These three hotels represent three very different faces of Karlovy Vary — imperial elegance, spa tradition and the modern spirit of the city’s world-famous film festival.
Karlovy Vary has welcomed travellers for more than 650 years. Founded by Emperor Charles IV in the 14th century after the discovery of its famous thermal springs, the town soon became one of Europe’s most celebrated spa destinations. Kings, emperors, composers, scientists and writers all came here, believing that a few weeks among the mineral springs could restore both body and mind.
Today, the elegant colonnades, Belle Époque architecture and peaceful parks still create the same timeless atmosphere. While many visitors know Karlovy Vary because of the International Film Festival, the town is perhaps even more magical outside the busy summer weeks, when mornings are quiet and the spa promenades belong once again to those who simply enjoy slowing down.
Every hotel has its own story. In Karlovy Vary, some have welcomed emperors, others became symbols of the city’s spa tradition, while one now stands at the heart of one of Europe’s most celebrated film festivals. These are three places that have become part of the town’s identity.
Grandhotel Pupp
“Perhaps the most famous hotel in the Czech Republic.”
Standing beside the Teplá River for more than three centuries, Grandhotel Pupp has become one of the symbols of Karlovy Vary. Since the early 1700s it has welcomed European nobility, artists, composers and, more recently, actors arriving for the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
Visitors from around the world may also recognise the hotel from Casino Royale, where its magnificent interiors represented the luxurious Hotel Splendide. Crystal chandeliers, grand staircases and beautifully restored salons make the building feel more like a palace than a hotel.
One of our favourite places inside is the historic Pupp Café, where it’s easy to imagine travellers stopping for coffee exactly as they did generations ago.
(Booking affiliate link)
Spa Hotel Imperial
“The hotel watching over the town.”
High above the rooftops of Karlovy Vary stands another local landmark — Spa Hotel Imperial. Since opening in 1912, it has offered visitors one of the finest panoramic views of the spa valley.
Unlike many luxury hotels, the Imperial has never lost sight of its original purpose. Guests still come here primarily to relax, enjoy thermal treatments and spend quiet days surrounded by forests overlooking the town.
A charming part of the experience is the historic funicular railway connecting the hotel with the centre of Karlovy Vary. The short ride has become almost as iconic as the hotel itself.
Early mornings are perhaps the best time to stay here, when the mist slowly rises above the valley and the first sunlight reaches the surrounding hills.
➡️ Discover Spa Hotel Imperial
(Booking affiliate link)
Hotel Thermal
“The unmistakable home of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.”
Few buildings divide opinion quite like Hotel Thermal. Opened in 1977 and designed by architects Věra and Vladimír Machonin, it became one of the most distinctive examples of late modernist architecture in Central Europe.
While its bold concrete design contrasts with the elegant spa buildings surrounding it, Thermal has gradually become one of the symbols of Karlovy Vary itself. Every summer, thousands of filmmakers, actors and cinema lovers gather here during the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, transforming the hotel into the heart of one of Europe’s most respected film events.
Recent renovations have carefully restored many original architectural details while modernising the interiors and reopening the popular outdoor thermal pool overlooking the town.
Little fact: The outdoor thermal pool is open throughout much of the year and offers one of the most unusual places to swim in Karlovy Vary, combining warm mineral water with panoramic views across the spa town.
For two weeks every summer, Hotel Thermal becomes the beating heart of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
(Booking affiliate link)
A Town Loved by Writers
Karlovy Vary has inspired travellers for centuries.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited the town many times during his life and often described its unique atmosphere in his letters and journals. His long walks through the surrounding forests are still remembered today, and several local places bear his name.
The town has also found its way into modern literature. Readers who enjoy Cold War fiction may recognise the atmosphere surrounding the famous Grandhotel Pupp from discussions about John le Carré and his novel The Looking Glass War. Whether you’re already familiar with the book or simply looking for something to read before your visit, it’s an interesting companion to the elegant world of historic European spa towns.
📚 Further reading (If you’d like to discover another story connected with Karlovy Vary, this novel is an enjoyable companion before or after your visit.)
The Looking Glass War — John le Carré
(Amazon affiliate link)
Beyond the Hotels
One of the best things about Karlovy Vary is that the town doesn’t need a long itinerary.
Walk beneath the Mill Colonnade, taste the hot mineral springs, climb to Diana Lookout Tower, visit the Moser Glass Museum, explore the Becherovka Visitor Centre or take a short trip to the medieval town of Loket.
For those who prefer discovering places with a local guide, there are also walking tours and day trips that reveal both the famous landmarks and the quieter corners of the region.
➡️ Discover tours and experiences in Karlovy Vary
(GetYourGuide affiliate)
Six Blocks Tip
If possible, visit Karlovy Vary outside the International Film Festival.
The town becomes quieter, the cafés slower, and the historic hotels feel closer to what they were always meant to be — places where time seems to pass just a little more gently.
Whether you come for the architecture, the spa tradition or simply a quiet weekend, Karlovy Vary has a way of making visitors slow down—and many return long after their first visit.