Getting to Zlín
A “pick up service” in Zlín or nearby might be organized for all incoming students. Students who wish to be picked up at the Zlín train or bus station in Zlín, or who would like to get help with accommodation, need to register online on the website of ESN Zlín at least 5 days before their arrival to Zlín. Participants will receive more detailed information by e-mail.
Information on all domestic and most of the international connections of trains and buses is possible to find idos.cz. We also recommend the mobile app for Android or iOS with the same name. You will always find there the connection that would help you to get from point A to point B.
By air
Unfortunately, Zlín does not have its international airport. The air gate to the Czech Republic is the Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) which has daily connections from/to major European cities. There are reliable and frequent connections from Prague airport to the city center by public transport and special airport buses (AE – Airport Express). There is also a possibility to buy tickets, including from/to airport transport and tickets for connecting buses/trains to Zlín. More information about flight timetables and transport connections from/to the airport are available on the website of Václav Havel Airport Prague.
Another possibilities are to fly to Bratislava (Slovakia) – 150km from Zlín, Vienna (Austria) – 180km from Zlín, Katowice (Poland) – 215km from Zlín, or Kraków (Poland) – 290km from Zlín. There are train and bus connections to Zlín from all of these cities.
By train
The Czech Republic has an extensive railway network, operated by four major railway companies: České dráhy (ČD, Czech Railways), RegioJet, LEO Express, and Arriva. The timetables and connections that are offered are changing approximately once per year. Because of that, we recommend checking the availability of the connections at the websites of all railway companies.
Zlín itself has a very small train station with only one direct train from Prague (Zlínský expres). However, the city nearby called Otrokovice is located on the main train corridor between Warsaw and Budapest and has a decent connection with Prague. So you can also search for the connections to Otrokovice and then use the public trolleybuses that operate in between Zlín and Otrokovice.
Traveling by České dráhy
Tickets are sold at every train station and it is not necessary to book your tickets online. However, we recommend to buy them online because the online reservation goes together with the free seat reservation inside the train. Then you can download the ticket to your mobile device without the necessity of printing it for the domestic trains. The international trains require a printed version of the ticket due to the incompatibility of national systems. The company provides first and second class travel. All their trains stop at Otrokovice (10km from the center of Zlín) where you have to change to a shuttle train going in the direction of Zlín Střed/Vizovice or you can use the public trolleybuses mentioned above.
Traveling by RegioJet
RegioJet provides service on the arterial train lines. In combination with their bus, it is possible to get to Zlín from major Czech cities. If you decide to travel with RegioJet, we highly recommended you buy your tickets online. From Prague, you will take their yellow train from the main Prague train station to Otrokovice (and then change to the regional shuttle train) or to Olomouc (direction of Havířov) where you will change to a connecting RegioJet bus.
Traveling by LEO Express
LEO Express trains go from Prague main train (Praha hl. n.) station to Otrokovice, where you can change to a bus or a train to Zlín.
Traveling by Arriva
At this moment, there are no available train connections provided by Arriva on the track between Prague and Zlín/Otrokovice.
By bus
If you do not like traveling by train, you can use a large network of coach lines instead. Usually, buses tend to be more frequent, and cheaper than trains. The Czech Republic has connections from/to major European cities several times a week. Most international buses arrive in Prague (Florenc AN) or Brno (Zvonařka AN). Several buses are running to Zlín from Prague and Brno each day. Direct RegioJet buses are also connecting Vienna International Airport and Zlín through Brno. Further information on train and bus connections within the Czech Republic is available at idos.cz
By car
Zlín has a connection to the Czech motorway network thanks to highway D55. You can easily reach the country’s major cities (Brno, Olomouc, Ostrava, and Prague) from here. For the use of the motorway is necessary to have a vignette. There are only three variants of the vignettes – 10 days for CZK 310, a month for CZK 440, or annual for CZK 1500. All the sales point for the vignettes can be found online here.