Weekend Day in Zlín: What Can You See in Just One Day?
Got a free Saturday or Sunday? Hop in the car or on a train and head to Zlín. One day isn’t much, but you’ll definitely have time to see the highlights. The factory complex, the Tomáš Baťa Memorial, and other places in Zlín that will leave a lasting impression.
What can you see in Zlín in one day?
Start with the Bata Principle
Start by visiting the 14|15 Bata Institute, located on the edge of the factory complex just a few steps from the train station. Today, the renovated factory buildings house the Museum of Southeast Moravia and the Regional Gallery of Fine Arts. At the museum, we recommend visiting the “Bata Principle” exhibition. It will help you understand how the entire Bata conglomerate and its unique management system actually came into being. You’ll learn a lot about Zlín, and as a bonus, you’ll also see travel artifacts from Messrs. Hanzelka and Zikmund, as well as a glimpse into the work of the famous Zlín film studios in Kudlov.
Duration: approx. 90+ minutes
And while you’re here, be sure to stop by the +- Zlín exhibition at the Regional Gallery of Fine Arts. Zlín design, architecture, and contemporary art—all beautifully brought together in this new exhibition.
Duration: approx. 60+ minutes
TIP: The museum and gallery are located in the same building, and you can usually see both in one visit. On the ground floor, there’s also a regional information center where you can pick up brochures and maps of ZAM Zlín and the Bata region, as well as purchase Zlín-themed publications or merchandise.
Take a stroll through the factory grounds
Once you’re on the edge of the factory grounds (which locals call nothing other than Svit), definitely don’t hesitate to wander among the factory buildings. Grab a coffee from Kavárna Továrna or the more secluded Jedním tahem.
One thing you definitely shouldn’t miss is Building 21, nicknamed the Bata Skyscraper. Inside, you’ll find a mobile office in the elevator, the original executive floor, a paternoster elevator, and a magnificent view of the entire city of Zlín from the terrace on the 16th floor.
The Zlín Architectural Manual makes for an excellent guide, offering a tour of the Factory Complex.
Duration: approx. 90 minutes
Our tip: During the summer season, the city of Zlín organizes guided tours called Zlin Zone. One of them will take you inside the factory buildings.
Lunch at the First Republic-era Department Store
The functionalist Department Store on Náměstí práce was the most modern building of its kind in the country. It featured escalators, specialized departments, and modern cafeterias for both Bata factory employees and the public.
And after a thorough renovation, it continues to serve its purpose to this day. Stop by Bistrotéka Valachy or one of the restaurants for lunch, grab a bite to go at the bistros and pastry shops, or sit on the 10th floor at Galerie Desítka with its magnificent view.
Let yourself be enchanted by the Tomáš Bata Memorial
45 minutes
By far the most daring building in Zlín is the Tomas Bata Memorial, designed in 1933 by František Lýdie Gahura. The crystal-clear structure pays homage to Zlín’s architecture and symbolically encapsulates not only Zlín’s urban planning but, above all, the modern ideas of the company’s boss and founder, Tomas Bata.
The open space of the memorial isn’t cluttered with display cases or information panels. You’ll find plenty of open space filled with symbols of Zlín. The Junkers F 13 aircraft in which Bata and his pilot Jindřich Brouček perished in 1932 is also on display here.
Tip: It’s a short walk from the Department Store, but you can take bus No. 31 from Náměstí Práce for one stop. Tickets to the Memorial are sold at the Infopoint in one of the adjacent buildings, which you can reach by following the arrows. Tours begin on the hour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Until the end of 2026, you can see the amazing exhibition “The Dream City” here.
An Afternoon at the Bata or Čipera Villa
60 minutes
Where exactly did the boss and founder, Tomas Bata, live? You’ll find the Bata Villa across the Dřevnice River, not far from the factory complex. Tours are held once a month on a Saturday or Sunday, but the garden is open to the public, so you can at least admire the villa’s architecture from the outside. Plus, there are plenty of events held right in the villa—lectures, workshops, concerts, and discussions—that you can attend.
45 minutes
The second option is to head from Náměstí Práce to Burešov (bus no. 35 or 36, or trolleybus no. 4 or 5 to the Burešov stop), where the magnificent Čipera Villa is tucked away in a sprawling garden on a hill. The newly renovated villa of Bata director Dominik Čipera is a stunning example of English Modernism in Zlín. Inside, you’ll find an exhibition dedicated to Dominik Čipera and his family, explore the original interiors, and learn about Bata housing as well as other directors’ villas in Zlín. It’s a spectacular experience.
Dinner in a Bata setting: Hotel Tomasov
This is where the Bata School for Young Men once stood. Students wore jackets, studied foreign languages and golf, and were meant to be the breeding ground for future sales representatives and factory directors around the world. Today, it’s home to Hotel Tomasov with a restaurant where you can enjoy an excellent dinner while taking in the view of the entire city.
We recommend:
- The Bata’s Zlín app
- The Zlín Architectural Guide city walks and maps
- Guided tours Zlin Zone
Food & chill
While in Zlín, you shouldn’t miss restaurants like Bistrotéka Valachy, Baltaci Sour, or Hotel Tomášov. 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-style? For souvenirs, head to the Zlín Information Center or the Regional Information Center, or for original 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.
