Karlovy Vary Holidays

Karlovy Vary is your golden ticket to thermal springs, grand colonnades, and a spa day that would make royalty jealous. Come for the hot springs, stay for the cake and the cocktails.

Highlights

• 💧 World-famous hot springs — Soak, sip, and stroll your way to wellness.

• 🏰 Elegant architecture — Grand colonnades and pastel spa houses everywhere you turn.

• 🎬 Film Festival fame — A little slice of Hollywood glamour in Bohemia every summer.

• 🍰 Spa wafers & herbal liqueur — Taste Karlovy Vary’s unique local treats.

Getting around

Karlovy Vary is compact, walkable, and downright pretty, so lace up your comfy shoes and take it slow. Most sights cluster along the Teplá River, winding through leafy parks and colonnades. Hop on local buses if your legs need a break — they’re easy to navigate and connect you to the outskirts and hilltop viewpoints. Arriving by train or bus? Both stations are within easy reach of the historic centre. Fancy seeing the town from above? The funicular to the Diana Observation Tower is a must!

Things to do for families in Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary is a family pleaser, mixing nature, history, and sweet treats in equal measure. Start with a gentle stroll through the colonnades, where kids can fill tiny cups with mineral water like local spa-goers have for centuries (some tastes better than others — watch their faces!). Take the funicular up to Diana Observation Tower for forest walks and a mini zoo — plus a café for hot chocolate and pancakes. Older kids will love the Moser Glassworks tour to see master glassblowers in action and maybe pick up a sparkling souvenir. Round off your day with a stop at a café for fresh spa wafers — crispy, sweet, and impossible to eat just one.

Things to do for couples in Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary is basically romance bottled up and sprinkled with thermal steam. Wander hand-in-hand along the Teplá River, duck into the ornate colonnades, and try the hot spring water together — it's more fun to pull faces as a pair! Treat yourselves to a couples’ massage or a proper thermal bath at one of the town’s luxury spa hotels. For breathtaking views, ride the funicular to the Diana Lookout Tower, then walk back down through peaceful forest trails. As dusk falls, sip Becherovka (Karlovy Vary’s iconic herbal liqueur) in a cosy bar before a candlelit dinner at a riverside restaurant. You’ll feel like spa-town royalty.

Things to do for groups in Karlovy Vary

Got the whole gang together? Karlovy Vary makes a laid-back, quirky getaway for groups. Kick off with a guided spa town tour — you’ll hear juicy royal gossip and discover hidden hot springs. Take a group selfie under the majestic Mill Colonnade and sample the mineral waters if you dare! For a splash of culture, check out a film screening at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival if you’re in town in July — celeb-spotting included. Beer lovers shouldn’t miss a tour (and tasting session) at the Karel IV Brewery — nothing brings friends together like fresh Czech beer. End your day with a lazy soak in an outdoor thermal pool or a toast to friendship at a riverside wine bar.

Things to do for foodies in Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary’s food scene is like its spa treatments — comforting, indulgent, and distinctly Czech. Snack on fresh spa wafers while you wander — you’ll find them in every flavour, from vanilla to hazelnut. Duck into a café for a slice of Medovnik (honey cake) paired with rich Czech coffee. For lunch, go traditional with Svíčková (beef in creamy sauce with dumplings) or fresh trout caught from local rivers. Be sure to try Becherovka, the town’s herbal liqueur — sip it neat or in a cocktail, it’s an icon for a reason. Fancy fine dining? Several spa hotels house excellent restaurants serving Czech classics with a modern twist — all best enjoyed with views of the twinkling colonnades.