Karlovy Vary trip planner

Bohemia's historical spa town, Karlovy Vary serves as one of Europe's most glamorous vacation resorts. Named after Charles IV, the Bohemian king who founded the city in the 14th century, Karlovy Vary lures visitors with its famed hot springs and well-preserved architecture. Notable guests of this resort, which came into fashion back in the 18th century, included Beethoven, Wagner, Tolstoy, Marx, and Peter the Great. World War I interrupted tourist activities in the area, and the city struggled to regain some of its former glory. Today Karlovy Vary attracts a diverse crowd arriving not only for the spa treatments, but also for hiking in the Bohemian hills surrounding the city. In the build up to your vacation in Karlovy Vary, plan trip itinerary minutiae using the visitor reviews, staff write-ups, and custom search fields on our Czech Republic trip planner.