Karlovy Vary: Colonnades, Thermal Springs and Wafer Cookies
Karlovy Vary grew up around a scalding hot spring that Emperor Charles IV supposedly discovered while out hunting, and the whole town still curls along the narrow Teplá river valley beneath forested hills. Pastel Belle Époque facades, glass-roofed colonnades and the hiss of mineral water from dozens of spouts give it a rhythm unlike any other Czech town. It's also the unlikely birthplace of Becherovka herbal liqueur and the host of one of Europe's oldest film festivals.
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Mlýnská Colonnade
A grand neo-Renaissance colonnade designed by Josef Zítek, lined with columns and several of the town's drinking spouts.
Vřídlo Hot Spring (Vřídelní Colonnade)
The town's most powerful geyser shoots mineral water up to 12 metres high inside a modern glass colonnade.
Grandhotel Pupp
The legendary 17th-century hotel that hosted the Karlovy Vary Film Festival and appeared in Casino Royale.
Church of St Mary Magdalene
A striking Baroque church by architect Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, perched above the Vřídlo spring.
Diana Lookout Tower
Reachable by funicular through the forest, this tower gives sweeping views over the town's rooftops and colonnades.
Market Colonnade
A wooden Swiss-style colonnade sheltering the Rock Spring and the spot linked to Charles IV's legendary hunting accident.
Jan Becher Museum
The original distillery and museum of Becherovka, the bittersweet herbal liqueur invented here in 1807.
A Sample Day
What to Eat
Spa-town dining here mixes hearty Czech classics with a few local specialties born straight from the mineral water and hunting traditions.
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) bring mild weather for walking the colonnades and hillside trails without the summer festival crowds; early July overlaps with the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, which is lively but books out hotels fast.
The spa quarter is compact and entirely walkable along the Teplá river, though the surrounding hills mean some real inclines; a funicular runs up to the Diana Tower and Imperial Sanatorium for those who'd rather ride than climb.
Buy a lázeňský pohárek (spa cup with a built-in drinking spout) from any souvenir stall and refill it free at the public springs — it's how locals and regular visitors actually drink the water, since it's too hot to sip from a normal cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you actually drink the water from the hot springs?+
Yes, the mineral water is safe to drink and locals do it regularly with a spa cup, though the taste is mineral-heavy and sulphurous, and the hottest spring, Vřídlo, is too hot to sip directly.
Is Karlovy Vary a day trip from Prague or worth staying overnight?+
It's about two hours from Prague by bus or car, doable as a day trip, but staying one night lets you see the colonnades lit up in the evening and catch a spa treatment or hillside walk without rushing.
What is Karlovy Vary famous for besides the spa waters?+
It's known for Becherovka liqueur, the wafer-thin Karlovarské oplatky cookies, its Belle Époque architecture, and hosting the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival every summer.
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