Hotels in Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary: Spa Town on the Teplá River

Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) sits in a forested valley in western Bohemia, 130 km west of Prague. Founded by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV around 1370, the town grew into Central Europe's foremost thermal spa destination. Thirteen hot springs — the hottest, Vřídlo, reaches 73 °C and jets water 12 metres high — feed the colonnaded drinking halls that line the Teplá River. The Mill Colonnade (1871–1881), designed by Josef Zítek, shelters five springs under a Neo-Renaissance arcade and remains the architectural centrepiece.

Where to Stay

Most hotels cluster along Stará Louka and Nová Louka, the parallel promenades flanking the river. Grand 19th-century spa hotels dominate the hillside above the colonnades; smaller guesthouses occupy the quieter streets of Drahovice to the north. The Grandhotel Pupp, operating since 1701, anchors the southern end of the spa zone and served as a filming location for Casino Royale (2006).

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Direct buses from Prague's Florenc terminal run hourly; journey time around 2 hours.
• Spring water: Carry a lázeňský pohár (porcelain spa cup) — sold at shops throughout the colonnades — for tasting the springs.
• Film Festival: The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, held each July since 1946, draws international press and fills hotels weeks in advance; book early.
• Currency: Czech koruna (CZK); most spa hotels accept cards.