Things To Do in Brno
Brno is a city where you can easily spend days lazily strolling the beautiful streets, relaxing in the city squares, and exploring secret corners. However, the perfect sightseeing trip can be done in just 24 hours.
9 AM – Breakfast
Start your day right and eat a delicious breakfast at the atmospheric ‘Podnik Cafe Bar’! Delicious coffee is available, plus all of the classic breakfast favorites, from pancakes to avocado and eggs. Best of all, their breakfast menu is served until 2 PM, so if you’re a late riser, you won’t miss out.
Wander among the stalls, admiring the beautiful old architecture surrounding the square, and buy some fresh seasonal fruit as a snack for the day ahead.
Note: The market is open every day except Sunday.
11 AM – Spilberk Castle, Brno
From the Cabbage Market, start making your way uphill to the city’s infamous castle. The castle, despite its bright white walls, has a very dark history. Not only was it one of the harshest prisons during the 17th and 18th centuries, but it was also used by occupying nazis to hold political prisoners of war.
Getting there: The walk takes approximately 20 minutes and is pretty steep, so be prepared! Once there, an hour is enough to cover the grounds of the castle. Allow a little bit more time if you want to explore inside.
Entrance Fees and Opening Times
From October to March: 9 AM-5 PM, Monday to Sunday. From April to September, 9 AM-5 PM, Tuesday to Sunday
Admission varies from 60 CZK to 120 CZK (2.60 – 5.20 USD), depending on which area of the castle you want to see. Full admission to see all parts of the castle (casemates, viewing tower, permanent exhibitions) is 320 CZK. (14.30 USD)
Tip: The Brno city museum is predominantly located inside the castle, as well as at a few other locations around the city.
12 PM – Cathedral of St Peter and Paul
On your way down from the castle, head for the majestic spires of the Cathedral of St Peter and Paul. The Gothic cathedral isn’t hard to find simply because it dominates the Brno skyline from its position on top of Petrov Hill.
The church bells ring at 11 AM instead of 12 PM. The story goes that during the Brno siege (1645), the Swedish army said that unless they conquered the city by the time the noon bells rang, they would withdraw. The people of Brno, wanting to speed up their departure, rang the bells an hour earlier at 11 AM. This tradition has remained intact to honor the event.
Visiting the interior of the cathedral is free but for the best views of the city, you’ll need to pay a small entrance fee to climb the 137 steps to the top of the tower.
Also visit: Karlovy Vary and its Church of St Peter & Paul
1 PM – Lunch
Head to the Soul Bistro for tasty food! And if you’re really hungry, try the fish and chips. The service is excellent, and there’s a great selection of dishes for both vegetarians and meat-eaters.
2 PM – Freedom Square Brno
Freedom Square is the heart and soul of the old town of Brno. The mix of modern and old architecture, together with the cobbled streets, is what makes Brno very charming.
First, check out the black granite astronomical clock, shaped like a bullet, that sits within the square. Every day at 11 AM, a marble is ejected for you to try and catch!
Additionally, the square is normally home to a variety of festivals during the year. When we were there in August, there was an amazing wine festival taking place!
Old Town Hall
Take a short 3-minute walk south of the square to visit the legendary Old Town Hall. The 13th-century building is the oldest building in Brno! Not only is the town hall home to many interesting stories and legends, but it also has a 63-meter tower that is worth climbing for incredible views over the city!
Opening times and entrance fee: Open every day with tickets costing 75 CZK (3.35 USD). Note that the tower is open later until 10 PM, a perfect way to watch the sunset or the evening lights of the city.
In times of plague and cholera, so many people were dying that every few years, they would have to move their bones to make way for new graves. The rooms where they kept the bones were called ossuaries. This one was accidentally discovered in 2001 during a land survey and has now been made into a visual display for visitors to the city. It’s well worth visiting!
4 PM – Villa Tugendhat in Brno
Finally, to finish off your day in Brno, head to the Villa Tugendhat. This site is one of the prototypes of modern architecture in Europe, built in the 1920s! Its sleek lines and minimalist design were created by the architect Mies Van Der Rohe for the owners of the villa, Fritz and Greta Tugendhat.
Visiting the villa is so popular that tours are booked out weeks in advance. It’s worth booking at least 2-3 months before your trip.
Tip: If you don’t manage to book a tour, it is still possible to visit the gardens for free with the BRNOPAS.
Getting to Brno
Brno is served by its own airport, so it is possible to fly directly into the city from other European destinations. From Prague, it is a 2.5-hour drive or a 3-hour bus. (Click here to see all buses and trains from Prague to Brno).
We recommend to rent a car in Czech Republic through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here.
Getting Around
All the city’s main sights are within walking distance of each other, so Brno is perfect to explore on foot. If you do need to buy tram tickets, you can do so at any of the yellow ticket machines placed throughout the city or at the local tobacco shops.
Alternatively, hop on a ride-sharing scooter like Lime. This is a fun and different way to see this city. Get your first ride unlocked for free here.
Where to Stay in Brno
There’s a variety of accommodations for all budgets in Brno. However, try to choose one in the old town, so you can be close to all the main sights.
By purchasing through our links, you support us at no additional cost.
Thank you for your support. ♥️
- Find Hotels via Booking.com
- Find a Rental Car via Sunny Cars
- Find Flights to Czech Republic via Skyscanner
- Get a Travel Insurance via Heymondo
- Book Tours & Attractions via GetYourGuide
- Book a Bus/Train/Transfer via 12Go
Looking for more travel information? Plan a chat with us for personalised travel advice or get an answer from the Salt in our Hair Travel Community on Facebook.
Quite interesting reading once again about beautiful CZ ,especially the anecdotal piece of the Brno siege of 1645. You have made it sound so melodramatic. Keep up the excellent work.