How to Get to Karlovy Vary from Prague

Karlovy Vary is a must-see if you visit the Czech Republic. It is the second most visited city in the country and is known as the spa town, home to a total of 12 springs with medicinal waters whose temperatures range from 40 to 72ºC.

To get there you can go by train, car, bus or, best of all, you can visit the city with an organised tour and learn all the details about its history. If you want to know more about each of the travel options, read on.

The best way to get to Karlovy Vary is with an organised excursion, as you will be able to enjoy the journey in comfort, make the most of your time and get to know all the details of this destination that inspired artists such as Beethoven, Chopin, Goethe and Freud.

Excursions to Karlovy Vary last approximately nine to ten hours and leave from the centre of Prague early in the morning at around 9 a.m. and finish at around 6 p.m., although you should bear in mind that the journey takes approximately two hours each way. Lunch is included on some tours and on others you are given time to do it on your own.

Throughout the visit, you will visit some of its places of interest such as the Imperial Spa, the thermal baths, the Orthodox Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, the Moser glassworks, the Thun porcelain shop, the former seat of the Knights of Malta, the Mozart House, the Dvorak Park, the different colonnades of the city, the fountain of Charles IV... In the post What to see in Karlovy Vary you can learn about the most emblematic points of interest that you cannot miss on your trip to the second city of the Czech Republic.

• Price... Around 110 €.
• Duration... Between 9 and 10 hours.
• Time... Departure is early in the morning, around 8-9 h.

Another option if you want to get to know the city of Karlovy Vary at your own pace and in peace and quiet is to opt for a tour that only includes transport to and from Prague. This way you can enjoy the comfort of the transfer and, at the same time, you will have between 5 and 6 hours to explore the city and invest the time according to your preferences.

However, this option is not very cost-effective in terms of price compared to the organised tour, as the price of the organised tour ranges from 48 - 60 € depending on the time of year and the company you use, while the transfer alone is estimated at 40 - 45 €.

• Price... Between 40 - 45 €.
• Duration... Two hours each way and between 5 and 6 hours for the free tour of the city.
• Time... Around 9 a.m., but it depends on the time of year and the company.

The second best way to get from Prague to Karlovy Vary is by bus. The journey time is approximately two hours - two and a quarter hours, so it is not much longer than an organised tour or a car, and the price is very cheap, starting at €8. In addition, there is a wide range of journeys available throughout the day, from 6 - 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. depending on the day of the week and the time of year.

Florenc, the main bus station in Prague, is the departure point for buses to Karlovy Vary. Arrival is in the Tržnice area. Alternatively, it is also possible to make the journey directly from Prague airport.

If you choose the bus option, I recommend that you buy your ticket in advance. To do this, you can visit the Omio or Flixbus website where you can see the different options available throughout the day, as well as the prices.

• Price... From €8 each way.
• Duration... Two hours - two and a quarter hours each way.
• Timetable... There is a wide range of journeys, almost one for every hour, from 6 - 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. depending on the time of year and the day of the week.

To get to Karlovy Vary by car you have to take into account that you are 127 kilometres away from Prague. If you like to drive, this is an option, as you can make as many stops as you like, you are free to make the journey at your leisure and if the city captivates you, you have the option of staying overnight in one of the city's hotels. After all, it is the second most visited city in the Czech Republic after the capital, and there are plenty of options for accommodation.

The shortest route from Prague is via the D6 E48 road and you'll have a total of 40 kilometres on the motorway and around 90 kilometres on the main road. The journey time is approximately two hours. As for the price, you have to add the cost of renting a car, which is approximately 20 € per day, and the cost of petrol for each journey, which is estimated at approximately 20-25 € depending on the model of vehicle and type of fuel.

This is a good option if you are touring different European cities. In this case, keep in mind that Karlovy Vary is situated close to cities such as Nuremberg or Munich.

• Price... 20 € per day car rental + the cost of petrol each way, which can vary between 20 and 25 €.
• Duration... Two hours each way.
• Timetable... Free choice of timetable.

Another option for getting from Karlovy Vary to Prague is by train. The charm of travelling by train is a factor, but the journey is longer than if you travel by car. The estimated journey time is between 3:15 and 3:45 hours, as there are several stops along the way, such as in Chomutov.

On the website of the national train company, České Dráhy, or on LeoExpess, you can check the different prices and updated timetables. However, I can tell you that the price per journey is approximately €7 - €15 each way depending on how far in advance and which train you take. Regarding the timetable, it starts early in the morning, between 5 - 6 am, and the last one takes place between 19:30 and 23:30, depending on the time of the year you make the trip.

To catch the three trains from Prague, you must go to the Central Station, Hlavní Nádřaží, which is located in the centre of the city. The station in Karlovy Vary is called Carlsbad.

• Price... Between €7 - €15 each way depending on the train and how far in advance you buy your ticket.
• Duration... Between 3:15 and 3:45, as it is not a direct journey, but makes several stops.
• Timetable... Between 5 - 6 h. and 19:30 - 23:30 h. depending on whether the journey coincides with summer or winter days.

Karlovy Vary is 127 kilometres from Prague. So after enjoying all the things to see and do in Prague, I recommend a visit to this town, which is two hours - two and a quarter hours away by car or bus. If you opt for the train, it will take you three to four hours to get there, as the route is not direct, but has several stops along the way.

Summer is undoubtedly the best time to visit Karlovy Vary in terms of temperature, with daytime highs of 20-23ºC and lows of 10-12ºC, while in winter the weather will not be as pleasant as in winter, with lows of 0-2ºC and highs of only 1-3ºC.

However, apart from the temperature, summer is the time of year with the highest number of tourists. So, you can also opt for the spring season when temperatures are more moderate and the level of tourism is still low. In autumn, on the other hand, the city is beautiful with the characteristic colours of this time of year.

If you are hesitating about which day of the week to visit Karlovy Vary, I recommend a weekday, as there are fewer tourists and you can visit the city more comfortably than at the weekend.

If you have a choice, don't choose Sunday for your visit: there are many tourists and the city won't leave you with the same feeling as if you visit it on other days of the week; moreover, the Moser glass factory, which is one of the must-see sights of your trip, is closed and the shops are also closed.