Looking to visit Brno then we have you covered with our city guide.
Having recently spent a week in Brno I wanted to write a post about the city of Brno and what there is to do. I visited Brno in early September to attend Traverse, a blogging conference. If you enjoy visiting European cities then this needs to be on your bucket list. This city took me by surprise, there is so much to do and so many amazing places to eat and socialise.
Although I was there for a week as I was at a blogging conference Brno would make an ideal short trip and here is why!
The city is an ideal place to visit with family or for a mini break with friends. Brno is a university town and therefore there are some super cool bars to keep the students entertained. The city is vibrant and a foodie heaven too. We felt very safe exploring the compact city centre and happily mingled with Brno locals in bars and restaurants.
My first impression of the city was how the historical buildings and modern buildings blend together seamlessly. There is so much to experience in the city that it will be a matter of choosing what to do as it won’t be possible to do it all in a weekend break. The staff in the Tourist information centre are a fantastic source of information and have many free guides to help you make the most of your time in Brno whether you want a cultural or foodie weekend break.
Getting to Brno from the UK
Brno is a city in Czechia that is about two hours away from Prague, it is the second largest city and the capital of Moravia. We flew direct from Stanstead to Brno airport and it took just under two hours with Ryan Air. The airport is ideally situated only a 20 min ride away from the centre of Brno and you can get an Uber very cheaply, we just jumped in a taxi and with the current exchange rate it cost just under £20.
Others flew into Prague from regional airports and then it is about a two-hour train journey and the train station is right in the centre of Brno too!
Where to Stay
There are so many places to stay from hostels, hotels and apartments. We opted to rent an apartment for the week and it was in the perfect location! We stayed overlooking the cabbage market which is central to everything. One thing we loved about Brno is that everything is so close to each other which makes it the ideal mini-break destination.
Most of the city centre attractions are based off the main square so staying in the centre is a great place as you then can walk everywhere. Brno is well known for its many coffee shops and I really enjoyed learning about city and its history. Another plus point for visiting this central Europe city is that it is cheap by UK standards.
Brno Sightseeing Not to Miss
- Spilberk Castle stands proud over the city and can be walked up to easily. This imposing 13th-century castle first served as a fortress and then as a prison for common criminals and opponents of the Hapsburg monarchy. I was lucky enough to attend a drinks gala up in the špilberk castle and take in the beautiful views. The castle walls offer an amazing view of Brno. The castle also serves as a cultural centre, housing Muzeum města Brna (the Brno City Museum). Concerts, theatrical performances, and festivals are often held there.
- St. Peter and Paul Cathedral is one of the most important showplaces in the Czech Republic and viewpoint number one in Brno. The Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul is also pictured on Czech ten Koruna coin. The history of Petrov is quite rich. In 11th century there was built Romanesque chapel. At the end of 13th century, it was rebuilt to the basilica. After that, the basilica was rebuilt into a Gothic movement. The Cathedral is open to visitors for free.
- On our first evening, we headed out to the Atlantis Wellness Spa which was about a 30-minute drive away. The spa was incredible in the evening and there is an indoor pool, outdoor hot tub, plunge pool and even a fire pit. Inside there are a number of saunas and experience showers and rooms. Do be prepared to get naked in the sauna – however, you can wrap up in a sheet if you are not comfortable being starkers! However, others will be so hide your blushes! Spending a few hours in the spa was absolute bliss and I felt the tension float away.
- Brno is full of modern architecture which I loved. The old town hall though is one of the oldest buildings and today it serves mainly cultural purposes, as it houses a gallery, an information centre, and a permanent exhibition on its history. In summer, you can visit its historical halls and climb up the 63-metre tower to enjoy an impressive view of Brno from the top. I climbed the tower which took about five mins and it is definitely worth visiting as you can walk around the whole tower and have panoramic views of the city.
- There are a number of walking tours that you could join, one being a tour of coffee shops. Social history is my thing and the tour showed us where the first coffee shops appeared and explained the link between communism and coffee shops. Whilst visiting a coffee make sure that try the cakes. There are a number of local specialities and they all tasted great.
- Guided tour of Villa Tugendhat, This modernist landmark is an outstanding example of the international architectural style that flourished in 1920s Europe. The villa is a UNESCO world heritage site and well worth a visit.
- In the main square, there is a very modern astronomical clock. Every day at 11:00 it releases a glass marble, which the spectators can catch from one of four openings in the monument and they can take it with them as a souvenir. We were not lucky enough to catch the marble but we saw people waiting each day, if you’d like to try your luck we suggest getting there early and then hoping that you are standing in the right place!
- Stiassni villa, originally built for the family textile factory owner Alfred Stiassni, later to be known as a government villa that hosted many important state visits is another building worth visiting. We had a private tour of this beautiful building and enjoyed a picnic in the grounds. The villa was built between 1927-1929 according to the design of the Brno architect Ernst Wiesner. It stands out primarily for its bold, almost castle-like interiors.
- The vegetable market was right outside our accommodation and this is a brilliant opportunity to stock up on chillis, spices, fruit and flowers. The market is on six days a week and starts super early. Freedom square is a hub of activity and was a great place just to sit and watch. There are coffee shops around the market but also street food vendors and I loved that there were deck chairs that you could just sit in and watch the people of Brno going about their days.
- 10-Z is the most highly classified nuclear fallout shelter in Brno from the Communist era to protect the city’s and region’s representatives. This was one of my favourite tours, it is full of mystery and I got a real feel for what life was like or could have been like. It had been built during the Nazi occupation as a civil defence (Luftschutz) shelter from U.S. and Soviet bombardment of Brno. A total of 600 people could be housed for 3 days. The underground tour was fabulous and it is one of the best things I did.
- Brno has the second largest ossuary in Europe The number of people buried here is estimated to exceed 50,000 and there is the option to visit the ossuary at the church of St James. The ossuary is lit by candlelight in the evenings and this ossuary was only rediscovered in 2002.
- We took a morning out to visit the golf course and driving range at Kaskada Golf Resort which is located 9 km from Brno. The driving range was great fun and the grounds are stunning. This was a welcome break from city life and a good option for getting active.
Eating and Drinking in Brno
There are so many places to eat and drink in Brno that you won’t be stuck for options. There were a few vegan restaurants, plenty of food truck options and takeaways too. Food and drink is very reasonably priced and there were lots of pasta options. Brno is known for the best coffee and there are coffee trucks on the corner of every street!
- The Super Panda Circus was a sight to behold, the first challenge is finding the secret door and gaining access into this mysterious place! We were lucky and invited inside where we enjoyed a few cocktails. It was a delight for all the senses and I could have stayed and drank the entire menu!
- I attended a wine-tasting event and discovered Palava wine. It was really sweet and I was determined to track down a bottle. I was recommended the wine cellars to visit and I enjoyed sampling demi wine and I bought myself a bottle.
- If champagne is more your style a visit to Hotel Continential and their champagne bar is a must-visit. Their range of wines was excellent and the barman was very attentive and knowledgeable. Plus it is very pretty for a photo opportunity. The bar was redesigned during lockdowns and is fast becoming a popular attraction.
- Around the town square are a number of pubs and restaurants and the local dish is a pork stew (although beef or game is sometimes used) with lots of onions, guláš is usually served with bread dumplings or slices of dark bread. A common meal during winter, it’s also one of the simplest and cheapest Czech dishes you can try at a traditional restaurant.
- While schnitzels aren’t exclusively Czech, řízek is unique in that it can be made using a number of different meats, covered in both flour and breadcrumbs before frying and served with a side of potato salad. This meal is also readily available and very cheap.
We really enjoyed our stay in the Czech republic’s second city and think it needs to be on more travellers’ radar. It is full of beautiful places and offers great value for money, our flights were cheap and as I have said previously the cost of living is favourable to many other European city breaks.
You can read Lynsey’s review for more on Brno.
For more mini breaks read Things To Do in Tuscany with Teenagers and also 72 Hours in Lloret De Mar with Jet 2 Holidays
