2 days in Zlin? What to see?
Two days in Zlín? That gives you a great opportunity to see a lot. We’ve got some tips for you on how to see the highlights in two days, how to enjoy Zlín, and where to grab a good meal or a cup of coffee. You’ll see a skyscraper, executive villas, a factory complex, and the unique architecture of the Tomáš Baťa Memorial.
What to see in Zlin in 2 days?
Day 1
- 14|15 Baťa Institute
- Factory Complex and Bata Skyscraper
- Tomasov Hotel
- Tomas Bata Memorial
- Film Studios and Forest Cemetery
Day 2
- Komenský Park
- Čipera Villa or Zikmund Villa
- Tomas Bata Villa
Day 1
Start at the "The Bata Principle" exhibition
The best place to begin this tour of Zlín is in the former factory buildings right next to the train station. At 14|15, the Baťa Institute houses the Museum of Southeast Moravia and the Regional Gallery of Fine Arts. Here you’ll find the excellent “The Bata Principle” exhibition, which introduces the core concept of Bata’s management philosophy, showcases a magnificent collection of footwear, and features original production lines as well as bold plans for expansion from Zlín to the entire world.
Duration: approx. 90+ minutes
At the gallery, visit the new permanent exhibition +- Zlín, which will introduce you to Zlín design, youth salons, architecture, and much more.
Duration: approx. 60+ minutes
Explore the factory complex
Zlín is unique in many ways. For example, unlike most cities, it has a factory complex from the 1930s right in its heart. Take a stroll through it, explore the carefully arranged network of factory buildings, wander among the red-brick factories, and grab a coffee from Kavárna Továrna or Jedním tahem. You can end your trip at Building 21, also known as the Baťa Skyscraper. Here you’ll find a working paternoster elevator (weekdays), a unique office inside the elevator, the executive floor from the First Republic era, and a view of the entire city of Zlín from the terrace on the 16th floor.
Duration: approx. 60+ minutes
Tip: Got a little extra time? Stop by the Bata Housing Infopoint on Nad Ovčírnou II Street. It’s open every Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on select Saturdays.
Lunch at Hotel Tomášov
Now we’ll have to walk a bit uphill, but the climb will soon pay off. At the very top of the hill above Náměstí Práce and the Department Store lies Hotel Tomasov. Once the Bata School for Young Men, which trained future executives and diplomats for the global market, it is now a four-star hotel with a wellness center and a pleasant restaurant where you can enjoy lunch amidst the Bata atmosphere.
The World-Class Architecture of the Tomáš Baťa Memorial
From Tomasov, it’s just a short walk (and downhill) to the Tomas Bata Memorial. The memorial’s crystal-clear architecture is truly breathtaking. An open space with a colonnade, a Z-shaped staircase, and the Junkers F13 aircraft in which Tomáš Baťa perished along with his pilot Jindřich Brouček in 1932. A building that pays homage to grand ideas and modern architecture.
Duration: 45 minutes
Film Studios and the Unique Forest Cemetery
In Zlín, the forest is just a few steps away from almost anywhere. The same is true around the Tomas Bata Memorial. If you’d like to take a walk, you can head up to Kudlov from here, where you’ll find Zlín’s famous film studios and the Forest Cemetery, which was inspired by the resting places Baťa saw in America. The green trail is about 2.5 km long, but you can also take bus No. 32 from Náměstí Práce to the Fabiánka Film Studios stop, which will take you there comfortably.
The Zlín film studios were established in the 1930s for the needs of Baťa’s advertising department. Later, however, a number of well-known figures worked here, such as Elmar Klos, Hermína Týrlová, and Karel Zeman. If you’d like to visit the Film History Cabinet in one of the studio buildings, please make a reservation in advance. Tours are available on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Duration: approx. 60+ minutes
Near the film studios, you’ll also find the unique Forest Cemetery. A place of rest that Baťa envisioned as a forest park, where you needn’t feel shy about sitting on the grass. Coincidentally, Tomáš Baťa himself was one of the first to be laid to rest here. Here you’ll find monuments to many Zlín personalities and can stroll through a cemetery that is truly one of a kind in the country.
Duration: approx. 45 minutes
Where to stay?
While you’re in Zlín, stay in style. We recommend the Hotel Prior & Energy Spa, which features a unique rooftop spa where you can enjoy views of Zlín right from the sauna. Both are located in the 1931 department store building designed by František Lýdie Gahura.
More tips:
- Hotel Tomasov – the former Baťa School for Young Men
- Interhotel Zlin – a community center building from 1931
- Hotel Baltaci Atrium – featuring the Sour restaurant on Lešetín Street
Day 2
Guided Walk or App Tour
During the tourist season, the city of Zlín organizes unique tours with local guides called Zlin Zone. You can choose from three routes that will take you through the factory complex, the city, or the Baťa housing estates.
If you’re visiting off-season or if there aren’t any spots left, you can explore Zlín using the Bata’s Zlin app or following the routes offered by the Zlin Architectural Manual. If you don’t feel like walking, use Nextbike shared bikes.
Tip: Be sure to check out Bata’s villa as well. Tours are held once a month on a Saturday or Sunday, but you can also get inside during the various events held there. The garden is open to the public, and you can view the boss’s villa from the outside.
Lunch in the park
The beautifully renovated Komenský Park, not far from Náměstí Míru, is where the locals go to spend their free afternoons. You’ll find several bistros and cafés nearby where you can grab a bite to eat and have a picnic on the grass to relax. If it gets too crowded here, just a few steps closer to the department store is the grassy area on Gahura Boulevard.
Unique Villas: The Čipera and Zikmund Villas
Zlín is essentially a small textbook of modern architecture. In addition to its unique planned city layout, you’ll find iconic structures such as the Tomas Bata Memorial, the Collective House, and the Bata Skyscraper. But the executive villas scattered throughout Zlín are undoubtedly part of this legacy as well.
One of them, the Čipera Villa, is a stunning example of English Modernism and, following extensive renovations, has been open to the public again since 2026. In addition to its utterly unique architecture, the interior features a wonderful exhibition on the life of Dominik Čipera and his family, as well as on Bata-style housing. It also serves as a cultural and creative center. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a lunch break.
Duration: approx.45 minutes
If you’re lucky enough to book tickets in advance, you can also tour the villa of traveler Miroslav Zikmund. You’ll find it in the Cigánov district of Zlín, and since the famous traveler lived there until 2020, the original interior—full of technical gadgets and artifacts from his travels around the world—has been preserved.
Duration: 60 minutes
Where else to go?
If you still have a little time left, we have tips for other Baťa sites worth seeing.
- Bata in Otrokovice – a Bata neighborhood built around Bata’s auxiliary factories in Otrokovice. Forgotten lock chambers, a uniquely planned city, Bata houses with the Bata Point, and a community center shaped like an airplane propeller.
- Bata’s Unfinished Railway – originally intended to connect Zlín with Slovakia. Today, its tracks lie forgotten in the countryside around Vizovice, but you can walk along them.
- The Bata Canal – a waterway that once carried lignite from the mines in Ratíškovice to the factories in Otrokovice. Today, it’s a canal with small boats and locks where you can become a sailor for a day.
- Spa Luhacovice – Bata used to come here for important business meetings as well as to relax. The spa atmosphere with its beautiful architecture is just a short drive from Zlín and can be visited in an afternoon.
Food & Relax
In Zlín, you definitely shouldn’t miss restaurants like Bistrotéka Valachy, Baltaci Sour, or Hotel Tomasov. You can find the 20+ best cafés on the Zlínsko and Luhačovicko destination blog. And if you’re more in the mood for something to eat on the go, we recommend Komenský Park, where you can grab a burger or a light snack and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of a free afternoon in a beautifully renovated park.
Shopping and Souvenirs
Want to take home something truly Zlín-specific? For original souvenirs, head to the Zlín Information Center, located beneath City Hall on Míru Square, or to the Regional Information Center at 14|15 Baťa Institute. For unique design pieces, visit the Živý Zlín office at Zlín Castle. You can buy local delicacies at the Bistrotéka Valachy shop and fresh fruits and vegetables at the Tržnice pod Kaštany market.
