Karlovy Vary Spa Town Czech Republic
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Things to Do in Karlovy Vary, Hot Springs of Healing Water

Sherianne Higgins·
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Top Things to Do in Karlovy Vary Czech Republic

If you are planning a day trip to Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic and looking for the best things to do, see, and eat while visiting, you are in the right place. Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic is a spa town two hours outside of Prague known for its 300+ hot springs of healing water and medical treatments. The city sits along the Teplá River and is full of cobblestone streets and pastel Art Nouveau buildings. Browse the list of must-see attractions, off-the-beaten-path experiences, outdoor activities, and museums to create your personal Karlovy Vary bucket list. Then, plan the itinerary for your Karlovy Vary day trip with these top things to do, see, and eat. Enjoy your time out of the office!

READ Complete Czech Republic Travel Guide, What You Need to Know
READ 48 hours in Prague Czech Republic

Nová louka Spa town of Karlovy Vary Czech Republic, one day itinerary things to do in
Nová louka

Things to Do in and Around Karlovy Vary

Photograph the river from the Toskánská/Tuscany Footbridge

Take a selfie with the Karlovy Vary sign

Buy a ceramic mug and sample the town’s healing waters

Check out the five hot springs in the Mill Colonnade

See the geyser at the Hot Springs Colonnade

Learn about Becherovka herbal bitters and enjoy a tasting at the Jan Becher Museum

Soak in a thermal bath at the Windsor Hotel

Eat a Karlovarské oplatky (Karlovy Vary wafer)

Check out the 18th-century Baroque architecture of St Mary Magdalene’s Church

Browse the boutiques on Masaryka Street

Check out the sculptures and relax next to the pond in Dvořák-Park

Photograph the Byzantine Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral

Buy spa cosmetics as a souvenir

Taste the mineral water in the Market Colonnade or the Park Colonnade

Enjoy a spa treatment at the Elizabeth Spa

Go for a hike on the Lázeňské Lesy spa trails

Explore the Grandhotel Pupp, the filming location of Casino Royale

Ride the funicular by the Ore Mountains

Photograph the city from the Diana Tower Lookout

Take the Hot Spring Underground Tour at the Hot Spring Colonnade

Hike up to Goethe Tower or Charles IV Lookout for city views

Photograph the Hotel Imperial

Learn about the city’s healing waters at the Museum of Karlovy Vary

Take a walk along the Teplá River

Wander the streets admiring the Art Nouveau architecture

Enjoy a coffee at Café Elefant, a hangout of Beethoven’s

Tour the Vánoční Dům Christmas Mansion

Photograph the mountain goat sculpture (and city) at Deer Leap Lookout

Tour the 12th-century Gothic Loket Castle

Visit the Moser Museum and watch a glassblowing demonstration

Check the Karlovy Vary Czech Republic Tourism Board website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.

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18 Responses

  1. Wow! Never realized that there are a lot of things to see and do at Karlovy Vary. I would love to learn more about the Becherovka herbal bitters and try their local food. It would also be nice to explore the filming location of Casino Royal since I liked the movie.

  2. Great list of things to do in Karlovy Vary, quite a detailed one. Spent 4 days in Prague but I wish I had more number of days there. Love this kind of natural spa experience. The funicular ride sounds exciting. And of course the castle visits too.

  3. Having read this post, I am now sorry I did not get to visit Karlov Vary when we were in the Czech Republic. A relaxing day at the hot springs and the spa would have been a perfect reason to visit. The architecture looks so pretty. I am sure it would be great to wander around town. A trip up to the Diana Tower Lookout would be perfect for a panoramic view. The list is long enough that we would definitely need more than a day trip.

  4. Great post!! I didn’t know about the springs in Czech before actually visiting Czech a few years ago and it does do great to your body, can’t say a lot about whether it heals the body or not but it sure feels great during the winter, as Czech has some really freezing weather during the winters. I missed karlovy-vary during my last trip and I am saving this post for a future reference.

  5. This is a great list of things to do in Karlovy Vary. It sounds like an ideal place to visit for the day from Prague, which is a popular destination for a city break – possibly a nice alternative? I’d like to have a wander, ride the funicular and enjoy a coffee in Beethoven’s old haunt. A thermal bath sounds like a must here too.

  6. Ah! Too bad I didn’t know if this place when I visited Prague. I love natural thermal spas. The relaxation they give is just the best. I’ve been in Budapest & Belgium. Somehow I missed this. But that gives a reason for me to head there again.
    Riding funicular, eating local wafers and hiking spa trails are some more things I wouldn’t miss here.

  7. You had me at spa town. I totally need to visit Karlovy Vary next year. Hitting the spa sounds like just the ticket after checking out the geyser, going on a hike, and riding the funicular.

  8. Such great ideas on things to do in Karlovy Vary in Czech Republic! The fact that it is a spa town and there a still a bunch of other things to do like go for a hike on the Lázeňské Lesy spa trails or even take a photographic trail along the river, I am impressed! This looks like a really nice place to chill at one of the thermal baths after a long day backpacking around this region!

  9. This is one place which has been on my list of Czech things to do for a long time and still haven’t got around to doing it. My top things I would like to do is explore the castles (I just got a thing for castles in central Europe) and also go to the spa (if I got time, but this is one thing I usually do for relaxing). I would love to get a view of the town from the hillside above, as this town looks very picturesque from the photos.

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