The Town of Medicinal Springs

In the beginning of warm August, I decided to take a break from dawdling at home and instead spend more time sigh seeing. I caught the 8:30 bus to Karlovy Vary from Dejvicka. The bus actually originates from Florence main bus station. Buses taken from here can be either or CSAD. It takes about 2.5 hours and costs about 150 CZK (rates and time varies from origination point). For eg., the bus from Dejvicka, costed 99 CZK only. Students with ISIC card have a discount of 15%. There is also a small airport in Karlovy Vary, however flights from Prague are not that frequent. Direct connection trains are not available from Prague to Karlovy Vary.

Reaching Karlovy Vary at about 9:00 becomes a green feast for the eyes. This town is very charming with its beautiful buildings, famous spas and friendly atmosphere. Getting down at the Autobusy Nadrazi, one has to walk down the street till you pass the beautiful hall on the right. As you walk past the beautiful Colannade you start advancing into the territory of the hot springs. The hot water springs are famous for its content of sulphur. The water is said to have medicinal value. However it is advisable not to drink too much. Tourists usually hang around munching on the Karlovy wafers or with a ceramic pot filled with sulfur water.

Behind the large square, where the Grandhotel Pupp is present, on the hill lies the Diana Lookout Tower. You have a choice of either hiking to a certain level (up the hill) or take a 8-10 min journey on a monorail to the summit of the hill (different rates for students). Once you reach the tower, you have to still climb 5 stories/ take the elevator till the last level. Finally you can treat yourself to a beautiful view of Karlovy Vary, nestled among the Bohemian forestlands.

Other places that are not to be missed is the National Theatre, the Japanese Garden and the various Laznes (springs). The gardens of Karlovy Vary are bedecked with vibrant flowers and the forests with their trails make it a nice place for hiking.

TRANSPORTATION: Bus would be the cheapest mode of transportation., as explained above.

Click on the post's title if you wish to visit the official website of Karlovy Vary.