How to Spend a Weekend in Karlovy Vary, Czechia

The Easter long weekend is always a perfect time to head out on a trip, what with shoulder season in full swing, the spring weather looking better and prices still reasonable. In previous years, I've spent my Easters in Northern Ireland, Ibiza (Spain), New Zealand, Calgary (Canada) and hiking in Vancouver (Canada), among other trips.

I have a German mother so I have visited many parts of Germany many, many times as a child. I currently live in Salzburg in Austria and so this Easter was the perfect excuse to re-explore northern Germany and many of the places of my childhood - plus a few other stops along the way.

As we were planning out the route of this Easter roadtrip, we realized that the drive from Munich - where my partner lives - to Dresden, the first place we wanted to visit, went straight through northwestern Czechia. And so, the idea to include a stop in Karlovy Vary was born.

This was my third visit to Czechia; my first visit was to Prague in February 2023 for my birthday with my mum and then to Český Krumlov in October 2024 with my partner. Perhaps a new Czechian destination each year!?

Karlovy Vary is most famous for being one of the iconic spa towns of Europe. Karlsbad, as it is also known in German, sits above many natural thermal springs. Spa-goers have been visiting Karlovy Vary since the 19th century. While we didn't have the time to indulge in actually visiting a spa (which we plan to come back and do!), here is my weekend guide to the city:

How to Get to Karlovy Vary

By flight: The closest main international airport to Karlovy Vary is in Prague. There is also a small international airport in Karlovy Vary but, according to their website, seems to only receive flights from three very niche destinations: Antalya (Türkiye), Burgas (Bulgaria) and Tashkent (Uzbekistan)!

→ Check out my detailed guide to visiting Prague!

By car from Munich: We drove to Karlovy Vary from Munich, across the border in Germany. This drive took us about three and a half hours through Regensburg and eastern Germany. The border crossing was unmanned, as is normal in the EU, so we did not stop.

→ Check out my complete guide to Munich!

By car from Prague: Karlovy Vary is a hugely popular destination within Czechia to visit from Prague, the country's vibrant capital city. From Prague, it is just under two hours of driving west.

→ If you don't have your own car, you can rent one in Munich or Prague.

By bus: FlixBus services Karlovy Vary with direct connections from 20 cities.

By train: You can get directly from Prague to Karlovy Vary on the train in three hours and 20 minutes with Czech Railways.

By day tour: While researching Karlovy Vary, I also found many day tours available from Prague, including transport. This could be a great option if you're already in Prague and have a spare day.

How to Get Around Karlovy Vary

There are two main touristy parts to Karlovy Vary; the old town, along the River Ohře, and the hill to the southeast where many of the hotels and spas are found.

On this trip, we didn't explore any of the old town as we only had one night in Karlovy Vary. Instead, we focused on exploring the base of the hill (this is where we parked) and then stayed the night up on it.

You might also want to join a walking tour of Karlovy Vary to get a good insight from a local of the history and learn a bit more about the city.

Where to Stay in Karlovy Vary

We had just one night in Karlovy Vary and are already looking forward to coming back and spending more time in the city, especially to make some time to indulge in the famous spas.

The best place to stay in Karlovy Vary is just outside the old town on the hill at the Villa Julius & Emma P., the gorgeously historical villa of the Pupp family.

Over 15 years of renovation and reconstruction have brought the villa back to life. Originally built in 1914 for Julius & Emma Pupp, this exquisite villa has been transformed into a romantic, luxury retreat, tucked away in Karlovy Vary. A private spa, homemade breakfast, beautiful gardens, luscious beds and an attention to detail everywhere you look brings the magic to life.

→ Book your stay at the Villa Julius & Emma P.

Where to Eat in Karlovy Vary

Things to See in Karlovy Vary

Take in the view over the city

For me, one of the best parts of Karlovy Vary was seeing it all from above. The colourful buildings looked like lego and it was such a pretty way to get an oversight of the city. These photos were taken on a walk along Na Vyhlídce; there is also a great viewpoint just above this road.

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This post includes affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and buy something I have recommended. It won't cost you any extra money, but helps keep this blog going! I visited Karlovy Vary as a guest of Villa Julius & Emma P. This post includes content sponsored by Café Vienna at the Hotel Imperial. All opinions and ideas, as always, are completely my own.

Jana Meerman

Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.

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How to Spend a Weekend in Karlovy Vary, Czechia

Take in the view over the city

Walk along the Teplá

Wander through the Mill Colonnade

Spot the historic Alžbětiny Lázně

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