I love travelling around the Czech Republic and one area of the country you have to explore is the spa region of Karlovy Vary and the town carrying the same name.
2023 marks the 30th year of the Czech Republic and in this blog post, I’ll tell you all about what you should do in Karlovy Vary.
You can take an affordable high-speed train from Prague to the town of Karlovy Vary located in the Karlovy Vary Region in only two hours.
Karlovy Vary is famous for its hot springs which have been used for therapeutic purposes since the 14th century, making it a popular spa town in the Czech Republic.
Karlovy Vary is a beautiful spa town with a rich history and many landmarks on offer making it an ideal place to explore for visitors.
It’s an ideal destination for those looking to relax and enjoy some treatments or attend the popular Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
Stay at the Grandhotel Pupp, Karlovy Vary
Stay at the most popular thermal spa hotel in Karlovy Vary, the Grandhotel Pupp.
The hotel is made popular due to Karlovy Vary hosting the International Film Festival, which takes place annually in July.
The festival attracts many celebrities from around the world and showcases some of the best films from different countries making the hotel a popular choice amongst the film stars.
The hotel was also used as a filming location for the film James Bond Casino Royal.
Grandhotel Pupp also has a thermal spa which guests can enjoy during their stay.
And be sure not to miss out on the spectacular breakfast buffet in the morning that comes along with sparkling wine to start your day in style.
Visit the hot springs of Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary is famous for its hot springs, which have been used for therapeutic purposes since the 14th century.
The most famous hot spring is Vridlo, which is located in the centre of the town and is the hottest spring in Karlovy Vary.
Take a stroll through Park Colonnade and the Mill Colonnade
Go for a walk around the Colonnade, which is truly the best way to explore Karlovy Vary.
Be sure to purchase one of the unique spa cups of Karlovy Vary, which is sort of shaped like a mini jug as it has a stout.
The idea is to walk around the Park and the Mill Colonnade to discover one of the many spa fountains that can be found around town.
Using the cup, you can sample the spa water that freely flows around the town.
Different spa fountains contain different health benefits and tastes as well as temperature.
Just be sure to not drink too much spa water at once as you might have to run to the toilet.
Park Colonnade is a beautiful park located in the centre of Karlovy Vary and features several beautiful colonnades, fountains and sculptures.
The Mill Colonnade is a beautiful colonnade built in 1871 and is a popular spot for taking walks and enjoying the views.
Enjoy walking around the Colonnade Park and Mill, soak in the incredible architecture and see how many of these unique spa fountains you can find.
The must-try local spa snack: Karlovarske oplatky
Karlovarske oplatky are flat wafers made according to an old, traditional recipe in the Karlovy Vary Region in the Czech Republic since the mid-18th century, when they were originally homebaked.
Many different flavours are on offer, and it is a simple must-try snack after drinking all the spa water around town.
I would recommend getting one from Cafe Elefant, which has a shop front where the Karlovarske oplatky are cooked on traditional waffle irons so you can order them fresh on the spot. It’s a wonderful must-try experience in Karlovy Vary.
Funicular up to the Diana Observation Tower
The Diana Observation Tower offers incredible panoramic views of Karlovy Vary and its surroundings.
Take the funicular from the bottom of town to the top and enjoy all the surrounding views. It’s especially lovely at sunset.
Visit the historical Moser Glass Factory
Special to Karlovy Vary is the Moser Glass Factory, which is one of the oldest glass factories in Europe and produces high-quality glassware that is sold all over the world.
Take a tour of the factory and see the skilled glass blowers in action as well as tour the museum to get an incredible understanding of the glass history that is unique to this area of the Czech Republic.
Take a hike to the stunning Loket Castle
Super fun to explore is the Loket Castle, a beautiful castle located on a hill overlooking the town of Loket.
It’s a great place to take a hike and enjoy some stunning surrounding views of the town and nature.
They also have a museum inside the castle that is worth seeing, as well as a handful of cafes that surround the castle. It’s a lovely spot to enjoy a coffee after a long day of walking.
Visit the Jan Becher Museum to learn more about the popular Czech liqueur
The Jan Becher Museum is dedicated to Becherovka, a popular Czech herbal liqueur that has been produced in Karlovy Vary since 1807.
For those brave enough, you can tour the museum and learn about the history of this popular liqueur as well as sample some of the different styles of Becherovka at the end.
Relax at one of Karlovy Vary’s spas, Thermal Velky Sal
Karlovy Vary has many spas that offer various treatments such as massages, mud baths and hydrotherapy.
I would recommend going to the public one, Thermal Velký Sál located in the Spa Hotel Thermal.
They offer a wide range of different style spas such as indoor and outdoor and a selection of steam rooms and saunas. Open to the public and easy to access.
The building itself is used as the host venue for the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and has several bars displaying film memorabilia from past events.
They also have a restaurant serving wonderful goulash and Czech beer as well as many other popular local dishes that you can find in the Czech Republic.
Thank you for reading my blog about the Czech spa region of Karlovy Vary
Thank you for passing by my blog post and reading about my trip to the Czech Spa region of Karlovy Vary.
I hope you have a wonderful time exploring this unique city in the Czech Republic. Have a wonderful trip.
This blog post was put together with the Czech Republic Tourism Board and Traverse Events to celebrate thirty years of the Czech Republic.
