Karlovy Vary is a picturesque spa town with many elegant hotels and renowned for its thermal springs. Nice downtown features grand colonnades, pastel-colored buildings and riverside promenades along the Teplá River. Karlovy Vary is also famous for its glassmaking (Moser Glass), porcelain, and the herbal liqueur Becherovka. Each summer the city hosts the prestigious Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The city is also a good starting point for day trips by train from Karlovy Vary to interesting places in the region.
There are two main railway stations in Karlovy Vary. The first one is Karlovy Vary (colloquial “Upper Train Station) – the main station and Karlovy Vary dolni nadrazi (Lower Train Station). Most of the trains stop at the main railway station. Almost all or all trains to Marianske Lazne start at Karlovy Vary dolni nadrazi.
Day trips from Karlovy Vary by train – direction Teplice
Ostrov (optional) – an interesting small town featuring a restored monastic complex and a palace that now houses the Town Hall and a small museum with a porcelain exhibition. In the town center, the socialist realist architecture district (“sorela”) is noteworthy — its most distinctive structure is the House of Culture. Unlike many other Czech towns, Ostrov’s historic center was not demolished to make way for new development. A cycling path now follows the route of the former Ostrov–Jáchymov railway line. Ostrov’s train station is located 1.5 km from both the palace and monastery, as well as the town center. While regional and fast trains stop here, it’s often more convenient to reach Ostrov from Karlovy Vary by bus, which takes longer but stops closer to the town’s main attractions.
Kadaň – another small town with a charming historic center and well-preserved old buildings, scenically located on the banks of the Ohře River. It is known for its medieval Franciscan pilgrimage monastery, sometimes called the “Czech Jerusalem.” The monastery houses the Municipal Museum, with permanent exhibits on the town’s history, monastic life, and the church. Much of the town’s fortifications have survived, and the center can be viewed from the top of the town hall tower. The Kadaň-Prunéřov station, served by trains from Karlovy Vary, is located several kilometers from the main attractions. However, local trains connect to the closer Kadaň station near the town center.
Chomutov (optional) – architecturally average, but worth visiting for the largest zoo (by area) in the Czech Republic and the Railway Museum, although access from the train station is complicated. In the town center, the Regional Museum is located in the historic buildings of the old town hall and Jesuit college.
Most (optional) – an unattractive city, but important for those interested in Czech history. The entire historic part of the city was demolished in the 1970s due to mining expansion and the need for housing for miners and industrial workers. Today, Most resembles a vast housing estate. A must-see is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, relocated 841 meters from its original site to save it from destruction during demolition of the city. There is an exhibition of photographs documenting the old town in this church. Entrance fees are relatively high.
Teplice – a popular spa town with a recently restored historic train station. The town is well-kept and attracts many tourists and spa visitors. Several of the famous spa houses are themselves tourist attractions. Other landmarks include a castle built on the site of a former Benedictine convent, now housing the Regional Museum. On Doubravka Hill overlooking the town stands a neo-Gothic castle with an armory open to the public; its western tower serves as a lookout offering views of the Ore Mountains.
Direction Cheb
Loket – one of the most beautiful towns in the Czech Republic, featuring a small castle, winding cobbled streets, and charming historic houses. Hiking trails with scenic viewpoints surround the town, offering breathtaking panoramic views. Railway enthusiasts should visit the abandoned Loket–Horní Slavkov railway line, which may be transformed into a cycling path in the coming years.
Sokolov (optional) – a town largely destroyed in 1945, with many of its historic buildings demolished in the 1960s and 70s. The town’s only notable monument is a 1663 palace built on the site of a former water castle destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War. The palace now houses a museum focused on the history of the town, the region, and local mining. Sokolov is also known for its high crime rate.
Cheb – one of the most attractive towns in the region. Its main highlight is Špalíček, a complex of eleven medieval Jewish merchant houses built between the 13th and 16th centuries on the town square, separated by a narrow street. The buildings now host the Municipal Museum. Visitors can also visit the preserved part of the castle, abandoned in the mid-19th century. A revitalized park stretches along the Ohře River beneath the castle walls and is a popular spot for locals. Another key monument is the Church of Saints Nicholas and Elizabeth, a Romanesque basilica from the 13th century, with a southern tower that serves as a lookout. In the town center, tourists can visit the Retromuseum, which showcases daily life in Czechoslovakia.
Františkovy Lázně – a relatively small spa town offering typical spa attractions: elegant pavilions, colonnades, and mineral springs. Two churches are particularly notable: the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the Church of St. Olga, built in the 19th century for Russian spa visitors.
SOOS Nature Reserve – a nature reserve worth visiting, featuring wooden walkways built over peat bogs and salt marshes. The landscape is sometimes surreal in appearance. Only a small part of the reserve is open to the public. During the tourist season, a narrow-gauge train ride is available. The reserve can be reached from Cheb by taking the Cheb–Luby train line and getting off at Nový Drahov station.
Direction Marianske Lazne
The Karlovy Vary–Mariánské Lázně railway line is considered one of the most scenic in the Czech Republic. As mentioned earlier, trains depart from the Karlovy Vary dolní nádraží station. The Mariánské Lázně railway station is located about 3 kilometers from the town center—accessible by trolleybus from the station, though services are infrequent.
Bečov nad Teplou – about 1.5 km from the railway station, a majestic castle with a fascinating history stands atop a rock above the river running through the town. The town also features several private museums and a seasonal botanical garden.
Teplá – worth visiting for its monastery, founded in 1193 by Knight Hroznata of Ovenec. The monastery was rebuilt in the Baroque style at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries and later expanded. It once served as the main spiritual, cultural, academic, and economic center of the entire region. The monastery complex is located 2 kilometers from the railway station.
Mariánské Lázně – a famous spa town and one of the most beautiful cities in the Czech Republic. Numerous 19th-century buildings, mostly in Art Nouveau and Empire styles, have been preserved. The town and its surroundings are home to dozens of mineral springs. The symbol of the spa is the most beautiful colonnade in the country, built in 1888–1889. Tourists also frequently visit the Boheminium Park, located outside the town center, which features over 70 miniature models of the most famous Czech landmarks.
Related articles:
Train travel in the Czech Republic – a comprehensive guide
Scenic railways in the Czech Republic
Narrow-gauge railways in the Czech Republic
