Dear Delegates,

The organisational team of the Community in Peril conference is looking forward to welcoming you in the wonderful town of Brno! To make your time here as pleasant and productive as possible, we have put together some instructions and tips which might come in handy during your travel and stay:

TRAVEL

If you are arriving by plane:

• To Brno Airport: the easiest way for you to get to the city centre is by bus E76. This stops directly in front of the terminal and takes you all the way to the main train station, where you can change to other public transport or easily reach your hotel on foot. The length of the drive is 20 minutes and the bus goes every 30 minutes. Tickets cost 25 Kč per person and can be purchased in ticket machines at the airport (cash) or directly on the bus (card). Night service is provided by no. N89. Taxi and similar services (Bolt, Uber, Liftago are available as well, though at a higher price).
• To Prague Airport: an Airport Express bus service is available to get you directly from the airport to the main train station (and Florence, the main bus station which is nearby). The bus stop is in front of the terminal building and the tickets, which can be purchased at the public transport information kiosk or on the bus, cost 100 Kč. The drive is 34 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a taxi or regular public transportation service, the information about which can be found here: https://www.prg.aero/en/public-transport-buses. You can get to Brno by bus from Florence (subway stop), by taking RegioJet or Flixbus or by a train from Hlavní nádraží (RegioJet or České dráhy). All the tickets can be bought at the respective web pages or kiosks at the stations. Please note that due to construction, there might be significant delays affecting rail services to Brno.
• To Bratislava Airport: besides taking a taxi, there is also an option to take public transportation (bus 61) to get to the main train station. The bus leaves every 7 minutes and takes 25 minutes to get to its destination. Tickets cost 1€ and can be bought at the ticket machine (cash) or on the bus (card). There are direct trains to Brno leaving from Bratislava main train station approximately every two hours, the line is operated by ZSSK or RegioJet. Schedules can be checked and tickets purchased at their respective websites.
• To Vienna Airport: although there are several options and visiting Vienna is always a great idea, the best way to get to Brno is to take a direct bus from the airport. The trip takes a bit under three hours and costs around 450 Kč. The tickets can be booked here. As another available option, check Gepard Express.

If you are arriving by train:

• To Prague: You can get to Brno by bus from Florence (subway stop), by taking RegioJet or Flixbus, or by a train from Hlavní nádraží (RegioJet or České dráhy). All the tickets can be bought at the respective web pages or kiosks at the stations. Please note that due to construction, there might be significant delays affecting rail services to Brno.
• To Bratislava: There are direct trains to Brno leaving from Bratislava main train station approximately every two hours, the line is operated by ZSSK or RegioJet. Schedules can be checked and tickets purchased at their respective websites.
• To Vienna: There are regular train services operating between Vienna and Brno (approximately every two hours). Schedules can be checked and tickets purchased at Ceske drahy or RegioJet.

If you are arriving by car:

• Besides parking provided by your accommodation, the best option is to park your car at one of the following car parks. The most optimal one in the city centre is DOMINI PARK. Please note that there is a parking system in place in most of the city centre which requires you to pay a parking fee. Relevant zones can be recognised by colour-coded lines on the ground. For more information, consult this webpage.

Public Transportation:

• Brno is known for its excellent public transportation system. The schedules can be checked at this website. The easiest way for visitors to travel is to purchase tickets on the tram/bus using their credit card. This service is available in every tram/bus. Should you wish to purchase regular, physical tickets, you can do so at orange ticket machines throughout the city. The regular 15-minute ticket costs 20 Kč. The stop nearest to the conference venue is Grohova, with tram 3, 10 and 12 stopping there regularly. The stop Česká, which is a traffic hub is, however, only a 5-minutes’ walk away.

To check any schedule (public transportation in Brno/Prague, train, and bus) please consult this website.

ACCOMMODATION

The popular choices with travellers visiting Brno are hotels Continental and International, both of which are 10-minutes’ walk away from the Faculty of Arts. Other major options include Grandhotel Brno, Sono or, for more demanding visitors, Barceló. The prices of these range from 70-110€. Rooms in these and many more affordable places can be booked via booking.com. As a cheaper option, you may have a look at Hotel University.

FOOD AND DRINKS

There are endless options in Brno when it comes to refreshments and amazing spots can be found on almost any street, especially in the city centre. Following are therefore only a couple of tips (all within a 20-minutes’ walk from the conference venue) since nothing beats exploring what the city has to offer on your own.

Restaurants and bistros:

• For those seeking traditional Czech cuisine, Lokál U Caipla offers all you are looking for.
• The place to go for Italian food is Cattani or Jean Paul’s.
• Fans of spicy food will appreciate Mexican spots such as Bistro Bastardo or Burrito Loco.
• The best Asian cuisine can be enjoyed in Ca Phe Co, Go or Manya.
• One of the best burger spots in town is definitely Parodie.
• Breakfast and brunches are offered in Franz or Bavard.
• Unbeatable vegan and vegetarian offers can be found in Dhaba Beas, Forky’s, or Die Küche, where you might also choose from a fabulous vinyl selection while you are at it.
• The place to go for fresh fish and seafood is Ocean 48.

Cafés and pastries:

• Absolutely nothing can compete with fresh pastries from William Thomas Bakery which is right around the corner from the Faculty of Arts.
• Fans of modern baking will find what they are looking for in Mlsná Holka or Sorry, pečeme jinak.
• Those craving more traditional sweet treats will find what they are looking for in Martinak.
• Great freshly roasted coffee is offered in Gill’s, while those looking for a more French experience might try Café Falk right next to the campus.

Pubs and bars:

• Those seeking a traditional pub-drinking but tourist-friendly experience should definitely try Pivo & Syn, Stopkova pivnice, U Čápa or Nálevna at Vachova.
• Hardened drinkers looking for a truly authentic experience might try Poslední leč, Bláhovka or Nálevna u Leona. You have been warned though.
• Ultimately the most acclaimed bars in Brno are run by Lidi z Baru. For the best cocktails visit the legendary Bar, který neexistuje or Super Panda Circus, for a hip atmosphere and fabulous food 4 Pokoje and whiskey and meat connoisseurs will appreciate Whiskey bar, který neexistuje.

 

THINGS TO DO AND PLACES TO SEE 

A short stay in Brno is definitely not enough to see everything it has to offer, but perhaps you can choose from the following selection some way to pass the time in between panels.

Brno’s most famous sights include castle Špilberk, cathedral Petrov, the Church of St. Jacob, or the world-famous architectural gem, Villa Tugendhat. Fans of architecture will also appreciate the unparalleled Jurkovičova vila or a plethora of functionalist gems hidden throughout the city.

Tourist favourites are also the statue of Jošt on Česká (stand under it and look up) or the astronomical clock at the main square.

Fans of the underground (quite literally), will definitely appreciate the labyrinth under Zelný trh or the ossuary. Should you want to see another macabre sight, the Capuchin Crypt might be what you are looking for.

Weather permitting, you might visit the biggest public park in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire: Lužánky; enjoy a coffee at Björnsonovy sady or visit the goats at Tyršovy sady.

Fans of art and design can possibly spend hours visiting the various venues of the Moravian Gallery which offers the best overview of contemporary Czech production and has a robot which serves coffee! 

Brno is definitely full of surprises well-suited for exploration. Should you want to take things into your own hand, consult the following map for more amazing tips!