Brno holidays

How to reach Brno

Flight time: Flights to Brno take approximately 2 hours from London.

Transfer time: From Brno–Tuřany Airport, the airport express bus takes just 20 minutes to reach the city centre.

Price:

• The airport express bus costs CZK 25 (about £1).

• A taxi will set you back approximately CZK 400 (about £14), while ride-sharing services like Bolt are slightly cheaper.

Best time to visit Brno

Think about what you want to do during your trip. While the weather is more pleasant during the spring and summer, winter has its own attractions.

March to May:

• Spring sees temperatures slowly rise from 10°C to 20°C, with 5–8 hours of sunshine daily and the occasional rain shower - otherwise perfect for exploring Brno’s parks and gardens.

June to August:

• Summers are warm (temperatures average 20°C to 25°C) but can be rainy, with July being one of the rainiest months of the year.

• The ever-popular Brno MotoGP attracts large crowds, the only time when you’ll really need to book accommodation.

September to November:

• September brings the best of all worlds: warm days but without the crowds - an ideal time, therefore, for exploring the city’s many cultural riches, not to mention the nearby vineyards.

• Temperatures cool from 15°C in September to 5°C in November, with 4–6 hours of sunshine.

December to February:

• Winters are cold (temperatures hover between -1°C and 5°C) and wet, but it can stay dry and clear for long spells.

• All that is offset though by Brno’s Christmas market, which adds to the city’s sometimes snowy charm.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: Czech is the official language, but English is widely spoken across the city.

• Local habits and customs: Czech people are known for their politeness and punctuality. Tipping is appreciated but levels are low (it is enough to round up the bill, or to leave the change).

• Currency: The Czech Koruna (CZK) is used and ATMs are widely available. Credit cards are accepted in most places, though it’s handy to carry some cash for smaller vendors and markets.

• Getting around: Whilst you are unlikely to need it, Brno’s public transport system is efficient and affordable, with buses, trams and trolleybuses plying lots of routes. A 20-minute ticket costs CZK 20 (under £1), while a day pass is CZK 90 (£3). Tickets can be purchased at kiosks or through a mobile app.

• Electricity and plug types: Standard European 220 volts with two-pin plugs. UK travellers need an adaptor.

• Time zone: Brno operates on Central European Time, one hour ahead of GMT, with daylight saving time observed.

Best things to do in Brno

South Moravia’s magnificent capital will satisfy history buffs as much as it will fire up travellers looking for contemporary cultural thrills. Like its big sister Prague, Brno delivers big when it comes to Baroque beauty and neo-Gothic grandeur.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Špilberk Castle: Perched high on a hill, Špilberk Castle offers breathtaking views of Brno and the surrounding Moravian countryside.

• Cathedral of St Peter and Paul: Known for its striking twin spires, this marvellous Gothic cathedral sits atop Petrov Hill, providing a panoramic view of the city’s red-roofed skyline from its terrace.

The best districts

• Zelný Trh (Cabbage Market): Ancient square whose cobblestones conceal an underground labyrinth of atmospheric tunnels that reveal an alchemist’s laboratory, an ancient wine cellar and a prison.

• Kamenná Kolonie: The so-called Stone Colony is a scattering of more than 100 traditional houses in an old quarry by the Svratka River. A former working-class area, it has become an enclave for artists and bohemians.

Museums

• 10-Z atomic bomb shelter: For some modern history, you can tour this remarkable bomb shelter. Though its construction began during the days of the Nazi regime, it wasn’t finished until 1959 and touring it today is an immersive experience.

• Brno City Museum: This museum is spread across several of the city’s historic and iconic buildings, including Spilberk Castle, which serves as a depository and a place for permanent exhibitions as well as other shows related mainly to the history and culture of Brno.

• Museum of Romani Culture: Documenting the culture of the Romani and Sinti as well as a wide range of Romani sub-ethnic groups and communities, the museum’s collections contain around 25,000 objects.

Parks and gardens

• Denis Gardens: Situated below Petrov Hill, these popular gardens are a wildly romantic spot, especially in the evening when the park’s colonnade is beautifully illuminated.

Historical monuments

• Villa Tugendhat: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this modernist masterpiece was created by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Tours take you through the sleek interiors and reveal fascinating stories about its design and history.

• Ossuary of St James: Europe’s second largest ossuary, this is another unique underground site that contains the remains of 50,000 people.

• Astronomical Clock: This monumental bullet-shaped timepiece was created to commemorate the city's 17th-century victory against a Swedish invasion. Every day at 11 am, the clock plays a tune and releases a glass ball, which lucky visitors can catch and keep.

Day trips in the area

• Moravian Karst: Geologically significant and heart-poundingly impactful, this is Europe’s largest karst landscape. Within the area, there are five mighty caves to explore, with the main attraction being the Macocha Abyss - it’s 138m deep and echoes with eerie myths and legends.

• Lednice-Valtice Complex: Bestowed with its Garden of Europe sobriquet on account of its elegant landscaping ingenuity set around two sumptuous chateaux, Lednice and Valtice. Grand in scale, ambition, execution and effect, this is a jaw-droppingly magical site.

Activities for families in Brno

Brno holidays offer plenty of family entertainment that is sure to delight kids and parents alike.

• Zoos and aquariums: Brno Zoo is particularly popular thanks to its family of Kamchatka brown bears, arctic foxes and wolverines. Other crowd favourites include a special aviary of bald eagles, an exhibit of kangaroos which visitors may walk through and an African village with a beautiful view of a herd of reticulated giraffes, Chapman’s zebras and blesboks.

• Interactive museums: The Mendel Museum, dedicated to genetics pioneer Gregor Mendel, offers hands-on exhibits to spark curiosity. Meanwhile, the VIDA! Science Centre combines fun and learning with its engaging displays and experiments.

• Adventure parks: Both Junglepark - a maze of treetop courses - and Lanove Centrum, home to big swings and cable cars (zip wires), should do the trick for families seeking to release some pent-up adrenaline.

Free things to do in Brno

Simple (and free) pleasures are to be had simply by strolling Brno’s streets and parks, in addition to occasionally dipping in and out of festivals.

• Free events: Brno hosts several free festivals throughout the year, including the Ignis Brunensis fireworks competition in summer and Christmas markets in December.

• Free museums: Many museums, such as the Moravian Museum, offer free entry on certain days. Do check the websites of other museums.

Nature and outdoor activities in Brno

Brno’s surroundings offer plenty for outdoor enthusiasts, particularly the southern Moravian countryside, where you can combine easy cycling with a visit to a winery or two.

• Cycling: South Moravia has 1200km of cycle trails, with routes that connect the region’s best wine-producing villages, traversing gently rolling terrain through peaceful lanes, forests and fields, with some opportunities for mountain biking too.

• Water activities: Brno Reservoir, also known as the Brno Dam, is where the locals head in summer as it’s a popular recreational spot for swimming and paddleboarding, though others simply prefer pottering about on the water in a hire boat.

Local dishes in Brno

Food is an integral part of holidays to Brno, and the city doesn’t disappoint. Although typically heavy with pork, dumplings, pickles and cream, lighter versions of classic Czech recipes can often be found. Beware though, portion sizes are usually huge...

Some typical dishes

• Svíčková: Czech sirloin roast drizzled with an almost-sweet vegetable sauce and paired with a generous serving of dumplings, whipped cream and cranberry sauce.

• Bramborová polévka s houbami: Potato soup with mushrooms, flavoured with onion, bacon, carrots, cabbage, parsley and spices – almost a meal in itself.

Meat dishes

• Vepřo knedlo zelo: Classic Czech meal starring roast pork, sauerkraut and soft bread dumplings.

• Roast duck: Usually served with red cabbage and dumplings, roast duck is found on many menus in higher-end restaurants.

Street food

• Bramborák: An oily, garlicky potato pancake, delicious and filling despite the greasy fingers.

• Párek v rohlíku: A pork hotdog in the staple bread roll adorned with a streak of ketchup or mustard.

Sweets and desserts

Desserts usually figure in the heavyweight category, for example, the tasty jablkový závin (apple strudel), topped with whipped cream; and kolac, ​​traditional tarts stuffed with poppy seeds, cottage cheese, jam and nut paste. A firm favourite is palačinka, ice cream or cream and fruit enveloped in a pancake.

Local drinks

• Czech beer: Czech beer (pivo) has a reputation to be envied, and Brno has a particularly thriving craft beer scene, with breweries like Pegas and Hauskrecht serving excellent lagers and ales.

• Moravian wine: South Moravia’s vineyards produce fantastic white wines, including Müller-Thurgau and Grüner Veltliner; most restaurants offer the possibility to taste by the glass.