The short answer: one day is enough to see Brno's highlights if you choose your stops. Start at the Vegetable Market and the Old Town Hall, be at Freedom Square before 11:00 for the astronomical clock, visit the ossuary or Špilberk Castle in the afternoon and, if you love architecture, finish with Villa Tugendhat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.
Morning: Vegetable Market and the Old Town Hall
Begin at the Vegetable Market (Zelný trh), one of Brno's oldest squares. Merchants began building cellars here around the 13th century, and the cellars now form the Brno underground labyrinth.
Then walk to the Old Town Hall. In its passage hang the two best-known symbols of the city, the "Brno Dragon" and the cartwheel. The dragon is actually a stuffed Nile crocodile, about 5 m long, and the most common story says it was given to the city in 1608. The wheel has its own legend: a wheelwright from Lednice, so it is told, bet that he could chop down a tree, make a wheel and roll it the 45 km to Brno within 12 hours. Learn more in our Brno Dragon and astronomical clock guide.
11:00: the astronomical clock on Freedom Square
Be at Freedom Square (náměstí Svobody) before 11:00. The Brno astronomical clock is a black granite monument shaped like a bullet, and every day at 11:00 it releases a glass marble that visitors can catch as a souvenir. It commemorates the city's stand against the Swedes in 1645. According to the story, the defenders rang the noon bells at 11:00, tricking the besiegers into believing that they had missed their surrender deadline, and the bells of the cathedral still ring an hour early every day.
Midday: the cathedral on Petrov
Walk up to the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul on Petrov hill, one of Brno's traditional symbols. The hill is a pleasant place to pause and, as noted above, the cathedral bells still ring at 11:00 instead of noon.
Afternoon: choose the ossuary or Špilberk
The ossuary at St James
Under the Church of St James lies one of the largest ossuaries in Europe. It holds the remains of some 50,000 people, including victims of the Thirty Years' War, the Swedish siege and epidemics. It was rediscovered by chance in 2001 during renovation of the square outside and opened to the public in 2012, and it is often described as the second largest in Europe after the Paris catacombs. See the Brno underground guide to plan your visit, and the official Ossuary at the Church of St James page on Go To Brno for current visitor information.
Špilberk Castle
Špilberk was begun in the first half of the 13th century by the Přemyslid kings. It was later rebuilt as a massive Baroque citadel and became known as one of the harshest prisons in the Austrian Empire. The prison was closed in 1855, and since 1960 the castle has been the seat of the Brno City Museum. Read our Špilberk Castle guide for the details, and check the official Špilberk Castle website for current exhibitions and tickets.
Optional: Villa Tugendhat
If modern architecture is your thing, add Villa Tugendhat, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001. Brno became one of the most important centers of modernist architecture between the world wars. Check the official Villa Tugendhat website for opening times and tickets before you go.
See it with a local guide
Prefer a guide to a map? Our 3-hour history and legends walking tour takes you through the historic center, including the dragon, the astronomical clock and functionalist architecture, in small groups of up to seven people. An audio guide is available at selected stops. Entrance fees are not included, and the tour is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. At the end we share practical tips for what to see next, or where to enjoy a good beer. You can also use our Brno audio guide.
Planning more time? Read the best day trips from Brno and the best time to visit Brno and South Moravia. The city's official tourist portal, Go To Brno, lists current events.
Frequently asked questions
Is one day enough for Brno?
Yes, for the highlights. Choose four or five stops, such as the Old Town Hall, the astronomical clock, the ossuary or Špilberk Castle, and add Villa Tugendhat if you love architecture.
What time does the Brno astronomical clock release its marble?
Every day at 11:00, the clock on Freedom Square releases a glass marble that visitors can catch.
What is the Brno Dragon?
It is a stuffed Nile crocodile of about 5 m that hangs in the passage of the Old Town Hall. The city also tells a legend about a dragon.
Which sights in Brno are UNESCO-listed?
Villa Tugendhat was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001.
When did the ossuary at St James open to the public?
It was rediscovered by chance in 2001 during the renovation of the square outside and opened to the public in 2012.
