🇨🇿Czech Republic · Places to discover
What to see in Karlovy Vary?
22 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Landmarks & heritage
5 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0Landmark
Diana Colonnade (Sadová kolonáda)
An Art Nouveau cast-iron colonnade (1882) surrounded by lush gardens on the Teplá riverbank. Less crowded than others, it's where locals take their morning stroll.
2Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Landmark
Mlýnská Colonnade (Mill Colonnade)
A neo-Renaissance masterpiece by Josef Zítek housing five historic thermal springs. Locals arrive each morning with their drinking cups for the hot mineral water — an authentic daily ritual.
3Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Landmark
Market Colonnade (Tržní kolonáda)
An elegant Swiss-style wooden colonnade built in 1883, nestled in the city centre. Two springs flow freely here — the atmosphere feels more intimate than the grand colonnade.
4Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Landmark
Grand Hotel Pupp
A palace founded in 1701, among Europe's oldest hotels. Even if you're not staying, the grand café hall is worth a visit — Goethe, Beethoven and Casanova all lodged here.
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Landmark
Landmark
Vřídelní Colonnade (Geyser Colonnade)
A brutalist building from the 1970s sheltering the main geyser that erupts at 73°C up to 12 metres high. Soviet architecture starkly contrasts with the Belle Époque setting — utterly fascinating.
Museums
3 places
6Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Museum
Karlovy Vary Museum (Karlovarské muzeum)
A regional museum housed in a handsome neo-Renaissance villa tracing the spa and industrial heritage of the town. The collection of Bohemian porcelain and crystal glass is outstanding.
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Museum
Museum
Císařské lázně Art Gallery (Imperial Baths)
A grand Art Nouveau thermal establishment undergoing restoration, partially open as a cultural venue. The abandoned and now restored neo-baroque bathing halls provide a striking backdrop for temporary exhibitions.
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Museum
Museum
Becherovka Tasting at Jan Becher Museum
Museum dedicated to the famous herbal liqueur born in Karlovy Vary in 1807, featuring a guided tasting of the original recipe. The secret formula of 20 herbs is jealously guarded — the story is captivating.
Religious sites
2 places
9Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0Religious site
Church of Saint Mary Magdalene
A baroque jewel by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer (1736), perched on a promontory above the Vřídlo. Its twin-towered silhouette dominates the thermal centre — the interior strikes an elegant restraint.
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Religious site
Religious site
Church of Saints Peter and Paul (Orthodox)
A Russian church with golden cupolas built in 1898 for the wealthy Russian colony frequenting the spa. Tsars and nobles once prayed here — the mosaic-covered interior is breathtaking.
Nature
4 places
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Nature
Nature
Štěpánka Spring and Hilltop Trail
An isolated mineral spring accessed via a forest path from the Westend neighbourhood, with a period wooden pavilion. Local hikers stop here to drink the iron-rich water straight from the source.
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Nature
Nature
Jesenius Lake (Jesenická přehrada)
A small forest reservoir 8 km from the town centre, popular with locals for summer bathing and picnicking. Far from the crowds and ringed with firs — the perfect spot to unwind.
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Nature
Nature
Teplá Valley towards Kyselka
A 12 km cycling and walking route along the Teplá river towards the abandoned thermal village of Kyselka. Forests and riverside meanders combine to create one of the region's finest nature escapes.
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Nature
Nature
Health Trail (Stezka zdraví) towards Three Crosses
A 5 km forest loop above the town leading to Three Crosses, a historic viewpoint over the valley. Locals make this their Sunday jogging route — an accessible and rejuvenating trail.
Parks & gardens
1 place
15Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Park
Smetanovy Gardens
A terraced municipal park on the right bank of the Teplá, lined with century-old linden trees and a charming bandstand. Spa guests take their constitutionals here between treatments.
Viewpoints
2 places
16Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Viewpoint
Diana Tower and Funicular
The funicular climbs within minutes to the summit of Výšina přátelství (600m), where Diana Tower offers a full 360° panorama over the thermal valley and Bohemian forests. The views at sunset are unbeatable.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Výšina přátelství Viewpoint (Friendship Hill)
A forest trail leading above the Grand Pupp through century-old beech trees. The natural belvedere offers sweeping views down the curve of the Teplá river and the red-tiled rooftops below.
Activities
4 places
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Activity
Activity
Moser Shop (Crystal House)
Crystal manufactory founded in 1857, whose pieces adorn royal palaces worldwide. The free tour of the glass-blowing workshop in Staré Město is both fascinating and accessible.
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Activity
Activity
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (venue: Thermal Hotel)
Central Europe's largest film festival takes place each July around the brutalist Thermal Hotel. Outside festival season, the Thermal cinema screens art-house films year-round.
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Activity
Activity
Thermal Cure at Alžbětin pramen Spa
An authentic thermal establishment (not a luxury spa) where locals come for their state-subsidised cures. Carbonated baths, underwater massage and inhalation treatments — Czech thermal heritage at its most genuine.
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Activity
Activity
Thun Porcelain Manufactory
Fine Bohemian porcelain factory open to visitors — watch artisans hand-paint traditional floral motifs. The factory shop offers significantly better prices than the promenade boutiques.
More to discover
1 place
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Place
Place
Dolní nádraží Market
Saturday morning farmers' market where regional producers sell vegetables, farmhouse cheeses and smoked charcuterie. This is where locals shop in Karlovy Vary.
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