How to Travel to Karlovy Vary from Prague: All 5 Options
Looking to try European spa culture for yourself? Karlovy Vary is an excellent introduction!
Located about 125 kilometers (78 miles) west of Prague, Karlovy Vary is close enough to visit on a day trip but also interesting enough to justify staying for a few nights — especially if drinking warm mineral water from a tiny porcelain cup sounds like your idea of a good time! :)
Best of all, getting to Karlovy Vary is super easy from Prague. There are more than 50 bus departures a day, scenic train options, beautiful road trip routes through West Czechia, guided day tours with local guides… Ah, so many choices!
I’ve been to Karlovy Vary a few times and have tested most of the methods of transportation listed below. After plenty of trial, error, and time scrolling through Czech transportation apps, I’ve learned which options are easiest and which ones require a little more planning. :)
In this guide, I’ll break down every practical way to travel from Prague to Karlovy Vary, including typical journey times, where to book tickets, and which option is best for your situation.
Grab your cute ceramic cup and let’s czech it out!
⛲ Quick Trip Planner: How to Get From Prague to Karlovy Vary
Don’t have time to read the whole guide? No worries! Here’s a quick overview of how to travel from Prague to Karlovy Vary:
🚗 Rent a Car (Fastest & Most Flexible option): Car rentals start at just 26€ per day and are perfect if you’re traveling in a group (or want to take a longer road trip around Czechia!)
Check car prices and availability here →
🎟️ Guided Tour to Karlovy Vary (Most Convenient option): There are a handful of one-day tours from Prague to Karlovy Vary. I recommend this Karlovy Vary and Loket tour from Prague, which includes two cities in one day trip!
Click here to check all tours to Karlovy Vary →
🚌 By Bus (Budget-Friendly option): View schedules & book direct bus tickets from Prague to Karlovy Vary – Click here to book bus tickets →
✈️ Flights: Unfortunately not an option (there are no direct flights from Prague to Karlovy Vary!)
🏨 Accommodations: Planning to stay overnight? There are plenty of amazing spa hotels and resorts in Karlovy Vary! Grandhotel Pupp is the most historical, while Spa Hotel Imperial offers spa and wellness packages right on Booking.com.
Karlovy Vary By Guided Tour
If you’re short on time and want to visit Karlovy Vary as a day trip from Prague, a guided tour is easily the most convenient option.
I would recommend a guided tour because you don’t need to navigate unfamiliar bus stations, coordinate your departure and return times, or spend half the day opening and closing Google Maps (*ahem* like yours truly 😌).
Instead, transportation is taken care of, the itinerary is already planned, and a local guide makes sure you don’t miss the highlights!
If you’re short on time and want to see Karlovy Vary in one day, I recommend the following two tours:
Karlovy Vary and Loket Castle Tour — This full-day Karlovy Vary and Loket tour is the best choice if you want to pack as much sightseeing as possible into one day.
The tour starts with a guided visit to Karlovy Vary, including a tour of the beautiful colonnades, thermal springs, spa architecture, and the Diana Observation Tower. You’ll also have some free time to explore independently, taste the mineral water, grab lunch, or pick up a few boxes of traditional spa wafers.
Afterward, the tour continues to Loket, a cute little photogenic medieval town about 20 minutes from Karlovy Vary (you can check my Loket Travel Guide to see more photos and information!) The itinerary includes a visit to Loket Castle, along with free time to wander around the historic center and admire the views over the river.
Enjoy the Spa & Explore Karlovy Vary Tour — If you’d rather dedicate the entire day to Karlovy Vary, this spa-focused tour is a relaxing option.
The day begins in Prague (where you’ll meet your guide and car), then continues with a drive and then guided walk around Karlovy Vary. You’ll see the colonnades, try the mineral springs, learn more about the town’s spa history, and have time for lunch and independent exploring.
After sightseeing, you can spend your free time at the Saunia Thermal Resort (which has an outdoor thermal pool overlooking Karlovy Vary) or enjoy a massage or sauna at the resort.
If you pick this tour, don’t forget to bring a swimsuit!
That said, if you’re planning a longer trip to Karlovy Vary (i.e. a few days or even a week!), then the following options might be a better fit…
Karlovy Vary By Bus
If you’re looking for the second-most convenient option from Prague to Karlovy Vary, then consider going by bus — after all, you just hop aboard, sit and relax, and then arrive at your destination. :)
Even better, there are many daily departures between Prague and Karlovy Vary — the last time I counted, there were about 50 buses per day! This makes the bus particularly convenient if you want to choose an early departure, do a long day trip to Karlovy Vary, or travel later in the afternoon and check into your hotel as soon as you arrive.
The route is primarily served by RegioJet and FlixBus, and the typical travel time is around 2 hours (depending on departure station and traffic). We used Flixbus for this route and had a great experience — there was WiFi, comfy seats (I even fell asleep for most of the ride 😌), a nice driver, and power outlets.
I recommend using the 12Go website to compare your options and book tickets. It’s especially nice because it displays both RegioJet and FlixBus departures together in one place, which is much more convenient than checking each operator’s website separately.
From there, you can compare departure times, journey lengths, and ticket prices before choosing the option that works best for your trip.
One more thing — be sure to double-check the stations before booking!
There are 4 or 5 different departure bus stations around Prague (depending on the company and direction), so make sure you pick the closest to your hotel. :)
Likewise, there are two drop-off locations in Karlovy Vary: “Karlovy Vary Tržnice” and “Karlovy Vary Terminal.” They’re not very far from each other (~500 meters, or a 7-minute walk), so I recommend prioritizing the departure time over the drop-off location.
Karlovy Vary By Car
If you’re looking to travel extensively around Czechia and stop at cute little towns and cities, may I humbly recommend renting a car and going on a road trip?
Karlovy Vary is about a 2-hour drive from Prague, depending on traffic. While driving isn’t dramatically faster than taking the bus, it does give you complete control over your schedule and makes it much easier to explore the surrounding region! (And believe me, Western Czechia is beautiful 😀).
For example, you could combine Karlovy Vary with a day trip to Loket and its medieval castle, visit another famous spa town such as Mariánské Lázně, or stop at smaller castles, viewpoints, and villages that are difficult to reach by public transportation.
If you’re worried about parking, don’t be! There’s a large open-air parking area near Theater Square, as well as underground parking lots. Many larger hotels have their own parking areas near the building too — just be sure to ask ahead of time, as some need prior reservation.
Karlovy Vary By Train
Those who like the romantic vibes of train travel will be happy to hear that there is a train route between Prague and Karlovy Vary. 🙂
The national rail operator, České Dráhy (CD), has multiple daily train departures from Prague to Karlovy Vary (and vice versa). You can book tickets on the official railway website or download the “Můj Vlak” app. The app lets you check all of the routes and buy mobile tickets, which was such a convenience when we traveled around Czechia!
When looking at trips, be sure to pay extra attention to the stops, as there are only a handful of trains with direct connections to Karlovy Vary. The rest typically have 2 or 3 transfers in smaller towns, which is something to keep in mind if you’re in a time crunch.
Look for trains with the number 618, 616, 614, 612, or 610, which are direct and do not require any transfers.
A direct train journey from Prague to Karlovy Vary takes about 3.5 hours one way, which makes this option slower than taking the bus (~2 hours). However, if you’re not in a hurry and enjoy watching the Czech countryside roll past, the train can be a pleasant alternative.
Karlovy Vary By Plane
I put this last because there’s a bit of a nuance: While Karlovy Vary *does* have an airport, it only serves three charter routes… To Burgas (Bulgaria), Antalya (Turkey), and Tashkent (Uzbekistan). 😅
Otherwise, the nearest “major” airport is Prague’s Václav Havel Airport, which is about 90 km (56 mi) away.
If you’re planning to make Karlovy Vary the first stop on your Czechia trip, here’s a little travel tip: you can actually fly into Prague Airport and take a direct Flixbus (from the airport!) to Karlovy Vary.
Since the airport is to the west, the journey is a bit shorter than usual — only 1.5 hours instead of 2 or 2.5 hours. You can check direct tickets from Prague Airport here →
Where to Stay in Karlovy Vary
If you plan on staying overnight in Karlovy Vary, you’re in luck — there are plenty of beautiful hotels to choose from!
From historic grand hotels and full-service spa resorts to romantic boutique properties and modern apartments, the hardest part may be deciding which one to book.
To make it easier for you, here are six of my top picks for different budgets and travel styles :)
Grandhotel Pupp (Best Luxury Hotel)
If you want the crème de la crème of Karlovy Vary hotels, look no further than Grandhotel Pupp!
Dating back more than 300 years, this legendary hotel is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. It regularly hosts celebrities during the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and has even appeared in movies like Casino Royale.
Besides the serious bragging rights, Grandhotel Pupp has elegant rooms, a gorgeous spa, several restaurants and bars (they even have a signature cake!), and an excellent location at the end of Karlovy Vary’s main promenade.
Check availability and book here →
Spa Hotel Imperial (Best for Spa Treatments)
If you’re serious about spa treatments, Spa Hotel Imperial is an excellent option.
Instead of emailing the hotel and arranging everything individually, you can book one of their preset wellness or medical-spa packages right through Booking.com.
Depending on the package, these may include half board, a consultation with a doctor, massages and other treatments, access to the gym, pool, and sauna, and even free local public transportation — just look for the “Detox Package” label when booking stays of 2 or more nights. This is what it looks like:
The hotel itself sits on a hill above the historic center and looks like an enormous fairytale palace. It’s an especially good choice if the spa experience is the main purpose of your trip rather than something you want to squeeze in between sightseeing stops.
Hotel Thermal (Best for Thermal Pools)
Despite — or perhaps because of — its unapologetically Brutalist architecture, Hotel Thermal is one of the most unique hotels in Karlovy Vary.
The biggest perk is that hotel guests receive free admission to the outdoor pool complex for every day of their stay. Entry normally costs 699 CZK per person, so this can add up to significant savings (especially if you plan to visit the pools more than once!)
Your booking also includes free access to the hotel’s wellness zone, which has indoor pools, saunas, steam baths, a gym, and other relaxation facilities.
Check availability and book here →
Promenáda Romantic Hotel (Best for Couples)
As the name suggests, Promenáda Romantic Hotel is an excellent choice for couples. The hotel has charming rooms, classic European interiors, and a fantastic location in the heart of the spa district.
Best of all, you’ll be just steps from the Market Colonnade, Hot Spring Colonnade, and many of Karlovy Vary’s most beautiful buildings — perfect for a romantic evening stroll after the day-trippers have left. 😉
Golden Lamb Hotel (Best Value)
For a more affordable stay without sacrificing atmosphere or location, check out Hotel Golden Lamb (rooms start at 70 EUR/night with breakfast included!)
This historic hotel has welcomed guests since the late 19th century and still has plenty of that classic European spa town atmosphere. It sits just steps from the Hot Spring Colonnade, making it an excellent base if you want to stay close to the springs without paying luxury-hotel prices.
The rooms are traditional and comfortable, and some have views over the Hot Spring, Theatre Square, or the spa promenade.
Check availability and book here →
Anmut by Revelton (Best for Families and Groups)
Last but certainly not least, an apartment option. Anmut is a great option if you prefer the extra space and convenience of an aparthotel. :)
These modern serviced apartments come with private bathrooms and equipped kitchens, making them especially practical for families, groups, and longer stays.
Anmut is located closer to Karlovy Vary’s modern center and main transportation hubs, which makes it particularly convenient if you’re arriving with luggage or planning to use Karlovy Vary as a base for day trips around the region.