Brno Travel Tips

Banks: 08:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 08:00 to 20:00, Monday to Friday; 08:00-13:00 Saturdays
Department Stores and Shops: 09:00 to 18:00, daily
Museums: 09:00 to 17:00, daily; although many close on Mondays or Tuesdays
Business Offices: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday

Most visits to Brno end without any incident. The city is considered to be quite safe, especially in the Old Town and around the main attractions during the day. After dark, it’s best to avoid parks and other less-populated areas. Violent crimes are rare, although petty thieves and pickpockets do work the typical spots such as crowded transport areas and popular tourist attractions. By taking the usual precautions, visitors should not have any problems. The political situation in the Czech Republic is presently stable, but it’s always best to stay away from political rallies as the country is still developing its newfound autonomy.

Electricity: 220V, 50Hz, with two round prong sockets.

There aren’t any major health concerns in Brno which you wouldn’t find in other parts of Europe. The tap water is considered safe to drink, but it’s always best to use bottled water just to be sure. A bad case a traveller’s stomach is the worst you’ll likely encounter. Be careful with food in small cheap eateries, as this is where sanitation conditions are usually at their lowest.

Should anything happen during your trip to Brno, there are adequate medical facilities in the city and excellent hospitals in neighbouring Prague and Vienna. Most of the staff and doctors at the hospitals in Brno can speak English. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers all citizens of the EU with free or very cheap health care

University Hospital : +420 5 3223 3007

Czech is the official language spoken in Brno and the rest of the Czech Republic. It is very similar to other Slavic languages such as Polish and Slovak, but German is often the most useful language for tourists if you can’t speak Czech. Many younger people in Brno can speak a bit of English, but don’t expect much from the older folks.

The basic unit of currency in the Czech Republic is the koruna (Kc). One koruna can be divided into 100 hellers. Bills come in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 koruna. Coins come in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 hellers (although these are rarely used), as well as 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 koruna. Smaller bills are most useful in Brno.

The best place to exchange money in Brno is at a bank or ATM, where commissions average just one to three per cent. The ubiquitous Chequepoint and Exact Change currency exchange shops should be avoided because of high commission rates. ATMs are fairly common in Brno and most of them are part of the Plus and Cirrus networks, but if you venture outside the city be sure and have plenty of cash. Major credit cards are accepted at most hotels and larger restaurants and shops, but not as often at smaller places.

Visitors to Brno may bring 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, one litre of spirits, two bottles of wine, personal medicine, and gifts with a value of 6,000 koruna without incurring any customs duty. Anything deemed to be of historical value will not be allowed to leave the country, so be careful when buying antiques, old glassware or art. You’ll need an export certificate for any art or antique of value. Every shop should be able to show you a certificate of an item’s suitability for export. If not, you shouldn’t bother.

The Czech Republic has its share of etiquette rules which should be followed if you want to impress the locals. When you meet someone, a handshake is the norm and visitors are the ones who should initiate the departure. When you visit someone’s home, remove your shoes at the door and put on slippers which will be provided. If you give anyone flowers, always give an odd number of them. Even numbers of flowers are only for funerals. Dress is conservative in Brno and if you go to the theatre you will need to dress rather formally: suits for men, dresses for women. When you enter a shop, the visitor should be the first to say hello. Likewise, always say goodbye when you leave.

Dining Etiquette
When you enter a bar or restaurant the man should go in first. You will find that customers seat themselves at restaurants in Brno and you’ll be expected to share your table (or share another’s table) if there are no more seats available. So be prepared to socialise when you dine out in Brno. When you finish eating, put your utensils on the right side of your plate. If you leave your utensils crossed on the plate that signals that you are still eating. Napkins are always brought out with the food and don’t begin eating until saying Dobrou chut, which means something similar to ‘enjoy your meal’. Dress is generally casual, although shabby clothes are not generally accepted in Czech restaurants. Eating out is somewhat of a serious matter, so take it seriously.

Drinking is a big part of social life in the Czech Republic, so be prepared. The only way you can avoid drinking and making toasts is if you are driving or on antibiotics, so have an excuse ready if you’re not a heavy drinker. To slow the drinking process, simply keep your glass as full as possible. Your host will immediately refill your glass if it becomes empty. For toasts, all glasses need to clink before the obligatory sip.

The concept of service in Brno is still evolving as the city’s restaurant scene continues to grow and standards are raised. Service may seem very intrusive, with waiter’s interrupting at the wrong times and then disappearing when you need them. But as tipping becomes more standard, the incentive to provide good service becomes more obvious to the staff. Tips of 10 per cent are standard, but check first if it’s been added. Also be careful with those seemingly complimentary bowls of nuts dropped on your table. They’re not free.

Citizens of the United States and the UK need only show a valid passport to receive a 30-day stay. Canadians require a visa in advance of arrival which is good for 90 days. Members of other EU countries can come and go as they please. Check with your local Czech embassy to find out the specific requirements for your country.

Brno’s best tourism office is the Turisticke Informacni Centrum (TIC), which can be found at: Turisticke Informacni Centrum (TIC), Radnicka 8, Brno and can be contacted by calling: +420 542 211 090 or visiting the website at: www.ticbmo.cz.