Karlovy Vary Beyond Wellness: combine pampering in world-famous spas with skiing
A spa mecca, where history, the miraculous power of healing springs and peat and state-of-the-art wellness all share a hand
Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně, Františkovy Lázně. The West Bohemian spa triangle needs no introduction, it is a legend of (not only) Czech spa industry. It is the place with the largest concentration of healing springs in the world and the tradition of healing procedures dates back to the 14th century. So if you are looking for the ideal place to relax, recharge your batteries and indulge in treatments that boost immunity, relieve stress and rejuvenate body and spirit, you couldn't choose better. Each spa town is different, each has a unique atmosphere. But what they have in common is not only the UNESCO World Heritage List, which proves their historical and architectural uniqueness. Above all, it is the emphasis on the overall harmony they offer to guests.
The largest and most famous spa is Karlovy Vary in the valley of the Teplá River, surrounded by slopes interspersed with spa trails with lookout towers and observation pavilions. You will find a total of fifteen healing springs here, including the famous Vřídlo, whose secrets you can discover on a tour of the underground. There are dozens of treatments to choose from in the spa hotels, from traditional spa treatments to relaxation and wellness treatments aimed at total harmony. This is supported by excellent gastronomy and architectural gems at every turn, as a stroll through the colonnades is not to be missed.
But the second largest spa, Marianske Lazne, is not left behind, as it has been designated a climate spa since 2023. The exceptional quality of the local climate has been officially confirmed and it is a place where every breath heals. And Františkovy Lázně? It's not just for infertility and arthritis treatment anymore. Even here they are ready for guests who want to use the power of mineral springs and the local black gold, as the sulphur-iron bog known for its healing effects on joints is called. You can experience a more intimate atmosphere at the Kynžvart Spa or Jáchymov Spa, where the spa area is smaller, but a whole weekend is not enough to explore the amazing history of this place full of discoveries, tragedies and hope.
The alpha and omega is movement
Do you love walking along the colonnades and spa parks? Or would you rather hike up a mountain to climb one of the peaks? Or can't imagine winter without skiing? Movement is the key to health, both physical and mental. As soon as you head to one of the corners of the Karlovy Vary region, you will want to indulge in plenty of exercise, regardless of whether you are more of a café lounger or a lover of outdoor adventures. There are countless possibilities. In the morning you can go skiing or cross-country skiing in the Ore Mountains, on the way to the hotel stop in the sauna and water world and end the day with one of the many wellness treatments offered by spa hotels. And since the winter season is in full swing, we have some tips on how to enjoy it.
Going to the spa? Don't forget your skis, sledges and swimwear!
Combining spa and skiing might sound a bit crazy, but in the Carlsbad region it's not impossible. From Karlovy Vary you can reach Klínovec, the largest ski resort in the Ore Mountains, in half an hour by car. Klínovec boasts one of the longest slopes in the country. The Rondo is 5.2 kilometres long and the quality of skiing in the Alps is approached by the heated bubble lifts, of which there are already three in Klínovec.
In less than half an hour you can reach Bozi Dar, where you will find smaller ski areas, but you can ski off to the Jesus' Way or the Boží Dar peat bog. However, Boží Dar is above all a paradise for cross-country skiers: there are 120 kilometres of cross-country skiing trails around the town, which also connect to the Erzgebirge Highway. In good weather, you can actually cross-country ski around the entire Ore Mountains! And if you want to experience the adrenaline of snow, don't forget to try snowtubing in the Novako area.
Half an hour's drive from Karlovy Vary is the Potůčky Ski Resort and a little closer is the Plešivec Ski Resort. And be careful - if you head to Potůčky, don't miss the Blatenský vrch toboggan run. It is about one kilometre long, and when snow conditions are good, they even groom it with a snowmobile. And the best part? It is freely accessible. Just don't forget your own sledges or bobsleds, as there is no rental service. Don't forget to stop in Jáchymov on the way back. In addition to the spa houses using the power of the beneficial radon water, you can relax your ski-weary muscles in the water and sauna world of the Aquacentre Agricola.
From Františkovy Lázně it is closer to the ski resort Háj in Aš. The more intimate resort with three ski slopes can be reached in twenty minutes. And when you get cold, there's nothing easier than returning to Františkovy Lázně and warming up in the Finnish sauna and whirlpool and then having fun on the slides and water slides in the local Aquaforum. Or head to Karlovy Vary to the Saunia Thermal Resort, where you can recharge your batteries in all kinds of saunas and relax to perfection in the outdoor heated pool overlooking the spa houses.
The Karlovy Vary region is simply a place where everyone will find their own. And we haven't even mentioned the historical and technical monuments or the natural gems: for example, the national nature reserve SOOS, which is called the Czech Yellowstone, the youngest Czech volcano Komorní hůrka, the Svatošské rocks near Loket, the Blatenský kanal... And this is just a fraction of what you can see and experience in Karlovy Vary - even in winter. Yes, the historical monuments are also open: the castles of Cheb and Loket and the castles in Sokolov and Ostrov. The Karlovy Vary Region has everything for perfect regeneration of body and mind, here you will experience true Beyond Wellness. So don't wait for your body to tell you that it needs a break through pain or fatigue and relax to your heart's content.
