Getting Around Brno

Brno is an easy city to get around: a compact, largely pedestrian centre wrapped in a dense network of trams that locals rely on far more than cars. For most visitors the honest answer to 'how do I get there?' in the centre is simply 'walk' — the sights cluster tightly between the two hills. Where you do need transport, the system is cheap and intuitive: frequent trams form the backbone, with trolleybuses and buses run by the transport company DPMB, plus regional trains for day trips. There is no metro, and you will not miss one. This guide covers the handful of things worth knowing — when walking wins, how the trams and tickets work, whether the BRNOPAS pays off, how to reach the centre from the airport and the main station, and the role of taxis and bikes. None of it is complicated, and you will spend little time on logistics here.

Walk the centre

The historic core is small and mostly pedestrian, and nearly every central sight — Spilberk, Petrov, Freedom Square, the Cabbage Market, the ossuary — is within 10 to 15 minutes of the others on foot. Cars are largely kept out, so walking is faster and far more pleasant than any alternative.

Trams, trolleybuses and buses

Brno's public transport, run by DPMB, is built around a frequent tram network, backed by trolleybuses and buses that reach the suburbs, Villa Tugendhat, and the reservoir. Buy a ticket before boarding from a machine, kiosk, or the DPMB app, and validate it on board; fares are time-based, with a cheap short-ride ticket and a standard 60-minute one. Many lines run through the night at weekends.

The BRNOPAS

For active sightseeing, the BRNOPAS bundles entry or discounts at the main attractions with public transport in 24-, 48-, or 72-hour versions, and the 3-day pass even includes a free return cruise on the reservoir. If you plan to see several paid sights and ride a few trams in a day, it can pay for itself; a slow, walk-only trip may not need it.

From the airport and train station

Brno-Turany Airport, about 8 km southeast, is a small airport linked to the centre and main station by bus in around 20 minutes. The main railway station (Brno hlavni nadrazi) sits at the southern edge of the centre, a few minutes' walk or one tram stop from the sights, and connects Brno to Prague, Vienna, and Bratislava by fast trains in roughly 1.5 to 2.5 hours, as well as to the day-trip towns of South Moravia.

Taxis, bikes and scooters

Licensed taxis and ride apps are useful late at night or with luggage; agree a fare or use the app for longer trips. Shared bikes and e-scooters are widely available, and the flat riverside and park paths make cycling pleasant, though the tram is usually quickest across town.

When to just walk

Within the centre, walking always wins — the distances are short and the streets are the attraction. Save the tram for Villa Tugendhat, the reservoir, Stare Brno, and trips to and from the station.