How to get to Karlovy Vary from Prague by public transport (2026)

There are plenty of tourist companies that offer Karlovy Vary guided tours from Prague, so most people don’t realise that Karlovy Vary is actually really easy to get to by public transport.

I say easy to get to, not necessarily quicker—no matter whether you go by public transport or with an organised tour, be prepared to spend about 4 hours in total travelling there and back.

I’ve been to Karlovy Vary many times (usually for the international film festival or just for a day trop from Prague), and I’ve tried both the bus and the train. While the train has its own charm, the bus is definitely the locals (and mine) favourite for this specific route.

Karlovy Vary is probably the most famous spa town in the Czech Republic and for a good reason. It’s tucked away in a deep river valley, surrounded by forested hills, with colourful 19th-century houses that makes you feel like you’ve stepped onto a film set.

The historic centre is wonderfully preserved and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2021. It’s incredibly picturesque, especially when you see the thermal springs steaming in the cold morning air.

The only drawback is that, much like other popular places, it can get quite busy, especially during the summer and the film festival in July. However, because Karlovy Vary is quite spread out along the Tepla river, you rarely feel crowded as in some of the smaller medieval towns like Kutna Hora.

If you can plan your trip for a weekday or visit during the autumn when the leaves are changing colour, you’ll find it much more peaceful. I last visited in very early spring and having a warm spa wafer while walking through town was a lovely way to spend the day.

The easiest way to get to Karlovy Vary from Prague on public transport

In my experience, the easiest and cheapest way to get to Karlovy Vary is to use a direct bus. The main bus station in Karlovy Vary, “Terminál,” is right next to a local train station, but many buses also stop at “Tržnice,” which is even closer to the start of the pedestrian spa zone.

Bus from Prague Florenc Bus Station or Hradčanská

Regular buses: RegioJet or FlixBus companies
150 – 350 CZK one-way ticket: depends on the time of day and how far in advance you book
1 hr 35 minutes – 2 hr 15 minutes journey: depending on the departure point
Fastest bus: Usually from Hradčanská (Green line A) or the Airport, taking about 1 hour and 35 minutes

Ticket Prices: I find that almost always RegioJet is less expensive, but because of that sometimes sells out fast especially for popular times like 8 or 9 am. Both bus companies raise their ticket prices based on demand (the most popular times are the most expensive). But even on the day, you can still get cheaper tickets if you travel off peak.

My local tip: I always use the IDOS app (free) or website to check connections and timetable. It is the best app that covers the whole Czech Republic and you can see exactly when your bus or train is leaving and if there are any delays. I use it all the time and couldn’t be without it!

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Is it better to travel by bus or by train? My local tips

I’ve tried both and for Karlovy Vary, I almost always choose the bus. The main reason is the time. The train follows a very scenic but very curvy route through the mountains and northern Bohemia, which is lovely if you have a whole morning, but for a day trip, the bus saves you two to three hours of travel time in total.

I usually book my tickets through the RegioJet or Flixbus app. It’s very user-friendly, and you can see exactly which seats are left. If you aren’t sure when you want to head back, you can risk buying a ticket later, but for Karlovy Vary, the afternoon buses back to Prague can fill up quickly, especially on Saturdays and Sundays.

The bus station (both Trznice and Terminal) is a closer to the start of the pedestrianised area, than the main train station, which is a further 7-10 minutes walk. But if for some reason, you don’t manage to secure a bus ticket for your journey back, you can always go back by train.

Not everyone gets a pre-booked seat ticket, which means that the train company keeps selling tickets often beyond the train capacity. But, in my experience, the evening trains are never that busy, so you shouldn’t have a problem securing a seat even if you are booking at the last minute.

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How to get to Karlovy Vary from Prague by bus

The buses are frequent, often leaving every hour. The earliest bus is at 5 am and the first one at more civilised hour is at 7 am. They are direct, so you don’t need to worry about changing anywhere and there are often just a few stops on the way. Some buses are direct.

If you go with RegioJet (the yellow buses), you can get a free hot chocolate or coffee on board and there is a touch-screen entertainment system as well as a charger plug for your phone. The bus stops in Karlovy Vary are very central, which makes it super easy to start exploring the town straightaway.

Florenc Bus Station (RegioJet & FlixBus) Most people start at Florenc bus station, which is the main bus terminal in Prague (on Metro lines B and C). RegioJet and FlixBus both run frequently from here. The journey takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. It’s a proper bus station with toilets, cafes, and clear electronic boards showing your platform.

Hradčanská (RegioJet) This is a great stop if you want to save time. Many RegioJet buses stop at Hradčanská (on Metro line A) after leaving Florenc. Because it’s on the western side of the city, the journey from here to Karlovy Vary is only about 1 hour and 45 minutes. It’s much faster than going all the way to the city centre if you are staying near the Castle or Dejvice.

Prague Zlicin (Local bus company) – the travel time from Zlicin is about 2 hr and 30 minutes and it’s great if you are staying in the Smichov or Prague 5 areas. The Zlicin bus station is quite large, but there is a handy map by the Kabat Bakery Stall (great for picking up sandwiches for the day!).

The local bus company operates bus no 305 and it takes slightly longer, because it has 39 stops along the way. I’m only mentioning this option, because if all other buses are full up, this is very unlikely going to be and at least you can get back or there if you need to. The countryside is actually very nice on this bus ride, so make sure you get the window seat!

Prague Airport (RegioJet & FlixBus) If you are headed straight to the spa from your flight, you’re in luck. The direct buses to Karlovy Vary stop right outside the airport terminals. It’s the fastest way to get there, taking only about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

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How to buy your bus ticket

I’d strongly suggest buying your ticket online in advance. These routes are popular with local commuters, people actually going to stay at the spas and Czech day trip tourists too. While you can sometimes buy a ticket from the driver, if the bus is full, they simply won’t let you on.

The morning buses (8 am to 10 am) are the most popular for day-trippers. I find it easiest to use the RegioJet or FlixBus apps. You just show the QR code on your phone, no need to print anything.

My local extra tip: If you use the RegioJet app, you can cancel and re-schedule your ticket for free up to 15 minutes before departure. This is incredibly handy if you’re running late or decide to stay for one last soak in the thermal pool!

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Going to Karlovy Vary by train

The train is a good option if you really dislike buses or if you want more space to move around. It’s much slower, but the views along the way beautiful.

I sometimes use the train, because I want to work and in that case I usually get the first class ticket. It’s only about 30% more expensive, but you get a seat with proper table and access to a proper electrical socket. It’s also much quiet there and often close to the catering carriage and the staff comes in and takes orders.

Last time I’ve done this, I had the most amazing scrambled eggs with local sourdough for a very reasonable price and totally not what I’d expect on a Czech train!

You don’t necessarily need to pre-book, but a seat reservation is a good idea on weekends.

I should mention that the train station in Karlovy Vary is a bit of a walk from the main spa area, though there are local buses if don’t want to walk to the town.

The first train leaves at 5. 30 am and then every 2 hrs. Since the train rides through Krusne Mountains it’s poetically called ‘Krusnohor’.

All trains leave from the Prague Main Train Station and take around 3 hours and 20 minutes (with about 11 stops on the way) and tickets start from 250 CZK for adult tickets (concessions available).

You can buy your train ticket at the Main Train Station ticket offices or use the Muj Vlak app. The app is handy because it shows you all train times and connections too. One of the benefits of using the Muj Vlak app is that your ticket automatically includes a reserved seat (you can still choose where you want to sit), which is worth about 60 CZK. The ticket price is no different than when paying at the train station.

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The bus stations & train station at Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary main train station (also locally sign posted as ‘Horni Nadrazi’) – this is the furthest away station and if you arrive by train from Prague, it will be this station. It’s about 20 minutes walk from the beginning of the ‘centre’ of Karlovy Vary.

Karlovy Vary, Terminál This is the main station where both buses and local trains arrive. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk to the main spa colonnades. On the way back, all buses start from here, but they almost never stop at Trznice, so you will need to make your way back here to get your bus back.

The main bus terminal (although labeled as ‘Karlovy Vary, Terminal’ is not locally sign posted as such ! You need to look out for ‘Dolni Nadrazi’ Train Station and the bus station is sort of underneath the train station. It’s pretty weird, because it looks like you are going to a large car park with no signs for buses or bus terminal. Anyway, your bus will always leave from bus stop no.1, which is the first one as you walk in and kind of under the large staircase that goes up to the train station (I kid you not!)

Karlovy Vary, Tržnice This is the town stop for the buses. If your bus stops here, definitely get off! It’s right by the main shopping street and only about a 5-minute walk from the start of the historic spa area (near the Jan Becher Museum). It saves you a bit of a walk through the less interesting part of town.

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Is it worth going by public transport instead of a tour?

Absolutely. A guided tour from Prague can cost upwards of 2,000 CZK – 2500 CZK. If you go by bus, you’ll likely spend around between 300 – 500 CZK on travel.

Last time I went to Karlovy Vary, I choose off-peak tickets and spend only 300 CZK in total! The travel is really not going to be the most expensive part of your trip. I saw a fancy coffee at Pupp Cafe (the most known and super posh hotel) was 195 CZK!

Anyway, you will be saving over 2,000 CZK on a guided tour, which is more than enough for a fantastic lunch at one of the traditional restaurants, any attractions entrances, few souvenirs (like the Salt Baths with local spring minerals on my photo) or even a little spa treatment.

Plus, you aren’t tied to a group schedule. If you want to spend two hours sitting in a cafe or hiking up to the Diana Lookout Tower to see the views, you can do it at your own pace. I also find that most organised tours leave by 3 or 4 pm to get back to Prague at reasonable hour, but if you travel independently, you can stay later and enjoy Karlovy Vary almost crowd free. Cafes and restaurants stay open until late, but most shops close by 6 pm.

Karlovy Vary is also pretty easy to navigate once you are there as the historic town is in the valley, so there is only one way to walk. Also, since Karlovy Vary is one of the most visited towns in Czech Republic by foreign tourists, most people working in the tourist industry speak English, German or Russian language. I’ve also noticed, that most signs or display boards are in both Czech and English, so you shouldn’t have any problems to find your way around the town.

This blog post was originally written on 24 April 2026 and last updated on 24 April 2026