By air
Prague (PRG), ~2 h
Europe · Czechia
Karlovy Vary, Czechia
A spa town of colonnades
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to September — mild
Don't miss
The Mill Colonnade
The Hot Spring Colonnade
The Market Colonnade
St Mary Magdalene Church
Things to do
Tasting the hot springs
Spa treatments
The film festival
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: rboed* · CC BY 2.0
What to pack
A drinking cup for the springs
A quieter corner
The Diana lookout tower
Questions travellers ask
What should I bring to Karlovy Vary?
A drinking cup, for tasting the hot springs.
When should I go to Karlovy Vary, and how do I get there?
May to September, when it is mild. Fly into Prague (PRG); it is about 2 h from there.
Which colonnades should I see in Karlovy Vary?
The Mill, Hot Spring and Market Colonnades, and St Mary Magdalene Church. For a view, climb the Diana lookout tower.
What should I eat and drink in Karlovy Vary?
Spa wafers and a glass of Becherovka. Round off the day with a spa treatment.
About Karlovy Vary
- Riverside
- Hills
Where it is
Karlovy Vary is a spa town in western Bohemia, in the Czech Republic, set in the narrow, wooded valley of the Teplá river where it joins the Ohře, not far from the German border.
History
Legend says Emperor Charles IV discovered the hot springs while hunting, and the town founded here in the 14th century is named after him. Known in German as Karlsbad, it grew in the 19th century into one of Europe's most fashionable spas, when many of its colonnades and grand hotels were built, and in 2021 it became part of the Great Spa Towns of Europe World Heritage Site.
People
Karlovy Vary's people speak Czech, and life in the town has long revolved around the spas, drinking cures and hotels. Local crafts include Moser glass, made here since the 19th century, and porcelain from the surrounding region.
Known for
- Drinking the hot springs from spa cups
- The Mill and Market colonnades
- Becherovka herbal liqueur
- Spa wafers (oplatky)
- The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
Did you know?
The Vřídlo, the hottest of the town's springs, rises at about 73 °C and shoots up to 12 m into the air inside its colonnade.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.