Exploring Brno
Consider exploring Brno. Is only one hour and a half drive from Bratislava and two hours drive from Prague.
I am not entirely objective. I have fond memories of Brno and I always returned with pleasure there . Is due to the fact that this city has been good to me and I met there a lot of very nice people . With some I am in touch even today.
Before I got a job in Brno I have to admit I was quite ignorant. I had to open a map to see where exactly is this town. And what an eye-opener my first visit there was.
Exploring Brno -arriving to destination
For my first time there I wanted to fly directly . ? But when I start to explore this option all the agents told me that there was no direct flight. Because Brno has a small and cute airport with only a few flights. If you insist on flying to Brno then probably you will need to do a stop in Prague or Vienna. These are the most frequent options.
If you fly from London then Ryan air can fly you directly. ? The point is that Brno is close to Vienna ( around 130 km) and even closer to Bratislava. From Prague to Brno are around 200 km. There are many connections between these places.
The train is still very popular in this part of Europe. And of course there are many bus lines which provide rides between the cities. The prices are very affordable.
Hence you have many options to get to Brno! If money is no object! 😉
Exploring Brno – first sightseeing
There are three things that you can not miss while in Brno:
Masarykova street
Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul
Spilberk  Castle
Exploring Brno – Masarykova street
It took me a looong time to get it right but I managed to say the name of the most famous street in Brno. It literally cuts the old city center. There are shops, restaurants, cafe places on both sides .
And it opens into the Nam Svobody. A place where in many occasions they organize concerts and all kind of activities. That includes Christmas market. When such events take place the temporary booths  with food and drinks are also open.
All around this street are old buildings that are beautifully preserved or restored. There are many others smaller streets that are continuing from Masarykova .
If you decide to go walking you should know that the pavement is made of hard stones meaning not very friendly towards high heels. ? Because of that I ruined a few pairs of shoes!
Exploring Brno- Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul
Another great place is Cathedral of Saint Peter and Paul. The cathedral sits majestic on the crest of a hill in the old center. Is very hard to miss it because is one of the tallest buildings there. For a  small fare you can buy a ticket for a tower tour.
There are quite a few narrow stairs that could present a challenge for seniors but the view is very nice . Although the balcony is a bit on the small side. ?
Around the cathedral there is a very nice park with great view over the city. The place seems favored by the romantic couples. There are also many nice quiet corners where you can read a book on a bench.
Probably you will see at least one person reading, even studying .
Exploring Brno- Spilberk  Castle
Finally “a must see” is Spilberk Castle. You didn’t see Brno if you didn’t see Spilberk Castle. Not that you can miss it! But I mean have a closer look. The castle’s garden is very big and nice too. The walk can take quite some time. Depending on how much you like to linger to admire different views. Maybe it would be wise to have some snack with you. 🙂
Relevant is that at the castle there are some temporary expositions. During summer some theatrical performances take place there.
Spielberk castle is always a good choice if you want to spend a few good hours!
Exploring Brno- Cost of living
If you are worried about the budget then I can say that the prices are lower than in Bratislava or Prague. And most important the beer is very cheap.Often cheaper than the bottled water. 🙂 In restaurants the food is more affordable than in either of the cities mentioned above.
There are quite a few hotels and pensions that can provide temporary accommodation. In addition Aibnb is also present.
Brno is an university town, with a lot of history, with great night life (in my opinion better than Bratislava), and many points of interests that you can not miss if you live in Bratislava, Vienna or Prague.
In conclusion if you ask for my advise? 🙂
I say:
Give it a try! 😉
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