I am going to Prague for 1 week around Christmas to celebrate my best friend's promotion. Any suggestion of a day trip while in Prague? Is Karlovy Vary worth the while? If so, what are the means to get there and back?

Thanks..MN

Karlsbad to the Germans during its heyday as a first-rate spa decades ago, Karlovy Vary i found still to be a very delightful place. A bit faded grandeur when i visited it years ago i assume it's been spruced up a bit. Lots of thermal establishments, etc. in gradiose buildings and a parklike setting.
Train schedules at www.bahn.de - German rail web site.

bahn.de says however three hours each way on train - buses could be quicker as it's not really that far i believe.

Closer to Prague investigate Karlstejn.

I am leaving for Prague next week and have been researching the same question. Karlovy Vary is 2 1/2 hrs by bus. I have heard experiencing a natural spa is a cool experience, but it is quite a trip to do in 1 day. Tour companies do offer this as an excursion and your hotel can recommend a place.

Cesky Krumolov is another (but farther) trip. The castle is closed at this time of year I believe, but it is supposed to be a pretty town.

Kutna Hora is another popular side trip - I think this has a concentration camp...Sad.

There are others - not sure which one I will do yet. Guide books will have more details

Good luck

I did enjoy Kutna Hora, that's a good idea (there is no concentration camp there, although there is a wellknown one that some people visit from Prague, Terezin). Kutna Hora is an important city in Czech history and a UNESCO heritage site. I never went to Karlovy Vary myself as I am not very interested in the whole spa thing (then or now), but maybe I will some day.

I've done Kutna Hora, Cesky Krumlov and Hluboka/Holesovice as day trips and really liked them all. But I wouldn't go to CK in winter if the castle was closed, it's a very long trip. I've used a couple companies, but this one the most which has all these tours:

http://www.pstours.cz/

It doesn't seem to do the Hluboka one in winter, but does the others.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think CK is a bit far to do without the castle, esp when the days are short in the winter. I would do Kutna Hora, maybe on my own (taking the train). Anyone taken the train to KH? Easy or a bit stressful?