Brno travel guide: A hidden gem just two hours from Prague

Brno can be reached by train in just two hours from Prague (Image: Getty Images) Brno may be best known as the second-largest city in the Czech Republic but the Moravian destination deserves a more colourful status. Despite being easily comparable to the country’s capital, Prague, in more ways than one, Brno has a unique history that can’t be found in the tourist hotspot.  The city is one of the largest in Europe at 230.2km squared and has become something of a rising star destination. And after visiting, I’d have to agree that it is an excellent spot for those looking to dodge a mass of tourists.  Perhaps due to its proportions, Brno has a welcome charm that sizeable Prague lacks, and several layers of rich history to unpeel on every street corner.  It is known for its modernist buildings, like the restored Villa Tugendhat , and the mediaeval Špilberk Castle , but the city is also home to an array of Baroque-period buildings, such as the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul which houses baroque altars, and several stunning buildings in the main square which are home to modern cafes, bookshops, bars, and even a unique roleplay hotel.  From London, travel to the Moravian destination could not be easier with the multiple airports offering direct and affordable flights to Brno. Ryanair and Wizz Air both fly direct from London Luton and London Stansted to Brno.  The average flight time is just two hours and five minutes and journeys are easy to book directly with your chosen airline, or if you want to make sure you have the absolute best price, you can always compare prices with Skyscanner .  Trains are easy to navigate and are better quality than most budget UK operators (Image: Czech Railways) ●   Compare prices on flights to Brno with Skyscanner – seats for as little as £22 Alternatively, visitors can fly from the UK to Prague and take a train from Praha Hlavni Nadrazi to Brno Hlavni Nadrazi. These run every 30 minutes and can be booked online on Czech Railways website or you can compare prices and find deals with the booking platform Omio.  Seat reservations are available for a comfortable two-and-a-half-hour journey, with first-class tickets available for just £21.  ●  Book your train tickets with Czech Railways ●  Compare train prices with Omio Visitors headed to Prague have no shortage of choices when it comes to places to stay, with an eclectic mix of historical and contemporary accommodations to enjoy. One of which is the Almanac X Alcron , which boasts a rich history as one of the city’s oldest luxury hotels, combined with a modern twist following its latest renovations. Luxury stays are just as easy to come by in nearby Brno too. No matter the time of year, Barceló Brno Palace is the perfect central spot for visitors to lay their roots in the city. The hotel is at the heart of the city, close to a range of atmospheric bars, authentic Czech restaurants, and modern coffee spots hidden in Baroque buildings.  Situated on Silingrovo Square in a prestigious historical building known as Mestsky Dvur, the five-star  Barceló Brno Palace  is only a five-minute drive from the Brno International Exhibition Centre (BVV) and Villa Tugendhat , a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.  Brno has a unique cityscape made up of modernist and Baroque period buildings (Image: Getty) Rated as a five-star urban residence,  Barceló Brno Palace  boasts 199 rooms of varying types, all of which include free, 24-hour access to the fitness suite and sauna in the on-site wellness centre. The hotel also offers culinary delights in an à la carte restaurant and the Lobby Bar.  That said, there are also plenty of other hotels and smaller B&Bs to stay in within Brno. Both Booking.com and Hotels.com are great options to search for accommodation during your travels and offer a price comparison service so that you can find the best deal for you.  ● Compare prices and find a deal on a stay in Brno with Booking.com  ● Search for hotels and find a deal on a stay in Brno with Hotels.com Brno has an eclectic mix of modernist and Baroque architecture having been almost entirely re-built over many years. Visitors can soak up the history of South Moravia in the historical Mendel Square, which square is located in the area of Old Brno. Freedom Square is the contemporary city centre, surrounded by cafes, bars, shops, and restaurants and adorned with historical statues, not forgetting the unique astronomical clock.  Points of interest in the Czech Republic’s second-largest city include the Brno International Exhibition Centre (BVV) and Villa Tugendhat , a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The Villa of Greta and Fritz Tugendhat was designed by the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and built in 1929–1930. Brno has several squares including Freedom Square in the old town (Image: Getty) As a monument of modern architecture, visitors can pay for a 90-minute guided group tour of the property (£14 per person), to hear all about the history of the family, building and Brno itself.  Spilberk Castle is another must-see attraction in the city, just a 10-minute walk from Barceló Brno Palace . Different tours are available (guided and non-guided), from £6 per person. Aside from its brutal history as a former prison, the hilltop fortress provides impressive views of the city and even hosts Shakespeare plays on its eerie grounds. Brno’s history goes deep beneath its surface as evident in the Ossuary at the Church of St James in the core of the city. Tickets start from £6 per person.  While there are plenty of guided hotspots to explore in the Moravian settlement, Brno is also the perfect place to simply wander around and soak up the views. With plenty of cafes around serving Czech specialities like goulash, pork, dumplings, and iced espresso toniks, there’s no shortage of places to sit and enjoy the lively atmosphere that exudes through the intertwining streets. There’s so much choice when it comes to eating and drinking in Brno (Image: Getty) The up-and-coming city is situated in Southern Moravia, the Czech Republic’s renowned wine region. With age-old customs and traditions of the wine-making culture at the core of the city’s values, lovers of the alcoholic drink can sample some of the country’s finest offerings by visiting the expansive range of bars, eateries and wineries in the area.  Unlike Prague, which is known for serving Pilsner Urquell almost everywhere, visitors in Brno can enjoy a great guided tour of the best wine and cocktail spots under the Lidi z baru umbrella. Prices start from £110 per person and include a crawl of up to 10 unique concept spots.  In my opinion,  visitors keen on exploring the food and drink scene shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to delve into the local scene. Our tour included 4pokoje, Whiskáč, Slast, Bar, který neexistuje – ‘the bar that doesn’t exist’, and the best of all, Super Panda Circus .  Brno is a cut above Prague in so many ways when it comes to eating and drinking. Having visited the two cities just hours after one another, I noticed a clear difference in the level of independent eateries that offered good quality Czech cuisine, and more importantly, a range of alternative meals.  Vegetarians, or those who are not a fan of rich Czech dishes such as pork knuckle, goulash, dumplings and schnitzel, will find plenty of places to eat in this smaller city. Lokal is one chain that’s worth a visit for authentic national foods and it was proclaimed as the best server of the perfect pint of Pilsner Urquell, according to ‘tapping master’ Cally at the new Pilsner brewery experience in Prague . Vegans or veggies should be sure to check out Forky’s for good quality,