These are the experiences worth building a Brno trip around, from the hilltop castle and the landmark cathedral to the modernist Villa Tugendhat, the macabre ossuary and crypt, and the maze of cellars beneath the streets. The list crosses categories on purpose — sights, history, architecture, and viewpoints — because the best of Brno is a mix of all of them, and much of it sits within a short walk in or around the compact centre. The ranking is a rough guide to what most first-time visitors should prioritise rather than a strict order of merit: a wet afternoon might push the underground sights up your list, while a clear morning belongs to the castle and the viewpoints. Check opening days before you go, since several museums close on Mondays and a few must-book sights — Villa Tugendhat above all — need reserving well ahead. Save the ones that appeal and slot them into your own itinerary.
The Best Things to Do in Brno
Spilberk Castle
The hilltop fortress and Habsburg-era prison that crowns the city, with chilling casemate dungeons, the Brno City Museum, and the broadest views in town.
Villa Tugendhat
Mies van der Rohe's 1930 functionalist masterpiece of glass and onyx, the only modern building in the country on the UNESCO list. Book the guided tour ahead.
Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul (Petrov)
Brno's twin-spired emblem on Petrov hill, with bells that ring 'noon' at 11am and a Baroque interior inside its Gothic shell. Free to enter.
Ossuary at the Church of St James
The bones of more than 50,000 people stacked beneath the Church of St James, the second-largest ossuary in Europe after Paris and hauntingly staged.
namesti Svobody (Freedom Square) & the Astronomical Clock
The main square and city living room, ringed by ornate facades and home to the bullet-shaped 'astronomical clock' that drops a glass marble at 11am.
Labyrinth Under the Vegetable Market
A restored maze of medieval cellars six to eight metres beneath the Cabbage Market, complete with a reconstructed alchemist's laboratory.
Capuchin Crypt
Naturally mummified monks and notables laid out beneath the Capuchin monastery, a stark, unforgettable memento mori in the centre.
Old Town Hall Tower (Stara radnice)
The 13th-century Old Town Hall with its hanging 'dragon' and wheel, and a 173-step tower climb to the most central rooftop panorama.
Zelny trh (Cabbage Market)
The sloping Cabbage Market, a working square since the Middle Ages with the Baroque Parnas fountain and the Reduta theatre where Mozart played.
Mendel Museum
The Augustinian abbey where Gregor Mendel bred peas and founded genetics, now a museum with the foundations of his greenhouse in the garden.
Brno Reservoir (Brnenska prehrada)
The city's wooded summer lake for swimming, beer gardens, and an electric-boat cruise up a rocky gorge to Veveri Castle.
Red Church (Cerveny kostel)
The striking neo-Gothic Red Church of bare brick, restored in 2023 with a new tower gallery, one of Brno's most photogenic landmarks.
FAQ
- What is the one thing not to miss in Brno?
- Villa Tugendhat, if you can get a ticket: Mies van der Rohe's 1930 villa is a landmark of modern architecture and the city's only UNESCO site. If it is booked out, Spilberk Castle and its casemates are the next essential stop and give the best overview of the city.
- What can you do in Brno for free?
- Plenty: wander Freedom Square and its astronomical clock, the Cabbage Market, and Petrov hill, climb to the free viewpoints at Denis Gardens and Spilberk park, and stroll Luzanky or the reservoir shore. A tip-based free walking tour ties the centre together at no fixed cost.
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