Day trip from Prague to Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad)
According to a legend, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV founded Karlsbad in the mid 14th century after healing his injured leg with the water from the mineral hot springs. The healing mineral water of Karlovy Vary has been attracting visitors including royalty, artists and celebrities. Follow the footsteps of Mozart, Beethoven, Goethe, Atatürk or Russian Czar Peter I and relax your body and soul during a walk around Colonnades of Karlovy Vary with a private guide, sampling the water from the hot springs: there are 12 of them with temperatures ranging from 42°C to 72°C, the most famous one is Vřídlo - a geyser reaching to a height of 10-15 meters.
Bedded in a deep, wooded valley in West Bohemia, this famous spa town combines refined luxury and relaxed calmness.
During our private tour of Karlovy Vary, you will enjoy the bird's eye view of the town from the Diana watchtower. We will take you to the Moser Glassworks, where you can see how the world-famous Bohemian glass is made. And we can also let you taste Becherovka, a herb liquor, nicknamed the 13th spring.
What to see in Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad)
Hot springs: Vridlo
Sample the healing mineral water of Karlovy Vary from the 12 hot springs. Do not miss the Vřídlo - a geyser squirting up to 10-15 meters.
Karlovy Vary Glass
Witness the Czech glass master artists creating the internationally recognised Bohemia Crystal in the Moser glass factory of Karlovy Vary.
Diana Watchtower
Admire the noble and calm beauty of Karlovy Vary sitting in a river valley among the forested hills from the top of the Diana watchtower.
Karlovy Vary tour - the contents
The day trip to Karlovy Vary starts when our driver (or guide if you ordered one) picks you up at your hotel in Prague. The journey to Karlovy Vary from Prague by car takes about 2 hours.
After the arrival, we typically start with the public excursion of the Moser glass factory which includes the tour of the glassworks and the museum. You can buy the luxurious Bohemian Crystal in the factory shop for discounted prices. Then, preceded by free time for lunch, the city tour starts (this is when you meet the guide if you ordered the local one). The whole town center is a car-free zone, we will take a relaxing walk at the Colonnades by the river Teplá, where various artists often perform during summer and drink from the thermal springs (often wrongly referred to as Prague hot springs). We will also show you the Vřídlo geyser. By the end of the Karlsbad city tour, we will show you the amazing panoramic view of the town and the surrounding woods from the Diana watchtower (access by a cable car).
Then we either attend the public tour of the museum of Becherovka, the famous herb liquor of Karlovy Vary, or include free time for shopping or a coffee in cafe at the Colonnade.
Important tour info:
- The transfer from Prague to Karlovy Vary by car takes about 2 hours (with a toilet stop)
- The Moser glass factory tour (public = with other tourists) takes about 1.5 hours. The factory is closed between 23 Dec and 01 Jan
- The city walking tour with a local guide takes about 2 hours and is done on foot - no hard terrain though
- It is possible to add a public tour of the Becherovka herb liquor museum if we shorten the free time in the town
- If you do not book a guide, our driver will take you to the Moser glass factory, then walk around the Colonnade and then wait for you at the station of the cable car going to the Diana tower
- The total duration of the trip is about 9 hours
If you do not order a private guide (from Prague or local on the spot), our English-speaking driver will take you to the Moser factory and walk with you around the Colonnades.
Important: The driver is not a licensed tour guide - please do not expect detailed explanations from him.
Photos
Interesting facts and useful information
Karlovy Vary film festival
Every year by the begining of the summer holidays, the biggest film festival in the Central Europe takes place. The world famous actors and celebrities come to visit and thousands of fans occupy the town to see the premieres of the new films. The screenings and related cultural events are happening and several places within the town.
We will be happy to arrange a transportation to the Karlovy Vary film festival for you.
Karlovy Vary and James Bond
Did you know that the James Bond film, Casino Royale was shot at Karlovy Vary? The luxurious 5-star Grandhotel Pupp appeared in the 2006 film doubling for the Hotel Splendide in Montenegro.
Souvenirs to buy
Thinking of what to buy for your friends and family at home? Karlovy Vary is famous for its big round wafers - they are only 1 mm thin! Another typical souvenir from Karlovy Vary would be a special porcelain mug meant for sipping the healing mineral water
