Czech Spa Towns — Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně, and Františkovy Lázně

The Czech Republic has one of Europe's oldest and richest spa traditions. For centuries, the mineral springs of western Bohemia have drawn visitors seeking treatment for everything from digestive ailments to joint pain — and more recently, for the pure pleasure of wandering colonnaded promenades, drinking warm mineral water from porcelain cups, and soaking in thermal baths surrounded by 19th-century architecture.

Three towns form the core of this spa triangle: Karlovy Vary (the grandest), Mariánské Lázně (the most elegant), and Františkovy Lázně (the smallest and most peaceful). Together, they were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021 as part of the "Great Spa Towns of Europe." We take guests to Karlovy Vary regularly, and the combination of thermal springs, architecture, and genuine relaxation makes it one of the most popular day trips from Prague.

Karlovy Vary — The Grand Dame

Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad in German) is the Czech Republic's most famous spa town, set in a dramatic valley where the Teplá River meets 12 natural hot springs. The town stretches along the valley floor with Baroque, Art Nouveau, and Belle Époque buildings lining both riverbanks. It's theatrical, opulent, and utterly unlike anywhere else in the country.

The hot springs: Karlovy Vary has 12 main springs, ranging from 30°C to 73°C. The most dramatic is the Vřídlo (Geyser), which erupts 12 metres into the air inside the modern Vřídelní Colonnade. You can drink from any of the springs using a traditional spa cup (lázeňský pohárek) — ceramic cups with a built-in drinking spout. Buy one from vendors around the colonnades for about 100–200 CZK.

The water tastes... medicinal. Each spring has a slightly different mineral profile and temperature. We always warn our guests to sip, not gulp — and the 73°C Vřídlo will scald if you try to drink it straight.

The colonnades: walking the colonnades is the heart of the Karlovy Vary experience. The Mill Colonnade (Mlýnská kolonáda) is the most photogenic — a neo-Renaissance structure with five springs, supported by 124 Corinthian columns. The Market Colonnade is a white wooden Swiss-style structure. Walking from one colonnade to the next, sipping from different springs, is how visitors have spent their days here since the 18th century.

The architecture: the town's buildings reflect centuries of wealthy visitors. The Grandhotel Pupp (where James Bond stayed in "Casino Royale") anchors the south end of the promenade. The Thermal Hotel — a brutalist concrete slab from the 1970s — houses the swimming pool with the best views in town. The Orthodox Church of Saints Peter and Paul adds a golden dome to the skyline.

Local specialties: Karlovy Vary oplatky (spa wafers) — thin, crispy wafers filled with chocolate, hazelnut, or vanilla — have been made here since the 19th century. Becherovka, the herbal liqueur considered the "13th spring" of Karlovy Vary, was invented here in 1807.