At a Glance: Your 3-Day Modernist Itinerary

Brno is easy to navigate by foot and tram. This plan groups sites by location to save time. You will see private homes and public spaces. Here is your quick look at the trip:

• Day 1: City center highlights, Hotel Avion, and Era Café.
• Day 2: Villa Stiassni and the Brno Exhibition Centre.
• Day 3: The Brno Crematorium and Central Cemetery.

Each day includes time for coffee and local food. You can easily adjust this based on your energy. Most sites are open year-round. However, interior tours often require booking. Check the Go To Brno portal for current event schedules.

Day 1: Cafés and Commercial Gems in the Center

Start your morning at the Hotel Avion on Česká Street. This is one of the narrowest hotels in Europe. Architect Bohuslav Fuchs designed it on a tiny plot. The building uses a clever split-level system. This creates a sense of space in a tight area. It is a masterpiece of Brno functionalist architecture beyond Tugendhat. You can admire the facade or visit the ground-floor café.

Day 1: Morning: Visit Hotel Avion and the Alfa Passage. Afternoon: Lunch at Era Café and a walk to the Moravian Gallery. Evening: Explore the Brno underground attractions for a change of pace.

Next, walk to the Alfa Passage. This shopping arcade is a hidden modernist gem. It connects Poštovská and Jánská streets. The glass roof lets in beautiful natural light. It feels like a 1930s movie set. For lunch, head to the Era Café. This building looks like a white ocean liner. It has a stunning red staircase inside. It is the perfect place to see functionalist furniture in use.

In the afternoon, visit the Moravian Gallery. They often have exhibits on local design. You can find local design shops nearby. These shops sell modern replicas of classic Brno chairs. End your day with a walk through the city center. Look up at the upper floors of buildings. You will see many functionalist windows and balconies.

Day 2: Grand Villas and the Exhibition Centre

Day two focuses on the Pisárky district. This area is home to wealthy residential history. Start your morning at Villa Stiassni. This building is often called the "Government Villa." It was built for a Jewish textile magnate. The interior is a mix of modernism and traditional luxury. You should learn how to visit Villa Stiassni before you go. The gardens are free to enter and very peaceful.

Day 2: Morning: Guided tour of Villa Stiassni. Afternoon: Explore the Brno Exhibition Centre (BVV). Evening: Dinner in the center using affordable daily lunch menus for great value.

After the villa, walk to the Brno Exhibition Centre (BVV). This is a massive complex of functionalist pavilions. It opened in 1928 for a major national fair. Pavilion A is the most famous structure. It has a giant parabolic arch made of concrete. The entire site is a living museum of 20th-century engineering. It shows that Brno functionalist architecture beyond Tugendhat was also about industry. Many trade fairs still happen here today.

Finish your afternoon at Villa Löw-Beer. It sits right next to the Tugendhat property. It is an older villa but was renovated in a modern style. The garden connects the two famous houses. If you are curious, check if Villa Tugendhat booking is required for a quick garden peek. This area is perfect for a walking route for functionalist villas. You will see dozens of smaller modernist homes along the way.

Day 3: Modernist Public Spaces and Sacred Design

On your final day, head south of the center. You will visit the Brno Crematorium. This building is a world-class example of spiritual modernism. Architect Arnošt Wiesner designed it in the late 1920s. It features sharp angles and a dramatic silhouette. It looks like a temple for a new era. Many consider it the most important work of Brno functionalist architecture beyond Tugendhat. It is still a working facility, so be respectful.

Day 3: Morning: Visit the Brno Crematorium. Afternoon: Walk through the Central Cemetery and visit the Mununa block. Evening: Relax with third-wave coffee in the city center.

Next to the crematorium is the Brno Central Cemetery. Many famous architects are buried here. You can find the graves of Bohuslav Fuchs and Adolf Loos. The cemetery itself has many modernist monuments. It is a quiet place to reflect on the city's history. The landscaping follows clean, organized lines. This matches the functionalist philosophy of order and light.

Head back toward the center to see the "Mununa" apartment blocks. These were built for workers in the 1920s. They show that functionalism was not just for the rich. The design focused on air and sunlight for everyone. For your final evening, enjoy the local atmosphere. Brno has a great food scene. You can find many modern bistros in old functionalist buildings. It is a great way to end your architectural journey.

Practical Tips for Architecture Lovers in Brno

Exploring Brno is very easy with public transport. The city has an excellent tram network. You can buy tickets using a contactless card on any tram. Use the DPMB public transport site to plan. Most architectural sites are within zone 100 or 101. Trams run frequently until late at night. This makes it easy to reach the villas in the suburbs.

Always check the opening hours for villa interiors. Many are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Guided tours are the only way to see inside most villas. These tours often sell out weeks in advance. If you cannot get a tour, the gardens are often open. You can still appreciate the exterior design from the street. Wear comfortable walking shoes for the villa districts. The hills in Pisárky can be quite steep.

Brno is very safe for solo travelers. Most people in the tourism industry speak English. However, learning a few Czech words is helpful. "Dobrý den" means good day. Architecture fans should also visit the tourist office. They offer specialized maps for functionalist walks. These maps highlight smaller buildings you might miss. They are a great supplement to this itinerary.