Karlovy Vary train station is the main railway station in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. The station lies on the Chomutov – Cheb railway line. Regional and long-distance trains stop here.
The railway station was previously named Karlovy Vary horní nádraží (Karlovy Vary Upper Station), to distinguish it from the city’s other railway station, Karlovy Vary dolní nádraží (Karlovy Vary Lower Station), which currently serves regional trains to Mariánské Lázně (though this may change in the future).
The first station at this location opened in 1873. Near the end of World War II, both Karlovy Vary stations were targeted by Allied air raids and were nearly destroyed. In 1945, shortly after the war ended, a small temporary station was built, which, after several modifications, served passengers until 2015, when it was demolished. A new station building was then constructed on the site, along with a new transfer terminal in front of it.
Location
Karlovy Vary train station is located close to the city center, about one kilometer from the most popular attractions. However, Karlovy Vary is quite spread out, so the distance to some sights is significantly greater. The two stations in Karlovy Vary lie on opposite banks of the Ohře River. A bridge or footbridge connects them. The shortest distance between the two stations is about 800 meters. Numerous long-distance and international buses depart from Karlovy Vary dolní nádraží, but that station is scheduled for demolition; until the new station is completed, no updated description will be published.
Karlovy Vary train station serves is an excellent starting point for train trips throughout the region and to the Czech-German border area, though in some cases, buses are more convenient. For example, in the town of Ostrov, the railway station is located 1.5 km from the center, whereas buses from Karlovy Vary to Ostrov stop directly by the castle and the town’s main square.
Day trips from Karlovy Vary by train
Services
The following services are available for passengers at the station:
– ticket office
– luggage lockers
– toilets
– waiting room
– newsstand
– bakery
– vending machines with foods and drinks
– café
– restaurant
A ČD Bike bicycle rental service operates inside the station.
Karlovy Vary train station – platforms
The station has two platforms and four tracks. Track 1 is a dead-end track located to the right of the station building. Track 2 is accessible from the second floor of the station (an elevator connects the ground floor to the upper level). The platform serving tracks 3 and 4 is connected to the station building via an underground passage, with stairs and an elevator leading up to the platform. All platforms are covered, although the platform for track 2 is only partially covered. The station is wheelchair accessible.
Public transport
In front of the station is a public transport transfer terminal. The public transport stop is named Karlovy Vary horní nádraží. 24-hour tickets are available, but there is no clear information on where to purchase them. A public restroom is available near the terminal.
Dopravni podnik Karlovy Vary – public transport in Karlovy Vary
Related articles
Train travel in the Czech Republic – a comprehensive guide
Day trips from Karlovy Vary by train
Scenic railways in the Czech Republic
Narrow-gauge railways in the Czech Republic
