Solo Travel Destination-Beyond Prague-Karlovy Vary

Solo Travel Destination-Beyond Prague-Karlovy Vary- For the holidays, I am off to the Czech Republic and the fabled spa, Karlovy Vary. Set in the north of the country’s Bohemia region on the German border, it is known in German as Karlsbad/Carlsbad.  It has been a top vacation spot for more than 100 years. While the hot springs are the prime reason for its fame as a wellness vacation destination, it is also a popular ski spot.

Solo Travel Destination-Beyond Prague-Karlovy Vary: Overview:

Karlovy Vary was named for the 14th century, Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who is credited with having “discovered” it.  In the 15th century, fabled 1401, King Wenceslas IV granted special privileges to the town of Karlovy Vary. There have been many famous visitors from Russia’s Peter the Great to the German poet Johann Goethe, the latter having visited 13 times!

In the 21st century, it is still one of the Czech Republic’s (and Europe’s??) most sought after spas. Known for its elegance and grand architecture, it is a great spot for a solo travel destination.

See also this detailed local history.

Things to Do:

Hit the slopes.

Go cross-country skiing.

Stroll the banks of the Tepla River.

Hike when weather permits.

Luxuriate in the hot springs.

Take the cable car to the Diana Observation Tower.

Have a spa day with a massage.

Visit the Museum of  Moser Glass.

Explore the Loket Castle. as well as the Chateau Bečov nad Teplou.

Tour the Church of St. Anne in Sedlec and the Gothic Church of St. George.

Solo Travel Destination Beyond Prague-Karlovy Vary: Getting there:

By car, bus and train

For my trip, besides mainly going online, I bought the Lonely Planet paperback book, “Prague & the Czech Republic”. It is a good way to take a self-guided tour plus have lots of practical advice.

Where to Stay:

I could not resist a real splurge: I booked a week at the Grandhotel Pupp founded in 1701. (Yes, it is pronounced “poup”!) I first came across it watching “Last Holiday” starring Queen Latifah.  Loosely based on an earlier British film,  (SPOILER ALERT!), her character mistakenly thinks she is dying in 3 weeks. She decided to blow all her cash in Karlovy Vary at this Old Europe hotel trying out extreme sports with nothing to lose. James Bond can also be seen relaxing in a Grandhotel Pupp suite in “Casino Royale”.  (Film buffs may also want to catch the Hotel Thermal’s s globally reknowned Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.) If you are not a film buff, you will still find lots of Old World charm here.

The Grandhotel Pupp also has some sol0-priced rooms at less than $200/night with spa access. For dates and prices there or other lodging options, see our Booking.com search engine on our Home Page for options from unrated economical spots to more 4 and 5-star splurges. See also our Czech Travel Packages and our search engine, the Solo Travel Pricing Tracker.

In addition, our blogs on other leading Czech World Heritage Sites include Telc and Trebic. Lastly, for everything you need to know beyond the above, check out the Karlovy Vary Official Tourist Site.