Exploring nearby cities : Brno

Written by Sophia

Only at around a 2.5-hour train ride from Prague lies the city of Brno. It is not only “any other city” in Czechia, but it is known as the capital city of Moravia. Not only is there a beautiful city centre, but Brno is filled with areas of blooming nature. This means that whether you are a “city” person or “Indiana Jones”, you will find everything that you need. Below, I will mention my top 4 favourite places, which I think are worth the visit.

Brno Reservoir / Brnenská Přehrada

The reservoir is an enclosed water area, surrounded by gorgeous green hills. There is a branch, where there is a park-like infrastructure. Here, you can grab something to eat or drink, play basketball or volleyball or just lay in the grass and enjoy the sun. If you want to purchase something, be sure to bring cash. If you visit the reservoir in summer, bring a swimsuit, as the summer heat will have you jumping in the water in no time. Around the reservoir, there are roads, where you can walk around or even cycle. Overall, the panoramic landscape will have you in awe. It is hard to capture its beauty on a picture only. If you do check it out, try going at sunrise / sunset, and you’ll be even more amazed.

Farmer’s markets on Zelňák

In my opinion, a morning visit to any farmer’s market should be a staple stop on everybody’s itinerary, no matter the city you are visiting. From fresh produce and meats, to yummy Czech pastry and coffee, Zelňák has all that you need. It is opened from Monday to Saturday. I recommend going at pre-noon hours, so you can have a chance to try everything you would like, before the 130 vendors sell out. Even if you only buy an apple, you are assured to have better quality, than at commercial shops. Usually better price too, but most importantly, you are supporting the local community of Czech farmers, who are having a hard time, due to mass imports in supermarkets. The stands with 100% home-grown crops have a green label of approval on them, so you know who to look for. The stands with red labels are reselling produce. Here, you have an opportunity to source cheaper foods.

Scala Cinema

This place is more special than any general cinema, as it is Masaryk University’s (MUNI) university cinema. I highly recommend visiting it, especially in summer, when there is an outside setting. It is located near the centre, so it is a good choice to relax here for a few hours of touring. One of the best things is, that they have a bar right in the seating area, so you can enjoy your movie outside, with a cold beer or a mixed drink. They have a wide variety of NA drinks too. They play new-in movies as well as classics, or even black-and-white gems. There is typically screening every day. Seating is quite limited, so don’t expect anything commercial like, and get your tickets online, in advance, as it is bound to sell out fast. There are also occasional concerts here, which always have very good reviews. In my opinion, it is a very idillic place, and you can support MUNI students, rather than large, overpriced cinema chains.

Super Panda Circus bar

This bar is a circus-themed bar, located 1 street away from Cinema Scala, next to Castle Špilberk, one of the most popular areas in Brno city. You have to find a doorbell and “ring” to enter. It is a little bit hidden, but not hard to find. This bar is a famous spot for visitors, as it offers a super-unique experience. The drinks the highly-skilled bartenders serve are ones you have probably never tasted yet, as they are thematically made with special ingredients. The Asian style setting and architecture will have you loving the place, even without buying anything. It is definitely an untraditional place, which I’m sure everyone who visits will love.