Hotel Thermal
Why we like it: A large four-star hotel beside the River Teplá, with the outdoor thermal pool on the terrace, saunas and a garage. Some stays include unlimited use of the pool.
Duration1 night
From PragueDirect bus, about 2 h · 1 h 45 by car
Best seasonAll year
BookingMoser factory, Monday to Friday
Thermal poolFrom 699 CZK an hour
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed to leave Prague on a Thursday or a Sunday and return the next day, so that the Moser factory, which can only be visited Monday to Friday, falls on a working day.
Day 1
- 108:00Bus from Prague
You arrive around 10:00.
- 210:30Colonnades and springs
Spa cup in hand, from the Mill Colonnade to the Vřídlo.
- 313:00Lunch at the Embassy
On Nová Louka, by the river. Book by phone.
- 415:00Diana funicular
Go up to the viewpoint and walk down through the forest.
- 517:00Becherovka Museum
45 minutes with a tasting, from 290 CZK.
- 620:00Night thermal bath
Outdoor pool of the Hotel Thermal, open until 23:00, with the town lit up.
Day 2
- 109:30Moser glassworks
Tour by booking, Monday to Friday; then the museum and the Café Moser.
- 213:00Lunch and bus back
One last walk along the colonnades and bus to Prague.
Karlovy Vary fits into a day from Prague, but the best comes when the visitors leave: the colonnade walk at dusk and a bathe in the open-air thermal pool, open until eleven at night. With a night, you also have time to watch glass being blown at the Moser factory in the morning.
How do you get there from Prague?
By direct bus, about two hours from Florenc and other stops. By car, about 120 km along the D6 motorway, around an hour and three quarters; sleep in a hotel with parking.
Where to sleep?
| Accommodation | Area | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Thermal | By the river, near the colonnades | The thermal pool on the terrace; garage |
| Hotel Embassy | Nová Louka | Family hotel with restaurant and free parking |
What if I have one more day?
Continue to Mariánské Lázně, the region's other great spa town, or by car to the German border. If you go back to Prague, stop in Plzeň and visit the Pilsner Urquell brewery.
With children
The Thermal's pool area has a children's pool and they love the funicular. Leave the Becherovka for the adults and swap it for more time in the water.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Karlovy Vary, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Karlovy Vary
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
Fly to Prague and take the direct bus to Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary has a small airport with no flights from Spain: you fly to Prague, with direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities, and continue by direct bus, about two hours, or by hire car on the D6 motorway. In the spa town everything is done on foot.
- Getting therePrague Václav Havel (PRG), about…
- Getting aroundOn foot along the colonnades…
- Where to sleepHotel Thermal, with the thermal…
- ServicesDirect bus from Prague
Getting there
- Prague Václav Havel (PRG), about 120 km away
- Direct bus from Prague to Karlovy Vary, about two hours
- Hire car at Prague airport, on the D6
Getting around
- On foot along the colonnades and the bank of the Teplá
- Diana funicular to the forest lookout
- City bus or taxi to the Moser factory
Where to sleep
- Hotel Thermal, with the thermal pool on the terrace
- Hotel Embassy, family-run, next to the colonnades
Services
- Direct bus from Prague
Bus from Prague and everything on foot through the spa town
Karlovy Vary is walked along the River Teplá: the colonnades, the hotels, the Becherovka museum and the funicular are all on the same stroll. The bus from Prague is quicker than the train.
90–170 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepHotel Embassy, next to the…
- Getting aroundDirect bus from Prague, about…
- Where to eatRestaurant Embassy
- ServicesDirect bus from Prague
Where to sleep
- Hotel Embassy, next to the colonnades
- Hotel Thermal, with a thermal pool
Getting around
- Direct bus from Prague, about two hours
- On foot through the centre; Diana funicular to the forest
- Taxi or city bus to Moser
Where to eat
- Restaurant Embassy
- Café Moser, at the factory
Services
- Direct bus from Prague
By car from Prague on the D6 motorway
By car, Karlovy Vary is about 120 km from Prague on the D6 motorway, around an hour and three quarters. It is useful for continuing to Mariánské Lázně or the German border. In the centre of the spa town parking is difficult: choose a hotel with parking and get around on foot.
100–180 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepHotel Thermal, with a garage
- DrivingD6 motorway from Prague, with…
- Where to eatRestaurant Embassy
- ServicesDirect bus to Prague, if…
Where to sleep
- Hotel Thermal, with a garage
- Hotel Embassy, with free parking by reservation
Driving
- D6 motorway from Prague, with the electronic vignette
- Leave the car at the hotel and walk along the bank of the Teplá
Where to eat
- Restaurant Embassy
- Café Moser, with parking at the factory
Services
- Direct bus to Prague, if someone returns earlier
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights1
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're flyingwithout a carif you're driving
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Hotel Embassy
Why we like it: A family-run hotel on the bank of the Teplá, a few minutes from the colonnades and the Vřídlo, with its own restaurant and free parking for guests.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Karlovy Vary
Restaurant Embassy
What to order: ask about the seasonal dishes on the menu.
Café Moser
What to order: a coffee and a sweet treat after the factory visit.
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
Choose a package at the Hotel Thermal with the pool included if you are going to bathe more than once.
We'd skip it
The dates of the July film festival, if you are not going for the films: high prices and everything full.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Prague to Karlovy Vary without a car?
By direct bus, about two hours.
Where do I sleep?
At the Hotel Thermal, with the thermal pool, or the Hotel Embassy, family-run and central.
Until what time is the thermal pool open?
Every day from 9:00 to 23:00.
Which day should I visit Moser?
Monday to Friday, by booking.