Visiting the Christmas Markets in Brno is a wonderful way to spend the Advent and Christmas time in the Moravian capital. Moreover, Brno was voted European Capital of Christmas 2024! Check out the photos and videos.
Just like the Christmas markets in Olomouc, the markets in Brno are worth visiting. There has been a significant change for the better in the Christmas markets in Brno since the 1990s. Where there was just one market with stand that looked all different and sold novelties made in China, cheesy socks and greasy food where the only traditional stand you could find was the blacksmith, there are nowadays five thematic markets with elegant stands selling traditional products.
The effort have paid off, Brno was awarded the title European Capital of Christmas 2024! Here is the promotion video:
Even though there are five main markets (there can be also smaller ones in each city quarter and there’s also one at the exposition center, not included in this article), they are all in the center and you can walk easily from one to another. The Brno center is beautifully decorated with Christmas lights and since several years ago, there is also a Ferris wheel and an ice-skating ring.
You can also have a quick look at the Brno markets in the following video:
Let’s have a look at the markets in photos:
Table of Contents
Brno Christmas Markets
Náměstí Svobody
This is the most central market on the main square of Brno, it’s been there “since forever”. The square was remodeled in 2006 but the change in the markets began even before then. Gone are the stands with neon signs and products that have nothing to do with Christmas. The market on Náměstí Svobody is dedicated to drinks and food, although the thematic division is not strict and you can find here also handmade products and charity stands.
You can taste here the traditional mulled wine called svařák, honey licor medovina, grilled meat, sausages, cheeses, trdelník, Belgian chocolate and much more.
There’s a stage where the rich cultural program takes place and so you can enjoy the holiday ambient listening to folkloric and Christmas music and sometimes also jazz, swing or rock performed by music bands, choirs or school children. Another significant element is the central stand that is much larger than the others and has a different shape. This stand is rented to bars in silent auctions. And of course, there’s a Christmas tree.
Usually, several tram lines go across the square. However, these lines are rerouted every day of the markets from 3 to 8.30 PM, that’s when the markets are the most crowded. During these hours, the only tram you will see there is the Christmas tram decorated with lights.
When you look up Rašínova street, you will see the Ferris wheel (in Czech called ruské kolo – Russian wheel) at the market at Moravské náměstí.
More Photos of Christmas Markets at Náměstí Svobody
Zelný trh
The Christmas markets in Brno’s Zelný trh were established in 2009 and immediately gained popularity. In 2010, the polls already showed many people prefer this smaller market over the “main” one less than half a kilometer away on Náměstí Svobody. The market on Zelný trh changed looks several times but the elements that attracted people was the unification of the stands and their names and the fact that this marked was made to look more rustic and traditional. In the first years, the inscriptions on the stalls as well as the decoration resembled the style of of Josef Lada’s paintings.
This market is the one for handmade products, whether it is syrups, essential oils, macramé, knitted gloves, traditional crystal products, hay decoration…there are, however, two stands that always stand out (and you can find them every year side by side in almost the same spot). It is the Scribe and the Bookbinder. They are my personal favorite and I could spend hours looking at everything they make and sell. If you’d like to visit their e-shop, it’s here.
If you don’t have enough cookie cutters and molds for linecké, zázvorky, ořechy or gingerbread cookies, you can get them here.
Even here, you can find stands with drinks and something small to eat. Just like the older market on Náměstí svobody, this one also has a Christmas tree, a carousel and a stage for performers. There’s a program for every day of the market. Zelný trh also hosts a Nativity scene, although smaller than the one on Dominikánské náměstí.
More Photos of Christmas Markets at Zelný trh
Moravské náměstí
The market on another central square – Moravské náměstí – started in 2008 but it wasn’t too popular. Some years it was run by a private company, then it served as a makeshift place for the stand from Náměstí svobody. It took a few years until the market found its identity and the crowd learnt that the Christmas punch tastes just as good on the most remote of the five markets (just a little over half a km north from Náměstí Svobody). In 2018, the Ferris wheel was first installed and completely changed the Advent landscape of this part of the center.
In 2023, the ice-skating ring was moved from under the horse-riding statue of Jost of Moravia to the park and swapped places with the stands which means the market moved closer to the other ones (it is now about 350 m from the main square). Besides the beverages, you can find here mostly charity stands and a carousel for small children. There is also a haystack for the children to play on and a stage.
The ice-skating ring is open in blocks of several hours from 10 am to 9 pm and you can borrow the skates there. Opening hour and fees can be found here.
The Ferris wheel is open from 10 am to 8 pm and the 2023 tickets are 130 CZK Monday – Thursday and 150 CZK Friday – Sunday. From this 33-meter-tall wheel you can see the landmarks of Brno like the Špilberk castle or the Petrov cathedral but also remote quarters like Maloměřice, Vinohrady or Komárov. In 2022, there was a curious incident when the person running the wheel turned it off at night, forgetting that there were still people riding it, and he went home. The customers alerted the police and the police informed the person responsible for the Ferris wheel who came to the rescue.
More Photos of Christmas Markets at Moravské náměstí
Dominikánské náměstí
This Christmas market in front of the city hall started out it 2016 and it is dedicated to food. It is also the place to see the largest Nativity Scene in Brno. It used to have animals, now it’s the wood carved Nativity Scene by Jiří Halouzka.
You can eat usual things here like fish and chips and pork and also less usual dishes like carp chips.
More Photos of Christmas Markets at Dominikánské náměstí
Stará Radnice
The market at the Old Town Hall is the most recent one. Established in 2022 as a gourmet market it is a very small market right next to the one on Zelný trh.
Even though it’s all about the food just like the market on Dominikánské náměstí, it’s – as the theme suggests – more gourmet or fancy. You can find here a stand of the Basque bar Don Pintxos or a candy stand with macaroons. Also, there are days dedicated to certain ingredients, such as sherry, almonds, beans, cinnamon or honey.
Right at the Old Town Hall, there is also a place with tiny wood stands for the children and of course you can admire the Dragon of Brno from here.
More Photos of Christmas Markets at Stará Radnice
