Private day trip from Prague to KARLOVY VARY
What's included
✓ Pickup from your Prague hotel (any time you want)
✓ Drop-off back at your Prague hotel
✓ Private air-conditioned car — just you, no strangers
✓ Flexible itinerary — stop wherever you like
✓ Drop-off back at your Prague hotel
✓ Free cancellation up to 48 hours before
✓ No booking fees, no fuel surcharges, no surprises
Why KARLOVY VARY
- Grand 19th-century spa town, a favourite of emperors and film stars
- Elegant colonnades with 13 hot mineral springs you can taste
- A scenic drive through the Bohemian countryside
- The funicular up to the Diana Tower for sweeping views
- Becherovka — the famous local herbal liqueur
- Charming riverside cafés and Art Nouveau architecture
- A relaxed, walkable town centre
Where to go
The Colonnades & Hot Springs
What to see: Stroll the Mill Colonnade and Hot Spring Colonnade, where you can taste the mineral waters straight from the source (locals bring their own cups). The colonnades are free to walk through
→ Town info & visitor tips: official website
Diana Observation Tower
What to see: Ride the funicular up through the spa forest for the best panoramic view over the town and valley. The tower itself is free to climb; the funicular has a small fare. There's also a café, butterfly house and mini-zoo at the top — great for families.
→ Current funicular times & prices: official website
Fixed price €210
regardless of the number of people (max 4)
Includes
Car, fuel, parking, English-speaking driver
Not included
Entrance fees, lunch
| PRIVATE WITH US | GROUP BUS TOUR | |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel pickup | ✓ | ✗ (meet at central point) |
| Just your group | ✓ | ✗ (40+ strangers) |
| Flexible schedule | ✓ | ✗ (fixed timing) |
| Stop wherever you like | ✓ | ✗ |
| Price for 2 people | €210 | €80–120 (cheap, but…) |
| Price for 4 people | €210 (€52.50 each) | €320–480 |
For 4 people, private and group bus tour cost about the same — but you get the whole car to yourselves.
FAQ
How long is the drive from Prague?
About 2 hours each way, roughly 125 km west of Prague. We usually leave mid-morning — Karlovy Vary is a relaxed town that's best enjoyed at a gentle pace. There's a rest stop on the way if you'd like a coffee break.
Is there an entrance fee for the colonnades?
No — the colonnades and the springs are free to walk through and taste. You'll only pay small fees for extras: the funicular up to the Diana Tower, the Becherovka museum, or a spa treatment if you book one. Tasting cups are sold at stalls for a few euros.
Where do we have lunch?
Karlovy Vary has lovely riverside restaurants and historic cafés. A few favourites:
- Embassy Restaurant — refined Czech cuisine with a cosy, traditional dining room by the river; the lobster soup is a local favourite. See on Google Maps.
- Restaurace U Švejka — a lively, traditional Czech pub with hearty food and good beer, popular with visitors (cash only). See on Google Maps.
- Café Pupp — elegant café in the famous Grandhotel Pupp, perfect for coffee and cake. See on Google Maps.
Lunch isn't included in the price and usually runs €10–20 per person. Want us to help you book a table? Just ask.
Don't forget to try the spa wafers
The thin, round Karlovy Vary spa wafers (lázeňské oplatky) are a local tradition — you'll find them everywhere, warm and fresh. A sweet, cheap souvenir to snack on as you walk.
Is Karlovy Vary good for kids?
Yes. The funicular ride and the butterfly house and mini-zoo at the Diana Tower are a hit with children, and the town is easy to walk. Note that our car isn't fitted with child seats — if your child needs one, you're welcome to bring your own and we'll help install it.
How much time do we spend in the town?
Around 4–5 hours on the ground, plus the drive — a full day, usually 9 to 10 hours door to door. Enough to walk the colonnades, ride up to the Diana Tower, have a relaxed lunch and taste the springs.
Can we combine it with anything?
The drive west passes close to Loket — a small, picturesque town with a striking castle on a rocky bend in the river, often called "a smaller Český Krumlov." Adding a short stop there is a lovely option and doesn't change the fixed price, as long as it fits the day. Just ask in advance.
