Bohemia · Czech Republic
Hot springs, grand colonnades and a century of spa elegance in western Bohemia.
Karlovy Vary — known to German-speakers as Carlsbad — is a magnificent spa town nestled in a narrow valley where the warm Teplá river joins the Ohře. Founded by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in the 14th century after he discovered the thermal springs here, it grew over the centuries into one of the most fashionable resorts in the world.
At its heart are twelve natural hot springs, each with its own character and mineral composition. Visitors still promenade through the ornate colonnades — the Mill Colonnade, the Market Colonnade, the Hot Spring Colonnade — sipping from porcelain drinking cups designed to carry the warm, mineral-rich water. The therapeutic tradition has been recognised as an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The skyline is dotted with grand Belle Époque hotels, wedding-cake spa houses and the distinctive Orthodox Church of Sts Peter and Paul. The town is also the spiritual home of Becherovka, the famous herbal liqueur invented here in 1807 by Jan Becher — a visit to the Jan Becher Museum is essential. Every July, Karlovy Vary hosts one of Europe's oldest film festivals.
Twelve hot springs ranging from 41 °C to 73 °C, each with unique mineral properties for wellness and digestion.
Stroll through the 19th-century Mill Colonnade and the elegant wrought-iron Market Colonnade.
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (July) is one of the most prestigious in Europe.
Tour the Jan Becher Museum and taste the iconic herbal liqueur made from a secret blend of 20 herbs and spices.
Ride the Diana funicular to the hilltop observation tower for panoramic views over the wooded valley.
World-class wellness centres offering mineral baths, thermal pools, peat wraps and physiotherapy.
May–September for warm weather and the open-air spa season; July for the film festival. Winter has a magical, quiet atmosphere.
Regular bus services from Prague (2 hrs) and Nuremberg (3 hrs). The nearest airport is Karlovy Vary Airport (KLV) with seasonal European flights.
Grand old spa hotels along the river promenade, boutique penziony in the hillside streets, or modern wellness resorts on the outskirts.
Becherovka liqueur, spa wafers (lázeňské oplatky), svíčková (beef sirloin with cream sauce) and local Bohemian pilsner.