Short Answer: Well, it is not the „small Prague” as many believe, but has its own charm.
Long answer: I went to work in Brno, I spent two nights in a hotel in the city centre. A very short time, but fortunately I had a few hours every day to get to know the city.
If you want a detailed city tour, you will be disappointed, I’ll just give you my impressions.
Brno is only 260 kilometers from where I live in Hungary, but this was my first visit. Somehow it is out of the way and out of sight. At least I had believed this.
Then, when I got home, I posted some photos on the social networking site and several people I knew stopped me on the street to say how good the pictures were, and that they go there regularly, say for a weekend every year. I was surprised.
I read in several guidebooks that Brno is like a small Prague. That sounds good, but it’s not true.
Brno is on first encounter a moderately exciting city, not no wonder it is not high on the world tourism map.
Sure, there are a few sights, like the Špilberk Castle Castle, which we did not go up to, the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, which dominates the city centre with its unique shape, but but don’t expect a dramatic view from the inside.
We also went to the huge reservoir next to the town, which is a kind of recreation area with a zoo, beaches and boats. It’s very pleasant, but there are other places like it.
However, the overall atmosphere of the city is certainly pleasant. It’s nice to wander around the historic city centre, watch the trams, listen to the concerts in the city’s smaller and larger squares. It’s a city of retreats, a perfect destination for a long weekend if you want something interesting but not extreme.
Prices in restaurants and cafés are not nearly as low as they were a few decades ago, but they are still friendly.
Those who like photography will not be disappointed, nor will those who like beer.
We happen to be wine drinkers, but it turned out there is a wine region near Brno, with the centre of Mikulov, and they make some very good wines there.
We went up to the lookout in the tower of the old town hall, and there it occurred to us that there must be rooftops in town. We found one in the city centre (La Gaviota Terraza, Lounge & Sky bar). We arrived just as the sun was setting, it was lovely. But there was no local wine here, just some more expensive French wine.
When we headed home, I didn’t think I’d want to go back, but now I’m not ruling out another visit.
