Brno Archives – Little Holidays

Where to stay in Brno, Czech Republic – best hotels in South Moravia’s exciting capital

Lying in the center of Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, it’s easy to miss Brno.

For most travelers, it’s a train stop between Central Europe’s most popular destinations. But if you’re looking for a break from the ultra-touristy (looking at you, Prague) and expensive (ahem, Vienna) cities, Brno is the perfect layover.

In Brno, you’ll get to enjoy magnificent architecture, a vibrant food and drinks scene, and a couple of quirky attractions – minus the crowds and hefty price tags. Plus, you’ll be a short train ride away from Czech Republic’s best wineries housed in castle towns and charming villages, making this the perfect laidback city break.

Take a break from your hectic Central European bucket list. Add a couple of days in Brno to your itinerary and recharge in its artsy cafes, cool wine cellars, and sprawling green spaces. Here’s where to stay in Brno.

Best things to do in Brno – essential sights and where to eat, drink, and stay

Czech Republic, Europe, Travel Guides

When you’re on holiday, you get to have the most indulgent dilemmas of all.

Like: “Should we wake up early tomorrow to catch the sunrise and take gorgeous morning pictures of the lakeside? Or sleep in and cuddle on our impossibly snug and cozy queen bed?”

If you’re in the Czech Republic or planning to visit soon, you’re probably agonizing: “Where should I go after Prague?”

While the popular answer may be the medieval town of Cesky Krumlov or the spa town of Karlovy Vary, let me invite you to a cool alternative city break: Brno, the capital of South Moravia.

Driving from Prague to Vienna, slowly through Czech Republic’s scenic south

Czech Republic, Europe, Travel Guides

Here’s how the typical Central European travel itinerary goes –

You spend a few days in Prague with several early morning attempts to take pictures at the Charles Bridge, board a train to Vienna where you blitz through the many historical churches and museums, maybe even spend an evening at the opera and have a slice of sachertorte, then take another train to Budapest, where you fill your camera with more crowded pictures of the Fisherman’s Bastion. By the end of this trip, you hardly remember anything and you just want to collapse in bed and take another vacation.

I get it. For most of us non-European travelers, Europe is this shiny, star-studded continent filled with some of the world’s best, most romantic, most historical – most superlative – cities in the world that we just want to cram our itineraries and see ALL. OF. THEM. The lack of borders and ease of movement is also mind-blowing for most of us that we get a little bit (or a lot) trigger-happy when planning our trips.

But here’s a radical suggestion: take it slow. Instead of rushing from one country to the next, take some time to really explore a place. While capital cities like Prague and Vienna are, of course, must-visits for first-time travelers, you can make your trip a lot more interesting with stop-overs to the little towns in between. You’ll establish a deeper connection with the places you visit, gain a better understanding of the culture, and have a more fulfilling holiday experience.