We rarely ever come across one of these anymore, so when we do, it feels like we’ve proper hit the jackpot.
While major European destinations like Paris, Barcelona, and Rome are on the brink of collapse and chasing tourists away, there’s a smaller, equally beautiful medieval gem in the heart of Central Europe actively beckoning you to come.
Historically overshadowed by a jam-packed capital, Brno is Czechia’s second-largest city after Prague and part of the country’s ambitious plan to redirect tourist flows to lesser-known spots still largely undiscovered by the masses.
And if I’m being honest, I’d personally choose Brno over Prague any day:
Did You Have Any Idea Czechia’s 2nd Largest City Was This Pretty?
If there’s one alternative Czech city that could stand up to Prague, and maybe win the fistfight, that’s beautiful, criminally-underrated Brno.
Tucked away in the South Moravian region, this fairly sizable hub of over 400,000 people is known for its beautiful medieval monuments, packed in clusters around a pocket-sized Old Town, lush urban parks that could give Paris a run for its money, and most importantly, a lack of mass tourism.
This isn’t some economically irrelevant backwater, either: population alone aside, it has a vast 12-line tram network, Brno University of Technology is Czechia’s own miniature MIT, if you will, and they even have an airport! One serving 34 destinations.
The shocker? While Prague can barely breathe under the feet of 8 million annual visitors, Brno barely hit the 870,000 mark for overnight guests last year.
That’s one of those travel anomalies I can’t fathom is even a thing, when this just happens to be one of Europe’s most underrated city-break destinations.
But hey, I guess you start digging a little deeper once you’ve been to over 40 European countries and hundreds of European cities the average tourist has never even heard of.
I don’t say this to sound smug or blow my own trumpet, but rather to clue you in on exactly what you’re missing out on:
A Picture-Perfect, Compact Old Town
Brno may be Czechia’s second-largest urban center, but most of the must-sees are packed into one compact Old Town easily explored on foot, and that’s why I love it.
No hopping on crammed metro lines, nor spending all those Czech korunas on taxi rides back to your hotel after you’ve gone a bit overboard on a boozy night out.
If you’re staying near Freedom Square, then you’re right in the thick of it.
From here, it’s roughly a 7-minute walk to the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, probably the most haunting, otherworldly church silhouette I’ve ever seen: the Neo-Gothic twin spires almost seem to pierce the sky, and the church’s severe lines and aged stonework make it look like Bram Stoker designed it himself.
Czechia’s most famous bone-stacked ossuary may be in Kutná Hora, but if you don’t want to go out of your way and spend hours on a train to visit the otherwise small town, there’s a chilling alternative right beneath St. James’ Church in the heart of Brno:
This atmospheric burial chamber contains the remains of more than 50,000 people, stacked into pillars and arches and lining the walls, making it the second-largest ossuary of its kind in Europe.
I know, it’s a tad eerie and macabre to behold, but seeing as we’re entering fall and, soon enough, Halloween, what better place to get into the spooky spirit than this?
How Safe Is Czechia This Fall?
By the way, that’s about the scariest sight you’ll find in Brno.
Czechia is a Level 1 destination according to the U.S. Department of State, meaning visitors need only exercise normal precautions. Violent crime affecting travelers is uncommon, with petty theft being the main realistic concern, particularly in Prague’s or Brno’s busiest tourist areas.
Worried about terrorism or mass-casualty attacks? Czechia’s most shocking recent act of violence came in 2023, when an armed student stormed a Charles University building in Prague. It was horrific, but investigators found no link to terrorism, religious extremism, or any organized group.
Czechia scores 83 out of 100 on the Travel Safety Index, too, proving even casual travelers approve of this message:
This unassuming Central European country is about as safe as they come.
Wait, They Have A Castle Too?
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Prague has the world’s largest coherent castle complex, according to Guinness, but if I’m being completely honest, were it not for the jaw-dropping Cathedral of St. Vitus rising from the main courtyard, I wasn’t exactly bowled over by the rather bare chambers, tourist crush, and endless wait lines at the capital’s main stronghold.
Brno’s Špilberk Castle, on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish:
This imposing hilltop fortress is a brisk 15-to-20-minute uphill walk from Freedom Square, and not only does it offer sweeping panoramic views over the red-gabled roofs and winding lanes below, but it also has proper museum exhibitions, atmospheric casemates, and a deep grassy moat that still feels every inch the medieval fortress.
For every Prague landmark, Brno seems to have a similar, if not better, counterpart:
The capital’s Old Town Hall is a literal fairy-tale confection, yet Brno’s, although more restrained with its whitewashed tower and sober façade, is every bit as intriguing—and arguably more haunting once you spot the deliberately crooked Gothic pinnacle above the entrance.
Now, Brno’s dildo-shaped excuse for an Astronomical Clock can’t hold a candle to Prague’s absolute stunner of a medieval timepiece, but I’ll let them off ’cause the beer is cheaper here.
Also, from atop the Old Town Hall tower, you get this stunning panorama of the city’s cobbled pathways, dominated by the twin-spired cathedral.
Best $4.30 I’ve ever spent, for sure.
Check Europe’s Travel Rules Before Flying
Before you start packing, make sure you’re up to speed with Europe’s new entry and stay regulations.
The continent has had a massive overhaul of its border rules this year, including the rollout of a mandatory fingerprinting step for non-European guests, and this includes Americans. This is in order to ensure they have not overstayed their 90-day tourist visa.
Since then, over 44,000+ travelers have been turned away at the border for failing to comply with the rules.
Use the Entry Requirement Checker to verify Europe’s latest border updates.
Brno Beyond The Medieval Old Town
Although Brno could easily rival Prague in the medieval-charm category, its main UNESCO-listed gem is the stark, modernist Villa Tugendhat.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not exactly crazy about minimalist architecture and clinical interiors, especially those designed by the German-American modernist Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
The fact that a flat-roofed, glass-fronted house that could, to my admittedly untrained eye, sit in an affluent American suburb is the one landmark UNESCO chose to inscribe in Brno baffles me, but I guess there’s something to be said for the fact that…
Yes, it did set a new architectural standard back in 1929–1930, when it was built, even though it still isn’t my cup of tea.
Putting that aside, if you love Prague for the cheap beer and bohemian streak, then you have to check out Ponava Café on the edge of Lužánky Park:
This leafy beer garden is a cracking local hangout, and you’ll fit right in after a few pints of Czech beer and a portion of nakládaný hermelín, Czech pickled cheese.
Brno Is Dirt Cheap Still
Speaking of, did you know the average half-liter draft beer in Brno is a mere $2.65? If you thought Prague was generally affordable by European standards, wait until you see this:
Average Prices In Brno, Czechia In 2026
Converted from Czech Koruna into USD
- Bakery snack, usually a koláč or chlebíček: $2 to $3
- Affordable meal in a local-frequented jídelna, the Czech answer to a no-frills canteen: $7 to $8
- 3-course meal in a mid-range downtown restaurant: $24 to $30 per person
- Entry into museums and tourist attractions: $7 to $10 on average
- Guided Villa Tugendhat tour: $21.50 to $24
- Public transport ticket, full day: $4.30, valid across trams, trolleybuses, and buses in Brno’s central zones
- Bed in a shared hostel dorm: $18 to $32
- Double room in a 3-star hotel in the center: $65 to $110
- Double room in a 5-star palace-style hotel, if you’re really looking to splash out: $125 to $180
Prague has been getting increasingly expensive with each passing year, and some—ahem, me—might even argue its central hotel and restaurant prices are beginning to brush up against those in Western European capitals like Vienna, but Brno…
Oh, Brno is where your Czech korunas still stretch a whole lot further.
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