In 2021, UNESCO added the West Bohemian spa towns to its list of “Great Spa Towns of Europe” — alongside Baden-Baden, Vichy, Spa and several other European cities. Three Czech towns made the list: Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně — all within 60 km of each other.
This is the only “spa triangle” of such concentration anywhere in the world. Three towns, three completely different characters, three distinct medical specialisations. Choosing the right one means getting exactly what you came for.
| Karlovy Vary | Mariánské Lázně | Františkovy Lázně | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | ~49,000 | ~13,000 | ~5,500 |
| Distance from KV | — | 50 km | 60 km |
| Springs | 13 hot (30–72°C) | 40+ cold (7–12°C) | 23 cold (10–15°C) |
| Main specialisation | Digestive, metabolism, diabetes | Kidneys, joints, respiratory | Gynaecology, heart, metabolism |
| Architecture | Belle Époque, Baroque | Neoclassical, Empire | Empire, Biedermeier |
| Atmosphere | Lively spa city | Elegant, quiet | Intimate, tranquil |
| 3-star hotel weekend | from €80/night | from €60/night | from €50/night |
| Sanatorium with treatment | from €90/night | from €80/night | from €56/night |
| Best for | All types of visitors | Treatment + peace | Treatment, couples, women |
Karlovy Vary is more than just a spa resort. It is a real city of 49,000 people, home to an internationally acclaimed film festival, a casino, restaurants and visitors from around the world. The largest and best-known of the three.
13 springs with temperatures ranging from 30 to 72°C. The Vřídlo is the only true geyser in the Czech Republic: a jet reaching up to 12 metres, a flow rate of 2,000 litres per minute, and a temperature of 72°C. The water rises from a depth of 2–2.5 km — it is approximately 35,000 years old.
Hot springs work differently from cold ones. The high temperature dilates the bile ducts, stimulates digestion and creates a thermal therapeutic effect that cold springs simply cannot replicate. This is why Karlovy Vary specialises in digestive disorders and metabolic conditions — an effect unique to its hot mineral waters.
The water here is sodium bicarbonate-sulphate with high mineralisation. It is from this water that Karlovy Vary mineral salt is evaporated — a product unique to this resort, found nowhere else in the triangle.
Five covered colonnades, dozens of hotels across all categories, restaurants, active pursuits — kayaking, cycling paths, forest hiking trails. The Diana Lookout Tower with its funicular, the Christmas House on the outskirts of town. The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) — the only Category A festival in Central Europe, held every July. A casino, theatre and exhibitions year-round.
In Karlovy Vary, there is always something to do beyond taking the waters.
Official indications: chronic digestive disorders (gastritis, peptic ulcer, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome), type 2 diabetes, liver and gallbladder diseases, metabolic disorders, gout, obesity, post-COVID rehabilitation.
Guesthouses from €35/night. Three-star hotels from €80/night. Four-star hotels from €130/night. Grandhotel Pupp from €200/night. Sanatoria with treatment from €90/night.
Mariánské Lázně is the second-largest resort in the triangle. A proper spa town with early 20th-century architecture, beautiful parks and a well-defined therapeutic profile. Larger than Františkovy Lázně, but considerably quieter than Karlovy Vary.
Mariánské Lázně has more natural mineral springs than any other spa town in the Czech Republic. The cold carbonic waters (7–12°C) work differently from the hot springs of Karlovy Vary: CO₂ dilates the peripheral blood vessels, improves circulation and lowers blood pressure.
The springs here are of surface origin, with a diverse chemical composition — sulphate, ferruginous, calcium, and carbonic waters — making it possible to select a specific spring for each patient. This is why Mariánské Lázně specialises in kidneys, joints and the respiratory system.
The Singing Fountain at the Main Colonnade is the symbol of the town. Every hour, a musical water show plays with synchronised jets; in the evening, with full illumination.
Mariánské Lázně has a rich history of celebrated visitors. Goethe came here 13 times and fell in love at the age of 74. Chopin composed music here. King Edward VII of England made the town his annual summer retreat. In the 19th century this was the favourite destination of European aristocracy — and that elegance is still very much present today.
Official indications: kidney and urinary tract diseases, musculoskeletal disorders (arthritis, osteochondrosis), respiratory diseases (including asthma), metabolic disorders, cardiovascular and nervous system conditions.
Three-star hotels from €60/night (average around €70). Sanatoria with treatment from €80/night. On average 15–20% more affordable than comparable options in Karlovy Vary.
Františkovy Lázně is the smallest of the three. Just 5,500 residents, one main promenade, a few colonnades and well-kept parks. No film festival, no casino. Instead, it offers what the other two cannot — absolute tranquillity, the most affordable treatment prices in the region and a very specific medical specialisation.
The resort was established by decree of Austrian Emperor Francis I — hence the name. It has retained the authentic look of a late 18th-century spa town better than either Karlovy Vary or Mariánské Lázně. The historic centre is compact, almost entirely pedestrian, virtually car-free. Empire and Biedermeier architecture, white facades, formal parks — a quiet and very beautiful setting.
The Glauber IV spring has the highest concentration of Glauber’s salt (sodium sulphate) of any spring in the world. This natural property defines the town’s specialisation: gynaecology and metabolic disorders. There are 23 active springs in total — cold, with high iron and magnesium content.
A bronze statue of a boy holding a fish, installed in 1923 in the centre of the park. According to local legend, a woman who touches the boy’s big toe will soon become a mother. The toe is polished to a shine — everyone touches it.
The historic main specialisation: gynaecological conditions and infertility treatment. Also: cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, musculoskeletal conditions.
Sanatoria with full board and treatment from €56/night (Spa Hotel Goethe) to €87/night (Spa Resort Pawlik-Aquaforum). Three-star hotels from €50/night. Františkovy Lázně is on average 25–35% more affordable than Karlovy Vary for comparable sanatorium treatment.
First time in the Czech Republic → Karlovy Vary. The most varied, best infrastructure; easy to make day trips to Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně from here.
Coming for treatment: digestive system, diabetes, liver → Karlovy Vary. Hot springs with a direct therapeutic effect, the strongest medical base for these conditions.
Coming to treat kidneys, joints or respiratory conditions → Mariánské Lázně. The specialist destination, 40+ cold carbonic springs, quiet elegance.
Coming for gynaecological issues or fertility treatment → Františkovy Lázně. The resort’s historic specialisation, with a professional medical base focused precisely in this area.
Wanting peace and few tourists → Františkovy Lázně or Mariánské Lázně. Karlovy Vary is a living city — not for those seeking complete quiet.
Travelling with children → Karlovy Vary. Active pursuits, the Diana Tower, the Christmas House, something for everyone.
On a tighter budget → Františkovy Lázně — the best price-to-quality ratio for sanatorium treatment. Or Mariánské Lázně — on average 15–20% more affordable than Karlovy Vary.
Want to see all three → The Spa Triangle excursion in a single day (see below).
| Condition | Recommended resort |
|---|---|
| Gastritis, peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome | Karlovy Vary |
| Type 2 diabetes | Karlovy Vary |
| Liver and gallbladder disease | Karlovy Vary |
| Gout, metabolic disorders | Karlovy Vary / Mariánské Lázně |
| Kidney and urinary tract disease | Mariánské Lázně |
| Arthritis, osteochondrosis, joint conditions | Mariánské Lázně |
| Asthma, respiratory conditions | Mariánské Lázně |
| Gynaecological conditions, infertility | Františkovy Lázně |
| Cardiovascular disease | Františkovy Lázně |
| Obesity, metabolic syndrome | Karlovy Vary / Františkovy Lázně |
Yes — and it is one of the best routes through Western Bohemia. All three towns are within 60 km of each other, with good roads throughout. With Karlovy Vary as your base, you can visit Mariánské Lázně (50 km), Františkovy Lázně (60 km) and the medieval town of Cheb (46 km) en route — all in a single day.
Many doctors also recommend combining treatment courses: first stage in Mariánské Lázně (detoxification, kidneys, joints), then Karlovy Vary (digestive and metabolic restoration, regeneration).
This is exactly the route we offer on our Spa Triangle excursion — visiting all three resorts, with lunch at the brewery “In the Rock” and a stop in Cheb:
→ Spa Triangle Excursion: Mariánské Lázně, Františkovy Lázně, Cheb + brewery “In the Rock”
If you have chosen Karlovy Vary as your base — or simply want to understand the region more deeply — begin your visit at City Hub “Feel Karlovy Vary” at Lázeňská 14, in the heart of the spa district between the Mill Colonnade and the Market Colonnade.
Documentary film “Karlovy Vary: The Power of Water” — 60 minutes on the geology of the hot springs, the history of the resort and what sets it apart from other European spa destinations. Screenings daily at 16:00 and 20:00.
“Journey Through the Karlovy Vary Region” — a 15-minute visual guide to the whole region, including Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně. Screenings every 30 minutes from 10:00 to 19:30.
Further reading: → Your First Day in Karlovy Vary: An Hour-by-Hour Route → What to See Around Karlovy Vary → How Much Does a Week in Karlovy Vary Cost? → Karlovy Vary for Liver and Gallbladder Conditions → Karlovy Vary for Type 2 Diabetes
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