Zlín Film Festival (Films for Children and Youth)
The world's largest and oldest children's film festival, founded in 1961, screening hundreds of films from dozens of countries each May/June.
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Zlín
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City
ℹ️Practical info — Zlín
▾
🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Ride the paternoster elevator in Building No. 21 (Baťa Skyscraper) and enjoy the view from the rooftop terrace.
- The city is a prime example of functionalist architecture; a walk through the brick workers' colonies is a must.
- Visit the Shoe Museum to discover the global history of shoemaking through the Baťa family.
- Public transport via trolleybuses is very efficient; buy tickets at kiosks before boarding.
- Notice the unique house numbering in the red-brick neighborhoods, which follows a grid-like system.
🍽 Food
🍽
Factory Area Bistros
In the repurposed former Baťa factory area, you will find trendy bistros and cafes with modern menus.
🍽
Moravian Wines
Since South Moravia is not far away, many wine bars in the center offer excellent local white wines.
🍽
Modern Coffee Roasters
Zlín has a great coffee culture; look for specialty coffee shops around Náměstí Míru (Peace Square).
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
🛍
Baťa Shoes
Shop for shoes in the historic center of the Baťa brand, often featuring exclusive models or sales.
🛍
Obchodní dům Zlín
This modernist department store has everything from fashion to local groceries in great architecture.
🧘
Komenského Sady
A spacious, quiet park in the city center, well-suited for a break after sightseeing.
🧘
Lesní Hřbitov (Forest Cemetery)
A unique cemetery integrated into the forest, providing a very peaceful and contemplative atmosphere.
Water temperature…
Highlights of 2026
1
Zlín, located in eastern Moravia along the Dřevnice River, is a globally unique city whose modern identity is inseparable from the Baťa shoe company and its founder, Tomáš Baťa. In the early 20th century, Zlín underwent a radical transformation from a small town into a model industrial city designed according to functionalist principles. The cityscape is dominated by red-brick architecture, characterized by unplastered brickwork used for both factory buildings and residential workers' colonies. Its most iconic structure is the 77-meter-tall Baťa Skyscraper (Building No. 21), which was one of Europe's tallest buildings upon its completion in 1938 and featured a mobile elevator-office for the company director. Zlín is now a thriving university town and a center for culture, hosting the world-renowned Zlín Film Festival for children and youth. The city stands as one of the best-preserved examples of 20th-century urban modernism, blending industrial efficiency with green park environments.
- Location: Czech Republic
- Top sights: Muzeum jihovýchodní moravy ve Zlíně · Městské divadlo Zlín · Památník Tomáše Bati
- Nearby: Holešov (14 km)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -3 | -1 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 15 | 9 | 4 | -2 |
| Rain mm | 47 | 40 | 41 | 39 | 72 | 73 | 76 | 67 | 65 | 52 | 46 | 46 |
Live webcam – Zlín
See what it looks like near Zlín right now.
Zlin › South-west · 2.3 km · Open webcam on Windy · Webcams provided by Windy.com
Geography
Facts
- Zlín was first mentioned in historical documents in 1397.
- The Baťa company was founded in Zlín in 1894.
- Baťa's Skyscraper was completed in 1938 and has 16 floors.
- The city was renamed Gottwaldov from 1949 to 1989.
- The Zlín Film Festival is the oldest of its kind for children (est. 1961).
- The city's functionalist urban plan was developed by František Lydie Gahura.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
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© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
A day in the city
Pick weather + travel mode, get a concrete day plan.
09:00→15:242.3 km walk6 places0/6
Day budget: ≈ 20–28 €Entries 24€ · Transport 0€
Explore Zlín, the cradle of the Baťa empire. The day starts with spectacular views from the famous skyscraper, followed by a journey through history at the Shoe Museum. At noon, take a stroll in the peaceful castle park. The afternoon is dedicated to the unique functionalist red brick worker colonies and the striking Tomas Bata Memorial.
← swipe for more places →
📍
09:10 · 47'
Baťa-Wolkenkratzer
Ride the historic elevator office to the roof terrace for a great panorama.
🚶 8'0.23 km
🚶 8'0.27 km
🚶 10'0.35 km
🚶 24'1.04 km
🚶 12'0.46 km
📍
14:07 · 47'
Tomáš-Baťa-Denkmal
An impressive glass building dedicated to the founder of the shoe empire.
09:00→14:4710.1 km ride5 places0/5
Day budget: ≈ 27–37 €Entries 20€ · Transport 12€
Experience Zlín dynamically on a bicycle. After taking in the Baťa industrial architecture in the center, cycle through the quiet worker colonies. In the afternoon, the ride out to Zlín Zoo and Lešná Castle provides a perfect blend of urban heritage and nature.
← swipe for more places →
🚲 4'0.23 km
🚲 11'1.31 km
🚲 6'0.46 km
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11:52 · 47'
Tomáš-Baťa-Denkmal
The short uphill ride to the memorial is worth it for the architecture.
🚲 51'8.07 km
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13:30 · 47'
Zoo Zlín – Schloss Lešná
A pleasant bike path leads you straight to the zoo and castle.
09:00→15:1210.3 km drive6 places0/6
Day budget: ≈ 22–30 €Entries 24€ · Transport 2€
Connect Zlín's highlights effortlessly by car. Park centrally in the morning for the skyscraper and museums. After lunch, drive up to the striking worker colonies and the Bata Memorial. The day concludes with an afternoon trip to the renowned Zoo and Lešná Castle on the outskirts.
← swipe for more places →
🚗 4'0.23 km
🚗 5'0.46 km
🚗 6'1.04 km
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11:46 · 47'
Baťa-Arbeitersiedlungen
Drive to the upper part of the city and park on the edge of the settlements.
🚗 5'0.46 km
🚗 30'8.07 km
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13:55 · 47'
Zoo Zlín – Schloss Lešná
Finish your day by driving to the zoo's spacious parking lot.
Sights in the town Zlín (16)
Filmový uzel Zlín👨👩👧 family
Family attraction with film history exhibits in the former Baťa film studios.
🌐 filmovyuzel.cz🕒 Tu-Su 10:00-17:00
sv. Filip a Jakub⛪ religious
sv. Filip a Jakub is a prominent parish church and place of worship located in Zlín.
🌐 farnostzlin.cz🕒 Mo-Su 06:00-20:00
Frequently asked questions
Who shaped the city of Zlín?
Tomáš Baťa, the founder of the world-famous shoe empire.
What is the Baťa Skyscraper?
A 77-meter high building (No. 21) featuring a mobile office inside an elevator.
What can you see at the Shoe Museum?
A vast collection of historical and exotic shoes from all over the world.
Is Zlín Zoo special?
Yes, Lešná Zoo combines exotic animals with a castle and park setting.
What is Zlín architecture?
Functionalist brick buildings designed as workers' colonies.
Zlín: where is it located?
Zlín is located in Czech Republic.
Zlín: what is there to see?
Highlights include Muzeum jihovýchodní moravy ve Zlíně, Městské divadlo Zlín, Památník Tomáše Bati.
Zlín: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Zlín: why is it worth visiting?
Zlín, located in eastern Moravia along the Dřevnice River, is a globally unique city whose modern identity is inseparable from the Baťa shoe company and its founder, Tomáš Baťa.
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