Karlovy Vary accommodation: Where to stay + best locations and hotels

Karlovy Vary is not just about colonnades and wafers. For Veronika and me, it’s a city we return to at least twice a year, preferably at the end of August when the summer heat gives way to more pleasant air, but the days are still long. Choosing accommodation here can fundamentally influence how you enjoy the city.

If you are arriving by car like us, the location and availability of parking are critical factors that can turn a relaxing weekend into unnecessary stress. Karlovy Vary is divided into zones with restricted entry and specific rules that are not worth ignoring. Where exactly to leave the car, what it costs and why a spa-district permit does not entitle you to park are all in our guide to parking in Karlovy Vary.

This article will help you navigate where to stay in Karlovy Vary, so you don’t pay too much unnecessarily and still have everything important within reach.

How to choose the right location for accommodation

While planning our trips, we found that Karlovy Vary can be divided into three main areas, each offering a completely different experience and requiring a different approach to transportation. Before you book the first nice-looking room, it’s good to know what you expect from your stay.

Spa Zone: History at your fingertips

This part includes the area around Vřídelní, Tržní, and Mlýnská colonnades. It’s what you see on postcards. If you’re looking for romance and want to walk out of your hotel directly to the springs in the morning, this is the place for you.

• Who it’s suitable for: Couples on a weekend trip, history lovers, people without a car (or with a high parking budget).
• Advantages: All major sights within walking distance, unique atmosphere of historic buildings.
• Disadvantages: Most expensive accommodation, restricted car access (need to arrange a permit with the hotel), expensive restaurants in the immediate vicinity.

Wider Centre: A practical choice near the Terminal and Becherovka

The area around T. G. Masaryka street and towards the lower train station (Terminal). It’s a “living” city where locals live, there are regular supermarkets and more affordable cafes.

• Who it’s suitable for: Travellers looking for value for money, people who want to be close to shops and everyday infrastructure.
• Advantages: Lower room prices, better parking availability in parking garages, proximity to Becherplatz, with the Becherovka Museum.
• Disadvantages: Less aesthetic experience than in the spa zone, you have to walk 10-15 minutes to the springs.

Districts above the city: Peace, views, and the Westend district

This is where Veronika and I like Karlovy Vary the most. It’s the streets above the main spa area, for example, the area around the Imperial Hotel or the Westend district with its historic villas.

• Who it’s suitable for: People seeking peace, architecture enthusiasts, those who want to be close to forest paths.
• Advantages: Often easier parking directly at the hotels, amazing city views, quiet nights without street noise.
• Disadvantages: The way back from the centre is always uphill (can be solved by funicular or public transport), fewer options for quick grocery shopping.

Specific hotels in Karlovy Vary that make sense

Based on our experience and price comparisons, we have selected several places that stand out for their location, services, or reasonable approach to guests with cars. Accommodation Karlovy Vary centre doesn’t necessarily mean an empty wallet if you know where to look.

Grandhotel Pupp: A classic that doesn’t disappoint

Pupp is an institution. Although it may seem like inaccessible luxury, outside the main season or during special events, you can find offers that make sense if you want to experience the “old world” atmosphere.

• Description: Historic hotel at the end of the spa zone, known from James Bond movies.
• Who it’s suitable for: Couples celebrating anniversaries, lovers of first-class service.
• Advantages: Top-notch breakfast, access to the wellness centre, prestigious address.
• Disadvantages: High parking fee (approx. 600-700 CZK / €25–29 per day), need to book entry to the spa zone in advance.

Check price and availability at Grandhotel Pupp

Hotel Thermal: A brutalist one-off with the best pool

For us, Thermal is a symbol of the film festival, but it’s great all year round, especially thanks to its location on the border of the spa zone and the civilian centre.

• Description: Modernist hotel complex offering some of the best views of the city.
• Who it’s suitable for: Families, architecture fans, people who want to use the outdoor thermal pool.
• Advantages: Own large-capacity parking (a huge plus), excellent outdoor Saunia pool with a view.
• Disadvantages: Some rooms may feel a bit impersonal due to the hotel’s size.

Check price and availability at Hotel Thermal

Riverside Apartments: Comfort like home in a luxury package

If you prefer an apartment over a hotel, Riverside is located directly opposite Pupp and offers huge space and privacy.

• Description: Luxury apartments in a historic building with a fully equipped kitchen.
• Who it’s suitable for: Longer stays, people who want to cook for themselves or want more space.
• Advantages: High standard of equipment, great location, more personal approach.
• Disadvantages: Limited private parking, need to arrange parking in the surrounding area.

Check price and availability at Riverside Apartments

Hotel Romance: Great value for money and location

This hotel is located right by the Market Colonnade. We especially appreciated that you feel truly in the centre of the action here.

• Description: Stylish hotel with a restaurant that has a terrace directly on the colonnade.
• Who it’s suitable for: Weekend travellers who want to be “in the middle of it all”.
• Advantages: Excellent cuisine, helpful staff who can assist with entry permits.
• Disadvantages: Smaller rooms compared to large complexes, noise from the street may be audible at night.

Check price and availability at Hotel Romance

Parking Karlovy Vary hotel: How to do it and how much it costs

Parking in Karlovy Vary is a discipline in itself. The city is divided into two zones: the spa area and the rest of the city. You cannot enter the spa area without a valid permit, which is either issued by the hotel (usually for a fee) or can be purchased at a machine at the zone border.

Hotel parking: Most hotels in the centre have their own parking, but capacity is limited. Prices range from €15 to €30 per day. We recommend booking a spot when purchasing your stay.

Parking garages: If your hotel does not have parking, the best option is the Libušina Parking Garage (above the Imperial Hotel) or the Galéria Parking Garage near the shopping centre. Prices are more favourable here (around 300-500 CZK / 12-20 EUR/24h) and you can then take a funicular or taxi to the hotel.

Zones outside the centre: If you are staying in the wider centre (e.g., Tuhnice or Drahovice), you can park in blue visitor zones, which are often free at night and on weekends or for a small fee via an app. You can find the app for iOS here and the app for Android here.

Parking Karlovy Vary hotel is therefore always a compromise between price and convenience. Veronika and I prefer to pay a few hundred more for hotel parking than to wander with suitcases from a parking garage on the outskirts, or we park in the Libušina Parking Garage.

Cheaper accommodation options and when they are worthwhile

Not everyone wants to spend thousands per night in Karlovy Vary. There are ways to enjoy the city on a lower budget without having to sleep in a hostel.

• Guesthouses in Drahovice: This district is about a 15-20 minute walk or a 5-minute bus ride from the centre. Prices here are half those on the colonnade.
• Apartments via Booking: Many locals rent out renovated apartments in Art Nouveau buildings. They are often more spacious and modern than older hotel rooms.
• Accommodation off-season: November, February, and March are months when Karlovy Vary offers discounts of up to 40%. The atmosphere is more melancholic, but you have the city almost to yourself.

Practical tips for trip planning

During our travels, we have verified several rules that will save you time and money:

• Weekend vs. weekday: If possible, come from Sunday to Wednesday. Hotel prices drop by up to 30% and you don’t need reservations at restaurants.
• Spa season: The main season runs from May to September. The peak is the International Film Festival (early July), when prices are triple and everything is booked a year in advance. If you are not a film fan, avoid this period.
• Reservations: Karlovy Vary is popular with German and Asian clientele. Booking a hotel in the centre less than two weeks in advance usually means a higher price or a worse room.

Honest summary: Is it worth staying in the centre of Karlovy Vary?

From our experience, we say: Yes, if you are going there for 1-2 nights. The feeling of walking along the empty colonnade in the morning before the tourist buses arrive is priceless. However, if you are planning a week-long stay and want to go on trips to the Ore Mountains or Loket Castle, it is better to choose accommodation in the wider centre with good parking. You will save yourself the hassle of entering the spa zone and have more money left in your budget for quality dinners.

Check all available hotels in Karlovy Vary below

More tips on accommodation in other locations can be found below:

• Accommodation and parking in Český Krumlov can be found here.
  
• If you are planning a trip to Rome, for example, we have written down our accommodation tips here.
  
• Our detailed summary of accommodation in Italy during a road trip can be found here.