While Prague might be one of my favorite cities in Europe, I highly recommend venturing outside Prague. The Czech Republic is filled with a number of incredible small towns that should be added to your list! We decided to take a day trip to Karlovy Vary Czechia which felt very unique and vastly different from other towns we visited.
While there are so many day trips that can be taken from Prague, Karlovy Vary is a fun city to see as it’s a well-known spa town in the Western Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. Below I’ll go through the best things to do in Karlovy Vary Czechia on a quick day trip from Prague.
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GETTING THERE
It takes about 2 hours to travel from Karlovy Vary to Prague. The cities are well connected as buses leave hourly. Buses are the most common and inexpensive form of transportation throughout the Czech Republic, making for an easy and inexpensive day trip!
You can also take a day trip from Prague to Karlovy Vary. Honestly, it’s a relatively easy trip to do on your own but if you prefer the ease of a tour I’ve linked one for your reference!
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WHAT TO DO THERE
OPLATKY WAFER
Karlovy Vary Czech Republic is known for the Oplatky Wafer. You’ll see stands selling Oplatky Wafer’s all over town. You can purchase a fresh wafer or a box to bring home. Most spa towns are known for these wafers, so be sure to try them!
MINERAL WATER
Karlovy Vary is one of three most famous spa towns in the Czech Republic. People travel from all over to drink water from the Karlovy Vary hot springs. Many doctors prescribe the carbonated water as a treatment for everything from obesity to sinus and joint problems. Grab your porcelain cup and drink some healing water! There are fountains all over the town; simply fill your glass with the healing water and drink.
DIANA OBSERVATION TOWER
Diana Observation Tower is a great way to get an incredible view of Karlovy Vary Czechia. You can either hike to the top of Diana Observation Tower or take the funicular ride to the top. The funicular runs every 15 minutes and only takes about 3 minutes to get to the top, making for a quick activity! From there, you can either head back down or spend a little time checking out the top. There are hiking trails, a restaurant and a mini-zoo located at the top.
CHURCHES
I would highly recommend checking out a few churches in Karlovy Vary! The inside of most of the churches are filled with gold making the churches grand. We went to St. Mary Magdalene which was incredible!
WANDER THE STREETS
Like most small towns in Europe, Karlovy Vary is a fun town to wander the streets to admire the uniqueness. The colorful town is unlike most places in the Czech Republic. Walk the town and soak in the beauty! The town is separated by a river and each side is surrounded by colorful buildings. Karlovy is such a beautiful and unique place.
I literally love Prague; it is probably my favorite big city in Europe. With that said, exploring the lesser known towns like Karlovy Vary Czechia is simply the best! The Czech Republic is filled with incredible smaller towns worth the visit. It is such a gorgeous country with so much to offer.
Traveling to the Czech Republic? Read more –
Safe Travels,
Sarah :)
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Love this article! You’ve explained Karlovy Vary perfectly! I went there 3 years ago and LOVED it. I recommend it to anyone and everyone all the time.