Karlovy Vary

The grandest of the West Bohemian spa towns, listed by UNESCO among the Great Spa Towns of Europe in 2021, with Mariánské Lázně (covered here as a day out). A dozen hot springs rise along the Teplá valley under cast-iron and stone colonnades, where visitors sip the warm, salty water from spouted porcelain cups, and the Vřídlo spring jets up inside its hall. Moser glass, Becherovka herbal liqueur and thin spa wafers are the local products, and the film festival fills the town in early July. Coaches from Prague take about two hours, from Prague airport about 1 h 40.

Highlights

• Tasting the hot springs along the colonnades
• Vřídlo, the hottest spring, in its hall
• Mill Colonnade
• Funicular to the Diana lookout tower
• Moser glassworks
• Becherovka and spa wafers
• Loket Castle on its river bend
• Mariánské Lázně's singing fountain and colonnade

Things to do

• Colonnade walk, tasting the springs from a spa cupMorning · 2h 30m
• Funicular and forest walk to the Diana lookout towerAfternoon · 2h
• Moser glassworks tour and museumAfternoon · 2h
• A thermal pool or spa treatmentAfternoon · 2h
• Loket Castle and townMorning · 3h
• Day out to Mariánské Lázně and its colonnadeMorning · 6h

Tours & tickets

When to go

Best time: May – September

• Karlovy Vary International Film Festival — Central Europe's leading film festival takes over the spa town for nine days: screenings open to the public, film stars at the Hotel Thermal, and every room in town booked months ahead at its highest price.