🇨🇿Czech Republic · Places to discover
What to see in Brno?
22 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Landmarks & heritage
4 places
1WikipediaLandmark
Mahen Theatre
Europe's first theatre to be equipped with electricity, designed by Fellner and Helmer in 1882. The interior is lavishly neo-baroque; tickets remain remarkably affordable compared to Western standards.
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Landmark
Landmark
Parnas Fountain on the Vegetable Market Square
17th-century Baroque fountain at the heart of Brno's main square, depicting mythological figures. An authentically lived public space where locals still do their daily market shopping.
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Landmark
Landmark
Old Town Hall of Brno
13th-century Gothic building housing the legendary passageway with a stuffed crocodile suspended from the ceiling—an unexplained local tradition. The tower affords a clear view across the Vegetable Market square.
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Landmark
Landmark
Villa Tugendhat
UNESCO-listed masterpiece by Mies van der Rohe, built in 1930 for a wealthy Jewish family. Regarded as one of the founding works of modern architecture worldwide—visits by reservation only.
Museums
3 places
5Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5Museum
Moravian Gallery
The Czech Republic's third-largest art gallery, spread across three historic buildings including the Governor's Palace. Its collections of design, decorative arts and photography are of international standing.
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Museum
Museum
Brno Technical Museum
Large industrial and technical museum with collections of automobiles, motorcycles, aircraft and steam engines from Central Europe. Fascinating for all ages, it remains underrated by mainstream travel guides.
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Museum
Museum
Mendel Museum
Museum dedicated to Gregor Mendel within the monastery where he discovered the laws of heredity. Interactive and beautifully designed, it traces the life of the monk-scientist with a reconstructed experimental garden.
Religious sites
3 places
8Wikimedia CommonsReligious site
Ossuary of Saint James Church
Europe's second-largest ossuary after the Paris Catacombs, rediscovered in 2001 beneath Jakubské náměstí square. The remains of 50,000 people are displayed here with sober, respectful presentation.
9Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Religious site
Church of Saint Thomas and Augustinian Convent
17th-century Baroque complex where Gregor Mendel conducted his pea experiments, founding modern genetics. The monastery garden where he worked remains visible today.
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Religious site
Religious site
Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul
Neo-Gothic cathedral perched atop Petrov hill, the absolute symbol of Brno. A local curiosity: its bells ring noon at 11 o'clock, a tradition dating from a 17th-century military ruse.
Castles & fortresses
1 place
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Castle
Castle
Špilberk Castle
Medieval fortress dominating the city, a former Habsburg prison converted into the municipal museum. The panoramic view from the ramparts across Brno's rooftops is just as compelling as the historical exhibitions within.
Nature
1 place
12Wikimedia CommonsNature
Brno Lake (Brněnská přehrada)
An artificial reservoir dating from the 1940s that has become the favourite summer retreat for Brno locals: swimming, pedalos, waterside restaurants. Twenty minutes from the city centre by tram, with a seaside atmosphere minus the sea.
Parks & gardens
2 places
13Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Park
Lužánky Park
Czech Republic's oldest public park, opened in 1786, a sprawling 23-hectare green space beloved by Brno families and joggers. Off the tourist trail, this is where the city truly breathes.
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Park
Park
Kraví hora Park and Planetarium
A popular hilltop park home to the Czech Republic's largest planetarium, with a terrace commanding city views. Local families converge here at weekends for picnics with a panoramic backdrop.
Viewpoints
2 places
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Petrov Hill Panoramic Terrace
A developed viewpoint at the foot of the cathedral offering a sweeping 180° panorama across the old town, Špilberk Castle and the Moravian hills. Spectacular sunsets, favoured by locals in the evening.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Červený kopec Hill and Observatory
A wooded hill to the south-west of Brno home to a public astronomical observatory that opens on select evenings. A peaceful walk off the beaten track revealing unexpected vistas across the conurbation.
Activities
2 places
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Activity
Activity
Underground Labyrinth beneath Zelný trh Market Square
Network of two-level medieval cellars beneath Brno's historic centre, once used for food storage and as refuges. An original guided tour that reveals the invisible city beneath your feet.
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Activity
Activity
Brno Circuit (Masarykův okruh)
Legendary motor-racing circuit hosting the Czech Republic Motorcycle Grand Prix since 1950. Guided tours of the paddock and track are available outside race weekends—guaranteed thrills.
More to discover
4 places
19Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Place
Zelný trh Market
Daily open-air market on the baroque square, where Moravian market gardeners have sold vegetables, flowers and cheeses for centuries. The finest place to experience the everyday rhythm of the city.
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Place
Place
Volařík Winery – Moravian Wine Cellar
Wine tasting room and shop showcasing South Moravian wines in central Brno. This underrated wine region produces excellent white varieties—Welschriesling and Müller-Thurgau among them—virtually impossible to find elsewhere, making it ideal for taking home a bottle.
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Place
Place
Alfa Passage and Historic Centre Arcades
Network of Art Deco covered passages linking streets through the historic centre, notably the celebrated Alfa Passage with its 1920s mosaics. A daily shortcut for locals and a discreet architectural gem.
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Place
Place
Štatl Quarter (Staré Brno)
Popular old neighbourhood south of the centre, undergoing gentle gentrification, filled with independent galleries, neighbourhood bars and the weekly Mendlovo náměstí market. The living soul of Brno away from the crowds.
Also 🇨🇿 in the Czech Republic
