By train: Rail services are infrequent and unduly prolonged. Take the bus!
By bus: Regular service from Florenc station (Metro: Florenc). Approximate journey time – 3 hours.
By road: Highway 6, west Prague.
Charles IV is said to have put Karlovy Vary on the map by accidentally discovering the thermal springs when one of his hunting dogs was scalded by a jet of hot water. However, it was not until the 19th century that the town, then known as Karlsbad, became established as one of Europe’s most fashionable resorts. Goethe came here, so did Bismarck, Karl Marx, Alexander II of Russia, Brahms, Liszt and many other celebrities. Karlovy Vary is situated in a narrow, wooded valley. The best way to enjoy the town is to amble through the colonnaded streets and gardens, drinking in the genteel atmosphere. The spa water can be tasted at the fountains on the Yuri Gagarin.
Colonnade; you can shop for Bohemian crystal, produced at the local Moser Glassworks or, if the town is too sedate for you, you can always explore the surrounding hillside. There are plenty of places to eat and drink. The best restaurants are in the hotels, especially the Central (with live music for dancing) and the Moskva. Nightlife too centres on the hotels and you can get a late night drink in most of them.
Don’t leave Karlovy Vary without sampling the local home grown liqueur – Becherovka. If you wish to stay overnight, you will need to make a reservation in advance, especially in the summer – Cedok will be able to help with this.
The Cedok office is at Trziste 23. Call in here for information about theatre, concerts and the biennial international film festival.