From Wikitravel

Brno[1] (German: Bruenn) is a major city of the Moravia region in the Czech Republic. It is the largest city in South Moravia, the second largest city in the Czech Republic by population and the third largest city by area. The city celebrated 750 years of "city status". It was founded around year 1000. Brno is the cultural and administrative center of South Moravia. The Supreme Court of the Czech Republic is situated here as well as many other important authorities. Its population is around 380,000 people.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By train

From Vienna (Austria - 156 km), Prague (Praha - 250 km), Ostrava (172 km), Bratislava (Slovakia - 140 km) and also from number of smaller local towns as Česká Třebová and Jihlava. The Brno Central Station is located close to (10min walk) the center of town, with Náměstí svobody (Square of Freedom), Petrov (old town with cathedral), Vaňkovka (large shopping center) and other attractions just within a few minutes walk. Brno is an important stop on the Prague to Vienna / Bratislava railway line; all Eurocity and Intercity expresses stop here.

[edit] By car

Using highways - Ostrava, Bratislava, D1 highway from Prague or using any of a national roads.

200km from Prague airport

[edit] By coach

There are coach services from various European destinations including Prague.

Czech Airlines has a coach service from Prague to Brno

[edit] By air

There's an international airport at Brno-Tuřany with regular international services to Barcelona-Gerona (Ryanair, every second day), London-Stansted (Ryanair, 1 flight/day), Moscow-Vnukovo (Atlant-Soyuz Airlines/SmartWings, only on Sun) and domestic service to Prague (Czech Airlines(CSA), 1-2 flights/day). There is a frequent (every 30 minutes from aprox. 4:30AM to 11:30PM) public transport service (bus Nr. 76) connecting the airport with the center of the city. Fare is CZK 13.

[edit] By boat

A unconventional, but beautiful way how to get to Brno (from it's periphery) is to take a cruiser at Veverská Bitýška village, which would take you (in summer season only) on a trip across Brněnská přehrada (Brno dam lake) to Brno-Bystrc.

[edit] Get around

The Integrated Transport System (IDS) operates all over the city and in some nearby villages; it includes trains, trams, busses and trolley-busses. You can travel around the city using a single ticket, the price differing depending on the number of zones you cross and time of expiration (10, 60, 90 minutes tickets are most common, starting at €0,40). In most places you can get transportation within 15 minutes (daytime). A number of taxi companies are operating in Brno city too.

There are yellow ticket vending machines at the larger bus and tram stations. You can buy short-term tickets, but also 1 and 3 day passes. The price for a 3 day pass in January 2008 is CZK 130 (approx. €5). The machines only takes coins.

If you experience any difficulties, visit one of the Tourist Information Centres located in city center, i.e. at Radnická street or Nádražní street.

[edit][add listing] See

• The City center is full of historical buildings, old churches, theaters, fountains, sculptures, clubs, restaurants, etc. It is very compact, so one could just walk around most of the places of interest.

• Špilberk Castle, the famous fortress used as prison. Many people have been tortured here from all around Europe, mostly during Austro-Hungarian Empire times. Currently, it's museum with restaurant and nice park around, free for walks and beautiful sightseeings.

• Petrov Cathedral, 10 minutes walk from city center. It's silhouette is the defining feature of the Brno skyline.

• Náměstí svobody (Freedom Square) forms the heart of the city. It's shaped into big reversed "A". Many of cultural events take place here and there are always a lot of people here. This place is closed for cars and public transport, which is within 5 minutes walk any direction. Also most of the interesting places at city center are within 10 minutes walk from Freedom Square.

• The Tugendhat Villa, Černopolní 45, 613 00 Brno, +420 545 212 118, [2]. 20min walk from the town center, is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is seen to be a classic example of Bauhaus architecture, and was also the location of the meeting which decided upon the Velvet Divorce that separated the Czech and Slovak republics in 1992. It is possible to visit the Villa by guided tour; tours are led hourly and can be booked by arriving at the gate.

• Vaňkovka Gallery, a really large shopping centre converted from an old industrial center dated to the beginning of 19th century. Many of the historical industrial buildings were saved and implemented into the new shopping center.

• Capuchin Church is a monastery from 17th Century right in the city center. Tourists love to visit the church, because of its Baroque statues and an exposition of mummified monks.

• Baroque Parnas fountain from 16th century, located at "Zelný trh" a square with a fruit and vegetable market above Masaryk street (central street leading into Freedom Square).

• At the top of the square you can find The Moravian Museum [3] - second largest and oldest museum in the Czech Republic. It was founded in 1817 by Emperor Francis I and, today, has collections with millions of objects from different fields of human history.

• The Moravian Gallery, [4]. The second largest art museum in the Czech Republic. Mainly exhibits Moravian art and applied art though out history. Most recommended is its exhibition of modern Moravian art.

• The Mendel Museum of Genetics, [5]. The most famous biologist in the history of genetics died in Brno. This interesting museum commemorates his revolutionary research. Information in English available.

• Museum of Gypsy Culture, [6]. A museum dedicated to the gypsy minority in Moravia.

• Tourist Information Centres are located in the city center, i.e. at Radnická street or Nádražní street.

[edit][add listing] Do

Visit the city celebration [7], held annually, which includes many family activities, including known as "Brno, the city in the center of Europe" .

• Visit Ignis Brunensis, fireworks competition.
• Visit Grand Prix Brno, the Moto GP event.
• http://www.automotodrombrno.cz (Brno Racing Circuit - Masaryk Curcuit)
• Visit an exhibition by your choice at BVV (Brno Trade and Fair Centre), the largest trade center in 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) and of course a Vinex (International Wine Fair) and Pivex (International Beer Fair).
• Visit one of many theaters in the city. They are well known even by many tourists, who comes even just to visit them.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Try city center or Vaňkovka Gallery for pleasure and common shopping. If you want to do a big shopping, you might wish to visit one of many hyper-sized shopping centers usually located at city periphery.

[edit][add listing] Eat

You can get food in many fast-food restaurants around the city, which usually offer pizza, sausage in a roll, cheese & French fries, etc. A better option is to visit one of many pubs or restaurants, that usually offer very good traditional Czech food all day long. You could easily find a restaurant where you get a meal and a drink for around €3, even in the city center.

[edit][add listing] Drink

The traditional Brno beer is Starobrno, traditional non-alcoholic drink is kofola (a very different but captivating kind of coke). Both must be tasted in draught form! Anywhere you see a circular green sign with the name Starobrno, there's a decent pub. Dark beer (pivo cerny) is sweet and not very common here. There is a small private brewery named Pegas[8], a block west from the steeple of St James Church (sv. Jakub). The pub is equipped with modern brewing technologies, beer is made right in front of the guests eyes. For night life try Charlie's (Hat), east on Koblizna street from the north end of Freedom Square.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

There are many hotels all around Brno city.

• Hotel Santander. 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 is in the vicinity of the exhibition area BVV (10 minutes walk) and has an enclosed parking lot on the hotel premises.

• Hotel Continental, [9]. Offers some value at ~ CZK 1550 per night.

• Hotel Slavia is very good for city centre.

• Holiday Inn is good if you are visiting the exhibition centre, otherwise you will need a taxi to centre.

• Hotel Royal Ricc is a very nice romantic hotel.
• Hotel Garni Vinařská, The student dormitory annex hotel on the premises of Masaryk University, Vinařská 5. Tel. +420 549 492 713 or hotel@skm.muni.cz. [10]

[edit] Get out

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

• Olomouc fine historic university town, with an impressive Plague Coloumn
• Telč one of the prttiest towns in the Czech Republic
• Lednice-Valtice is one of the largest artificial landscapes in Europe dotted with Palaces and Follies
• Třebíč has one of Europes best presereved Jewish areas
• Žďár nad Sázavou contains a fine pilgrimage church
• Kroměříž a nice Palace and gardens
• Beautiful caves near Blansko [11]

Other places

• Vienna is easily accessable as a day trip
• Bratislava is less than an hour away

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