A Palace Where the Healing Waters Never End

More than 180 exhibitors from over 20 countries attracted some 12,000 visitors to IMTM 2026, Israel’s leading international tourism fair held in Tel Aviv in February. It was there, at the Czech Republic’s pavilion, that I met Jan Lukeš from Karlovy Vary, his country’s most celebrated spa destination. A town that enchants visitors with its elegant colonnades, healing thermal springs and timeless Bohemian charm.

Our friendly conversation concluded with an invitation to experience the city firsthand and to stay at the Olympic Palace Spa Hotel, which he manages with great pride. My original visit, planned for March, was cancelled when Ben Gurion Airport closed during the conflict with Iran. Yet, as it turned out, summer proved to be an even more rewarding season to discover western Bohemia. An hour and a half from Prague on a comfortable highway and I was there.

For centuries, Karlovy Vary has ranked among Europe’s foremost wellness destinations, drawing visitors from across the continent to its mineral-rich thermal springs in search of rest, healing and rejuvenation. Walking along the banks of the Teplá River, it was impossible not to admire how the city continues for 600 years to preserve this timeless tradition, seamlessly blending grand architecture, spa culture and the natural beauty of the Bohemian countryside.

The city’s elegant colonnades, built primarily during the nineteenth century, have long provided a graceful setting for leisurely strolls. Visitors still carry the distinctive porcelain spa cups, specially designed with built-in spouts that make it easy to sip the mineral-rich waters, believed to support digestion and metabolism thanks to their unique natural composition. Even today, this ritual remains an inseparable part of the Karlovy Vary experience, connecting modern travellers with generations of wellness seekers who came before them.

Karlovy Vary itself is an architectural treasure. Richly ornamented Neo-Renaissance, Baroque, Art Nouveau and Neo-Classical buildings reflect the city’s golden age as one of Europe’s most fashionable spa resorts. Every street seems to tell stories of aristocrats, artists and intellectuals who once gathered here in pursuit of health, inspiration and leisure.

Echoing Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s famous observation that “architecture is frozen music,” the elegant facades create a harmonious cityscape that the celebrated German writer greatly admired, returning to the spa town numerous times during his lifetime. Goethe was merely one among many distinguished visitors who fell under Karlovy Vary’s enduring spell.

As planned, our home in the city was  the historic Olympic Palace Spa Hotel, a magnificent building originally constructed as the Germania Hotel between 1907 and 1910. Its grand exterior and refined interiors embody the elegance that has defined Karlovy Vary for more than a century. Among its notable guests was Karl Marx, the German philosopher whose ideas profoundly influenced modern history with Marxism. A sculpture of his face still adorns the building, adding another layer to the hotel’s rich heritage.

Today, the Olympic Palace proudly continues the city’s wellness tradition. The building underwent a comprehensive restoration and modernization between 2007 and 2015 under the direction of Michal Odvody of PORTICUS s.r.o., a Czech architectural, engineering, and project management firm that specializes in building design, restoration projects, and investment construction management. Odvody carefully preserved its historic character while introducing the comforts and facilities expected of a contemporary luxury retreat. The ambitious project successfully transformed the property into the elegant five-star spa hotel it is today, earning the prestigious Building of the Year Award for the Karlovy Vary Region in 2018. The distinction reflects not only the architectural quality of the renovation, but also its contribution to safeguarding the city’s rich spa heritage for future generations.

Nowadays the Spa Estate offers an extensive range of therapeutic treatments, physician consultations, comprehensive health assessments and personalized health programs. The elegant indoor swimming pool provides a particularly tranquil retreat, inviting guests to slow down and embrace the restorative atmosphere that has made the region famous. I must say the few days here, merging with the Olympic Palace atmosphere, listening to singers and music players during breakfast and enjoying the ginger wellness drink was a relaxing and pampering experience.

I was curious to understand why Lukeš chose to visit Israel for IMTM 2026 during a particularly challenging period in the Middle East. “I had wanted to visit Israel for the past three years, but tensions in the region prevented me from doing so. Only this year did we finally have the opportunity,” he explains.

“We see the Israeli market as extremely promising, especially given the positive response to our online campaigns and the growing number of direct bookings. Israeli guests currently rank fifth among our international visitors, after Germany, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. For such a small country, these are remarkable figures. Even Czech guests rank only sixth.

“In Tel Aviv we met many travel agents specializing in wellness and medical tourism, as well as representatives of the Israel–Czech Chamber of Commerce. It was a highly successful professional visit”.

‘What would you say to an Israeli potential customer?’ I ask.

“The thermal springs of Karlovy Vary are our greatest asset, and they will remain so for generations to come. The Olympic Palace is relatively small, with only 56 rooms, allowing us to maintain a peaceful and uncrowded atmosphere. We focus on quality, personalized service and high hospitality standards. That is our competitive advantage”, he replies.

Yet Karlovy Vary offers far more than its celebrated thermal waters.

A visit to the Becherovka Visitor Centre reveals the fascinating story behind the herbal liqueur that has been synonymous with the city since the early nineteenth century. Originally developed as a medicinal digestive tonic, Becherovka has evolved into one of the Czech Republic’s most iconic products, while the visitor experience itself provides an engaging journey through local tradition and craftsmanship.

Nature enthusiasts will discover another dimension of the region at Svatošské Rocks (skály), where dramatic sandstone formations sculpted over centuries by the Ohře River create one of western Bohemia’s most picturesque landscapes. Forest trails, cycling routes and river activities offer the perfect complement to the city’s refined spa culture.

Just a short drive away lies the enchanting town of Loket, dominated by its imposing twelfth-century castle. Perched dramatically on a rocky promontory above the river, the medieval fortress offers remarkable insights into Bohemia’s rich history. Its ancient halls, fascinating exhibitions and sweeping views make it one of the region’s most rewarding excursions.

Whether strolling beneath the grand colonnades with a traditional porcelain cup in hand, relaxing in elegant spa hotels, exploring the forests along the Ohře River or discovering medieval castles that have stood for centuries, the historic town of Karlovy Vary, where the healing waters never ends, continues apparently to offer what travellers have sought here for generations: a rare harmony of health, culture, history and nature.

But Karlovy Vary is experiencing a clear shift from traditional long-term medical spa stays to a more diverse luxury wellness and lifestyle destination. While therapeutic treatments and mineral springs remain its core attraction, hotels are increasingly targeting younger and more affluent travelers seeking shorter but experience-rich visits that combine wellness, gastronomy, culture and outdoor activities. The region welcomed more than 250,000 visitors in the first quarter of 2026, with international guests accounting for the vast majority of overnight stays and an average stay significantly longer than in Prague. Rather than building large new resorts, investors are focusing on restoring historic Belle Époque properties into boutique five-star hotels offering personalized service, preventive health programs and apartment-style accommodation for families and longer stays. This evolution is helping Karlovy Vary strengthen its position as one of Central Europe’s leading luxury spa and wellness destinations.

In a rapidly changing world, this Bohemian jewel remains a timeless sanctuary where the art of well-being continues to flourish.