Karlovy Vary is the largest health resort in Czechia and is located in the west of the country. The city has around 50,000 inhabitants and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site of the most important spa towns in Europe since 2021. Karlovy Vary is known for its hot springs, which are spread throughout the city and whose temperature is sometimes over 60° Celsius. Throughout the city, people walk around with so-called sippy cups with which they drink the healing water.
Karlovy Vary is a very pleasant and diverse city where you can do a lot, but the city is also a perfect place to unwind and relax. In addition to the beautiful cityscape, the highlights include a blue church, several colonnades, great observation towers and good traditional restaurants with hearty food.
thermal springs, grand promenades, and serene retreats
Karlovy Vary is such a cute place in western Czechia, we absolutely loved it here. The charming spa town that feels straight out of a fairytale. Famous for its healing thermal springs, colorful colonnades, and pastel architecture, it’s perfect for relaxation and slow exploration. Stroll along the Teplá River, sip mineral water from the springs or enjoy forest views from Diana Tower.
Less crowded than other European destinations, Karlovy Vary is ideal for a romantic getaway, wellness retreat or simply a peaceful escape into history, nature, and charm.
One of the most famous accommodations in Czechia is the Grandhotel Pupp. The iconic five-star hotel in the heart of Karlovy Vary has enchanted visitors with its charm and unique ambience for more than three centuries. The impressive traditional hotel, dating back to 1701, has been the setting for many famous films. One of the most famous was probably James Bond’s Casino Royale.
In Karlovy Vary, the largest spa in Czechia, 12 hot springs of volcanic origin bubble up from the earth and are accessible to the public in three colonnades. The Karlovy Vary healing water is a natural ionic solution that contains ingredients such as sodium, calcium, zinc and magnesium sulfate. The main spring in Karlovy Vary is the Sprudel, which reaches a temperature of 73°C. Most of the springs here have temperatures between 40-60 degrees Celsius.
The systematic drinking of mineral water is the most important part of any Karlovy Vary cure. The hot springs are used for drinking cures, bathing and rinsing. Many people come from all over the world to take a cure with the healing water.
Buy one of the famous sippy cups in one of the countless shops in the city to drink the water from here. Especially in the morning, almost everyone will come towards you with such a cup.
One of the most beautiful colonnades in the city is definitely the stone-built Neo-Renaissance Colonnade, which was built according to a project by a Czech architect in 1871-1881. It is also the largest colonnade in Karlovy Vary and a beautiful place in the heart of the city.
In the Mill Colonnade there are five springs Mill Colonnade 57,8°C, Rusalka Spring 60,6°C, Prince Wenceslas Spring 65,4°C, Libussa Spring 61,5°C, Rock Spring 44,9°C
The oldest viewing structure in the spa town of Karlovy Vary is a wooden pavilion at the Hirschsprung above the spa center. From up here you have a wonderful view of the city and the surrounding landscape. In 1804, the Viennese businessman Mayer had the wooden viewing pavilion built on the rock.
To get here you can either hike up from the city center or take the Diana funicular from the Grandhotel Pupp to the Hirschsprung intermediate station and walk here from there.
Czech cuisine is simple and hearty, often with roast, sauerkraut, dumplings and a delicious sauce. There are many good restaurants in the city where you can try and enjoy traditional good food from Czech cuisine.
Restaurant Plzennka close to the Mill Colonnade
One of the most famous places in Karlovy Vary is the enchanting Market Colonnade. The Swiss-style wooden colonnade decorated with lavish carvings was built in 1882 – 1883. A great place located in the center of Karlovy Vary.
The most famous spring here is the Charles IV spring. According to legend, Emperor Charles IV cured his leg ailment at this spring; its healing powers were obviously the reason for his decision to establish a spa here.
Inside the Market Colonnade, three mineral springs bubble Charles IV Spring 65,8°C Lower Castle Spring 48,6°C Market Spring 63,8°C
The Church of St. Peter and Paul is notable for its lavish decoration, which was partly sponsored by wealthy Karlovy Vary patients of Russian origin. It stands on King George Street, in a district of predominantly Art Nouveau villas, and is known for its five gilded domes.
The striking building is modeled on an old Russian-Byzantine church in Ostankino near Moscow
Smetana Park is named after the famous Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. It is a public city park in the center. It is a good place for a walk or a rest. There is no fence, so the entrance is for free all.
The park also contains the Elisabethbad, which offers 60 different spa treatments using water and bathing peat. The Elisabethbad was opened on June 18, 1906.
Another beautiful colonnade that you should definitely visit in Karlovy Vary is the Park Colonnade. The richly decorated, cast-iron colonnade was originally part of a two-armed, covered promenade veranda, the so-called Blansko Pavilion in today’s Dvořák Park behind the military bathhouse.
There is one thermal spring in the park colonnade Hadí pramen (Snake Spring) 28,1°C
One of the most beautiful views is from Goethe’s Lookout Tower. To get here you can either walk from the city center, which is about 3.7 kilometers and takes about an hour. Or you can take the bus from the Hůrky bus stop. There is also a parking lot at the observation tower, so you can also come here by car. The opening hours vary, but are usually from 11:00 to 18:00. To enjoy the view from the tower at a height of 34 meters, you have to climb 165 steps.
Come here at sunrise or sunset. There is also a cute little restaurant with an outdoor area in the tower.
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