Located on the eastern side of the Czech Republic, Karlovy Vary is known as the ‘spa capital of the Czech Republic.’ Also called Karlsbad, it’s renowned for its natural thermal springs with healing water and rich culture featuring matching architecture. In this Karlovy Vary Travel Guide, you’ll discover the best things to do, top bars and restaurants, and recommended hotels and accommodations.
During our road trip through the Czech Republic, we spent 2 nights in Karlovy Vary, which can be effortlessly combined with a day trip to Loket and a visit to Bohemian Switzerland.
Karlovy Vary’s fame lies in its multiple colonnades, including the market colonnade, mill colonnade, park colonnade, and hot spring colonnade, all well-loved tourist spots. The market colonnade, a wooden structure designed in the Swiss style during the 1880s, stands out with its distinct white pillars adorned with intricate lace motifs, making it a unique and picturesque attraction worth visiting.
The Mill Colonnade, being the largest in Karlovy Vary, serves as an excellent gathering spot in the city due to its central location. Moreover, it boasts five out of the thirteen hot springs found in Karlovy Vary.
Considered one of the most beautiful colonnades in Karlovy Vary, the park colonnade holds a distinct charm. Personally, I favored the Market and Mill Colonnade due to fewer tourists. Nevertheless, the park colonnade is still worth a visit as it leads you to new captivating locations within the city.
Becherovka, the famous herbal liqueur of Karlovy Vary, has a rich history from Jan Becher. Enjoy it neat or mix it with tonic. Visit the Becherovka Museum and Distillery in Karlovy Vary to delve into its fascinating history, learn about the production process, and indulge in a tasting experience
The numerous colonnades in Karlovy Vary feature various hot springs, each with mineral-rich waters believed to offer health benefits, particularly for gastrointestinal and metabolic issues. Stands and shops throughout the city sell “spa cups” for use at the hot springs. To learn more about the health advantages and traditional drinking practices, visit the Karlovy Vary website’s dedicated page.
For a panoramic view of Karlovy Vary and its surroundings, take the Diana Funicular to the Diana Watch Tower. The one-way fare is 100CZK (~€4). After enjoying the scenic view, consider strolling down to the Westend Neighborhood to delve deeper into this upscale area of Karlovy Vary.
The Tepla River and Stara Louka (road following the river) serve as a prominent feature, running through the city alongside the multiple colonnades. Along this route, you’ll encounter stunning buildings and charming smaller bars and terraces. The section between the Market Colonnade and Grand Hotel Pupp is particularly delightful, making it a worthwhile walk to experience the city’s beauty and ambiance.
Near the Westend neighborhood, you’ll discover the Orthodox Church of St. Peter and Paul. We visited it while descending from the Diana Watch Tower and returning to the hotel. The striking gold and blue accents make it a must-see for admiring its stunning exterior. Don’t miss the side of the church, which, in my opinion, offers the best photo spot in this Karlovy Vary travel guide.
Last, but not least, Grand Hotel Pupp. In Grand Hotel Pupp you can also find Becher’s Bar, one of the most famous bars in Karlovy Vary. Grand Hotel Pupp is mainly known for the James Bond Movie and has a stunning interior. If you would like to stay in the hotel, this will cost you slightly under €200 a night for two people and you can book your room in Grand Hotel Pupp here.
La Hospoda is a standout restaurant in this Karlovy Vary travel guide. While slightly outside the city center, it’s still within walking distance. The lovely ambiance, incredible staff, and delectable dishes make it a highly recommended dining spot!
Caffe Perla is great for brunch in Karlovy Vary, it is located inside a mall but from the inside it has amazing glass windows. Additionally, here is also a small outside terrace.
Vinarna u Lukase is located near the St. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church. Unfortunately, the place was still closed when we passed by (opens at 17:00), however, it seems to be a great restaurant.
Especially in the evening, you can find many smaller bars around the Stara Louka. I’ve found that Karlovy Vary isn’t the place for many hidden gems, despite asking multiple locals where to go. Therefore, we did stick around the city centre and enjoyed the great temperatures at night with a cocktail along the Stara Louka.
Huong Che, Oysterium, Becher’s Bar, Cafe Elefant for coffee and pastries, Bagel Lounge for coffee and sandwiches, and Spunt and Knoflik for burgers.
Grand Hotel Pupp is as mentioned previously one of the most famous hotels in Karlovy Vary and worth your money if you are looking for an exceptional hotel experience. You can book your room for slightly under €200 a night.
Another beautiful hotel is Promenada Romantic Hotel (yes, they like Romantic hotels in Karlsbad). You have free access to the indoor pool and sauna and you can book multiple spa treatments for the full Karlovy Vary spa experience. The price is ~€140 a night.
Top tip: During our stay in Karlovy Vary, we stayed in Hotel Palatin. A beautiful hotel in a central location where you feel the spa vibe because of the gold and white details. Normally not my vibe, but it perfectly matches Karlsbad. You can book your stay here for ~€100 a night.
When booking our hotel in Karlovy Vary, Hotel Romance was the main hotel that we compared to the hotel we booked. Hotel Romance has a stunning and romantic view over the Karlovy Vary city centre you can enjoy during breakfast (~€130 a night).
There are also plenty of budget hotel options to be found in Karlovy Vary.
Top tip: A good example is OREA Place Karlsbad, where you can book a room for as little as ~€60 a night for two persons, while still having access to a decent room in a central location including breakfast at a nearby hotel.
Another budget option in Karlovy Vary is Heluan, where you can book a room for €70 a night. The rooms are more traditional than the before mentioned OREA.
