Karlovy Vary

Day 1: Colonnades, springs and the spa ritual

Ease into Karlovy Vary’s rhythm with the classic drinking‑cure promenade and a first taste of spa culture. Today balances slow wellness with gentle sightseeing so you can find your pace before tackling the hills and forests.

• Morning: Pick up a porcelain spa cup from a kiosk and start a gentle drinking cure at the Mill and Park Colonnades. Sip 150–200 ml from one spring over 10–15 minutes while strolling; if you’re new, begin with cooler options like Skalní or Sadový. Tip: treat the water like medicine—don’t “spring hop” too fast or gulp it hot.
• Midday: Book 2–3 traditional procedures at Elisabeth Baths (for example, thermal mineral bath + peat wrap + massage), or a session at the Castle Spa; reserve ahead weekends and holidays. Prefer pools? The outdoor thermal pool at Hotel Thermal (Saunia) is glorious year‑round; in winter, the contrast of cold air and warm mineral water is part of the charm.
• Afternoon: Visit the Hot Spring Colonnade to watch the Vřídlo geyser, then wander via the Market Colonnade and Stará Louka’s pastel façades. Ride the funicular near Grandhotel Pupp to the Diana Lookout Tower and descend on forest paths; autumn colours are spectacular and paths can be slick after rain.
• Evening: Dine riverside, then check what’s on: during KVIFF (late June/early July) join the red‑carpet buzz at Hotel Thermal or a free concert in the festival park; outside festival weeks, look for the symphony’s programme at the City Theatre or chamber concerts at Spa III. Night tip: crowds thin after 21:00 along the colonnades for a serene stroll.

Day 2: Craft heritage, viewpoints and culture

Today celebrates the region’s makers—glass, porcelain—and the layered cultural programme that keeps the city lively beyond film week. You’ll split time between workshops, parks and grand hotels.

• Morning: Tour the Moser glassworks museum and factory (city bus or taxi; first tours usually from mid‑morning) to watch glassblowers at work and browse the outlet. If you’re here on select May/September weekends, swap this for the Porcelain Festival in front of Grandhotel Pupp for demos, markets and workshops.
• Midday: Return to the centre for a relaxed lunch in Smetana Park or by the Teplá; if Vary°Gastro pops up (late spring), graze on small plates from local chefs. Snack like a local with warm spa wafers straight off the iron between venues.
• Afternoon: Amble the grand quarter around Grandhotel Pupp and take the Deer Jump trail for classic town views (or ride the funicular if you skipped it yesterday). Drop into the Postal Court if open for exhibitions, or opt for unhurried afternoon tea at Pupp on rainy days.
• Evening: Shape your night by season: early September brings the Folklore Festival at the Mill Colonnade; September–October features Dvořák’s Karlovy Vary Autumn; October hosts Jazzfest at intimate clubs like Husovka. Otherwise, book a tasting at the Jan Becher Museum before dinner to learn the town’s signature herbal spirit.

Day 3: Loket side‑trip, museums and a final soak

Set a slower final day with a short hop to a storybook castle town before one last wellness block. If you’d rather stay put, swap the excursion for museums and longer spa time.

• Morning: Take a bus (about 25 minutes) to Loket for the hilltop castle and photogenic river bend; it’s quietest before late morning. Rainy‑day alternative: stay in town for the Jan Becher Museum tour and tastings, then browse galleries along T. G. Masaryk Street.
• Midday: Back in Karlovy Vary, keep lunch light and repeat a measured round of the drinking cure (one spring, slow sips). Museum option: the Karlovy Vary Museum for spa‑town history; design lovers can browse the Moser gallery if you skipped the factory.
• Afternoon: Treat yourself to a farewell wellness block—book targeted procedures at Elisabeth Baths or spend two hours moving between the Hotel Thermal outdoor pool and cold plunges for contrast therapy. Walkers can choose Goethova stezka for a shaded forest loop (cool in summer, leaf‑crunching in autumn).
• Evening: Make a final promenade under the lit colonnades with a last cup from your favourite spring. Seasonal finales: in May, join the Opening of the Spa Season parade and spring blessing; in December, linger at the Christmas market and rink by the colonnades; during KVIFF, catch an open‑air screening or late DJ set in the accompanying programme (book beds and tables months ahead).

By Air

• Karlovy Vary Airport (KLV): 6 km from town; limited or seasonal flights only. Taxi to centre ~10–15 minutes.
• Prague – Václav Havel Airport (PRG): ~120 km. Drive 1 hr 45 min–2 hrs. Public transport: bus (or airport bus to Prague city) then direct intercity bus to Karlovy Vary (total 2–2.5 hrs); or Airport Express to Praha hl.n. then train (3–3.5 hrs).
• Other options (drive times): Dresden (DRS) 2.5–3 hrs; Nuremberg (NUE) 2.5–3 hrs; Munich (MUC) 3.5–4.5 hrs.

By Train

• Main stations: Karlovy Vary (main station) and Karlovy Vary dolní nádraží (Lower Station; next to the bus terminal).
• Prague (Praha hl.n.) to Karlovy Vary: direct regional/fast trains by České dráhy; ~3–3.5 hrs (typically hourly).
• From Cheb: ~1 hr (direct). From Plzeň: ~2–2.5 hrs (usually 1 change, often in Cheb). From Ústí nad Labem/Chomutov: ~2–2.5 hrs.

By Bus

• Main stop: Karlovy Vary Terminál (by Dolní nádraží); central stops also at Tržnice.
• Prague to Karlovy Vary: frequent direct services (RegioJet, FlixBus) from Florenc and Zličín; 2–2 hr 15 min; departures every 30–60 min at peak.
• From Plzeň (~1.5–2 hrs), from Cheb (~1 hr), from Dresden (often 2.5–3.5 hrs, usually 1 change in Prague or Cheb).

By Car

• From Prague: D6 motorway (toll vignette required); ~125 km, 1 hr 45 min–2 hrs.
• From Plzeň: via D5/E50 then 20/21/6; ~95 km, ~1.5–2 hrs. From Germany (A93/A9/A6 corridors) connect via Cheb/Plauen to D6.
• Parking in the spa centre is limited/paid; consider using larger car parks near Dolní nádraží/Terminál and walking or using local buses.