Cesky Krumlov or Karlovy Vary?
 

Hello,

I'm planning my first trip to Prague and Budapest, probably 3-4 nights in each city. When in the Czech Republic, I would also like to spend a night in either Cesky Krumlov or Karlovy Vary. Due to time constraints, I don't think I can visit both!

Karlovy Vary came to my attention from the Casino Royale remake. It looks amazing and the spa is of great interest. While searching for info on that town, I came across Cesky Krumlov, which looks so quaint and is described as having so many cobblestone streets.

The other option is to do a day trip to one, then the other, and just extend my Prague visit by a few nights, but since I've not been to Prague I didn't want to take away from visiting that city with too many day trips.

Any thoughts? I know there is also Kutna Hora, but I think that is my 3rd choice.

Thanks!

We did Karlovy Vary as a day trip from Prague and then went on to stay at Cesky Krumlov after leaving Prague. We were very happy with this. We loved the day at Karlovy Vary and it would have been nice to stay, but we did not feel that we had made the wrong decision by not staying overnight. It is a very easy day trip from Prague as it is not too far away. Offhand I think it was only about a 90 min drive in our car, probably a bit longer by bus. Cesky Krumlov is really too far away to be a feasible day trip unless you want to arrive back very late and exhausted.

I know that some people on this forum aren't crazy about Karlovy Vary but we were enchanted. We also liked that it gave a somewhat different cultural perspective. Cesky Krumlov was a bit like a mini Prague, whereas Karlovy Vary reminded me of St Petersburg - which perhaps is one of the reasons why I liked it so much as I have very fond memories of St Petersburg.

Both are excellent so if you can fit both in do so.

I went briefly to Karlovy Vary a few years ago and was also entranced with it - even though it was night time when we were there, it was a stunning little town - I quite vividly remember the drive through the mountains down into the town itself, it was spectacular. Haven't been to Cesky Krumlov so I can't comment there.

I have been to both Karlovy Vary and Cesky Krumlov & loved both places. We stayed overnight in both. The reason I might suggest Karlovy Vary over Cesky Krumlov is because I agree that CK is a bit like a mini-Prague. The architecture of Karlovy Vary is very different from Prague, as is its location set into the mountains. You also hear a lot of Russian, & enjoying the spa is something different to do from your typical sightseeing. You could conceivably do KV in a day trip but I wouldn't try it with CK because CK is just too far away in my opinion to enjoy it as a one-day trip.

If you stay overnight in Karlovy Vary, I recommend staying at the Hotel Romance Pushkin. Location is excellent, right across the street from a spa, & hot & cold breakfast buffet is amazing. In Cesky Krumlov, we stayed at Zlaty Andel, excellent location on the main square & delicious hot & cold buffet breakfast.

I haven't been to Karlovy Vary, but loved Cesky Krumlov where we stayed a couple of nights!

Been to both and like both. Did KV as a day trip via bus. Not bad at all. Arrived about 945 am and left about 4 pm. I was really impressed with the elegance of the many of the places. [Noted that on this board a couple of years ago and danged if Fodor's doesn't quote me in their current Prague guide.]

I did CK via train, spending the night in Ceske
Budlevojice. This was in the early '90s and there really didn't appear to be but a couple of places to stay in CK. I am sure that has changed. Wonderful little town tho. Bussed from Budlevojice to CK. As noted by someone, a bit to long for a day trip.

That trip to CK came very close to being my all-time stupid trip. On the train I was in an old fashioned compartment with 5 apparent Czechs. 3 facing 3. The train stopped. I looked out and it wasn't my destination -Ceske Budlejovice. There was an announcement of the loud speaker and every in my compartment got up and got off the train. Not my stop so I stayed put. A couple of minutes later, one of my "compartment mates" came back and vigorously gestured that I needed to get my stuff and get off. Did that. Good thing. It seems there were working on the track just ahead and we needed to get on a bus, go about 10 miles, board a second train that would then go on to CB. Unable to go forward because of the construction, our original train would simply "back up" all the way to Prague. Absent that kind man who got me off the original train, I would have ended up right back in Prague.

Hey thanks everyone for your comments. This is all really helpful! Really appreciate it :)

Weber, I love your train trip story!!
Marlydawn, I'm curious to hear what you decide to do!

Haven't been to Karlovy Vary but spent one night in Cesky Krumlov and loved it! Wished I had the time to spend two nights.

To really appreciate CK, it is best to spend a night.

That was indeed a fantastic train story, Weber :)
I think I've decided to go to Karlovy Vary. It's the place that's been on my "list" and since it's so different from Prague it makes sense!
I'm sure CK is also beautiful but next time for sure.