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Destinations > Czech Republic > Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary - spa town with charm

Karlovy Vary is a spa town in the west of the Czech Republic. The town is one of the most famous and traditional spas in the world and “people go to Karlovy Vary for a cure”.

A vacation in Karlovy Vary offers a unique blend of relaxation and culture. The magnificent spa buildings and facilities invite you to relax and offer a variety of wellness services to revitalize body and soul. The promenades lined with impressive architecture are ideal for strolling and enjoying the picturesque scenery of the city.

The healing effects of the thermal springs in Karlovy Vary have been known since the 14th century. Initially, people only bathed in the water, but later drinking cures were also added.

The surrounding nature is another attraction. The town lies in a valley at the confluence of the Teplá and Eger rivers. The area is ideal for beautiful hikes in the mountains, cycling along the river and relaxation from everyday life.

Sights in Karlovy Vary

Discover places worth seeing in Karlovy Vary. We present our discoveries here.

  • Blick zum Hotel Imperial in Karlsbad
    7 places in Karlovy Vary that you should see

    During our walks through Karlovy Vary we always noticed the beautiful houses. Discovering Karlovy Vary is really worth it, we present 7 great places…

    7 places in Karlovy Vary   →
  • Burg Loket / Burg Elbogen
    Loket Castle - Beautiful castle complex high above the Cheb River

    Loket Castle is especially famous for its exposed location. The river Eger runs in the Czech Republic in an almost circular river loop around a granite rock. And it is precisely on these rocks that Loket Castle stands.

    Loket Castle   →
  • Sorten des Kräterschnapses bei der Verkostung in Karlsbad
    Karlovy Vary and the 13th Medicinal Spring

    Karlovy Vary is famous for its drinking cures at 12 public springs. We have discovered the 13th medicinal spring Becherovka.

    Becherovka   →
  • view all

Health and Wellness in Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary is famous for its spa treatments. Whether prescribed by a doctor or as a wellness offer, the choice is varied.

  • Karlsbader Trinkkur
    Healing springs in Karlovy Vary

    Karlovy Vary is one of the most famous spa towns in Europe. Its healing springs and drinking cures have been attracting people from all over the world for centuries.

    Healing hot springs   →
  • Elisabethbad in Karlsbad
    The salt in the air - spa offer in Elisabethbad in Karlovy Vary

    Those who spend their vacations in the region around Karlovy Vary will certainly take advantage of the numerous spa offers in Karlovy Vary. These include not only drinking cures, but also the numerous offers from the field of rehabilitation, wellness and beauty treatments.

    Salt Cave Elisabeth Bath   →
  • Sprudel Karlsbad
    The "Sprudel" in Karlovy Vary

    The fountain in Karlovy Vary has made the city famous. Not every city has such a geyser and if the water from it is also healthy ….

    Sprudel Karlovy Vary   →
  • view all

Excursions and hiking around Karlovy Vary

There are numerous signposted hiking and cycling routes around Karlovy Vary. These lead to great excursion destinations in the region.

If you don’t want to travel quite so far, you can cycle to Loket in around an hour. A beautifully situated town with a fantastic castle.

  • Radtour nach Loket
    Bike tour to Loket

    From Karlovy Vary you can take a beautiful bike tour to Loket. The town is really worth seeing and a visit to Loket Castle should not be missed.

    Bike tour to Loket   →
  • Hans-Heiling-Felsen
    Hike from Karlovy Vary to the Hans-Heiling-Rock

    A very nice hike with very different trails leads to the Hans Heiling Rock. We have put together a tour online before starting our hike.

    Hans-Heiling-Rock   →
  • Motorrad
    Museum of historical motorcycles in Bečov nad Teplou

    From Karlovy Vary it is just about 25 kilometers to Bečov nad Teplou. There is a small motorcycle museum here, which is ideal for a trip to the surrounding area.

    Museum of historical motorcycles   →
  • view all

From Karlovy Vary you can take a nice city trip to Prague. It takes a good 2 hours by car, but there are also good connections by bus or train.

Pilsen is a good 80 kilometers away. We spent a week in Pilsen and a visit is highly recommended. You can make a stop in Bečov nad Teplou on the way to Pilsen and visit a castle complex.

Food and Drink

A healthy body needs good food and drink. We present our tips for a good meal and a good beer.

  • Sorten des Kräterschnapses bei der Verkostung in Karlsbad
    Karlovy Vary and the 13th Medicinal Spring

    Karlovy Vary is famous for its drinking cures at 12 public springs. We have discovered the 13th medicinal spring Becherovka.

    Becherovka   →
  • Bier trinken Karlsbad
    Cheap food and beer in Karlovy Vary

    Although we lived in a vacation apartment in Karlovy Vary, we were drawn to the restaurants of the city. Cheap food and drinking beer in Karlovy Vary is quite possible, but you should not look for a restaurant directly in the pedestrian zone at the colonnades.

    Cheap food in Karlovy Vary   →
  • view all

Annual events

Karlsbad offers its visitors interesting festivals and events every year. Here is a small selection of the events that take place regularly:

  • May: Opening of the spa season
  • May: International Jazz Days
  • July: Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
  • August: Early Music Festival (concerts of early music performed on original musical instruments)
  • December: Traditional Christmas Market (Smetanovy sady in front of the Elisabeth Spa)

Book your stay

Grandhotel Pupp
Spa Hotel Imperial
Carlsbad Plaza Medical Spa & Wellness hotel
Hotel Thermal
Luxury Spa Hotel Olympic Palace

Travel information about Karlovy Vary

Getting There

Arrival

by plane
Karlovy Vary has a small international airport. From here there are several scheduled flights to Moscow.
The nearest international airport is in Prague.

by train
From Germany, trains from Nuremberg will arrive in Karlovy Vary in a good 2.5 hours. From Berlin it takes about 5.5 hours. Those coming from Prague can reach Karlovy Vary in about 3 hours without changing trains. The fare is about 10€.

by bus
There are several possibilities if you want to go to Karlovy Vary by bus. Regional and national bus lines stop at the bus station. From Prague-Florenc the trip takes about 2 hours.

by bike
Karlovy Vary is located on the Euregio Egrensis long-distance cycle route and on the Karlsroute.

by car
Karlovy Vary is easily accessible by car from many directions. From the border town of Oberwiesenthal, for example, you can take the E442, from Prague you take the E48/R6. Please note that many roads in the Czech Republic require vignettes.

On the way in...

On the way in...

In Karlovy Vary, there are several bus lines that run mainly to the outer districts. However, if you are good on foot, you can actually do without the bus, especially in the center, and discover everything on foot.

There are two funiculars in the city. One goes up to the Hotel Imperial, the other on the other side of the valley to the Diana Tower.

Fiaker tours through the city center are also offered to tourists.

Toll

Toll

On the route from Bavaria via Cheb / Eger to Karlovy Vary / Karlsbad, there is no longer a toll on the E48 / E49 (= highway D6) between the Cheb junction and Karlovy Vary.

Parking

Parking

The inner city area of Karlovy Vary may only be entered by car with a special permit. Parking is also very limited. However, it is possible to park your car in numerous parking lots or garages.

Here are a few parking lots:

  • Guarded parking lot “Kouzelné městečko”: 24-hour non-stop – for cars, campers, buses
  • Guarded parking lot “Poštovní dvůr”: 24-hour non-stop – for cars, campers
  • Unguarded parking lot “Horní nádraží”: Parking lot at the main train station
  • Unguarded parking lot Polská Street: free parking
  • Parking is also permitted in the designated areas with parking meters.

Hotel guests may drive into the center to unload and load on their arrival and departure days. It must be possible to prove that you have a hotel reservation in the event of checks.

Tourist tax

Tourist Tax

The tourist tax (tsch. pobytová taxa, lázeňská taxa) is 15,- CZK/person/day and is usually not included in the hotel and travel prices.

All our experiences in Karlovy Vary

Blick zum Hotel Imperial in Karlsbad

7 places in Karlovy Vary that you should see

During our walks through Karlovy Vary we always noticed the beautiful houses. Discovering Karlovy Vary is really worth it, we present 7 great places…

Continue Reading about 7 places in Karlovy Vary that you should see

Radtour nach Loket

Bike tour to Loket

From Karlovy Vary you can take a beautiful bike tour to Loket. The town is really worth seeing and a visit to Loket Castle should not be missed.

Continue Reading about Bike tour to Loket

Hans-Heiling-Felsen

Hike from Karlovy Vary to the Hans-Heiling-Rock

A very nice hike with very different trails leads to the Hans Heiling Rock. We have put together a tour online before starting our hike.

Continue Reading about Hike from Karlovy Vary to the Hans-Heiling-Rock

Motorrad

Museum of historical motorcycles in Bečov nad Teplou

From Karlovy Vary it is just about 25 kilometers to Bečov nad Teplou. There is a small motorcycle museum here, which is ideal for a trip to the surrounding area.

Continue Reading about Museum of historical motorcycles in Bečov nad Teplou

Karlsbader Trinkkur

Healing springs in Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary is one of the most famous spa towns in Europe. Its healing springs and drinking cures have been attracting people from all over the world for centuries.

Continue Reading about Healing springs in Karlovy Vary

Burg Loket / Burg Elbogen

Loket Castle – Beautiful castle complex high above the Cheb River

Loket Castle is especially famous for its exposed location. The river Eger runs in the Czech Republic in an almost circular river loop around a granite rock. And it is precisely on these rocks that Loket Castle stands.

Continue Reading about Loket Castle – Beautiful castle complex high above the Cheb River

Sorten des Kräterschnapses bei der Verkostung in Karlsbad

Karlovy Vary and the 13th Medicinal Spring

Karlovy Vary is famous for its drinking cures at 12 public springs. We have discovered the 13th medicinal spring Becherovka.

Continue Reading about Karlovy Vary and the 13th Medicinal Spring

Elisabethbad in Karlsbad

The salt in the air – spa offer in Elisabethbad in Karlovy Vary

Those who spend their vacations in the region around Karlovy Vary will certainly take advantage of the numerous spa offers in Karlovy Vary. These include not only drinking cures, but also the numerous offers from the field of rehabilitation, wellness and beauty treatments.

Continue Reading about The salt in the air – spa offer in Elisabethbad in Karlovy Vary

Wanderung zum Dianaturm Karlsbad

Hike to the Diana Tower and the Animal Park

The area around Karlovy Vary is ideal for hikes with very different levels of difficulty. Our hike to the Diana Tower Karlovy Vary took us from the village in an almost 10 kilometer loop past some of the most beautiful viewpoints.

Continue Reading about Hike to the Diana Tower and the Animal Park

Sprudel Karlsbad

The “Sprudel” in Karlovy Vary

The fountain in Karlovy Vary has made the city famous. Not every city has such a geyser and if the water from it is also healthy ….

Continue Reading about The “Sprudel” in Karlovy Vary

Karlovy VARY REGION CARD

Does the Karlovy Vary Region Card pay off?

For the region around Karlovy Vary the Karlovy Vary Region CARD is offered, which provides its users with both free and discounted offers. We tested the offer during our stay.

Continue Reading about Does the Karlovy Vary Region Card pay off?

Glockenspiel aus Glas

Moser Glass Museum – on the trail of Bohemian crystal glass

Bohemian crystal glass is world-famous. There is a company in Karlovy Vary that specializes in the production of this glass. In the Moser Glass Museum we took a closer look at the subject of glass production.

Continue Reading about Moser Glass Museum – on the trail of Bohemian crystal glass

Bier trinken Karlsbad

Cheap food and beer in Karlovy Vary

Although we lived in a vacation apartment in Karlovy Vary, we were drawn to the restaurants of the city. Cheap food and drinking beer in Karlovy Vary is quite possible, but you should not look for a restaurant directly in the pedestrian zone at the colonnades.

Continue Reading about Cheap food and beer in Karlovy Vary

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