Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad)

Introduction | See & Do | Specialties |  Book a Trip to Karlovy Vary

A cannot-missed short trip from Prague, Karlovy Vary is only two to three hour ride away. If you don't have too much time, a day trip is also an option. This famous spa town, near the border with Germany, was the most important city in Bohemia for is rich silver deposits and mining industry. The city is relatively small, thus you can see a lot within a day. However, it's highly recommended that to stay there for at least a couple of days to explore the many facets of Karlovy Vary, one of which can be simple as lying on the grass and behold the beautiful town.

Cannot Missed

• Sample cold and hot mineral waters spurting from 12 (some say 16) springs in the city and watch tourists sipping water from flat cups, typical of Karlovy Vary. Each spring contains its own kind of water, written on a plague near by. The taste of water ranges from just-almost-acceptable to what-is-that unpleasant. Nonetheless, you will see tons of people refilling their cups from time to time.
• Chow down on crunchy Karlovy Vary's waffles, sold at every corner of the street. Hot waffles are available as well.
• Enjoy a nice meals in one of those expensive, seafood restaurants dotted along the street toward the end of the city. If you come here during the Film Festival or during other events, make sure to stop at make-shift food quarters where oily, unhealthy but tasty quick-disks only cost a few bucks.
• Explore the city on horse-carriages drawn by beautiful women.
• Walk along Karlovy Vary's trademark Mill Colonnade while drinking the healthy water in your flat cup.
• To take a break from the crowded and noisy center, hike or ride the funicular up to Diana towel. From there, you will have a aerial view of Karlovy Vary, a small colorful block of the city itself. To the west was a Communist-style "Penalac" ugly looking apartment building. Near by is the eye-catching blue, orange color of the Russian Orthodox Church. And the rest is the mountain range separated Karlovy Vary and East Germany. 
• Visit the Russian Orthodox Church and use this chance to scout this rich neighborhood for impressive villas along the way.
• Karlovy Vary's center, like Prague's Old Town Square, is like a scene picked right out from a fairy tales with colorful buildings in various architectural forms and artsy local crafts, and has different thing for every body. 
• Probably in no other place in the Czech Republic that you will hear and see Russian alphabets all over town. According to some of the Czechs, Karlovy Vary was "owned" by rich Russians. Notice this "Russian" aspect of the Czech Republic if you are into such things.

History Highlight

• The great Czech King and Holy Roman Emperor, Charles the IV, discovered Carlsbad springs during one of his hunting trip in mid 14th century.
• The thermal water in Karlovy Vary was recognized to cure disease, bringing in flock of travelers to this spa city.
• Charles IV granted freedom privilege to the town.
• Past wars did a lot of damage to the city's economy, and local people had to rely on other means to survive: local crafts.
• In 1945, the Germans who settled in Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) was forced to leave during German expulsion from the Czech Republic under the Post-Amsterdam agreement.
• Today, Karlovy Vary is the second most visited city in the Czech Republic, beside Prague.

Getting There

By bus

• Bus is the best option to reach Karlovy Vary from Prague, at Florence international bus station.
• Direct journey takes around 2 hours and costs around 120 CZK (During the film Festival, we scored oneway fares for only 50 CZK each with Student Agency)

Or try the Czech National Transportation System to create your own route.

General Information

Information Center: Many tourist offices are scattered through out the city from the New Town to the center of the city. You will not miss the green I icon as you walk long the main street leading to the heart of Karlovy Vary.

Accommodation

There are plenty of overpriced luxurious hotels and villas dotted along the city and the hilly surrounding, one of which is Hotel Pupp, where the newest Bond movie, featuring also the new James Bond, Daniel Craig, "Casino Royale" was filmed.

For much lower price range, you can see shelter in budget hostels. Now if you are stingier backpackers and don's mind sleeping on the floor, sharing your night dream with 15 plus strange travelers, you can stay in School Hostels. They are only available during the summer, managed by high school students (few of them seemed to be in their elementary ages). We stayed here during the Karlovy Vary's July International Film Festival and paid 95 CZK ($5) per person. There is another similar school hostel which charges 120 CZK ($6) per person. Bathrooms are slightly acceptable. You can leave your backpacks and belonging with them for a small fee.