratislava or D52 from the south (it runs towards Vienna, but ends about 25 km ahead of borders). For the highway, you have to buy a toll sticker.

By bus There are coach services from various European destinations including Prague where frequent buses run touting assorted amenities and stops (such as Prague Airport). A timetable of all buses (including international) can be found on IDOS. Two main bus stations are used. A few hundred meters north of the train station is 2 Benešova street, at hotel Gran

Getting around

The Integrated Transport System of the Southern Moravia Region (IDS JMK) covers public transport over Brno and the whole Southern Moravia Region; it includes local trains, trams (called "šalina" in local dialect), buses and trolleybuses. Daytime transport ends up at 23:00, the night buses run every 30-60 minutes and have a central transfer node at the Main Train Station. Some night buses have a connection to night buses in the region, so you can get from Brno at night to surrounding villages. For journeys within the city, a short transfer ticket (valid 15 min, 20 Kč) and long transfer ticket (60 min, 25 Kč) are available. Tickets are available at yellow ticket vending machines at bus and tram stops, and also at railway station counters. People aged 70 and over travel for free, show your passport, if there is a ticket inspection. Brno has a system called Beep&Go, where every bus, trolleybus and tram in the city has a terminal for contactless ticket purchases using your credit card, smartphone or smart watch. You can also purchase tickets for people traveling with you or tickets for zones outside city limits. When getting on a public transport vehicle, simply tap your card/device to the terminal near the doors and tap again before getting off. At the end of the day, all of your rides will be evaluated and you will be charged accordingly (capped at 90 Kč - equivalent to a 24h ticket). This system does not apply to commuter trains and ferries, but there are ticket machines located on the platform/pier. When a ticket inspector comes, you have to tap your card/device to their reader. You need to use the same device you used to purchase the ticket, because services like Google Pay or Apple Pay create virtual credit cards when paying. South Moravia Region is divided into tariff zones. Brno consists of two zones. IDS JMK tickets are valid in all buses and local trains (category Os, Sp and R), the price varies on number of zones you travel over. One-day network ticket costs 90 Kč for Brno and 190 Kč for the whole region. On weekends up two adults and three children can travel on a single network ticket. If you decided to bring your bicycle with you, there is a map of bike paths available on Brnonakole.cz. It is not allowed to bring vehicles with alternative power (e-bikes, e-scooters, etc.) except for wheelchairs on public transport. Even though the city centre is flat and easily accessible by bike, it is forbidden to ride a bike in the pedestrian zone (mainly Freedom Square (náměstí Svobody) and surrounding streets) during workdays from 09:00 to 17:00. There is

See

The city centre is full of historical buildings, old churches, theatres, fountains, sculptures, clubs, restaurants, etc. It is very compact, so one can just walk around most of the places of interest.

Architecture 1 Old Town Hall, Radnická 8 (between Náměstí Svobody and main station). See beloved Brno symbols the Brno Dragon (Brněnský drak) and the Wheel. Also notice the lopsided tower above the entrance. Legend has it that the city council stiffed the mason who built it and he made the crooked ornament in a fit of pique. The town hall's tower is accessible, but cathedral towers offer much better views for significantly lower price. 2 Capuchin Monastery (Kapucínský klášter), Kapucínské náměstí 5, ☏ +420 539 002 163. Nov–Mar: M–Sa 10:00–16:00, Su 11:00–16:30; Apr–Oct: M–Sa 09:00–18:00 (closed 12:00-13:00), Su 11:00–17:00. The 17th-century monastery lies right in the city centre. It has Baroque statues and a mummified monks exhibition in an underground tomb. 120 Kč; photography fee 30 Kč. (updated Oct 2024) 3 Church of St. James, Jakubské náměstí. Tu–Su 09:30–18:00, M closed. This church is doubtlessly one of the most notable churches in Brno. It's a big Gothic church founded in the 13th century. It has remained unchanged since the 17th century which is quite rare. Beneath the church is the Brno Ossuary, the second biggest ossuary in Europe (after the Catacombs of Paris) that is open since 2012. Note that the catacomb is closed for maintenance as of Nov 2024. 140 Kč. (updated Oct 2024) 4 Petrov Cathedral, Petrov Street. Cathedral: 08:15–18:30; tower: May–Sep 12:00–18:30, Oct–Apr 12:00–17:00; crypt: Tu–Su 11:00–17:00. St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, known as Petrov forms a dominant silhouette of Brno skyline. (Petrov is the name of the hill which the cathedral is built upon, not the cathedral.) Pictured on 10 Kč coin. 5 Špilberk Castle (Hrad Špilberk), ☏ +420 542 123 615, [email protected]. May–Sep 09:00–18:00, Oct–Apr 10:00–17:00. Formerly the major royal castle in Moravia, the seat of Margraves (rulers) of Moravia, and once the seat of the King of the Holy Roman Empire (King Jobst of Moravia). Later it became a famous fortress which was for a long time used as one of the most feared prisons in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Many people have been tortured here from all around Europe, mostly during the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It's the city museum with restaurant and there's a nice park around it, open for walks and beautiful sightseeing, the castle and the park are parts of the national cultural heritage of Czech Republic. Permanent exhi

Do

Football: FC Zbrojovka Brno were promoted in 2026 and now play soccer in First League, the top tier. Their ShipEx Arena (capacity 10,000) is 5 km north of city centre. 1 Brno Zoo, U zoologické zahrady 147/46, ☏ +420 546 432 311. Daily 09:00-16:00. A great zoo set in a nice area with hundreds of animals such as polar bears, seals, tigers, chimpanzees and more. 100 Kč. ExploreBrno — easy walking, treasure hunt game in the city centre. Min. 2–3 hours Wine-Tours.cz — South Moravia Highlights by minibus (Mikulov, Lednice, Valtice, and big degustation in Wine Center of Czech Republic) or halfday trip to Moravian Karst (boat trip in punkva caves) 2 Ignis Brunensis. There are four firework competitions on the dam lake and at least two in the town centre. The fireworks begin every evening at 22:30 and last about 22 minutes. Public transport runs longer and more frequently at these times. During the festival there are nights of theatres and museums. Entrance is free, but expect crowds. 3 Brno Racing Circuit. Moto GP Grand Prix every year takes place here in August. 4 Brno Trade and Fair Centre (BVV), Výstaviště 1 (tram stop „Výstaviště”). The largest trade centre in the Central European region with many important fairs. The largest are Autosalon, MSV (International Engineering Fair), Invex (International Fair of Information and Communication Technologies), IDET (International Exhibition of Defence and Security Technologies and Special Information Systems), a Vinex (International Wine Fair) and Pivex (International Beer Fair). Notable for its functionalist interwar architecture, it is mostly unused and fairs are held in newer halls. Guided tours are sometimes organized. One World Brno. Documentary film festival on human rights held every [ the background]]. Treasure Hunt Brno, Čechyňská 8, ☏ +420 542 211 935, [email protected]. Treasure Hunt Brno is a dynamic team competition that makes use of modern technology and GPS-enabled tablets and lets you visit a wide range of Brno's historical monuments in a record time. Suitable for larger groups and companies. 5 Jakubské náměstí. Grab a few friends and go have a drink at Jakubské náměstí during summer. After work or school, lot of people came here to have a drink. The area behind the St. James church has become a living part of Brno. Many pubs, wine cellars and cafés make a unique atmosphere. If you are lucky, you can run into a concert or screening. Almost every day there are dancing lessons at Café Savoy (salsa, tango, swing....) If you are talented, you can use a free-to-play piano on the square. 6 VIDA! Scie

Buy

The ATMs of these banks in the city centre do not charge a fee for withdrawing money:

fio banka KB (Komerční banka) Raiffeisenbank 1 Vaňkovka Gallery, Ve Vaňkovce 1 (between train station and central bus station). A large shopping centre converted from an old industrial centre dating to the beginning of the 19th century. Many of the historical industrial buildings were saved and integrated into the new shopping centre. 2 Avion Shopping Park, Skandinávká (Brno-jih district, Ikea bus stop or Avion Shopping). South of the centre in the metropolitan area of Brno-jih, Avion Shopping Park is a huge shopping mall with dozens of shops, from small boutiques to large Ikea. 3 Campus Square, Netroufalky 770/14 (Bohunice district, across the Masaryk university campus, stops Univerzitní kampus (bus, trolleybus) or Nemocnice Bohunice - direct connection from main train station (tram 8)). In the southern part of the city, a huge shopping mall with many shops If you are spending some time in Brno, you should consider getting a 'Tourist Card BrnoPas', which gives you very attractive rates for bundled tourist attractions.

Eat

Czech food is mostly based on pork, dumplings and potatoes. Another Czech favourite is smažený sýr, fried cheese, which is available at many restaurants and fast food stands. Soups plays an important part in Czech cuisine as it is almost always part of lunch (chicken, beef or vegetable broth, garlic soup, cabbage soup, goulash soup, vegetable soup or mushroom soup). A good option is to visit one of the many pubs or restaurants that usually offer traditional Czech food all day long. You could easily find a restaurant where you get a meal and a drink for around €7, even in the city center. Many of these places also offer cheaper special (limited, pre-prepared) menus at mid-day. Cafés offer a nice selection of rolls and pastries if you're looking for breakfast. Visit the cukrárna (confectionery) near the House of the Four Idiots on nám. Svobody and try a rakvička ("little coffin", small pastry covered with cream). This is the only place in the Czech Republic to find the chocolate ones.

Budget

City centre 1 Poe-Poe, Masarykova 442/3. (updated May 2022) 2 Carmel Divadelní, Divadelní 3. (updated May 2022)

Lužánky Park 3 Bistro Bastardo, Štefánikova 91/20 (just north of the park), ☏ +420 605 454 040. Authentic, delicious, decently-priced Mexican food (tacos, pozole soup). (updated Apr 2023)

North-west of the centre around the Grohova tram station 4 Restaurace U Draka, Veveří 451. (updated May 2022) 5 Oaza, Slovákova 351. Cheap vegetarian/vegan dishes. (updated Nov 2024) 6 VEGALITE, Slovákova 359/10. Vegetarian. (updated May 2022) 7 Best Kebap, Veveří 474/36. (updated May 2022)

Mid-range There are plenty of restaurants in the city centre, where you can have a decent dinner. Czech and international cuisine can be found. A very incomplete list of the good restaurants may include:

8 Na Švábce, Údolní 4. (tram stop „Komenského náměstí”). Czech cuisine, good Pilsner beer and daily menu even during weekend. 9 Cattani, Josefská 2 and Veveří 6. (tram stops „Zelný trh and Česká”). Fresh pasta, good wine selection. Has two branches, both close to city centre. 10 Pegas brewery, Jakubská 4. (tram stop „Česká or Náměstí svobody”). Goulash, roasted ribs, pickled cheese and many other "go-with-beer" courses. Self made beer.

Splurge 11 Cha-Cha, Husitská 8a. Delicious Caucasion dishes (mostly Georgian), a good selection of wines from the Caucasus, Czech beer on tap. (updated Nov 2024) 12 Piazza, OC omega, Náměstí svobody 9 (tram stop „Náměstí svobody”). Italian restaurant with fresh fish and sea food, pizza and pasta. Nice collection of Grappa.

Drink & nightlife

The traditional Brno beer is Starobrno, and a traditional non-alcoholic soft drink is Kofola (a very different but captivating kind of cola). Both must be tasted in draught form! Although Czechs are famous for their love of beer that love is mostly focused on pale beer, dark beer (černé pivo) is sweet and not very often drunk here. There's quite a few small breweries in the city, among them a small private brewery named Pegas, a block west from the steeple of St James Church (sv. Jakub). The pub is equipped with modern brewing technology, beer is made right in front of the guests' eyes. For a list of other breweries look at this list. The go-to bar is the cramped and smoky Charlie's Hat (known to most locals simply as Charlie's), east on Koblizna street from the north end of Freedom Square (50 Kč entry, includes drink voucher). A cluster of more down-tempo bars frequented by students can be found along Dominikánská (Kavárna Trojka - students caffee and bar) and Starobrněnská just west of the Zelný trh (cabbage market square). Around the main square, you can find a lot of clubs, pubs, restaurants, coffee houses and lounge bars. Bars in and around Dvořákova street in the city centre include:

1 Pivovarská, Mendelovo náměstí 20. It is a big pub & restaurant owned by Starobrno brewery. 2 Bar, který neexistuje, Dvořákova 1. Cocktail bar featuring a huge menu of rums and whiskies. 3 Lokál U Caipla, Kozí 3. Traditional pub, featuring lots of typically Czech dishes and beer served from big metal tanks. 4 Zelená Kočka Pivárium, Dvořákova 3. Beer speciality pub - serving Dalešice beer (made in a brewery 60 km away famous for appearing in the film Postriziny) as well as a selection of beers from around the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria which changes every day. 5 Pegas, Jakubská 4. Already above mentioned pub with self-made beer. 6 Rotor, Dvořákova 12. Cosy little bar with good wine, spirits and coffee. 7 Výčep Na Stojáka, Běhounská 6. Probably the most popular bar in Brno during summer, where locals and foreigners alike drink cold Chotěboř (lager type beer) soak in the evening sun in the square. 8 Lucky Bastard Beerhouse, Bratří Čapků 8. M–Sa 17:00–00:00. The Lucky Bastard Beerhouse takes you to the world of ales where you can play a few songs on the piano and taste some quality gin. (updated Mar 2017) 9 Hostinec U Bláhovky, Gorkého 54. Daily 12:00–24:00. Relaxed atmosphere of the 1930s. Excellent Pilsner and pork knee. (updated Mar 2017) 10 Ochutnávková pivnice, Lidická 1860/10. M–F 15:00–24:00, Sa Su 16:00–24:00. The place where the beer co

Sleep

There are many hotels all around Brno city. You can compare and choose hotels on Brno Hotels Directory.

Budget Hostel Fléda, Štefánikova 24 (tram stop „Hrnčířská”), ☏ +420 731 651 005, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 13:00. Low-budget hostel, 10 minutes walking from the centre, possible discounts in the nearby club Fleda. Dormitory from 300 Kč/person, double from 800 Kč/room.. Hostel Mitte, Panská 11 (tram stop „Hlavní nádraží”), ☏ +420 734 622 340, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Nice little hostel in the very centre. Dormitory from 490 Kč/person, double from 1100 Kč/room. Price includes breakfast.. Hotel Garni Vinařská, Vinařská 5 (At the Masaryk University student dormitory area, tram stop „Lipová”), ☏ +420 549 492 713, fax: +420 549 492 702, [email protected]. Hotel Garni: double from 980 Kč, triple from 1620 Kč, quad from 2060 Kč/room. Student dormitory (15 Jun–9 Sep): double from 500 Kč. Bunker 10-Z (Kryt 10-Z), Husova ulice (opposite house no. 12), [email protected]. This bunker offers overnight accommodation. CZK 550 dorm bed. (updated Oct 2024)

Mid-range Hotel Barceló Brno Palace, Šilingrovo náměstí 2/265 (Brno-střed), ☏ +420 532 156 777, [email protected]. Lovely boutique hotel in romantic style located in the centre of Brno. Penzion Brno, Preslova 90 (trolleybus stop „Marie Pujmanové”), ☏ +420 543 211 953, [email protected]. Double from 800 Kč, triple from 1200 Kč/room. 1 Penzion Luna, Štefánikova 12 (Around the corner from Park Lužánky.), ☏ +420 541 235 781, [email protected]. Basic pension. Call to book a room. Double from 1100 Kč.

Splurge Hotel Santander, Pisárecká 6 (bus stop „Pisárecká”, 10 minutes walk from the fairground BVV), ☏ +420 547 220 233, fax: +420 547 220 375, [email protected]. Offers a luxurious accommodation in 13 double rooms, 1 single room and 1 suite with a fireplace in a comfortable environment of a new restored stylish villa dating from the beginning of the 20th century. The villa has an enclosed parking lot on the hotel premises. Single 1590 Kč, double 1990 Kč/room. The price can rise during important trade fairs.. Hotel Continental Brno, Kounicova 6, ☏ +420 541 519 111, fax: +420 541 211 203, [email protected]. Single 1700 Kč, double 2300 Kč/room. 10% discount if booked online. The price can rise during important trade fairs. Hotel Slavia, Solniční 15, ☏ +420 542 215 080, fax: +420 542 211 769, [email protected]. Single 1750 Kč, double 2100 Kč, triple 2600 Kč/room. Hotel Royal Ricc, Starobrněnská 10, ☏ +420 542 219 26

Go next

Moravia has a dense cluster of nearby sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List

Olomouc: a fine historic university town, with an impressive Plague Column (1½ hour trip) Telč is one of the prettiest towns in the Czech Republic (2 hours trip) Lednice-Valtice is one of the largest artificial landscapes in Europe dotted with palaces and follies (1 hour trip) Třebíč has one of Europe's best preserved Jewish areas (1½ hour trip) Žďár nad Sázavou contains a fine pilgrimage church (1½ hour trip) Kroměříž: an impressive baroque chateau and formal flower gardens (2 hours trip) Beautiful caves of Moravian Karst, with a boat trip inside the cave (45 minute trip) Ostrava: an ex-mining and industrial town in Silesia area (2½ hours away). Places near Brno - trips less than one hour

Battlefield Austerlitz (town Slavkov u Brna) Castles: Veveří, Pernštejn, Bučovice, Slavkov u Brna 1 Almond orchard in Hustopeče (45 minutes by train every 30 minutes). Beautiful in spring when the almond trees are blooming (updated Jan 2025) Hostels are available in these towns that can be easily reached by bus/train from Brno:

Olomouc (80 km) Kroměříž (70 km) Humpolec (100 km) on the way to Prague Tábor (170 km) Prague (210 km) Other places

Vienna is easily accessible as a day trip by train or bus (return ticket by train €33, by bus €14) Bratislava is less than an hour away