Free Walk, Tip The Guide

Free Walk, Tip the Guide, 2 hours, rated 4.92 across 25 traveller reviews.

Overview

This walk starts at the top of the hill, beside the entrance to St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, where the guide stands holding a flag with a crocodile on it. From there the route drops downhill or stays flat through the old fortified city, covering about 1.8 kilometers over roughly two hours. You pay nothing upfront. Instead, you tip the guide at the end whatever you feel the walk was worth.

The first stretch sets the tone. Below the cathedral, at a viewpoint over the southern part of the city, the guide explains Brno's textile industry and its weight in the Austrian Empire, contrasting the mill owners' villas with the working-class districts that grew around the factories. Next comes Cabbage Market and its Baroque Parnas fountain, a protected landmark, followed by the Old City Hall, the oldest secular building in the city, with its courtyard and three famous curiosities and their legends.

The full route continues past the astronomical clock on Freedom Square, Czech Street, St. Jacob's Church, and the Alpha Palace, ending at what the guide calls the best photo spot in the city. Eight stops in total are planned, though the listing only details the first three in depth. Along the way the guide also covers the Swedish Siege of 1645, the five gates of the old fortified city, and John of Luxembourg, once King of Rome.

Itinerary

1. Meet at the CathedralMeet at St. Peter and Paul Cathedral. The guide waits next to the entrance wearing a white cap and holding a flag with a crocodile on it.
2. Cathedral introductionThe guide introduces the 11th century chapel that became the cathedral, the dominant feature of Brno.
3. Viewpoint below the CathedralFrom a viewpoint over the city, hear about Brno's textile industrial history, its importance to the Austrian Empire, and the contrast between mill owners' villas and the working classes.
4. Cabbage Market and Parnas fountainStop at the Baroque Parnas fountain on Zelny trh, a protected cultural landmark, with a brief history of the square, theatre, and underground.
5. Old City HallWalk through the courtyard of the oldest secular building in the city and hear about the artifacts, rooms, and three famous curiosities with their legends.
6. Further old-city stopsThe route continues to stops including Freedom Square and the astronomical clock, Czech Street, St. Jacob's Church, and the Alpha Palace, ending at the guide's chosen best photo spot in the city.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points, all drawn from the listing, will help you prepare for this walk.

• Payment model. Booking is free and there is no fixed charge. Guests pay the guide what they think the walk was worth at the end.
• Route and distance. The walk covers about 1.8 kilometers and runs between 1.5 and 2 hours. The route is either downhill or flat.
• Weather cover. The guide provides umbrellas for free, protecting from sun or rain. Even so, dress for the forecast since the tour takes place outdoors.
• Finding the guide. The meeting point is next to the cathedral entrance. Look for a guide in a white cap holding a flag with a crocodile on it.
• Photos. The tour ends at what the guide describes as the best photo spot in the city. Keep a phone or camera accessible rather than buried in a bag.
• Tour depth. Eight stops are planned, with the listing detailing the first three in depth. The later stops are named on the listing but without the same level of detail.

Common issues. No traveller reviews were available for this tour at the time of writing, so honest downsides have to come from the listing itself. Pickup is not included; you must make your own way to the cathedral entrance. The listing details only the first three stops in full. Weather is a factor on a walking tour, though free umbrellas are provided against sun or rain.

Common Questions