Ostrava is a city in the borderland of Moravia and Silesia in the Czech Republic. With a population of 290,000 (2019), it is the third largest city in the Czech Republic and the centre of the second largest urban agglomeration after Prague. It has several former industrial areas that have become cultural centres and tourist attractions.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
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. Ostrava City Council website For a small city, Ostrava has surprisingly large number of tourist information centres. The centres are called Ostrava Info.
Tram and bus travel in Ostrava is operated by Dopravní podnik Ostrava. Service is fast, frequent and inexpensive. Tickets are sold by tapping your credit card on the ticket machine onboard the vehicle. English menu is available in these machines. A 10-minute public transit ticket, with no transfers allowed, costs 23 Kč and is calculated when you tap to board and exit the vehicle. Otherwise, a 60-minute ticket which includes transfers costs 30 Kč. For the 60-minute ticket, you only need to tap your card each time you board a vehicle and do not need to tap when exiting.
1 Mining Museum in Landek Park (Hornické muzeum), Pod Landekem 64 (bus stop „Hornické muzeum”), ☏ +420 596 131 803, landekpark@vitkovice.cz. Tu-Su, 10:00 - 18:00. Inside 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 were using black coal here more than 25,000 years ago.
Football: FC Baník Ostrava play soccer in Fortuna or First League, the top tier. Their home ground Městský Stadion (capacity 15,000) is off Hwy 11, south edge of the city. MFK Vítkovice also play here in the third tier. Golden Spike Ostrava (Zlatá tretra Ostrava), Závodní 86 (tram stop „Městský stadion”). 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 Ostrava. The Colours of Ostrava international music festival features many domestic and world renowned musical acts.
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, Chelčického 8.
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. 1 E99, Porážková 22 (Western end of Stodolní street), ☏ +420 595 542 060. M-F 11:00-02:00, Sa 11:00-04:00, Su closed. Friendly pub at the end of Stodolní street, near the train station. Gambrinus 26 Kč, Plzen 30 Kč. (updated Sep 2017)
While Ostrava remains a quiet and pleasant city, locals will let you know that many areas have gained a reputation for widespread drug consumption. Always be on the lookout for junkies.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Aug, Ostrava typically sees ~25°C daytime highs and 9 rainy days.
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