Ostrava
Eco-friendly travel guide to Ostrava advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to explore the attractions in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
- Air quality: 3.4 / 5
- Exploring by foot: 3.1 / 5
- Exploring by bicycle: 3.8 / 5
- Public transportation: 3.5 / 5
- Parks: 4.1 / 5
- Outdoor activities: 3.5 / 5
- Locals' English level: 3.8 / 5
- Safety: 4 / 5
- Accommodation: US$16 - $1000
- Budget per day: US$11 - $400
Contents
Responsible Travel
Are you a tourist who wants to visit Ostrava but as a responsible traveler? If yes, as a traveling enthusiast, there are specific responsibilities that you have in addition to other moral obligations. While visiting the country, you must identify and control your activities accordingly so that you don't cause any harm to the local communities or the environment.
- Try to opt for public transports and electronic vehicles like available buses, metro trains, trams, bikes, etc. These vehicles cause comparatively less harm to the environment and are also cost-efficient.
- Instead of opting for luxurious 5-star hotels and guesthouses, travelers prefer accommodation options that follow eco-friendly measures like renewable resources, solar electricity, recyclable products, etc. By doing so, you can keep your carbon footprint minimal during your travel.
- Also, people prefer buying and using local businesses and artists' services rather than international brands. If you want proper exposure to the local culture, traditions, crafts, and people, the local companies will help you fulfill the needful.
- After sustaining the city life, try to visit parks and green spaces that act like an oasis buzzing with energy and gleaming bright green and blue under the harsh sun. Visiting the parks makes you feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
Air Quality and Pollution
Following the planet Health Organization's guidelines, Ostrava's air quality is taken into account moderately safe. The original recent data indicates the country's annual mean concentration of PM2. 5 is ten µg/m3, the minimum value. Tiny particles called PM2.5 irritate the eyes, nose, and systema respiratorium. Long-term exposure aggravates heart and lung disease. The best time to visit Ostrava city is during the spring and summer season when the days are bright, warm, sunny with plenty of daylight. May, June, and July are the most relaxing and pleasant months for visiting Ostrava's beautiful city. The best times are May 21st to September 16th to visit Ostrava based on an average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
Respect the Culture
Ostrava is a city in the north-eastern part of the Czech Republic and is the Moravian-Silesian Region's capital. It has about 288,000 inhabitants. Ostrava is the third-largest city in the Czech Republic in terms of both population and area, the second-largest city in the region of Moravia, and the largest city in Czech Silesia's historical land. The majority of the Czech Republic's 10.7 million inhabitants are ethnically and linguistically Czech (95%). They are descendants of Slavic people from the Black Sea-Carpathian region who settled here. Other ethnic communities, like Greeks, Turks, Italians, and Yugoslavs, are found here. The language of Czech is distributed into three bohemian dialects, four Moravian dialects,s and two Silesian dialects which is also the states common mode of the language spoken. Also, English speaking is common. Majority of domination is done by Roman Catholicism and little other organized religion.
Top 10 Places to Visit
Ostrava is the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, situated close to the Polish and Slovak borders on the Ostravice River. It is nestled in the surrounding Beskid Mountains. Here are the best ten places to visit in Ostrava.
- City Hall - Along with a terrific view from the highest tower right at the top of the hall this place is among the biggest city hall in the Czech Republic. The look-through space is situated 72 meters beyond the ground. Being so high it allows a panoramic view of the city along with a glimpse of the Beskid Mountains and few places of Poland at a distance. The industrial area surrounding the city gives a touch of greenery to the city which is an amazing factor for tourists.
- Ostrava's Swimming Pool - The Ostrava swimming pool is central Europe’s most important and largest swimming pool in the Czech Republic. During the hotter days, this place attracts tourists from all over the world and the crowd rate increases to 20,000 per day. The area covered by the swimming pool is 40,000 sq km. This pool comes with water attraction, some of the most used ones are fun slides and toboggan. Water bikes can also be rented and also aqua zorbing is a fun thing to do where a person walks inside a ball. Sporty fans would enjoy their time here over the green large area.
- Jewish Ceremonial Hall - The most important part of the society was the Jewish community mainly from Eastern and Central Europe. The community was quickly destroyed due to communism that took place in World War II. The merciless demolition of the Jewish cemetery was a nightmare. People forcibly moved the Jewish community over a different place with the entire precious gravestone. Few years passed by and a brand new Jewish community hall was built on the same spot, as of now this building is considered one of the best in the whole of the Czech Republic.
- Vítkovice Complex Dolní Oblast - The Vitkovice complex is a regionally produced Ironware in the year 1990 and it was constructed at another industrial area which was considered as the central hub. After the renovation, the place was changed to a center of Science and Technology. The renovation was completed after the addition of fun education learning related to nature and science. There are 4 differently distributed areas for the exhibition which covers 14,000 sq meters. These exhibition centers provide knowledge by interactive games, scientific movies, experiments, secrets behind Cloning, and many more.
- Original Indoor Astronomical Clock - An incredibly passionate technician was used to work for the Vitkovice Steelworks during the period of the war was very much into technology. His name was Jan Masek who has contributed a great deal to the heritage of Ostrava by the donations he made for the town's 700th anniversary. He gifted an astronomical clock that was two meters huge and weighed 8 kilos and had 2,500 working parts. The clock shows both time and date along with the astronomical position for planets to boot.
- Cathedral Of The Divine Saviour - Situated in Ostrava on Moravia and Silesia is the second largest catholic cathedral of the Romans. The two towers at this place stand high 70 meters above the ground. The cathedral at once can hold a capacity of churchgoers up to 4,000.
- Landen Park - Landen park is one of the oldest mining shafts in Ostrava; the Anselm Mine was transformed into a vast Mining Museum in the Czech Republic over 25 years ago. The extensive underground paths uncover the secrets of an authentic mining environment every step of the way. Connecting the mining museum as the technical monument with the location of Landek as the national natural sight with lively flora and fauna makes the Landek area an exciting and attractive place. The visitors come here to rejuvenate themselves.
- Ostrava Zoo - This zoo was founded as Kuncicky Zoo in 1951, in an area named the Miners' Park in Ostrava-Kuncicky. The new zoo's construction in Stromovka park started in 1965, and animals were transferred to Stromovka park from the zoo. This brand new, state-of-the-art facility serves as a home to over 200 animals, including fishes, mammals, birds, reptiles, and Sarcopterygii fish, as well as some invertebrates.
- The Silesian Ostrava Castle - It is the City’s prominent historic monument which depicts culture. The monument was said to be constructed by the other half of the 13th century, it was built near the Ostravice and Lucina rivers. This place was once occupied by the Slavonic community. The history of Ostrava city can be known by the permanent exhibition of the number of interiors constructed. This place is filled with a number of historic artifacts such as a few torture instruments, vaulted cellars carrying witches, aquaria filled with freshwater fish, and most importantly the castle gallery.
- Science And Technology Center - On the area of 14,000 square meters, the Science and Technology Centre offers four worlds with permanent expositions and one world dedicated to temporary displays. The endless worlds present here are the Children's World, World of Science and Discoveries, World of Civilization, and World of Nature, which is the largest center and encompasses the whole floor and an exterior garden. A particular area for children and grown-ups to play, discover, and relax are also present here.
Explore
From exploring underground coal mines to rafting down the Ostravice River, visiting the science center, and even partying at one of the best music festivals in Europe, a visit to Ostrava will always be pleasantly surprised. From the last decade the city of Ostrava has been trying hard to clean their image and after a lot of hard work, they have been successful in building an attractive center with a lot of fun activities for audiences of almost all ages.
City Parks
- Třebovice Park - It is located in Ostrava in the Třebovice district. It was newly renovated in 2007 and is hosted by many cultural events (e.g., the Třebovický pie festival ). There are four memorable trees in the park - tulip lily, ash, sycamore maple, and beech. Other examples include linden, ginkgo Biloba or horse chestnut. The park is built on the site where it was in the 15th century built a fortress. Only the economic part of the building, in which there is now a sculpture workshop, has been preserved. There is also a restaurant Třebovická role in the park.
- Komenského Sady - is a large park located on the left bank of Ostravice near the center of Moravian Ostrava. It is one of the largest city parks in the Czech Republic. The area of the orchards is about 30 hectares, and there are about three thousand trees.
National Parks
- Polanský Forest - is a nature reserve near the Polanka nad Odrou city district in the Ostrava-město district. The resource consists of a hard meadow forest, i.e., mainly old stands of mixed deciduous forest. There are several protected and endangered species in the herbaceous layer, such as snowdrop, golden-headed lily, blue-violet snowdrop, and others. Bear's garlic is also abundant here. Species of bats have been observed in the locality. Endangered species are also found here, such as the tree frog and newt.
- Turkov: This is a beautiful natural forest in the city. Plenty of unique species of birds and animals call this lush green forest their home. This protected area is a must visit if you wish to be closer with nature.
Beaches
There are no significant beaches in Ostrava.
Landmarks
- Viktovice - If you want to experience the industrial voyage of the most extensive remains of the Viktovice district of metallurgy which has now been transformed and cherished into a recent attraction for tourists, then head towards the Viktovice. The massive gasometer is the biggest concert hall in this area, while the blast furnace which was built in the 19th century has a 60-meter lookout high above the ground. This whole district is therefore in the European list of heritage and culture. One of the best things that makes Viktovice Unique is the manufacturing of steel supplying chain which is found in the exact same place. Facing next to each other are the coal mine, steelworks, and iron along with coke plants.
- Silesian Ostarav Castle - A significant historical Landmark of Ostrava is the Silesian ostarav castle. In this place, the rivers Lucina and Ostravice meet. The border of Poland has been close to this fortress, therefore the structure was built up in 1280 with a role of significance since then. During the renaissance period, the gothic design was gradually changed to the chateau. Finally, in 1872, it was again razed in the ground. The monument is now stable and restored perfectly with much knowledge of Ostrava’s people and History.
- Michal Colliery - With the sinking of two shafts over this spot the Austrian empire created the Michal Colliery in the year 1843. The preservation of the building has been done swiftly and the mining lifestyle is already well acquainted by the visitors. The footsteps of Ostrava’s last miners can be seen and followed to be known about their days of living. There restrooms, machine rooms, mining cage, and lamp room. Few of the heavy machinery kept on display includes compressors, hoists crane trucks for transport, and tippers.
Museums
- Ostrava Museum - This museum opened in the lovely Old Town Hall building in 2009 and is well worth a couple of hours of your time. Here you'll learn how the coalfield beneath the city was harnessed. The natural history section tells of the geology around Ostrava. You'll also delve into the coal industry's social aspect by checking out the mining exhibits, where all sorts of mining-related artifacts are on display. Ostrava's families and institutions have donated art pieces and furniture to the museum, the best being a stunning astronomical clock, more than two meters in height, and has 2,500 moving parts.
- Moravian- Silesian Railway Museum - At the Ostrava-střed railway station, you will find an exposition of the Moravian-Silesian Railway Museum, in which you can see historical railway uniforms or artifacts from the 19th century. The Railway Museum in Ostrava is located in the building of the Ostrava-střed train station. You can see the historical uniforms of railway workers and objects from the 19th century. For example, among them are a climber, i.e., an indicator that informed the driver about the slope or ascent of the track. The exhibited glassmaker stood on the line between Svinov and the Vítkovice ironworks and still remembers the Northern Railway of Emperor Ferdinand.
Eat
Ostrava has become a city of culinary delights. This is because the food is generally of high standards, and the atmosphere is charming. The natural range of restaurants is quite massive in such a big city with famous restaurants providing lavish food and also inexpensive restaurants providing hygienic food with good taste and a good price. Both classical food of Czech and international Cuisine is available in Ostrava.
Traditional Local Restaurants
- Moravska Chalupa - Moravian Cottage which is a translation for Moravska Chalupa is a good place with normal Czech food with a welcoming environment. Like all the other places in the country, it also has a daily menu for lunch. This allows the traveler to find and enjoy the kind of dish they like under a cheap budget. One can come at any time to try out their special dish which is grilled pork fillets, it is a dish showing their skill of presentation.
- The Loft Restaurant - The restaurant ambiance is warm, lovely renovated. The service is fast and friendly. The menu isn't long, but the dishes on it are exquisite, you must try them! The waiters were so helpful, and you had a feeling you were in Přívoz during the first Republic times. The place is nice, a kind of fusion of Modern industrial style and Ostrava's spirit. The menu is simple, short, but more than sufficient.
Vegetarian and Vegan
- Black Kale Raw Restaurant - They are a meatless FRESH restaurant. They want to bring you a taste experience from food and drinks that excel in freshness, quality, and especially preparation purely from plant ingredients. To maintain the quality, they need to prepare almost everything on their own, from their raw chocolate, through salty dips to meals, gluten-free pancake mixes, freshly ground pizza flour, home-made fries, and burger buns.
- Burfi Vegetarian Restaurant - This attractive vegetarian restaurant offers surprising new alternatives and combinations of ingredients. When preparing these dishes without meat, international recipes are inspired by local chefs using fresh, natural ingredients.
Street Food
Np one has any better way to capture the flavor of a city than through its street food. Some of the famous street foods are found in :
- Moss Asian Street Food - Perfect place for Thai food lovers! The prices are reasonable, and the portions are significant. If you discover this place, it will become a ritual to go there weekly, at least once per week, to have their delicious Pho Bo. There are many other Asiatic dishes served in this place.
Drink
Ostrava is home to the famous Stodolní street, the most significant strip of bars and pubs. A visit to the region would not be complete without a local beer pint, "Ostrava," 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 town's heart. It boasts over 60 bars and restaurants in an area covering just a few blocks.
Tap-water
Yes, tap water is drinkable in Ostrava. Always take extra precautions while drinking tap water. The water might be safe to drink when it passes the sewage treatment plant, but it might pick up pollutants on its way to your tap. It's advised that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. You may also purchase bottled water.
Organic Cafés
- Pet Punk - This place has the warmest Barista-owner right behind the counter which makes the place cozier and more compact. Petr the owner of the café was a journalist before, he loved coffee. Also if you ask him for suggestions, he would quickly help you understand the specialty of the different types of coffee served over his place. Aeropress and filter method is also available apart from Espresso-based drinks.
- Čerstvý Boby - The translation for the name of this café is “fresh beans”. Arabica beans specially imported from Africa and South America used only by the roasters of Europe are served at this place, which means that less time would be taken to serve the coffee. Though the place is small, you will love the aroma of coffee all over which makes the ambiance a bit more acoustic and travelers love to spend their time resting and enjoying the last drop of coffee or latte they have ordered.
Breweries
- Hoppy Dog - Over the industrial area of Ostrava, the Hoppy Dog is situated which is not very far from the Vitkovice area. TBEX is an event that was recently hosted by this place and many other conferences and hosts keep taking place sooner or later. Psi Kusy is a small bar served by the HoppyDog with a bigger out front and eco-friendly environment.
- Pivovarský Dům - Again in central Ostrava another brewpub is Pivovarsky Dum. The head brewer of this place belongs to Brazil and is capable of giving you a private tour to his brewer and also helping you taste all his special beer before ordering
Activities
Ostrava. is an exciting city full of unique and still living industrial heritage. The historic industrial complexes were being revitalized and transformed into new leisure, entertainment, and educational zone.
Yoga and Retreats
The art of practicing yoga helps in maintaining an individual's mind, body. It also helps in managing flexibility, muscle strength, and body tone. After a busy and hectic schedule, people should find a way to rejuvenate, and doing yoga is one of the best methods to reduce stress. Here are the most famous yoga centers in Ostrava are:
- Lotos Yoga Studio
- Hormonalni Joga Ostrava
Accommodation
With access to a range of quality and affordable accommodation options, you'll find the perfect place to live in Ostrava. The vast majority of hostels, hotels, guesthouses, and homestays include breakfast – and nine times out of ten, this is toast topped with an egg, sugar, banana, and a cup coffee (not on top of the toast, that would be weird).
Green Hotels
- Barrier Green Hotel
- Green Inn Hotel
Hostels and Guest Houses
Some people often think about what is the real difference between hotels and guest houses. A guesthouse is a small and private house given out for rent daily to give a clear idea. Guesthouses are as social as hostels in Ostrava; if you travel with a friend, it's mostly cheaper or around the same price to get a private room.
- Imperial Hotel Ostrava
- Clarion Congress Hotel
- Penzion Moon
- Arco
Apartments
If you are away from home traveling and want somewhere to spend the rest of the night after too much day touring, then an apartment or a flat can be the best place where you can get the same vibe as you do at the home. The same furnished room and facilities of a proper kitchen that you have in your own apartment will be provided to you according to your comfort. Apartments and flats are available for both long and short term stay. Some of the famous apartments in Ostrava are:
- Villa Whitehouse
- Apartments Viktovice Ostrava
Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing is a traveling group with millions of members worldwide and is the best way to experience Ostrava like a local. Reach out to over hosts in Ostrava to discover unique places to stay and locals to stay. Use Couchsurfing to find accommodation in Ostrava, meet up with locals and travelers, and more.
Camping
Forest camping is specially set up during the month of summer when travelers are in a whole adventure mood. Camping in Czech differs from really comfortable to very harsh according to the climatic condition. Due to the weather change sometime there is a chance of damage being made to your tent so beware and get out when the cloud is fine and gay.
campsites in Ostrava are:
- Camp Landen Park
- The Caravan Park Lake
How to Get There
Ostrava is a city in the borderland of Moravia and Silesia in the Czech Republic. Some ways to reach Ostrava are given below:
Air
Ostrava has a small international airport called Ostrava Leos Janacek Airport with few regular services to London Stansted (Ryanair), Warsaw-Chopin (LOT Polish Airlines). There are also many charter flights to holiday destinations in Bulgaria, the Mediterranean, Egypt, and other places. Check the airport website. There are a regular rail and bus service to/from Ostrava.
A much better option is to choose Katowice Airport (KTW). The airport is situated 120 kilometers northeast of Ostrava, but the way leads all through a motorway and by car. The plane takes about an hour to get from the airport to Ostrava via A1/D1 roads. The airport also has direct connections with over 30 destinations across Europe and Asia. The airport in Ostrava is a base of [Wizzair] and has a strong Wizzair flights network.
Bus
The central bus station in Ostrava is Ostrava ÚAN. Student Agency offers five buses a day from Brno, and the journey time is 2¾ hours.
Train
Ostrava has two main train stations, and one is Ostrava hl. n. in the north and Ostrava-Svinov in the west of the region. Fast, safe and international trains stop at both of them. From Prague: 3½h, Czech Railway's IC/EC every two hours, three h, Czech Railway's SC Pendolino every two hours 3½h, private operator RegioJet every two hours, 3½h, private operator LEO Express every two hours. Brno: 2½h, hourly fast trains Olomouc: 1h, IC/EC trains, and SC Pendolino (compulsory reservation) every two hours. Beware of some fast trains (rychlík) from Olomouc to Ostrava, and they go longer way through Jeseníky mountains for more than 3 hours. Warsaw: 4½h, three ECs a day, one night trains. Katowice: 2½h, four daily trains (with the change in Bohumin in the border between countries). Moreover, there are direct connections to/from Vienna, Bratislava, Žilina, Košice, Budapest, Kraków, and Moscow.
Hitchhiking
When you are in, hitchhiking is sort of adventurous. It was built mostly during the 20th century through the mining and steel industry. Thanks to that, you can find a lot of relics in this industry within the city. One street is going through steelworks! Hitchhiking directly on motorways and expressways is not allowed. Foreigners are not permitted to walk on these roads for safety reasons.
Others
There are no other ways to reach Ostrava.
Moving Around
Public transport is cheap in Ostrava. Every model of transportation such as trams, buses, local trains, and trolleybuses are available all day. However, there will be some difficulty in finding a vehicle from midnight untill 4 AM.
Walk
The travelers can create their self-guided walks to explore Ostrava on foot, at their own pace. Sometimes the travelers feel like walking the streets of Ostrava is an artistic endeavor, so always keep your eyes open for hidden miniature buildings on the top of street lamps, crafts, the famous painting of Madonna, and art under the arches of the museum – if you walk too fast you're likely to miss them!
Bicycle
A substantial increase in Ostrava's private car traffic has exposed adverse effects such as increased noise, emission, and vibration. The city has therefore attempted to reduce traffic growth by offering alternative types of transport such as cycling. Ostrava increased the length of completed cycling paths to 206 km and those under construction to 4 km.
Electronic Vehicles
Ostrava has many charging stations and along with it electric cars for the purpose. Few of the districts namely Krasne Pole, Bartovice, Nova Bais, Hrabova and Stara Bela have now introduced trucks which are equipped with electricity. Half of the total amount is funded by the Czechia’s State Environmental Fund. On November 6th the first electric truck was launched.
Public Bus
Public transport in Ostrava is operated by Dopravní podunk Ostrava (DPO). A valid ticket is required to ride the public transport vehicles (buses, trolleybuses). You can buy a single ticket with your bank card (VISA, MasterCard) directly in the car. DPO today owns 64 trolleybuses and 299 buses.
Tram, Train and Subway
Smart Trams in Ostrava supplied by Skoda and the contract of 40 pieces signed by Ostrava Public Transport has made the city a techy with all the latest generation technologies. The total worth of such trams cost around CZK 1.9 Billion. This tram comes with a capacity of 200 passengers each.
Sustainable Shopping
Ostrava is the shopping center of the region. You can find small specialized shops, as well as hypermarkets and shopping galleries. You can buy souvenirs for yourself or your family and friends in the Ostrava City Information Centre's branch offices.
Food Markets
A food market is a pedestrianized area that has been designated for restaurants and cafes. You'll find a vast quality of fresh, top-quality produce, meats, local and imported foods, household products, and more – at low prices. That's because they buy many products in quantity to negotiate great prices and then pass the savings onto you. And their special weekly deals will keep you even more. Here are the famous food markets in Ostrava:
- Penny Market
- Lidl
Flea Markets
Ostrava is rich with many popular flea markets. Find antiques and products that you love at flea markets in Ostrava. Rather than shopping from a chain store, shop from a flea or a street. You'll find all kinds of clothing, footwear, and trendy jewelry here. The famous flea markets here are:
- Vlato Flea Market
- Dolni Viktovice
Second Hand Stores
Thrifty lovers would spend hours just to scour for the right piece of clothing that resonates with them. In a way, shopping at a second-hand shop is no longer about finding the right design for yourself, but it's about finding the right history that you would happily boast. Some of the famous second-hand stores in Ostrava are :
- It Second-Hand
- Megasekáč Ostrava
Eco-Fashion
Sustainable Eco-fashion is a process of creating a useful change in developing fashion products. It also includes the fashion system to achieve greater ecological integrity and social justice. The most famous brands which make eco-fashion clothes and accessories in Ostrava are :
- Takko Fashion Ostrava
- Orsay
Recycling
There are bins for various kinds of waste all over the city of Ostrava. The travelers may check the interactive map with the location of each container for several types of garbage. OZO, a city-owned waste management company, is responsible for waste disposal and recycling. There is also Reuse centrum – It is a shop for used furniture and other functional household items that people donated because they no longer need them. Those items will be sold either as they were donated by people or after minor repairs.
Waste
In recycling centers, various waste types are gathered before they are further processed or disposed of. Recycling centers accept waste from parks, citizens, and firms. The companies deal with the trash, which is not suitable for disposal in standard containers, i.e., voluminous or hazardous waste of O and N categories. Recycling center management is authorized by a relevant regional authority and complies with the Waste Act. Some of the famous recycling companies in Ostrava are:
- Mp Ostrava
- Orc Recycling
Work and Study Abroad
Eighty-nine universities represent the higher education system of Czechia. There are five universities located in Ostrava, which offer 95 study programs. Besides, 37 Bachelor programs at five universities, 35 Master programs at five universities, and 23 Ph.D. programs at two universities.
Exchange Student
The University of Ostrava offers various exchange opportunities for domestic and international students and academic and non-academic staff from all around the world. Students can select a course from a wide range of study mobility programs
Au Pair
An au pair is a helper or supporter from a foreign country working for, and living as part of, a host family in another city or country. Typically, au pairs help the family by taking responsibility for childcare and some housework and receive a monetary allowance for personal use. A large number of opportunities are available for Au pair in Ostrava.
Volunteering
Volunteering means a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to launch a service. Opportunities are now available for professionals, volunteers, nurses, doctors, and healthcare professionals in Ostrava.