Karlovy Vary Day Trips from Prague

Karlovy Vary (or Karlsbad, in German) is probably familiar to you for its hot springs and spas, but it is also famous for being the place where Becherovka, an alcoholic drink you will see all over the Czech Republic, was invented, and the hotel where the James Bond movie 'Casino Royale' was filmed.

On a day trip to Karlovy Vary from Prague you can tour the entire city, see the spas, stop at the hot springs and breathe in the clean air of this city so popular with Czech Republic travelers.

Another popular option is this excursion to Karlovy Vary and Marianske Lazne, also known for its spas. You may know it by its German name, Marienbad, and it is quite similar to Karlovy Vary in terms of the layout of the town: a central colonnaded gallery in the middle of a wooded area where the main mineral water springs are located. Around it, the rest of the city is organized in a stately style.

In one trip you will visit two cities, although in my opinion it is not necessary as Marianske Lazne is actually quite similar to Karlovy Vary. On the other hand, Karlovy Vary is not so big and you might not have enough to see as there are not so many things to see to dedicate extra time to it, so it all depends on how you want to approach your excursion. If it helps you to get an idea, this tour usually spends around 5 hours in Karlovy Vary and 2 in Marianske Lazne.

Another plus point of this tour is that it includes lunch in Karlovy Vary before visiting Marianske Lazne, something that also makes this tour more complete than other options. Of course, it also includes pick-up from your hotel and return transportation.

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What you will see

This is the most comprehensive group excursion to Karlovy Vary, spending a full day touring the streets with a local guide who will take you to see the city's monuments and to its mineral springs, where you can taste the water in the typical little glasses while learning about the healing qualities of Karlovy Vary water and why it attracts visitors from all over the world.

Plus, the advantage of this tour over visiting Karlovy Vary on your own is that you have transportation included that will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel upon your return from the tour, so you don't have to worry about how to get from Prague to your tour destination.

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What you will see

If you don't like to hang out with tourists (for whatever reason, hey, I hear you) but still want to enjoy the advantages of an organized tour such as having a local guide explaining the historical context of everything you see, transportation to and from your hotel to Karlovy Vary and the best recommendations when you are there, you have the option of taking a private excursion to the Czech Republic's spa town.

The tour and inclusions are the same as the day trip to Karlovy Vary in a group (in which the group can be up to 90 people, so maybe this will also help you to opt for the private option), and lunch is also excluded but you will have free time to choose a restaurant and take a walk at your leisure if you feel like it.

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What you will see

You already know what you're going to see on the Karlovy Vary excursion, but you're probably missing details about why these sites are important, or why you should visit them. Don't worry, I'm here to tell you everything you need to know about the spa town:

Colonnade of the mill

This is a hall of columns in neo-Renaissance style where you can find six of the typical thermal water fountains of the city, from which you can drink using a small porcelain cup that you can find in the surrounding stalls. Legend has it that these waters have healing properties, and it seems to be so when they are the reason why thousands of tourists visit Karlovy Vary every year.

Intended as a place of rest, in the Colonnade of the mill you can enjoy outdoor concerts and impromptu music if you are lucky, while appreciating the sculptures of the pediment representing the twelve months of the year.

Thermal Colonnade

The Thermal Colonnade, known to locals as Vřídlo, is built on top of a Karlovy Vary hot spring inside a glassed-in building. In fact, this is the point in the city where the water comes out the hottest, and you will see a geyser up to 12 meters high of water at 72º temperature.

Church of Santa María Magdalena

One of the best examples of Baroque architecture in the Czech Republic is in Karlovy Vary. In addition to its majestic exterior, inside you can see a collection of 18th century works of art and explore a subway section and a crypt with an ossuary, a vault built with human bones.

If you're lucky, you might visit the church during a religious celebration, when you can enjoy its impressive organ concerts. Whenever it is, I recommend you stop by, as the building is also very close to the hot springs area.

Dvorak Park

A beautiful park in Karlovy Vary that is part of the tourist route of the city. You will pass by there and it is a good place to rest from the walk on a bench in the shade or taking a walk along the Sadová Colonnade.

Sadová Colonnade

A gallery of columns like those you can find in the rest of the city, but located in a park and with a style reminiscent of the Parisian. Impossible not to see it on your walk through Dvorak Park, and you will appreciate its shade if you make the trip to Karlovy Vary in summer.

Tepla River

The Tepla River crosses the city of Karlovy Vary and you will probably pass over it crossing one of the bridges located between the main buildings in the center. Do not expect a big river like the Vltava, it is more typical of a small city like the one you are going to visit, but it gives that European touch to the surrounding buildings.

Monument to the deer jumping

The story goes that King Charles IV was hunting in the forest when he found a deer, and chased him to corner him on a rock ledge. The deer, in order not to be hunted, jumped into the void, but the king never found the body of the animal at the end of the cliff, but found a spring of mineral water.

Therefore, he decided to found the city of Karlovy Vary (the king's spa) and that rock ledge from where the deer jumped is today a viewpoint with a statue commemorating this story. To get there, you will have to climb uphill for a while, but in return you will have a very nice view of the city, a perfect activity to do in your free time.

Moser glass factory

Some excursions to Karlovy Vary pass through the Moser glass factory, another of the attractions of the city. This is where the classic Bohemian crystal, coveted by leaders and personalities for over a century, is made.

You can visit part of the factory where the smells of the furnaces and manufactured crystal surround you as you discover the art of glass blowing and molding, a complicated process that results in a very hard crystal on which virtually anything can be engraved.

Before choosing a tour to Karlovy Vary, you should know that on the group tour you can go in a group of up to 90 people. For many people this is not a problem, but if you don't like the hustle and bustle and can't stand the slightest crowds, I recommend you to choose the private tour.

Distance from Prague

Another thing to take into account is that Karlovy Vary is about 2 hours from Prague, so within the time of the excursion you have to take into account that at least 4 hours are for transportation.

Duration of the excursions

However, a single day is more than enough to visit the city, in fact you will have enough to see the main sights. For this reason, there are excursions that combine a visit to Karlovy Vary with a walk through Marianske Lazne, the other spa town in the Czech Republic.

Traveling with children

Luckily, if you are traveling to Prague with children and you are planning to do this excursion, I will tell you that it is a perfect destination for them: it is not too big, you have to walk but without getting tired, and it is a quiet place where they can enjoy without stress.

My recommendation is that if you can go to Karlovy Vary during the week. Actually almost any day will do, going on a Tuesday or Wednesday you will avoid the crowds of tourists visiting the city from Prague and you will have no problem finding a table in a restaurant. However, avoid going on Sunday: the amount of tourists is really a problem and also the tours do not stop at the Moser glass factory, because it closes that day.

Summer

It is worth visiting Karlovy Vary in the months of June to August, when you will find a warm and pleasant climate in which to enjoy the outdoor activities offered by the city. However, summer is the peak season and the one in which you will find the largest influx of tourists.

Autumn

In autumn Karlovy Vary is filled with the typical colors of the season and is probably the perfect time for photography lovers, as you can capture spectacular oranges, reds and yellows among the streets of the dormitory town.

Winter

In winter the mountains are covered with snow and the temperature plummets, a time when you will find most of the locals on the streets and perhaps enjoy a more genuine atmosphere.

Pizzeria Palermo

There are both visitors and locals who say that it is the best restaurant in town, and the truth is that their pizzas made in stone oven do not disappoint. Personally I like to try the local gastronomy in my trips, but if you have already tried all the dishes of Czech cuisine in Prague and you are looking for an old acquaintance, this pizzeria is your best option.

Charleston

If on the other hand you can't get enough of Central European food, go to the Charleston pub, whose menu is composed entirely of Czech and German dishes. Sausages, knuckle, roast duck...if you love meat, your mouth will be watering.

Promenade

The expensive but fine option. They serve wines from local wineries that accompany sophisticated versions of traditional Czech dishes, with a very good presentation. I only recommend this option if you have more than an hour to eat, as you will want to savor things at your leisure and enjoy.

If you are visiting the city in summer, no matter how hot it is, you may be caught by surprise by the rain, so take a poncho or umbrella. As I have already mentioned, it is always a good idea to take a camera to capture this city full of symmetries in its galleries of columns, but especially if you go in autumn as the colors are really amazing.

The best way to get around Karlovy Vary is on foot. Don't worry about buying a public transport pass, which some kiosks will try to sell you if they know you are visiting.

Opening hours

Stores usually close around 6 pm, and on Sundays much earlier or not open at all. If you want to buy some souvenirs or take a bottle of Becherovka, the city's proud root liquor, keep this in mind. Also keep in mind that this particular drink is very strong and tastes similar to cloves, but hey, to each his own!

Shopping

Another thing to keep in mind is that customs in the Czech Republic are a bit strict about what can be exported or not, so be careful when buying antiques and ask in the stores if what you are buying is allowed beyond the borders of the country.

If you've been itching to discover what's beyond Prague, I totally understand: the Czech Republic is much more than just the capital. To help you organize other excursions from Prague, I've written a guide on Excursions from Prague that will orient you on what's worth visiting. You can consult it here: Best Tours and Day Trips from Prague.

And in case you are especially interested in the history of these places, take a look at my article about the excursion to the Terezin Concentration Camp, an experience that can be very worthwhile if you know everything about WWII. This is the guide I wrote about it: Terezin Concentration Camp Day Trips from Prague.