D11: Karlovy Vary—Iconic Spa Town of Healing Springs
Karlovy Vary is named after its founder—Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and the King of Bohemia, in the 14th century. The name Karlovy Vary means literally "Charles' Baths". In 2021, the city became part of the transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name "Great Spa Towns of Europe" because of its spas and architecture from the 18th through 20th centuries.
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| Park Colonnade |
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| Sister cities of Karlovy Vary |
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| Karlovy Vary |
- Taking the bus is more convenient than the train, as the bus station is closer to downtown.
- Prague → Karlovy Vary
- Disembark at Karlovy Vary (Tržnice) 🔗[Map]—this stop is nearer to downtown.
- Karlovy Vary → Prague
- Board at Karlovy Vary (Terminal) 🔗[Map]
- Some bus routes stop at Prague Airport, making Karlovy Vary a convenient first destination after landing.
FUN THINGS TO DO
- Underground Excursion
- Opening Hours: May–October, Thursday–Sunday, 10:00–17:00
- Ticket Office: 1st floor of the Thermal Spring Colonnade 🔗[Map]
- Foreign language excursions must be reserved by phone, e-mail or in person at the ticket office.
- Thermal Spring Underground
- Admission: CZK 220 (foreign language) or CZK 160 (in Czech with a text guide), 30 minutes
- During the excursion, the guide will provide information about the geological bedrock in the spa area, regulation boreholes and some history of the place around the Thermal Spring Colonnade. You will visit an underground tunnel from the 19th century where you can observe various formations created by the Thermal Spring, wild outflows, petrification chambers where we make traditional stone souvenirs and lastly you will walk on a footbridge in the Teplá riverbed.
- Underground of the Church of St. Mary Magdalane
- Admission: CZK 190 (foreign language) or CZK 120 (in Czech with a text guide), 30 minutes
- During the excursion we will tell you about a church that previously stood in place of today's Church of St. Mary Magdalane, about the construction and its complications and also about the history of the area around the church. You will see the foundation of a baroque structure, a path from the 15th century, the Holy Sepulchre from aragonite and Pea grains sediments and also skeletal remains.
The most popular excursion is Thermal Spring Underground. 
Thermal Spring Underground—Different types of sediments on the pipe 
Thermal Spring Underground—Underground tunnel 
Thermal Spring Underground—Making stone souvenirs 
Thermal Spring Underground—Teplá riverbed - Grand Hotel Pupp 🔗[Map]
- A luxury hotel featuring a café and casino.
- Known in the film industry:
- Hosting the annal Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
- Featured in films like Casino Royale (2006).
- Grand Hotel Pupp and Hotel Bristol Palace served as inspiration for The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014).
- If you're staying here, explore the exclusive Hotel Activities.
- For a budget-friendly experience, visit the café or look for the 70 bronze bricks in front of the hotel, each engraved with the name of a notable guest.
Grand Hotel Pupp Walk of Fame
TOP ATTRACTIONS
- Colonnades and Hot Springs
- The springs differ from each other by their temperature and the amount of carbon dioxide gas. 🔗[Map of Springs]
- Colonnades
- Diana Observation Tower
- Admission: Free
- Opening Hours
- January–March: 09:00–16:45
- April: 09:00–17:45
- May–September: 09:00–18:45
- October: 09:00–17:45
- November–December: 09:00–16:45
- In addition to the observation tower, the site offers a playground, butterfly house, mini zoo, and a restaurant.
- Getting There
- Go up by walking through the spa forests or by taking the funicular.
- Funicular Details 🔗[Map: Lower Station]
- Opening Hours
- January–March: 09:00–17:00
- April: 09:00–18:00
- May–September: 09:00–19:00
- October: 09:00–18:00
- November–December: 09:00–17:00
- Ticket Fare: One-way: CZK 100 | Round-trip: CZK 150
- Ride Time: 5 minutes
- Departure Frequency: Every 15 minutes
Lower Funicular Station next to Grand Hotel Pupp - Imperial Spa (Kaiserbad Spa) 🔗[Map]
- Opening Hours: Monday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00
- Offering a wide range of experiences—guided tours, concerts, entertainment programs and workshops.
- Jan Becher Museum 🔗[Map]
- Becherovka—the 13th Spring of Karlovy Vary, is a traditional Czech herbal liqueur produced in Karlovy Vary since 1807.
- The Jan Becher Museum is located in the former Becherovka factory.
- Opening Hours: Tuesday–Sunday: 09:00–12:00, 12:30–17:00
- Guided Tour: from CZK 280, 45 minutes
- Factory Tour: CZK 1600, 120 minutes
Becherovka-shaped shop - Orthodox Church St. Peter and Paul 🔗[Map]
- Karlovy Vary Post Office 🔗[Map]
- It was one of the most modern, progressive postal facilities in the Austrian-Hungarian Empire.
- Four allegoric statues representing a telegraph, railroad transport, shipping, and post office.
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| Karlovy Vary Post Office |
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| The famous Cafe Elefant |
👉 Article list: Czechia
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