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Karlovy Vary
From Wikitravel
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Karlovy Vary (also known as Karlsbad, its German name or Carlsbad, its English name) is a city in Bohemia, in the western Czech Republic.
[edit] Understand
Karlovy Vary, meaning "Charles' Bath" was named after Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, who founded the city in 1370. It is famous for its hot springs and its colorful and whimsical architecture. For these reasons, it was a popular tourist destination in the 18th century with guests including Tsar Peter the Great, Emperor Franz Josef I, Beethoven, Wagner, Brahms, Tolstoy, and Marx. Tourism grounded to a halt during World War I and the city never regained its former glory.
The town, along with Prague, was the filming location of many scenes identified as being in Montenegro in the 2006 movie Casino Royale.
[edit] Get in
[edit] By bus
Student Agency [1] operates hourly buses to/from Prague's Florenc and Dejvicka stations between 5:00am and 8:00pm. The trip takes 2 hours and costs 110Kc for adults, or 85Kc with an under-26 Student card.
Other bus companies also run services from Prague's Florenc station but they are more expensive as not as comfortable as Student Agency's buses.
[edit] By train
Karlovy Vary has two train stations: Dolní Nádraží (lower station) located next to the bus station, and Horní Nádraží (upper station) located north of the city center across the Ohie River. Horní Nádraží can be reached by a 10-minute walk or by taking buses 11,12, or 13.
Trains from Prague leave Prague Main Station and arrive at Horní nádraží in Karlovy Vary 3 hours later, costing 300Kc. The bus is a cheaper and more efficient method of travel from Prague to Karlovy Vary. However, rail enthusiasts may wish to make this journey by train as, per Thomas Cook european rail guide, it is one of the most scenic train routes in the Czech Republic, with much of it meandering alongside rivers.
Hourly direct trains operate between Karlovy Vary and Loket (15km, 30 minutes, 22Kc), Cheb (50km, 60 minutes, 74Kc), and Plzen (84km, 100 minutes, 156Kc).
[edit] Get around
The town can comfortably be covered on foot, however, a car or motorcycle is useful for exploring the surrounding areas.
[edit][add listing] See
- Mill Colonade. Popular gathering place. Bands play here in the summer. edit
- Hot Springs. There are 12 hot springs - you can get a list and descriptions at the Infocentrum. edit
- Diana Lookout Tower. You can take the funicular railway or take a beautiful walk throuh the forest to get here. The funicular costs 36Kc, 60Kc return. Free. edit
- Karl Marx Monument. edit
- Church of St. Peter & St. Paul. Built in 1897. 5 golden domes and colorful exterior were modeled on the Byzantine Church of the Holy Trinity near Moscow. The interior of the church is decorated with paintings and icons, gifts of wealthy Russian aristocrates. One of the decorations is a relief representing Russian Tsar "Peter the Great". edit
- Church of St. Lucas. Anglican church. edit
- Karlovy Vary Museum, Nova Louka 23. 9am-12pm & 1pm-5pm Wed-Sun. Local history. Adult: 30Kc; Child: 15Kc. edit
- Jan Becher Museum, Masaryka 57. 9am-5pm. Dedicated to the local inventor of Becherovka. Adult: 100Kc; Child: 50Kc. edit
[edit][add listing] Do
- Castle Spa - Zemecke Lazne. 7:30am-7:30pm. Modern spa center €20 for 1 hour, €80 for 4 hours including massage. edit
- Open Air Thermal Pool, Bazen (On the cliff above Hotel Thermal). 8am-8:30pm. Includes sauna and fitness club. 40Kc per hour. edit
[edit] Festivals
- Karlovy Vary Folklore Festival. Early September. edit
- Jazzfest Karlovy Vary. Early Septmeber edit
- Dvorak Autumn. September. Classical music. edit
[edit][add listing] Buy
[edit][add listing] Eat
Karlovy Vary is famous for its spa wafers [4]. They come in various flavors and are best when warm. The wafers are sold at street stands in Karlovy Vary, and can also be purchased at grocery stores throughout the Czech Republic.
- Bernard, Bernard (steep small street opposite to the end of the Mlynska Colonnade). Quite cheap, but quality is better than in the expensive restaurants. Rustic interior, small, nice Czech food and good beer. Also serves as a Jazz Club with live music. edit
- Cafe Pizzeria Venetia, Zahdrani 43, ☎ +420 353 729 221. Looks out on the Tepla River Pizza: 120Kc. edit
- Galilia, Masaryka 3A, ☎ +420 353 221 183. Middle eastern food. Great Turkish bread and creamy dips. Good vegetarian options. Felafel kebab: 65Kc, Mains: 130Kc-180Kc. edit
- Jean De Carro. very good and spacy inside, however dishes served are of a low quality, despite being high priced. edit
- Parlament, Zeyerova 5. closed on Sun. Outdoor tables. Good food. edit
- Steakhouse Sklipek, Zeyerova 1, ☎ +420 353 229 197. Huge steak meals. Steaks: 180Kc. edit
[edit][add listing] Drink
Jan Becherovka invented the liquor that bears his name in Karlovy Vary. However, it is an acquired taste.
Some establishments on the river charge twice the price of places 20m+ off the main drag so shop around for a place to drink.
- Cafe Elephant, Stara Louka 30. Coffee and cake. Coffee: 45Kc. edit
- Juice Bar Kokopelli, Bulharska 9. Juice & Smoothies: 20Kc-37Kc. edit
- Kafe Brejk, Stara Louka 62. 9am-5pm. Design your own baguette. Coffee: 35Kc; Baguette: 50Kc. edit
[edit][add listing] Sleep
[edit] Budget
- Camping Brezovy Haji, 3km south of town, ☎ +420 353 222 665, [5]. Open Apr-Oct Tent: 90Kc; Bed: 190Kc. edit
- Titty Twister Hostel, Moravska 44, ☎ +420 732 324 051, [6]. Accomodation is in shared apartments. From 390Kc. edit
[edit] Splurge
- Hotel Carlsbad Plaza, (in the vicinity of the spa facility Lázně I), [7]. Deluxe hotel opened in December 2005. €133 and up. edit
- Hotel Garni Palatin, Lázeňská 10. Very nice place to stay, it is ideal if you take a mineral water drinking course, because the range from this hotel to the closest spring is roughly 20 meters. The hotel is modern furnished, and despite being given only 3 stars looks like a typical four stars hotel. The only disadvantage is absence of a restaurant (breakfast is possible though). edit
- Hotel Kavalrie, Masaryka 43 (bove a cafe, near bus and train stations), ☎ +420 353 229 613, [9]. Single: 950Kc; Double: 1,225Kc. edit
- Hotel Thermal, [10]. The biggest hotel in the centre of the city, was used by USSR's political elite for recovery. However, now (in 2007 and 2008) the quality of the service significantly decreased (rooms, restaurant, treatment, cases of robbery inside the hotel building are reported, unfriendly reception). Single: From 2,350Kc; Double: From 4,320Kc. edit
- Pension Fan, ☎ +420 774 289 153. Opened in May 2004, is a two-storied building, situated in the town of Karlovy Vary-district Bohatice. Friendly atmosphere, lot of programmes available: cycling with or without a cycling guide, golf, golf-school, wellness and relax programmes edit
- Pension Villa Basileia, Mariánskolázeňská 4, ☎ +420 353 224 132 (villabasileia@villabasileia.cz), [13]. Family run pension. The parking lot is only open until 8PM. The rooms are not very nice. There's a weird atmosphere because the only person that speaks English or German is gone most of the time. They mention spa treatments on their web site suggesting that they are available at the hotel. Forget it. All they have is an exercise machine in the stairwell. I guess it could be an OK place if you knew beforehand that it's not a real hotel -- but then for half the price. For a few crowns more you can go to a real hotel (4 stars). Single: From €50; Double: From €62. edit
[edit] Contact
- Moonstorm Internet, Masaryka 31. 9am-9pm. 48Kc per hour. edit
[edit] Get out
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