Brno
49°12′ N 16°36′ ECityPop. 402,739Czechia
Brno suits travellers who want Czech markets at Czech prices and a compact centre you can cover on foot. The trade-off is fewer set pieces than Prague, though the season runs long, from 13 November to 31 December 2026.
Photo Hilarmont · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 DE and others, credited in the gallery
Who should base here
Brno runs two market seasons side by side. The Brno-střed district opens Zelný trh, the Jošt statue and the Moravské náměstí park on 13 November and keeps them going to 31 December, with an ice rink and a 33-metre wheel. The city tourist office adds náměstí Svobody, Dominikánské náměstí and the Old Town Hall courtyard from 27 November to 23 December. Seznam Zprávy found svařák at 70 CZK across Brno's stalls in 2025, against 100 CZK on Prague's Old Town Square.
Things to do in Brno
The markets sit close together around the old centre, with náměstí Svobody to the north of Zelný trh and Petrov cathedral on the hill just south. TIC Brno says the main station is at most about ten minutes from the centre on foot, and the airport bus E76 leaves from the same station. Come on 27 November for the tree lighting on náměstí Svobody, where Brno says the country's first public Christmas tree stood in 1924.
Worth knowing
- Drinks at the TIC Brno markets come in returnable cups with a 50 CZK deposit, which you can also give to a charity cause.
- Street parking in blue zone B around the centre is free at weekends.
Quick answers about Brno
Is Brno a good place to stay?
Brno runs two market seasons side by side. The Brno-střed district opens Zelný trh, the Jošt statue and the Moravské náměstí park on 13 November and keeps them going to 31 December, with an ice rink and a 33-metre wheel. The city tourist office adds náměstí Svobody, Dominikánské náměstí and the Old Town Hall courtyard from 27 November to 23 December. Seznam Zprávy found svařák at 70 CZK across Brno's stalls in 2025, against 100 CZK on Prague's Old Town Square.
