Ostrava

Ostrava had been a predominantly industrial city since the 18th century, when the discovery of extensive coal deposits in the area led to an industrial boom. Ostrava quickly grew from a small provincial town of around one thousand inhabitants to one of the largest cities in the region.
As a major steel manufacturing centre, Ostrava suffered heavy destruction during the Second World War, and holds the sad distinction of being one of the most polluted cities of the European Union. Many parts have been redeveloped though, and several formerly industrial areas have become cultural centres and tourist attractions.

By train

• Prague:

• 3½ hr, Czech Railway's IC/EC every two hours (494Kč regular fare sold at train station before - but usually there is some discount offer, 229Kč companions in a group of 2 or more people, 150-300Kč if bought online or in advance at trainstation).
• 3 hr, Czech Railway's SC Pendolino every one or two hours (prices as above plus 100–200Kč compulsory reservation fee, around 300Kč altogether if bought online)
• 3½ hr, RegioJet several times a day. Tickets are generally sold online and start at 230Kč.

Brno: 2½ hr, hourly fast trains

Olomouc: 1 hr, IC/EC trains and SC Pendolino (compulsory reservation) every two hours. Some fast trains (rychlík) from Olomouc to Ostrava go longer way through Jeseníky mountains for more than 3 hours.

Warszawa: 4½ hr, three ECs a day

Moreover there are direct connections from Vienna, Bratislava, Žilina, Krakow, Budapest and Moscow. All of them are best bought online.
There are two main stations,

Ostrava hl.n

in the north and

Ostrava-Svinov

at the far western end of the city. Fast and international trains stops at both of them. None of the stations are within walking distance from the historic city centre. However a few trains also calls at , located next to the old town.

By bus

The main bus station in Ostrava is . Student Agency offers five buses a day from Brno, the journey time is 2¾ hours.

By plane

• Leoš Janáček Airport OstravaRegular services to Prague (Czech Airlines, 3-4 times daily) and Dubai (Smartwings) Ryanair also has flights to Bergamo and London-Luton. Hourly buses from the airport to Ostrava city center through main bus station, a 40-minute ride, depart between 07:15 and 22:15, tickets can be bought from drivers (35 Kč). There is also a train to the Ostrava main railway station.

Many passengers instead choose Katowice Pyrzowice Airport (KTW). This airport is northeast of Ostrava, and can be reached by A1/D1 motorway in about an hour. The airport has direct connections with over 30 destinations across Europe and Asia.
Tiger Express operates a shuttle bus service from Katowice Airport operates six times a day with a timetable harmonized with the airport's air traffic. Tickets prices begin from €9 one way. The journey takes 90 minutes and free Wi-Fi and luggage transport is included in this price.

By tram and bus

Tram and bus travel in Ostrava is inexpensive. A 15-minute ticket costs 15Kč, a 60-minute ticket 24Kč and a 24-hour ticket is 75Kč (Mar 2012) . Transport is available 24 hours a day, however there is a reduced service between midnight and 04:00. See a city line map and online timetable.

• Landek park

  phone: +420 596 131 803
  address: Pod Landekem 64
  Located on the former Anselm Mine (one of the first to be established at the end of the 18th century in what is today the Petřkovice District of Ostrava), the Mining Museum was opened in the early 1990s. It is the largest mining museum in the Czech Republic. The coal seams of the former Anselm Mine surface at the Landek National Nature Reserve, a world famous site in terms of geology, archaeology, history, natural sciences and mining. People wer using black coal here more than 25,000 years ago. A unique exhibition of the Mining Museum highlights the evolution of coal mining in the Ostrava-Karviná region, as well as mining technology, and rescue services. In fact, it is the largest exhibition of its kind in the world. The site includes sports and recreation facilities, bowling, cycling trails and a children’s corner.

• The Vítkovice Area

  phone: +420 604 603 166
  address: Ruská 101
  This had been an industrial area since the first half of the 19th century. In 2002, in view of its exceptional character, the entire ground was declared a site of National Cultural Heritage. There was the complete technological flow: the mining of coal, a coke plant, and iron and steel production, all of which was unique to the Czech Republic. This historic landmark was listed as the European Cultural Heritage in 2008. The Vítkovice complex Dolní oblast is set to undergo extensive reconstruction. The giant gas container for blast furnace gas (around 70 m wide and 33 m high) will be modified into a concert hall for 1,500 visitors, a gallery, café, etc., based on design by leading Czech architect, Josef Pleskot. Blast Furnace no. 1 was to become the start of a tour route, and the sixth energy central office was to become an industrial museum (project authored by Václav and Helena Zemánkovi). The expected date for completion of reconstruction was 2013.

• The Michal Mine

  address: Československé armády 95/413
  Michal Mine, whose history goes back to 1843, is an extremely valuable authentic industrial site in terms of construction and technical equipment. The area was declared a National Cultural Landmark in 1995. Today, the museum provides visitors with the chance to look over all of the above groundwork areas that a miner would have to go through to get to his shift. The tour includes the dressing rooms, washrooms, registry, dispatching, and most importantly, the machine room, with its original and unique equipment that had worked until 1993, when the mine was permanently closed. The scene, intentionally left intact, without any artificial arrangements being made, gives the impression as if work there has just ended.

• Silesian Ostrava Castle

  phone: +420 596 115 967
  address: Hradní 1
  The Silesian Ostrava Castle is the city's most historic cultural monument. It was built in the second half of the 13th century, close to the confluence of the Lučina and Ostravice rivers, where a fortified Slavonic settlement had once stood. In 1872, the castle burnt down, but was later re-built. The main cause of its destruction was coal-mining, with seams worked directly beneath the castle. The whole structure sank 16 m into the ground! The castle has been reconstructed and visitors now can view in its interior several permanent exhibitions telling the history of the building and the city of Ostrava, an exhibition of torture instruments, the castle’s vaulted cellars with witches, fresh-water fish aquaria and the castle gallery.

• The Miniuni

  phone: +420 596 119 900
  address: Výstaviště Černá louka
  The Miniuni is an interesting attraction for children and adults. Spread out over 1.5 hectares visitors can see more than 30 models of significant buildings of European cities, like Big Ben, Old Town Hall or one of the best-known landmarks of Berlin the Brandenburg Gate, all dominated by the 12 metre-high Eiffel tower. The models are built at a scale of 1:25. Recently added are the Wonders of the Ancient Times. There are railway lines with little trains running across the grounds and waterways with a steamship. Special exhibitions and entertainment events for children are organized here regularly.

• The Ostrava Zoo

  phone: +420 596 241 269
  address: Michálkovická 197
  The Ostrava Zoo was founded in 1951. It covers an area of 100 hectares and is the home to nearly 360 different species of animals. One of the most popular attractions is the seasonal, commented feeding of animals, evening guided tours and a number of accompanying events, not only for children (Children’s Day, lampion parades, decoration of the Christmas tree, etc.) There are several children’s corners inside the Zoo compound. If there is enough snow, visitors may go cross-country skiing directly inside the Zoo.

• The Ostrava Museum

  phone: +420 597 578 450
  address: Masarykovo náměstí 1
  The museum is in one of the oldest buildings in Ostrava, the Old Town Hall on Masaryk Square. A new permanent exhibit opened here in June 2009, containing art history collections, history of the city and the nature and landscape of the local area. The unique exhibit, and the pride of the Ostrava Museum, is the indoor astronomical clock, 225 cm high – a work by Jan Mašek. The astronomical clock offers 4 parts – its own clock face, the calendar, and the astronomical and planetary parts.

• The Viewing Tower of the New City Hall

  phone: +420 599 443 096
  address: Prokešovo náměstí 6
  The Viewing Tower is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. On a clear day, it is possible to see the entire city, the nearby Beskydy Mountains, and neighbouring Poland. The Viewing Tower has dominated the Ostrava skyline since it was built at the New City Hall (the largest in the Czech Republic) in 1930. The strict functionalist style of the tower creates, in the opinion of its designers, a noble beacon of concrete, metal and glass. The tower reaches 298.05 metres above sea level, or roughly 85.60 metres above ground level. The tower is equipped with an illuminated clock face, an elevator, and a lookout deck 72 metres above the ground. The Ostrava City Information Centre, located directly beneath the tower, provides information about the city, in several languages.

• Golden Spike Ostrava

  address: Závodní 86
  Athletics meeting, part of the IAAF World Challenge. Normally held at the end of May or beginning of June. Usain Bolt has competed here from 2007 to 2010.

• Colours of OstravaThe Colours of Ostrava international music festival features many domestic and world renowned musical acts. The festival is organised in the Ostrava city centre and in clubs on Stodolní Street every year, with the participation of more than 100 bands and DJs from around the world. The pleasant summer atmosphere is enhanced with a movie theatre presenting musical video clips and movies, a special dancing stage, drums, salsa, and belly-dancing workshops, and the Children's World, enjoyed especially by parents and kids. It was awarded the 2005 Festival of the Year.

• The International Music Festival Janáček's May OstravaThe Janáček May International Music Festival is the oldest and largest music festival in Ostrava, founded in 1975. It is organised by the City of Ostrava and the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra. The festival attracts not only renowned musical talent from Europe and around the world, but also hosts musicological conferences, exhibitions and theatre performances.

• Spectaculo Interesse

  address: Pivovarská 15
  In 1995, Ostrava's Puppet Theatre held the first Spectaculo Interesse International Puppet Theatre Festival, establishing the city on the map of European puppetry. Every two years, puppet masters from such diverse places as France, Russia, Hungary, Switzerland, Poland, South Korea, Slovakia, and Austria come to perform. The festival holds a competition, and many of the performances are held in the city's modern, custom-designed Puppet Theatre, and out on the streets among the public.

Ostrava is the shopping centre of the region. You can find small specialised shops, hypermarkets and shopping galleries. Souvenirs are sold in branch offices of the Ostrava City Information Centre.

• Forum Nova Karolina, a large and modern shopping mall close to the city centre with many stores from international chains, a hypermarket, specialty stores and a food court.
• Laso, a shopping centre containing many smaller shops just off the main city square.

In such a big city the number of restaurants is naturally enormous, ranging from the very famous restaurants to the less expensive trattorie or pizzerie. Whether you are looking to enjoy classical Czech food, regional specialities or international cuisine, Ostrava probably has what you are looking for. A visit to the region would not be complete without a pint of the local beer, “Ostravar”, which has been brewed in the city since 1897. The main street for wining, dining and having a great time is Stodolní Street, in the heart of the city. It boasts over 60 bars and restaurants in an area covering just a few blocks.

• La Petite Conversation

  address: Chelčického 8
  Close to the Stodolní tram stop, the only real Belgian café in Ostrava. Very good sandwiches and coffee.

• Café au pere tranquille (French café)

• Harenda u Barborky - stylish restaurant at the Mining museum

• Koras - culinary specialities, International cuisine

• Moravská chalupa - stylish restaurant with regional specialities

The secret sweet treats of Ostrava are the katowicke rurki, named after the nearby city of Katowice in Poland - although they are arguably a version of a similar treat popular in the entirety Poland, and not peculiar to Katowice at all. The katowicke rurki consist of a sweet wafer rolled into a tube, and then filled with pařížská šlehačka, both using a specially-designed machine. Pařížská šlehačka, in turn, is a filling vaguely resembling chocolate-flavoured whipped cream, although quite often having nothing to do with either cream or chocolate when it comes to its ingredients, and obviously having no obvious connection to the city of Paris after which it is ostensibly named.
Katowicke rurki are usually made by specialized confissers in possession of one of the unique machines, who often have been operating their specialized businesses for decades. One of those is hidden in the Hornicka street.

Ostrava is home to the famous Stodolní street, the biggest strip of bars and pubs in the country. Drinks are generally cheaper than in Prague and atmosphere is more local.

• E99

  phone: +420 595 542 060
  address: Porážková 22
  Friendly pub at the end of Stodolní street, near the train station.

The city offers a wide variety of accommodation covering all kinds of travel budget and level of service.

• Imperial Hotel Ostrava

  phone: +420 599 099 099
  address: Tyršova 6
  Hotel with restaurants, relaxation centre and meeting facilities in the city centre.

• Park Inn Ostrava

  phone: +420 595 195 000
  address: Hornopolní 3313/42
  Maybe Ostrava's most modern hotel, and something of a flagship for the brand given the standard and quality compared to the chain's older properties.

• Mercure Ostrava Center Hotel

  phone: +420 595 606 600
  address: Ceskobratrska 18/1742
  Located in a historic building with an impressive dining terrace.

• Hotel Brioni

  phone: +420 599 500 000
  address: Stodolní 876/8
  A four-star hotel on the Stodolní street, with a unique military-themed bar.

While Ostrava remains a quiet and pleasant city, locals will let you know that many areas have sadly gained an unfortunate reputation for widespread drug consumption. Always be on the lookout for junkies.