Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic, is much richer and more fascinating than it appears on the surface. Beneath this cultural and historical town in Moravia, there is an intricate and mysterious underground world: from medieval wine cellars and ossuaries to underground markets and secret bomb shelters. For travelers who want to understand the true soul of Brno, the scenery above ground is just a prologue, and the real story happens deep underground.
Ⅰ. Recommended attractions
1. Brno Underground Labyrint (Labyrint pod Zelným trhem): From the market to the Middle Ages
Location: Zelný trh 21, 602 00 Brno
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 – 18:00
Closed on Mondays
Suggested time to visit: about 1 hour
Transportation route:
Walk about 10 minutes from Brno Main Railway Station, passing Masarykova Street and Freedom Square (náměstí Svobody), and you can reach Zelný trh (Cabbage Market).
Scenic spot features:
Located under the bustling Cabbage Market (Zelný trh), the Brno Underground Labyrint is one of the most accessible and representative underground landscapes in Brno. It displays medieval storage cellars, alchemy laboratories, prison cells and ancient tavern ruins. This underground world reveals how the city survived wars and plagues from the 17th to the 18th centuries.
During the tour, you will pass through narrow stone tunnels and feel the atmosphere of the times brought by low temperature and humidity. Audio guides (including English) are highly recommended, which can give you a deeper understanding of the historical stories behind each space.
Booking platform recommendation:
Klook, GetYourGuide, Tiqets, etc. all provide online reservations and have English guide options, which are suitable for international travelers. It is recommended to book at least 1 day in advance, and 3 to 5 days in advance during peak season.
Ticket price:
Adult ticket price is about 160 Czech crowns (about 6 euros), students and children have discounts, and family packages are cost-effective.
2. Kostnice u sv. Jakuba (Underground Ossuary of St. James’ Church): Silent Memory of Death
Location: Jakubské náměstí, 602 00 Brno
Opening hours:
Open daily: 9:30 – 18:00 (extended to 19:00 in summer)
The ossuary is temporarily closed from mid-November to early February for maintenance. Please check the specific schedule
Suggested time for play: 30~45 minutes
Transportation route:
Starting from Freedom Square (náměstí Svobody), it takes about 3 minutes to walk to St. James’ Church (Kostel sv. Jakuba). The entrance to the ossuary is in the small door in the southeast corner of the church.
Scenic spot features:
The Underground Ossuary of St. James’ Church in Brno is the second largest ossuary in the Czech Republic, second only to the famous “Bone Church” in Kutná Hora. There are more than 50,000 remains here, arranged neatly and orderly, which is both a reverence for death and a solemn atmosphere of history.
The ossuary is equipped with lighting and music to create an atmosphere. The overall design is modern yet solemn, which shocks visitors both visually and psychologically. The exhibition also introduces the funeral culture and urban development in the Middle Ages.
Booking platform recommendation:
Klook and GetYourGuide provide tickets and guided tours. Klook platform often has student and group discounts. Group reservations can also be made through the official website of the Brno Tourism Bureau.
Ticket price:
Adult ticket price is about 150 Czech crowns (about 5.8 euros), and students and retirees enjoy discounted tickets.
3. Kasematy na Špilberku: Dark Echoes of an Imperial Prison
Location: Špilberk 210/1, 662 24 Brno
Opening hours:
Open daily: 9:00 – 17:00 (extended to 18:00 in summer)
Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Suggested time: 1 hour
Transportation route:
It takes about 15 minutes to walk up the mountain from the city center to reach Kasematy. You can also take tram No. 26 to Špilberk station and then follow the hiking trail.
Scenic spot features:
Kasematy na Špilberku was once one of the harshest prisons in the Austrian Empire, and the underground dungeons (Kasematy) are particularly terrifying. These cells under the thick stone walls once held political prisoners, rebels and even soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars.
The tour includes original cells, chain remains, simulated imprisonment scenes, and lighting and sound technology to reproduce the atmosphere of historical oppression. The dungeon also shows the strategic role played by Brno in the era of war and imperial expansion.
Booking platform recommendation:
GetYourGuide offers a combined ticket for Spielbek Castle and the dungeon with a guide. Klook often has seasonal discounts and family ticket options.
Ticket price:
The dungeon ticket alone is 120 Czech crowns (about 4.6 euros), which is more cost-effective if purchased with the entire castle package.
4. Brno New Town Hall Underground Site (Mincmistrovský sklep): Explore the Ancient Coin Minting Room
Location: Dominikánská 2, 602 00 Brno
Opening hours:
Open daily: 10:00 – 18:00
Closed on special holidays or municipal events, please check in advance
Suggested time for play: 30~40 minutes
Transportation route:
It takes 2 minutes to walk from Freedom Square to the courtyard of the New Town Hall (Nová radnice), and the underground entrance is on the side of the bell tower.
Scenic spot features:
This small but unique underground site was once the workshop of a medieval coin master. Visitors can get a glimpse of the coin-minting process and tools in the 15th century, and can even “strike a commemorative coin with their own hands” during the guided tour.
Although the underground space is not large, it is delicately laid out and rich in information, suitable for travelers interested in the city’s economic history or handicraft culture.
Recommended booking platform:
The official platform of the Brno Tourism Bureau provides ticket booking, and you can also choose the version with guided tours through Klook or Tiqets platforms.
Ticket fee:
The regular ticket price is about 80 Czech crowns (about 3 euros), and children are free to enter.
5. 10-Z Bunker: The ultimate experience of the Cold War legacy
Location: Husova 12, 602 00 Brno
Opening hours:
Thursday to Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00
You need to book a time slot online in advance to visit
Suggested play time: 1~1.5 hours
Transportation route:
It is a 7-minute walk from Freedom Square. The entrance to the air-raid shelter is hidden in the rock wall at the foot of Špilberk Mountain.
Scenic spot features:
The 10-Z air-raid shelter was originally a nuclear bunker during the Cold War, which can accommodate 500 people for refuge. It is one of the best-preserved military bunkers in the Czech Republic. The exhibition includes communication rooms, dormitories, nuclear protection devices, and daily life restoration scenes from the 1950s and 1960s.
The most eye-catching is the night immersive experience project: visitors can “spend the night” in the air-raid shelter and experience the minimalist living environment of the Soviet era. Every detail is as close to historical reality as possible, and it is a rare experience of Cold War relics.
Booking platform recommendation:
Tiqets and GetYourGuide offer ordinary visiting tickets and special packages for “experience one night in the bunker”. It is recommended to book one week in advance.
Ticket price:
Daytime visits are about 180 Czech crowns (about 7 euros), and overnight experience packages are about 1,000 Czech crowns (about 40 euros), including light meals and guided tours.
Ⅱ. Travel suggestions and itinerary tips
Suitable for people: These underground attractions are particularly suitable for travelers who have a strong interest in history, humanities and urban architecture. They are especially recommended for history lovers, cultural in-depth tour seekers, photography enthusiasts, and tourists interested in Cold War heritage, medieval underground structures and war relics. These attractions not only have rich visual impacts, but also bring immersive knowledge experiences.
Dressing suggestions: Since underground spaces are generally cold and humid, it is recommended that tourists wear warm clothing, such as fleece jackets or windproof jackets, and wear comfortable sneakers or hiking shoes. Avoid wearing high heels, slippers and other shoes that are not suitable for slippery surfaces to prevent slipping.
Language service: Most attractions are equipped with English audio guides, and some support German, French, Russian and other languages. You can check the voice service options on the platform in advance.
Payment method: Most popular attractions support electronic payment methods such as credit cards and Apple Pay, but for smaller or historical attractions such as the 10-Z air-raid shelter, it is still recommended to prepare a small amount of cash in case of emergency, especially when buying souvenirs or participating in special events on site.
Brno’s underground world is not only a cultural attraction, but also an “invisible city skin” that tells stories of war, prosperity, disease and hope. Compared to simply browsing the ground buildings, going deep into these quiet spaces can truly experience the historical thickness and cultural depth of the city of Brno.
If you are planning to visit the Czech Republic, you might as well arrange 1 to 2 days to enter the second layer of the city of Brno and start a different cultural journey from underground.