Things to do
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Bolt Tower
A glass and steel extension crowns Blast Furnace No. 1 in Lower Vítkovice, holding a café and a viewing deck high above the works. The way up passes the furnace's original pipework. On clear days the view reaches the Beskydy. Entry is ticketed separately from the guided tours of Blast Furnace No. 1.
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Landek Park Mining Museum
Former miners lead tours at this museum on the Landek hill, riding the original cage down to some 250 metres of underground passages. Surface halls cover mine rescue and mining machinery. The long tour runs about two hours and closes on Mondays from September to March. It sits on the northern edge of the city, a short bus ride from the centre.
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Lower Vítkovice
Ironworks shut in 1998 have been opened up as a walkable district of blast furnaces, coke ovens and gas tanks close to the city centre. A former gasholder now houses the Gong concert hall, and two science centres fill converted halls. Guided tours climb the furnaces on set routes. Flat shoes are best for the steep metal stairs and gratings on the furnace walkways.
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Michal Mine
Work stopped at this colliery in 1994 and the buildings were left much as the last shift found them, with miners' clothes still hanging on chains in the changing hall. Tours cover the winding engines, the lamp room and the showers. It is protected as a national cultural monument. Visits are guided and run at set times, so check the day's schedule on arrival.
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New City Hall Tower
Functionalist lines mark this 1920s town hall, whose lookout terrace 73 metres up is the highest of any town hall in the country. A lift does all the climbing from the information centre on the sixth floor. It opens daily, with shorter hours from October to March. Storms and high wind can pause access to the open terrace at short notice.
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Ostrava Zoo
Spread over about 100 hectares of woodland in Slezská Ostrava, the zoo pairs animal enclosures with a botanical garden on the same grounds. An elephant herd and walk-through aviaries sit along the main loop. Allow half a day for the full circuit. Tram and bus stops are close to the main gate.
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Silesian Ostrava Castle
Across the Ostravice river from the centre, this small castle was left to decay as coal mining beneath it made the whole site sink by several metres. Restored and reopened, it now holds exhibitions on the castle's past and the city. A footbridge links it to the centre in a short walk. Entry is ticketed, and the courtyard hosts concerts and festivals through July and August.
