Brno, Czech Republic

Brno is a captivating, mid-size city in the heart of Europe, offering a blend of the old and the new. The city's historic center boasts dazzling medieval and Baroque buildings, including the iconic Špilberk Castle and the stunning Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul.

Brno is also a hub of education and innovation contributing to its dynamic and forward-thinking atmosphere. With a thriving arts scene, lively cafes, and a deep connection to Czech history, Brno is a city that seamlessly marries tradition with modernity, making it a fascinating destination for GCC2024 attendees.

We have teamed up with the Brno Convention Center and you can find additional information related to accommodation, travel, gastronomy and free-time activities on the GCC2024 event page.

Getting to Brno

Before making travel arrangements, don't forget to check any Schengen visa requirements for traveling to EU. If you need a visa application letter from the conference, please email the organizers. General travel advice is for example provided by the US Department of State and the latest COVID-19 related information is available on the website of the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic.

You can comfortably get to Brno by air, bus, car or train.

By air

Visitors of Brno can use International Airport Brno-Tuřany, which provides flights to London/Stansted and other charter destinations. Most GCC attendees should use Prague Airport (PRG) or Vienna Airport (VIE).

The Brno airport is located 12km/20 minutes from the city center and you can easily take a taxi or the express bus running every 30 minutes, which is located outside the entrance to the airport terminal (more below).

By bus or train

From the Vienna airport you can take a bus, operated by Student Agency, offering 8 connections daily from Vienna to Brno from 13 EUR one way. Duration of the travel is approximately 2,5 hours. Train tickets are available for purchase online.

From the Prague airport you can take a bus, operated by Student Agency, offering 36 connections daily from 8 EUR one way. Duration of the travel is approximately 2,5 hours. Tickets are available online.

From Vienna and Prague, we also recommend the RailJet trains operated by RegioJet or České Dráhy. Tickets for trains from most surrounding countries are available directly via the railway companies České Dráhy, OEBB or Deutsche Bahn.

By car

Brno is located on the main Czech highway D1 and D2. For highways and some bigger roads it is necessary to have a highway sticker, which is available for purchase online or at the border crossing, petrol stations, or post offices.

Please verify whether your hotel or accommodation also provides parking, as there is no free parking around the center and parking spots on the streets are very limited. If you plan to bring your car, please read the parking related information provided by the city of Brno. The closest paid and guarded parking within the proximity of the center is at Janačkovo divadlo and about 5 minutes walking distance.

By Taxi

Private airport transport is available from Brno Transport with a cost of about 130 EUR from either Prague or Vienna. The transport can be booked directly on the company website.

If you will be arriving to Brno without a working cell service, it is a good idea to save an offline map of the city on your phone before the trip to ease navigation.

Weather in Brno in June

In June, Brno experiences warm and pleasant summer weather:

• Average temperature: The average daytime high temperature in June in Brno is around 24°C (75°F). Average low temperature is 12°C (54°F).
• Sunshine: June marks the beginning of the summer season in Brno, and you can expect warm and comfortable weather during this time.
• Rainfall: The amount of rainfall in June is generally moderate, so you may encounter occasional showers. It's a good idea to have an umbrella or raincoat on hand.

Accommodation for the conference

The following hotels in Brno are offering us discounted nightly rates. Room availability is limited and blocks will be released 45 days before GCC2024 starts (on May 10) so we recommend you reserve your room as soon as possible.

The following are nightly hotel rates. To obtain the given rate, you will need to provide a conference-specific promo code at the time of reservation. The promo codes will be provided in the confirmation email for conference registration. Note that all hotel prices include VAT and breakfast but do not include the city tax, which is about 1.60EUR per night per person and will need to be paid upon checkout.

1. Hotel International: inquiries via reservation@hotelinternational.cz
2. Hotel Grand: inquiries via reservation@grandhotelbrno.cz
3. Hotel Barcelo
4. Hotel Continental: inquiries via info@continentalbrno.cz

All hotels are in close proximity of the city center and each other, making your stay in Brno as easy and comfortable as possible!

GCC2024 venue

GCC2024 will be held at the Hotel International, located at Husova 16, 602 00 Brno-střed. See the venue!

The hotel is located right at the edge of the historic center between the main square and the castle. Enjoy an evening walk up to the castle to enjoy the view or go explore the buzzling city center and grab a drink in one of the charming pubs or caffees.

Czech currency

The Czech Republic has its own currency, the Czech crown (CZK), with the exchange rate of 1EUR to about 25CZK. Many places accept payments by card and there are many cash exchange points in the city center that offer exchanges of most currencies at good rates.

Getting around Brno

Brno has excellent public transport and all trips can be paid by credit card on the vehicle. Otherwise, tickets can be bought in cash at the driver, though this is not recommended. For longer trips, Czech Railways has an excellent app in english to buy train tickets.

As the conference venue is located right in the city center, we recommend exploring the city by foot, as the center is almost exclusively for pedestrians and vehicles are only allowed with a special permit. In case you would like to explore other areas, simply hop on a tram or bus, beep in and enjoy the ride!

If you want to explore the city on your own and off the beaten track, simply rent a nextbike and take a trip along the river on one of Brno's central bike lanes.

For getting around, especially if you will not have mobile phone service, you may also consider downloading an offline map of Brno in Google Maps.

If you are looking to get mobile phone service, this spreadsheet has number of choices.

Activities beside the conference

The BRNOPAS tourist card can be your guide around Brno, highlighting interesting places and offering discounts or free admission to the 5 popular places: gardens at Brno villas, Old Town Hall tower, Brno underground, Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, and the Brno Zoo. The card is also offers free ticket on city transportation.

Vila Tugendhat was built in 1929–1930 for Greta and Fritz Tugendhat to a design by the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Its history is at least as fascinating as its cultural significance. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2001.

For the active, we recommend trying the Hangar bouldering gym by Adam Ondra or going for a run around the Lužánky park. If you have more time on your hands, enjoy the Moravian Karst on a hike or explore some of its caves. The best place to start your trip is Blansko, which can be reached by train in 20 minutes from the Brno main train station (Brno hlavní nádraží).

For everyone interested in arts and culture, Brno has several museums and galleries showcasing various aspects of Czech culture and history.

In 2017, Brno was awarded the prestigious title of UNESCO Creative City of Music, thus joining a network of 46 cities viewing music as one of their development priorities. Brno's music scene has plenty to offer!