Warm winter waters: soaking in the spas and history of Karlovy Vary

Like a child let loose in their first toy shop, the novelty of wandering around Karlovy Vary, armed with a porcelain mug in search of hot-spring waters excited me no end. Coming across these water-fountains doesn’t just provide the warming sensation of taking a sip, but warms the soul too.

These simple springs serve as a congregation point, for communities to come together for chatter while gaining some much-needed heat on the snow-covered winter days. For child-like visitors such as myself, eager to be part of the Spa Cup crew – even if only for a few days – they provide a curiosity with a ready-made souvenir.

Nestled amongst the dense forests and rivers of West Bohemia, Karlovy Vary has long provided tourists with treats of springs and spas – in fact, it was created for that very purposes. With the promise of relaxing waters and wellness benefits, the spa-town has grown over the centuries to become one of the most picturesque and famous spa destinations in the Czech Republic and Europe.

The story takes us back to the 14th century when the Czech King stumbled upon a spring while hunting for dear, and wanted to make something of the uniqueness of the water.

Over the years many famous names have come to visit what Karlovy Vary has become today. An almost impeccable mix of grand spa hotels, public baths, forests, intricate architecture, captivating colonnades and towered buildings rise up and down the hills in and beyond the city. It’s not just a spa destination where you simply check-in and relax, although that is very much possible, it’s a city of culture and creativity, her beauty shining from any angle.

I’ve never really been a ‘relax at a spa get-away’ kinda guy. I’m restless and avoid pampering, much more comfortable wandering for hours on end getting blisters rather than bath-bombs. My preferred interaction with locals leans more to a chat about local culture or politics at a bus stop than in silence face down on a massage table.

Thus, I surprised myself when I decided to visit Karlovy Vary as a side-trip from the Prague Christmas markets. Scrolling through the seemingly never-ended choice of outstanding spa-hotels online, I finally plumped for a grand and traditional looking building on the outskirts of the city. With a lush looking wellness centre attached, forests on my doorstep, and the delightful streets of Karlovy Vary a short drive away, it seemed I was very much about to become that ‘relax at a spa get-away’ kinda guy.

Checking in to Retro Riverside Wellness Resort

Essentially being a custom-designed Spa destination, Karlovy Vary has no shortage of beautiful spa-resorts. I’d toyed with the quiet reasonable priced Parkhotel Richmond, before opting for the extremely good value Retro Riverside Wellness Resort – drawn in by the fairy-tale architecture of the building.

While it is slightly outside the city, this meant it felt like a true escape. Dense trees packed around the hotel, while it had direct access to the river – a small pier being home to little boats, which in the summer months offer visitors the chance to see the destination from another viewpoint.

The food was fantastic, as was the service – the Italian restaurant making for a great evening meal if you didn’t want to venture outside by dark. The rooms were modern, peaceful and came with balconies – I had been tempted to book a suite in the tower, with a corner bathroom overlooking the views, but decided that was a bit excessive for someone who isn’t a ‘relax at a spa get-away’ kinda guy.

The spa itself though turned out to be an absolute highlight, the pool was peaceful, while the actual spa-circuit and the additional warm water pools perfectly decorated – managing to balance traditional with modern features well.

Okay, looks like I might be becoming a spa get-away kinda guy after all – but on to equally as important stuff, what to do in Karlovy Vary itself.

Get acquainted with the Spa Cup concept

Perhaps you are used to doing your souvenir shopping at the end of your trip? Well, in Karlovy Vary it should be first on your list, as that souvenir is going to quickly come in handy.

Porcelain is a big thing around here, and the delightful porcelain spa cups which line the racks and shelves of local shops and stores are a regional spa-town institution.

The unique design of these spa cups means there is a spout attached, which starts close to the base of the cup – imagine if a mug and a tea-pot had a small child, and you get the (very strangely described) picture.

It’s with these cups you’ll be able to warm yourself from the hot springs throughout the city. Simply pull it out from your pocket, and place it under the spring for a warm drink (be careful, some of these waters are extremely hot). Also, if you’re like me (hello British people) then you might start keeping tea-bags in your pocket too. How many places in the world can you brew your own cup of tea from a spring in the centre of a city?

Most of the central springs can be found under the colonnades of the city, there are quite a few fountains around, and the temperatures seemed to vary slightly between each spring, and the design of each one varied.

Admire the architecture while soothed by waters

Not content with wowing us with waters, Karlovy Vary is also an incredibly beautiful city. The architecture is grand, intriguing, and non-uniform – with buildings in various styles next to each other creating this very unique layout.

Most of the architecture in the city is either neo-Baroque and neo-Renaissance, and the historic centre is compact to explore by foot – mainly following the Tepla river which flows down the centre of the pedestrianised area – with colonnades providing cover from the elements if needed.

Many of the most beautiful buildings are not surprisingly spa-hotels or thermal pools.

Be sure to step inside the baroque Church of St. Mary Magdalene, impressive in and out with domed spires.

The Mill Colonnade is perhaps the city’s most famous, with the spring underneath here seemingly popular with the locals. However, my interest was more in the Market Colonnade, carved from wooden in Swiss-style, and the Park Colonnade crafted from cast-iron, transformed from a concert hall.

Speaking of concerts, the Karlovy Vary theatre which opened in the late 1800s is stunning, inside and out (especially in some of the entrance hall areas) so try and snag tickets for a performance, or pop your head in.

Visit the city centre Spas

If you decide to opt for a hotel that doesn’t have its own spa facilities or simply want to try a different spot, you have various options in the city centre.

The Elizabeth Bath is perhaps the one to visit, the grand building is over one-hundred years old, and offers many wellness treatments alongside the hot-spring waters.

Further along, and an imposing concrete (almost brutalist looking) building with the Thermal Pool overhanging the city might be a nice photo spot in summer, just don’t look behind you at the eye-sore.

Head high for the best views

While the city is absolutely dreamy at street-level, strolling along the Tepla and sipping on your Spa Cup, for some of the best views you’ll need to head higher up.

The backstreets of the city themselves offer some delightful seasons, and also give access to various side-streets and staircase leading you to many viewpoints.

The Deer Jump Lookout is so named because of the statue of a deer, and here you’ll be able to capture some wonderful photos down on the city and admire the incredible opulent Hotel Imperial, one of the most expensive and renowned hotels in the city which sits high above Karlovy Vary.

One of the most famous lookout spots in the city is at the Diana Tower, which I was being cheap and didn’t want to take the funicular and pay entrance for so I didn’t visit. urns out, I’d got misunderstood and it was only a few quid for the cable car and it’s accessible on foot if you don’t want to do the funicular. So, I messed up there and wish I had as the photos look fantastic, as you can see just how hidden away in the forest Karlovy Vary is.

“Who has not been at the Diana Observation Tower, has not seen Karlovy Vary” is a saying from their marketing department, and it turns out they might have been right!

Visit in Spring for the cherry blossoms

While I loved visiting in winter just before Christmas where the festive decorations and snow made the city feel really magical, I saw some photos of Karlovy Vary during the spring and it also looks very beautiful. Dotted around the city and on some squares during this time you’ll be able to see the cherry blossoms, adding even more colour to the cityscape.

Getting to Karlovy Vary

If you haven’t hired a car for your trip to the Czech Republic no worries, you can easily get from Prague to Karlovy Vary by public transport. In this instance, take a bus or coach over the train, as the route is more direct, frequent and quickest. There is public transport in the city, and many of the hotels and spa-resorts outside the centre offer transfers in and out.

Looking for more day-trips from Prague? How about visiting UNESCO Kutna Hora, for its unique architecture – including a chapel of bones!