Brno is buzzing city, which has a lot to offer. In the city center, you will find all shops you need (and don’t need), a great variety of bars, parks, restaurants, outdoor sports facilities and so on. Leaving the center, Brno becomes a bit more calm, but the the density of bars remains high. Outside of Brno, the beautiful landscape, which is shaped by hills, forests and caves, is the perfect get-away destination for recharging and enjoying the calm natural side of Brno. Below, I will list my top 5 places or activities in or around Brno.
1. Hiking on Sunday
Every Sunday a large group of internationals in Brno meets somewhere at Brno’s border; or as they see it, they meet at the gate to Brno’s nature. Everyone is welcomed to join the weekly hike, which usually ends with paying a visit to a pub. All the information can be found in this Facebook group: Call of the Woods.
Being new to Brno, the hikes are a wonderful way to discover the surroundings of Brno without any planning. Moreover, hiking in a large group is the best way to quickly make friends in your new hometown.
2. Visit the old stadium (Lužánkami)
Not far from the center, there is one of my favorite places in Brno: Za Lužánkami or as most people call it: the abandoned stadium. The last professional sports event seems to be quite a few years in the past. Instead of cheering crowds, the tribunes are now covered by plants and trees, which reclaim the once lively place. The stadium is easily accessible and a great spot to catch the sun after a long day in university.
3. Visit the new stadium (Srbska)
A slightly more crowded stadium is the home of FC Zbrojovka Brno. For someone who is passionate about football, visiting at least one of Zbrojovka’s home games is a must. Even though, the stadium usually is just slightly more crowded than the abandoned stadium and football quality might not be high, cheering 90 minutes for your new hometown is nice experience. The tickets are really affordable and your entrance to experience some Czech football and fan culture.
4. Mikulov
Not far from Brno (half-way on the way to Vienna) there is true gem: Mikulov. The small village has a lot of charm with many opportunities to try local wine. You can easily get to Mikulov by train, which makes it the perfect destination for a day trip. You can hike up a hill on the other side of the city. This maybe takes 30 minutes, but is rewarded by a nice view over Mikulov and the surrounding wineries.
5. Night-life
Brno has a very vibrant night life culture. With hundreds of bars and many clubs, everyone can find a suitable place to enjoy some of Brno’s best beers and wines (and a lot more of course). Brno has some really unique bars, but finding all of them seems an impossible task, as there are just too many. During warmer months, many people meet at “the horse”. Here, you can meet lots of people and maybe start your next party adventure.