Things to do in Brno Czech Republic

The city of Brno is located in the Czech Republic. It’s the capital of the South Moravian region and the second-biggest city in the country. There’s an airport and a train network in Brno, so getting there is pretty easy.

Brno can be reached in multiple ways from the UK. From Stansted, you can fly directly to Brno. You can also catch a flight from Heathrow to Vienna and then board a train to Brno. Alternatively, you can take a flight to Prague and then take a train to Brno. I flew to Vienna and then took the train to Brn. It was a pleasant bonus to get to see another country by taking a flight to Vienna so I could spend a day there en route. Tickets for trains between Vienna and Brno are reasonably priced. It is easy to travel by train since they are very comfortable

The city of Brno offers plenty of sights and activities. Below I am sharing some recommendations of things to do in Brno:

Visit the Vegetable Market (Cabbage Market Brno)

You can find The Vegetable Market, also known as the cabbage market in the 13th century square in Zelný trh the centre of Brno. The square is home to a Baroque fountain, Dietrichstein Palace, Reduta Theatre, Goose on String Theatre, and Labyrinth under the vegetable market.

At the vegetable market, you can buy local produce, food, crafts, and food. The square is a pleasant place to sit and watch the locals go about their daily lives. Those of you who love food like me will love the organic produce here. The market is open from 6am-6pm weekdays and 6am-2pm on Saturdays.

Visit the Labyrinth under the Vegetable Market

Labyrinth under Brno’s vegetable market is fascinating. It’s a collection of underground corridors and cellars. To reach the labyrinth, there is a descend of 212 steps to reach the Labyrinth cellars. Once to reach the underground you will be transported to medieval cellars to learn how food, wine, and beer were stored in the olden days.

In the cellars you can see artefacts and historical information about torture chambers, alchemists’ laboratories, and even archaeological finds. Taking the tour takes about an hour and it is very informative. You can only explore the labyrinth under the vegetable market from Tuesday to Saturday. If you want an English guide, you’ll need to book before you visit, since most tours are in Czech.

Visit the Moravan Square, Courage Statue and Church of St Thomas

Brno has many different squares. The Moravan square is the second largest square in Brno. As I walked through the square I found the park and The Church of St Thomas. St. Thomas’ Church was originally an Augustinian monastery. It is also the burial place of some famous sovereigns, including Margrave Jobst.

I found the majestic statue of Jobst of Moravia, commonly called the courage statue outside the church. The statue is an eight-meter-high horse with very long legs. An armoured knight sits on it. When you walk beneath the horse, you will find a strange surprise hidden underneath. I will not spoil the surprise by telling you what I saw!!

Visit the Namesti Svbody Square (Freedom Square) Astronomical Clock

There is a fountain, cafes, and shops in Namesti Svbody square, which is also known as Freedom Square. Here you will find a black stone monument which was built to commemorate the unsuccessful siege of Brno by the Swedes during the Thirty Years’ War. It was interesting to know that the stone monument houses an astronomical clock with four openings. Each day at 11 am the clock plays a tune and releases a glass ball that you can catch and keep. Intriguingly, enthusiasts surround the clock at this time in order to catch the glass marble. I am not sure if it’s worth anything.

Visit the Old Town Hall

I found the visit to the old town hall very interesting. Once you enter the passage through the large wooden doors, you will see the well-known wooden wheel. In addition, if you look upward, you will see the famous crocodile hanging from the ceiling in the town hall passage. Strangely it is also known as the famous Brno Dragon.

In the town hall there is a gallery, an information centre and an exhibition. It was interesting to see an exhibition showcasing the history of the town hall. To get some breath-taking views of the city of Brno, I climbed up the 63-metre tall town hall tower. On a clear day the views are spectacular.

There is a courtyard surrounding the town hall. During the warmer months, it is a popular venue for hosting concerts, festivals, film screenings and theatre performances.

Visit the Ossuary at the Church of St James

If you are not freaked out by skulls and bones you will find a visit to the Ossuary very interesting. The Brno Ossuary is the second largest in Europe. Our tour included a walk through underground chambers. The exhibits include bones, skulls, antique coffins, and skeletons of over 50,000 people. The ambience of the tour is further enhanced by specialist music.

There are tours in the day and you can also do tours of the Ossuary at night. The opening times are Tuesday – Saturday 9.30-6.00

Visit the 10-Z Bunker

When visiting Brno, you must see the 10-Z Bunker. Originally, these bunkers were built as air-raid shelters during World War II to protect against Soviet bombs. The bunkers were only opened to the public in 2016. While guided tours are available, I chose to walk around on my own at a leisurely pace. There is a map included with the ticket which helps you find your way around. The display of QR-coded videos is really helpful as they explain and illustrate the history well. 

Walking through the bunker there is the shelter’s technical section which features the diesel unit, the filter room, and the phone exchange. Additionally, at the exhibition you can see the death cells from the former Brno prison, as well as messages left by those who died there. As you walk through the bunker, a mixture of chilly air and the smell of damp, cold air hits your nostrils. As a result there is quite an eerie feeling about it.

The 10-Z Bunker offers overnight accommodations. Visitors can experience what it was like to spend time in a bunker through the environment and ambience created. 

Visit Spilberk Castle Brno

I would really recommend a visit to Spilberk Castle whilst in Brno. In the 13th century, Spilberk castle was built using the Gothic and Baroque styles. To visit the castle there is a ten minute walk through the park as it is not possible to get there by public transportation. Although the hike has some steep sections, the spectacular views from the top make it well worth it. In addition to summer theatre festivals, pilberk food festivals, and classical music concerts, the castle hosts Shakespeare festivals in the summer. I recently visited Brno, to attend the Traverse 2022 conference. I had a wonderful experience whilst attending the opening party which was held at the castle.

Walking tour to explore cafes of Brno

Brno is the best place for coffee drinkers. You will find cafes cafes on every corner. A café tour of Brno is the most convenient way to discover the different cafes, I highly recommended for those who are coffee enthusiasts.

Spend a spa day at the Hotel Atlantis

Sometimes after a full day of sightseeing you need time to relax and unwind. I loved visiting the Hotel Atlantis Spa Evening. At the Atlantis Experience Spa, you’ll find outdoor whirlpools, waterfalls, Jacuzzis, and cold plunge pools that transport you to a relaxing natural zone. Within the building are saunas and steam rooms of different types. In addition to the fresh bar and aqua bar, the spa offers massages and beauty treatments. A relaxing break at the Atlantis Hotel is the perfect way to unwind. Luxurious accommodations are also available in the hotel complex.

My visit to Brno was to attend the Traverse 2022 Travel Conference held by Traverse Events. Many of the Pre conference excursions I did during the trip were sponsored by Visit Czech Republic, Liberec Region and Crystal Valley. All content shared in this post is of my personal experience and all opinions shared are honest and true.

Do check out my previous post from my trip to Czech Republic. Here are some posts about the Crystal Valley glass works , Liberec Region , Hotel and Restaurants in and around Liberec and Crystal Valley and Cafes in Brno

I love travelling you may like the following travel posts about my trip to Stockholm:

• Stockholm in three days Part 1
• Stockholm in three days Part 2 Stockholm old town and Gamla Stan
• Stockholm in three days Part 3 Stockholm City Library

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