At a meeting held in Madrid this month, Members of the international jury of the European Capital of Christmas unanimously decided to award the 2024 title to Brno. The impressive quality of Brno’s festive activities and their relevance to European values were just two of the deciding factors in the jury’s decision.

As well as its magical Christmas offering, the modern city of Brno has also shown considerable commitment to its own cultural heritage and global identity.

The news was a welcome addition to the city’s joy at being included in AFAR magazine’s ‘Where to go in 2024’ list. Brno was tipped as one of the top 25 destinations to visit next year.

Katarina Hobbs, CzechTourism Director for UK & Ireland said: “Brno, our second largest city in the Czech Republic is something of a hidden gem for people who might think Prague is the only place to go in Czechia” She added: “Gradually, the city is becoming more popular and growing in stature all the time. There’s just as much to see in Brno and it’s an exciting new place for people to take city breaks. It has a delightful atmosphere and visitors will be sure of a warm welcome.”

Brno has a rich cultural heritage, with a beautiful castle and a stunning cathedral, as well as modern attractions like the Moravian Gallery, one of the country’s top art museums. Brno is also home to a thriving food and wine scene.

The city of Brno offers impressive visitor attractions all year round but it really raises the bar at Christmas and the festivities are sure to be even bigger and better in its year as European Capital of Christmas.

How to get there:

Fly direct to Brno with Ryanair

Alternatively, visitors can choose to fly to Prague and take easy, reliable trains to Brno. There are regular direct flights from the UK to Prague with Jet2, Easyjet, Ryanair, BA and WizzAir