Air quality in Brno by neighbourhood
Where Brno has the least nitrogen dioxide from traffic, where the most, and what that means for choosing a flat.
What we measure
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) comes mainly from car exhausts, so it shows well how much a neighbourhood is affected by traffic. We take the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute’s five-year average for the 1 × 1 km square each address lies in, and for a neighbourhood the median of its addresses. A single year can be skewed by the weather or a road closure; five years show what a place is really like.
Where the air is cleanest
The least nitrogen dioxide is in Žebětín (12.8 µg/m³), Soběšice (12.9 µg/m³) and Kohoutovice (14.7 µg/m³). Half of Brno’s 36 neighbourhoods are above 19.7 µg/m³.
Where the air is worst
The most nitrogen dioxide is in Komárov (23.4 µg/m³), Trnitá (23.2 µg/m³) and Brno-město (23.0 µg/m³). Behind the high numbers there is usually the big city ring road, the D1 motorway along the south of the city and the dense streets of the centre where the air circulates less.
What it means for your home
- Courtyard or side street: a flat facing a courtyard or a quiet street breathes better than windows straight onto a busy road, even in the same neighbourhood.
- Floor: next to a busy road the air is worst close to the ground; higher floors are a little better off.
- Greenery and slopes: parks and open hillsides help the air circulate; valleys and enclosed streets hold it.
- Noise goes with it: where there are many cars, it tends to be noisy too. Check the noise map of the address as well.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the cleanest air in Brno?
The least nitrogen dioxide from traffic is in Žebětín (12.8 µg/m³), Soběšice (12.9 µg/m³) and Kohoutovice (14.7 µg/m³), based on five-year averages from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
Where is the air worst in Brno?
The most nitrogen dioxide is in Komárov (23.4 µg/m³), Trnitá (23.2 µg/m³) and Brno-město (23.0 µg/m³). High numbers tend to be along main roads, at big junctions and in dense streets where the air circulates less.
What nitrogen dioxide level is safe?
The legal annual limit in Czechia is 40 µg/m³. The World Health Organization recommends at most 10 µg/m³, and the EU is lowering its limit to 20 µg/m³ from 2030. Half of Brno’s neighbourhoods are above 19.7 µg/m³.
