Prague & Jewels of Bohemia 2026-27

Prague is described in a thousand ways: the golden city, magical, romantic.

Here it is paired with the most beautiful towns of Bohemia, rich in historic palaces and heritage under UNESCO protection. Prague’s historic centre is made up of five districts: Staré Město (Old Town), Josefov (the Jewish Quarter), the Castle and Hradčany, Malá Strana (Lesser Town) and Nové Město (New Town). Until they were unified in 1741, these areas were five separate towns. Beer, or pivo: on one of the evenings in Prague it will be a must to sample a beer (světlé = pale or černé = dark) famous the world over. From the Czech Republic a new, improved brewing technique spread throughout Europe, and its production process has remained practically unchanged. Did you know? Nerudova Street, which you climb to reach the Castle, is named after the Czech writer Jan Neruda, who inspired the Chilean Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda in the choice of his pen name (his real name was Neftalí Ricardo Reyes Basoalto).

Český Krumlov is a town of just over 13,000 inhabitants in the Czech Republic, on the river Vltava. The town is well known for its architectural heritage, and in particular for its beautiful historic centre, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, and for its Castle of medieval origin. Historically, the town was built at the end of the 13th century. Its main attraction is without doubt the Castle, an enormous complex in the centre of Český Krumlov comprising 40 buildings, 5 courtyards and a garden, and by area the second largest monumental complex in Bohemia. Its construction, commissioned by the Vítkovci family, dates back to the 13th century, but over the years the structure has been revised and enlarged, with Renaissance-style remodelling (in the 16th century) and further alterations in the Baroque and Rococo styles (17th and 18th centuries). From an architectural point of view, the Church of St Vitus, whose tower stands opposite that of the Castle, is certainly also worth a visit. The Gothic church has three naves and was built between 1407 and 1439. Occasionally the church is also used to host classical music concerts. The Český Krumlov Synagogue is also very charming: an Art Nouveau-Romanesque building on the southern outskirts of the town, built in 1909 by the local Jewish community. The synagogue, which has an octagonal tower with Torah-shaped windows, is one of the few buildings of its kind to have survived the world wars and the totalitarian regime undamaged.

Karlovy Vary, the most beautiful and elegant spa town in the Czech Republic, set just above the confluence of the rivers Ohře and Teplá in a magnificent wooded valley, will make you feel as though you are living in a dream, a fairy tale or a film. This enchanting town boasts more than 80 natural hot springs, whose healing properties have been known since ancient times. Today Karlovy Vary forms part of the so-called wellness triangle, together with Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně, and is unquestionably the most important spa town in the Czech Republic. But not everyone comes here for the cures. An ever-growing number of tourists are drawn here by the many relaxation and wellness packages offered by hotels with thermal pools, as well as by the architectural and scenic beauty of the area. The healing properties of the waters of Karlovy Vary have been known for more than 650 years, so it is no surprise that the fortunes of this town are inextricably linked to the remarkable virtues and abundance of the area’s hot springs. Once used solely for therapeutic purposes, today they are also harnessed by the wellness sector to offer services, treatments and packages designed for tourists who come here in search of relaxation and wellbeing. You will find an enormous choice of heated pools with hydromassage, leg circuits and hot jets, as well as beauty centres offering beauty treatments and relaxing massages. There are around 80 natural hot springs, 13 of which provide drinking water. The town’s richest and hottest spring, known as the Vřídlo (geyser), gushes forth inside a modern colonnade. As early as the 16th century, the geysers and springs began to be enclosed by structures ranging from a simple wooden colonnade to a classical colonnade or even a Baroque building. Do not be misled by the simple name “geyser”: the pressure that the water of this spring can reach is tremendous, enough to propel it to a height of 12 metres. The temperature is also record-breaking: the waters of the geyser exceed 70 degrees! The water from the underground colonnade is supplied to the hotels to fill their pools, as well as being used for spa treatments. The underground colonnade can be visited on a fascinating tour that will reveal an unknown world and unveil the secrets of how modern spa establishments work.-

Karlovy Vary is also known as the town of colonnades: you will find five of them in the heart of the town, not far from one another, and their purpose is to protect the comfort of patients during their spa treatments. The largest and probably the most sumptuous is the Mill Colonnade, built between 1871 and 1881. More than a hundred Corinthian columns surround five hot springs, with temperatures ranging from 53 to 65 degrees; a sixth spring is located opposite the start of the colonnade. Buy a traditional Karlsbad spa cup from one of the stalls and sip the healing water, or simply stroll along the colonnade admiring the twelve statues that adorn it, each representing a month of the year. Five hundred metres above the spa forests stands the Diana Tower, an observation tower that can be easily reached by funicular or along picturesque footpaths. From here you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view over the town. In Karlovy Vary you can visit two museums devoted to local products that have become famous the world over. The Jan Becher Museum tells the century-old story of Becherovka, the celebrated Czech herbal liqueur. Naturally, you can also take part in a tasting and buy a bottle to take home. Alternatively, discover the secrets of working the prized Bohemian crystal at the Moser Glass Museum. You can enter the glassworks of this prestigious brand and watch the spectacle of a shapeless mass being transformed by the skilled hands of the master glassmakers into an object of luxury. Here too, if you wish, you will have the chance to buy your souvenirs. Those with a sweet tooth simply must try the typical Karlovy Vary spa wafers, the traditional sweet treat, perhaps to nibble on while strolling along a colonnade.