Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary, known internationally as Carlsbad, is the Czech Republic's most famous spa town and the capital of the Karlovy Vary Region in western Bohemia. Set in a wooded valley where the Ohře and Teplá rivers meet, the city has drawn visitors for centuries with its thermal springs, elegant colonnades and refined spa culture.

Founded in the 14th century under Emperor Charles IV, the town grew around dozens of hot mineral springs used for drinking cures and spa treatments. Its historic centre combines baroque and Art Nouveau architecture, including the Mill Colonnade, the Hot Spring Colonnade, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene and the neo-baroque Grandhotel Pupp.

The spa district along the Teplá River is the heart of the city, lined with colonnades, healing spring fountains, parks and traditional spa houses. Above the town, the Diana Observation Tower and funicular offer views over the valley, while the Orthodox Church of St. Peter and Paul and the Moser glassworks reflect the city's broader cultural heritage.

Karlovy Vary is also known for the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, held each July, and for local products such as Becherovka herbal liqueur and Moser crystal. Beyond spa tourism, the city hosts business meetings, cultural events and film-industry gatherings, giving it year-round relevance for both leisure and corporate travellers.

For visitors, Karlovy Vary offers a slower, wellness-focused contrast to Prague, with a walkable historic centre, forest trails and easy access to the wider Karlovy Vary Region's spa towns and landscapes.