Zlin, Czech Republic – the Perfect Functionalist City

Zlin in the Czech Republic is one of the most unique places you can visit in Central Europe. While most of the towns in the region are known for their beautiful architecture and pastel-colored townhouses, Zlin has a completely different look and feel.

Even though the settlement was already located here in medieval times, the city developed rapidly in the 1920s when the famous Bata shoe factory was established here. Today, Zlin is a perfect place to admire the interesting modernist and functionalist architecture and is such a pleasant city to visit. 

It took me way too long to visit Zlin, Czech Republic. The city has been on my radar, and I made plans to go there a few times, but something always came up. When I finally made it there recently, I was more than impressed. The number of amazing functionalist buildings around exceeded my expectations, but there were more great things to do in Zlin than just admiring its unique architecture.

If you are looking for an unusual place to visit in the Czech Republic, go to Zlin. I put this guide with the best Zlin attractions to make your visit easier, so you can enjoy this city as much as I did. Read on and plan your trip to Zlin. 

Where is Zlin?

Zlin, a city of around 75 thousand inhabitants, is located in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, not too far from the border with Slovakia. Prague, the capital, is 300 km west of Zlin; Brno is 95 km away, and Ostrava is 120 km away. 

How to get to Zlin

You can get to Zlin by train; however, there are only direct connections from the nearby town of Otrokovice. Fortunately, you can easily reach Otrokovice from Prague and Ostrava; there are also international trains from Poland, Austria, and Slovakia that stop there.

From Otrokovice, it’s only a 15-minute train ride to Zlin. Alternatively, you can also take the local bus from Otrokovice to Zlin – they depart frequently, making it very easy to travel between the places. 

How to get around Zlin

Most of the Zlin attractions are located within walking distance of each other, so you can easily get around on foot. You can also use public transport (buses and trains) to get around the city. 

Where to stay in Zlin

If you need to stay overnight in Zlin, there are some good accommodation options to choose from. Here are the recommended ones:

• Hotel Prior (9.3/10)
• Interhotel Zlín (8.3/10)
• Hotel U Ševce (8.4/10)
• and more!

During my trip to Zlin, my train from Warsaw arrived in Otrokovice in the evening, so I spent the night there in Hotel Rottal (8.0/10). It was a good option, too. The hotel is located within walking distance from the train station and next to the bus and train stop to Zlin. You can check the current prices and book it here.

What to see in Zlin

The city developed around the Bata factory, so most of the Zlin attractions are somehow connected to the industry. The owner, Tomas Bata, knew that the well-being of workers was just as important as their job. That’s why, together with new factories, housing estates, and places to spend free time were built in Zlin, making it the first functionalist city in the world.

Between 1919 and 1932, around 1,500 houses for 18,000 people were added to the city’s scenery. They all looked more or less the same, not too big but with a focus on functionality and designed in a way to force people to spend time together, to make the influence of the factory even stronger. When looking around the hills surrounding Zlin, you can still see rows of red houses built in neat rows.

The highlight of Zlín and its most important functionalist building is Bata’s Skyscraper – building number 21. It was built in 1937 as the company’s headquarters, and today it is the home of the Zlín Region administration. The building has 16 floors and is 77 meters high; it was the third-tallest building in Europe before World War 2. Besides the numerous modern solutions for its time used here, Bata’s Skyscraper itself can still impress today. 

Inside, you can ride the paternoster lift with 31 cabins, which can take you to the top of the building. I took it, and it was so much fun, but if you are afraid of this invention, there are also regular elevators you can use. On the 16th floor, there is a great viewing platform from which you can admire a beautiful panorama of Zlín and its surroundings. There’s also a small model of the city so you can see how carefully and smartly it was planned. 

Don’t miss Bata’s office, located in the elevator – you can find it on the street level, in the corner of the building. This unique creation dates back to the war-times and was a real masterpiece of engineering and design. The elevator, measuring 6 x 6 meters, was equipped with office furniture, a washbasin, a telephone, and an alarm device. It moved between floors, making it easier for the owner to meet with employees or simply control them. You can visit Bata’s office with the guide, but even if there is no tour to join, you can still take a look inside.

 

Not far from Bata’s Skyscraper, you can visit the Museum of Southeast Moravia (located in building no. 14), and I really recommend adding this place to your Zlín itinerary. Inside, you can see a fascinating exhibition about the Bata Company, including a collection of around 600 shoes and old machines used in the production; there’s also a part about the history of Zlin and its development, as well as a section about modern traveling and a few good pieces of art. Somehow, everything works well together in this diverse museum, and the exhibitions help you get to know and better understand Zlin and its history. 

A short walk from the center, through a pleasant park and near Bata University, you can find the Tomas Bata Memorial. This is the most valuable masterpiece of functionalist architecture in Zlin, built in 1933, shortly after the tragic death of Tomas Bata. Only three main components of the city’s architecture were used to create this elegant structure: concrete, steel, and glass. Inside, you will find the Junkers F 13 airplane in which Tomas Bata died in 1932. 

While the main reason to visit Zlin is to see its functionalist architecture, there are other attractions in the city (though they are a bit away from the center). Some places worth checking are the local zoo, one of the best in the Czech Republic, Lesna Chateau from the late 19th century, Malenovice Castle, or the Church of St. Wenceslas in Sazovice (named one of the world’s best buildings in 2017).

Zlin pictures

Here are a few more random pictures of Zlin, Czech Republic:

Where to go next

From Zlin, it’s a short way (30 km) to Kromeriz – a beautiful, UNESCO-listed town with an interesting castle and gardens. You can also continue your journey to more popular cities in the Czech Republic, such as Olomouc (70 km), Brno (95 km), or Ostrava (120 km). Another option is to head across the border to Slovakia, as one of the most charming (and my favorite) Slovak cities – Trencin – is only 70 km away from Zlin. 

---

If you found this article useful, I would really appreciate a small donation to help me run this website and provide you with even more practical content to help you plan your trips.

You can also subscribe to my newsletter to get updates on new articles I publish; just click here.

---

Further reading

I published many articles about the Czech Republic that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:

• 2 Days in Prague Itinerary
• Holesovice – a mini guide to Prague’s coolest district
• 17 Great Things to Do in Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
• 13 Amazing Things to Do in Pilsen, Czech Republic
• Karlovy Vary Itinerary. What to Do in Karlovy Vary in 3 Days
• 20 Great Things to Do in Brno, Czech Republic
• What to See in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
• Visit Kromeriz, Czech Republic – the UNESCO Castle and More
• Visit Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic – the UNESCO spa town
• and more!

If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in Central Europe and ask your questions there.

---

---

For the end I left a few announcements that might interest you:

• Sign up to my newsletter or follow me on Bloglovin to get updates about the new posts
• Join my Facebook group about Eastern Europe, the Balkans and former USSR and connect with fellow travellers and enthusiasts of these regions – just click here!
• I’ve included a few handy links of services and products I personally like and use so you can plan your own trip to the Czech Republic too. They are often affiliate links. This means I will get a small commission if you book/purchase anything through my links, at no extra costs for you. Thank you!

---

LIKED IT? PIN THIS POST FOR LATER!

---