Experience in Brno, Czech Republic by Ivana

What is it like to live in Brno? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Brno is city for people who like to experience something new. There are so many of interesting people, places and events going on. You don´t even have to be a billionaire to live there and enjoy the city. City is beautiful, with very nice architecture and nature inside of it. You can feel there a small influence of the socialism (like in every Eastern European country, where Soviet union had impact in), on some buildings and also in the way how people think but it is very rare. I highly recommend this city if you want to try some place which has a soul and artistic atmosphere. If you are used to metropolis and highly developed countries you might feel a little bit disappointed, but why not to try something new?

What is the student lifestyle like in Brno?

Brno is a student city so during semester there are students everywhere but during holidays you can barely find there any people your age. City is very cheap and affordable, accomodation is also cheap, but I recommend you to find yourself an apartment, because prizes are similar and sometimes apartments are even cheaper than dormitories. There are always some parties, where you can meet a lot of people, mainly Erasmus students, there are many of them.

How much does it cost to live in Brno?

It is possible to live with 250-300€ there for a month. Accomodation is around 100€, as I wrote the same for apartment or dormitory. Groceries are cheap and also lunches in canteen (around 1,50-2€). Public transport cost around 20€ for 3 months and the most important if you are in Brno beer cost around 2€ (and is amazing, Czech beer is the best :) )

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Brno? Is there any advice you can give?

If you get accomodation from University and in most cases you do, no it is not difficult. But usually students are looking for apartments because they know that prizes are similar and it is efficient to live in apartment.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

I am used to Czech cuisine, because I am from Slovakia, but I know that for foreign people food there might be heave and unhealthy. But there are many other ways to eat, so you don´t really have to eat Czech food a lot. Roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut is very typical and one of my favourite food and you have to at least try it! :) Smažák is a fried cheese battered in Czech triplecoat and this is the food you will always eat at 3 or 4a.m. after the party on street Česká.

What places would you recommend visiting in Brno?

City centre, you will spend a lot of time there and you can walk around there and enjoy the culture and historical atmosphere. My favourite place is on Špilberk, where is a very nice view on a city and there are many beautiful parks in a city where I love to read a book.

Is it good to eat out in Brno? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

I usually eat out after some party at 3-4 a.m. so I can only recomend what I have experience with, thus some fast foods such as kebabs or mentioned above smažák. You can eat hot dog on street Česká for 10czk (around 0,37€) what is very cheap, but they usually don´t have sausages.

Is the nightlife good in Brno? Where is good to go?

Nightlife in Brno is the best. There are always some parties. I recommend the most Two Faces or Sono centrum, where are the best parties but if you live in dormitory you can expect party life all the time.

What advice would you give future students heading to Brno?

Enjoy the city. And a lot of patience. There are some negatives such as not many people who speaks English, only students and the country is one of the developing countries. But as I wrote if you want to experience something new, Brno is amazing place for it.