10 hours
E-voucher
English
Overview
Depart Prague by air-conditioned coach and make the journey into the pretty Bohemian countryside. As you travel, listen as your guide tells you about the spa town of Karlovy Vary, sometimes called Karlsbad or Carlsbad.
Hear how this Bohemian town grew up around some natural springs, said to have been discovered by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles — or Karl, IV — in 1358. Hear how the town took the emperor’s name and how, in the 1800s, it attracted figures such as Ludwig van Beethoven, who came here for the reputedly curative waters.
Drive through the lush forests that surround Karlovy Vary and visit the town’s Moser Glass Factory. Learn about the company’s products, favored by Europe’s ruling elite during the 19th and early 20th centuries, and still one of the world’s most prestigious brands of crystal glassware.
See the skilled glassblowers at work and, if you wish, buy some of the exquisite crystal at the factory gift shop.
Continue into Karlovy’s stately center and stroll around the graceful spa colonnades and fountains. Sample some of the water and taste the town’s famous wafers, circular cracker-style treats smeared with chocolate, vanilla, and other moreish coatings (own expense).
Enjoy the included lunch at a restaurant and try some Becherovka (own expense), a traditional herbal liqueur that’s synonymous with the town. Savor the gingery cinnamon-flavoured tipple as you hear how it’s made according to a secret recipe using Karlovy Vary’s soft water.
Your trip ends back at the original start point in Prague.
Operated by
Cedok
Ratings & Reviews
Average Rating
3.96
/ 5
145 traveller ratings
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Wish I had read my own review before booking!
terriev2014, Aug 2025
I wish I had read my own review before I booked this tour. Going o Karlovy Vary is a great day trip with the right tour guide. First off, whether English was our first language or our second, most of us if not all of us, could not understand the English of the tour guide. There was a construction issue as we went into Karlovy Vary, and there was much discussion about how to get into the town and then where to park. We wasted another 30 min! We then went to a glass factory, and it is one of those things like going to a rug factory in Turkey. We aren't going to buy glass that it likely more expensive than Chihuly, and the tour guide isn't going to get the anticipated bonus! A real waste of time! Let's talk about lunch. Supposedly, the designated restaurant never got our orders, and they were totally unprepared for our tour group, nor the other groups that were there. We wasted to much time there, plus the meal was mediocre. The town is beautiful, but this could have been a much better tour. I don't necessarily think it is the fault of Trip Advisor, but I thing that the tour guide could have been better chosen.
Visit to Karlovy Vary was...
Vladimir_M, Jun 2025
Visit to Karlovy Vary was very good. Our guide Vera was very knowledgeable. She speaks multiple languages so she was able to communicate with tourists from different countries. Bus was comfortable and lunch was delicious. Karlovy Vary is a very beautiful little town.
Not so great.
Debra_R, May 2025
Was a somewhat disappointing experience. Most of the tour time was spent getting to the location. It was 2 hours each way. We only stopped for a restroom break - no time for a snack and we were vary curtly informed by the driver that no food or drinks were allowed on board the van. Glass tour was mostly watching a film. Lunch was OK. But what I really wanted to see was Karlovy Vary and we only had about 1.5 hours there. If you. really want to see Karlovy Vary consider renting a car and driving there.
Beautiful town to visit...
Janice_B, Mar 2025
Beautiful town to visit in Springtime when it's quiet. I can't comment on how busy it gets in the summer.
Itinerary
Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary is the most famous Bohemian spa, and was named for the Holy Roman Emperor Charles (Karl) IV. The emperor allegedly found the springs in 1358 during a hunting expedition. In the 19th century, many famous people came here from all over Europe for treatment, including Goethe, Schiller, Beethoven, Chopin and Karl Marx.
Upon your arrival in Karlovy Vary, you will visit a glass exhibition at the Moser factory. Then, as you stroll through the town along the spa colonnades, you will have a chance to sip the water from the mineral springs, taste delicious local wafers and the traditional herbal Becherovka liqueur.
5 hours
Experience
Highlights
Inclusions
- Professional guide
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
Exclusions
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Drinks and samples
Additional Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infant has to be mentioned in the booking and has to seat in infant seat.
Guide Languages
English
Cancellation Policy
A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.