The Czech Republic is one of the most popular European destinations. Millions of tourists annually flock to the capital and its surroundings in order to feel the whole spirit of the Middle Ages, enjoy its Gothic architecture, taste national food or relax in the best sanatoriums in the country. The most popular route in the Czech Republic can be considered the direction to Karlovy Vary. Tourists go here for a long period to enjoy all the delights of the resort town. It often happens that people come to the city from completely different directions, bypassing the city airport, so the issue of returning to their homeland via air service in Karlovy Vary comes to the fore. In this article we will look at all the current methods by which you can reach the territory of the Karlovy Vary City Airport.
Story
The city airport in Karlovy Vary, whose name coincides with the resort, was almost one of the first in Czech Republic. Its construction began back in 1929, and during the Second World War it acted as the main base for German air force Wehrmacht of the Third Reich, in particular for the German company Luftwaffe. The airport suffered serious damage, after which its operation was temporarily suspended until 1946. Gradually, the airport underwent various changes: the first asphalt runway appeared, third-party facilities were reconstructed, and in 1989 it was awarded the status of an international airport. Today, the Karlovy Vary airport terminal has acquired a modern appearance. The modernized terminal, consisting of two floors, helps to easily manage all air traffic. A photo of Karlovy Vary Airport at the time of construction of the main terminal is presented below.
Airport design
As we have already said, the city airfield has only one two-story terminal. At first glance, the Karlovy Vary Airport building may seem quite small, but this does not prevent it from satisfying almost all the needs of passengers. Absolutely the entire environment inside the airport predisposes the tourist to a comfortable pastime. All conditions for the convenience of passengers have been created and met here.
In front of the main entrance inside the building there is a large information board, where every visitor can get acquainted with all flights at Karlovy Vary Airport, next to it is the baggage packing service. There are also several cafes and one restaurant on the premises, offering guests both full meals and fast food. The second floor includes several departure zones, designed for different destinations (international and domestic), shops Duty Free, as well as an observation deck with a magnificent view of the surrounding landscape. In addition, at the airport, any passenger can use wireless Internet access absolutely free of charge.
How to get to the terminal?
There are several ways to get to the terminal from Karlovy Vary: by public transport, using a taxi, renting a personal car or pre-ordering transfer services. In this case, everything depends on the individual preferences of each tourist, his financial capabilities and availability of free time.
Bus
The most relevant and inexpensive way to get to the airport is public transport. Every day bus number 8 runs in this direction, starting its route from the central stop Tržnice, which is also the final stop when traveling in the opposite direction. The bus runs according to the schedule on weekdays from 5:30 to 22:20 and on weekends from 7:10 to 22:20. It should be borne in mind that on average the interval between buses can reach one hour. The journey to the airport by bus will take you no more than 30 minutes, which is a fairly good indicator in European countries. You can also get to Karlovy Vary Airport from Prague using comfortable buses that depart daily from the central bus station - Florenc. This destination is very common among tourists, so purchasing flight tickets will not be difficult.
Where to buy tickets for public transport?
You can purchase a travel ticket directly from the driver of the vehicle. Don’t be surprised if the driver asks you to pay an additional amount for large luggage - this is a completely standard procedure. A one-way ticket will cost a tourist 25 Czech crowns, which is equivalent to about one euro (69 rubles).
Taxi
The procedure for ordering a taxi is the same in all countries. You can place an order directly upon arrival, by catching a free car at the station area, or by calling one of the companies in advance. The main advantage of this type of transport will be round-the-clock operation and instant delivery of passengers to their final destination. Especially this type transport is suitable for those passengers who arrive in Karlovy Vary at night. But as they say, sooner or later you have to pay for all good things, so the cost of the trip will cost the tourist about 20 euros (1,380 rubles).
There is a large selection of carriers in the city, but the most common among local residents are Georgia Taxi Karlovy Vary, Karlsbad Travel and A Centrum Taxi. In addition, a wide range of cars of various classes is offered to the passenger at his discretion. For example, you can order not only a passenger car, but also a minibus or limousine, depending on your requirements. Naturally, the price category will vary greatly depending on this factor.
Car rent
The current trend is that many tourists prefer to get to their desired destination on their own. The best solution in this situation would be to rent a car. You can rent a vehicle for one day or for long term in one of the companies designated for this purpose. The most popular city agencies in this area are Europcar, Hertz, Alamo, National and Sixt. It is best to book your favorite car in advance via the Internet for several reasons. Firstly, many online applications practice different discount coupons to choose one car or another when early booking, secondly, in this way the user will be able to find a large assortment of different cars and choose the one that suits his purposes. In addition, if you arrive at Karlovy Vary Airport, you can register one of the cars directly at the airport building for the entire duration of your trip, and return it to the same place on the way back. It is better to rent a vehicle for several days at once, since a one-day rental, as a rule, is more expensive.
What documents are required to rent a car? To book any type of transport in Karlovy Vary, the vacationer must provide international passport, international driving license and credit card.
Transfer
By and large, tourists order a transfer if they need to get to airports located in nearby cities. This method will allow the passenger to avoid the unnecessary fuss of organizing transport first from Prague to Karlovy Vary, and then start planning the route to the final checkpoint. Entire organizations are engaged in solving such issues, providing a full-fledged car with a personal driver. The passenger will also be offered a choice of either a passenger car or a minivan, depending on the customer’s needs. The cost of such a service varies from 130 to 180 euros, subject to a fifty percent prepayment. Transfer services can be arranged at any time of the day.
Closest airports to Karlovy Vary
No matter how strange it may sound, but the second most distant from settlement Karlovy Vary can be considered the Hof Airport (HOQ), located in the eponymous German town at a distance of 90 km from the Czech resort. international Airport Hof serves domestic and international flights. The next closest airfields are Vaclav Havel, located in the capital of the Czech Republic at a distance of 120 km, Vodochody (VOD) and (DRS).
Most tourists prefer to get to the terminal using public transport. As practice shows, the average bus travel time is no more than 30 minutes, at the moment when the taxi reaches the final destination 5-10 minutes earlier. Ultimately, for a couple of minutes won, the vacationer will be forced to overpay a fairly large sum.
The international airport of Karlovy Vary is located in the same picturesque place, like the resort of the same name. Already arriving there, you are immersed in an atmosphere of beauty, peace and tranquility.
Letiště Karlovy Vary.
And even the ultra-modern design of the terminal, the presence of aircraft and other equipment do not spoil this impression.
History of Karlovy Vary Airport
Airport in Karlovy Vary was built one of the very first in the country. Its construction began in 1929 and was associated with the development civil aviation. It was planned that planes would land at the airport only from Marianske Lazne, Prague and some German cities. Therefore, initially there was only a strip of grass for planting. However, already in 1933 a terminal building was built at the airport.
A few decades ago it looked like this.
During World War II, the Karlovy Vary airport shared the fate of most Czech airports - the German airline Luftwaffe used it for its needs. IN war time The airport was badly damaged, so after the war a lot of effort was made to restore it. He began operating again in 1946.
And such planes took off and landed here.
Since the 50s of the last century, the airport has been constantly undergoing reconstruction. In 1952, a concrete runway strip, the main terminal was expanded, other facilities were renovated, new system flight safety.
In 1965, the airport received its own lighthouse, which allowed flights year-round. The peak of its heyday occurred in 1978. Bandwidth The airport had about 50,000 passengers per year only to destinations in Slovakia and Moravia.
However, rising prices for fuel and tickets contributed to the fact that transportation fell sharply and gradually stopped altogether. They resumed only partially in 1981.
And this is a photo from the times of Soviet Czechoslovakia.
In 1985, a partial reconstruction was carried out, and since In 1989, the airport received international status. From that moment on, he constantly receives investments. After the Czech Republic joined the EU in 2004, reconstruction work was carried out again: flight safety control systems were updated, the air terminal, fire service and rescue service facilities were renovated. And in 2009, the airport received a new ultra-modern two-story terminal, from which all international and domestic flights now operate.
This is how the new terminal was built.
And now everyone admires him.
I want to stand near such an entrance longer.
And judge for yourself...
This is the control building air traffic in an Aeroport. It is called "Alder Gate".
The dispatcher sits at the very top and sees everything.
A landmark of the Karlovy Vary airport is the monument to the first cosmonaut Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin.
View of the airport terminal from runway airfield.
Airport map
There is only one terminal at the airport. Both domestic and international flights depart from this terminal. Despite the fact that the terminal building is quite modest in size, almost everything is provided here for the convenience of passengers.
Airport diagram. Enlarges when pressed.
The terminal building consists of two floors.
Immediately upon entering, passengers are greeted by an information board that displays current information and flight schedules.
It will help you navigate and quickly find your flight and all the necessary information about it.
Check-in counters for flights are located on the left on the ground floor. The information on the board will help you find the one you need. Opposite them is the luggage packing service. And next to it there is a cafe and restaurant. It is noteworthy that the restaurant offers both fast food and regular food. This means that even at the airport you can treat yourself to warm dishes.
Usually strict Czech girls sit behind these counters. They take your tickets and check you in for the flight, weigh your bags and send them straight to the plane.
Located near the registration desks ČSA (Czech Airlines) office, where you can buy, change or return tickets, resolve issues related to the transportation of luggage or animals.
Branch of the First Czech Bank, currency exchange office, ATM Raiffeisen Bank is also located on the ground floor. Here you can get rid of unnecessary currency, or, conversely, purchase the one you need.
In the center of the hall on the first floor there is an exit from the arrivals area and a passage to the departures area. Those who meet and see off usually gather here.
Information boards and exit from the arrivals area. And here are those who arrived “to the waters”.
Passenger traffic is distributed on the second floor.
On the left is the arrivals area, where both international and domestic flights arrive. The baggage claim area is also located here. There is only one luggage belt, so you definitely won’t get confused while waiting for your luggage.
From the second floor you can see everything that happens on the first floor.
In the center of the second floor is the departure area for domestic flights and flights to Schengen countries. If you want to fly from the Czech Republic to Germany, then this is your place.
The departure area for international non-Schengen flights is on the right. From here passengers fly to Russia or to Turkey.
In the same area are located duty free shops. The assortment in them is exactly the same as in other duty-free shops: drinks, cigarettes, and more. And the prices are similar. However, if you try, you can buy things that have long been unavailable in other duty-free stores. The airport has a small passenger traffic, and many goods are not sold out as quickly as in stores at large airports.
Is there a reputable airport without Duty store Free? Of course not!
If for some reason you didn’t have time to grab a bite to eat, there is a cafe and snack bar nearby. There are also mother and child rooms.
While vacationing in Karlovy Vary, you probably couldn’t do without shopping. On the second floor in the non-Schengen departures area there is a registration and return point for tax free checks. Let me remind you that VAT in the Czech Republic is 19%, which means that you can get back up to 19% of the purchase price.
Throughout the airport there are free wifi. If your tablet or mobile phone equipped with a wireless access module, you can “wander” through the Internet while waiting for your flight.
Shall we look into the turbine? Remember those round windows? And inside there is such a nice meeting room.
And through the second window you can look out from the VIP-lounge area.
In the case when you have done all the necessary things - checked in for the flight, managed to visit cafes and shops and have free time, visit a special observation deck. It is located in the departure area on the 2nd floor. You can watch the airport in action, planes take off and land, and simply admire the surrounding landscape.
Airport board
The airport does not provide an online display board. However, you can get all the necessary information about the flight status here www.airport-k-vary.cz. This is the official website of the airport. On it you can find not only data on departures and arrivals, but also other information useful to you.
Airlines and flights
Karlovy Vary Airport most often used by resort guests, therefore, the geography of flights is limited to the cities from which tourists fly.
Main flight directions.
Russian travelers can fly non-stop to Karlovy Vary from:
- Moscow
- St. Petersburg
- Ekaterinburg
- Samara
- Tyumen
- Nizhny Novgorod
Flights are operated by ČSA, Rossiya, Ural Airlines"and, of course, Aeroflot. Flights from Moscow in the high season arrive 4 times a week, from the rest Russian cities- 1-2 times a week.
A Czech Airlines plane is landing.
Roll the ladders to the sides.
How to get from the airport to the city
Karlovy Vary Airport is located next to the city, just 5 km from it. The distance is short, so getting to the city will not be difficult for you. There are several ways to arrive at the resort:
Taxi
You can order a car directly at the airport. The taxi service operates 24 hours a day. By taxi you can reach the city center in 15 minutes. The cost of such a trip will be about 20 euros.
There are always plenty of checkered cars here. But this Superb looks smarter than the rest today.
Private transfer
It must be ordered in advance, at least 1-2 days in advance. You can order a taxi transfer online and it is better to do it in advance, or contact any office travel company right at the resort (it will be a little more expensive). You will be met and escorted by a professional driver who speaks Russian. The car will take you straight to the door of your hotel, and the driver will help you unload and carry your suitcases. The cost of an individual transfer service is the same as a taxi, about 20 euros.
Public transport
This is what it is - the eighth bus. Your stop "Tržnice" is the city center.
A ticket to the city can be bought from the bus driver, the cost of travel for 1 person is 25 CZK.
If your flight is significantly delayed or cancelled, the airport will offer you accommodation in nearby hotels. Yes, you yourself can always return to Karlovy Vary and find accommodation for the night, fortunately, the drive to the city is 15 minutes.
Excursions from Karlovy Vary Airport
Of course, the main function of the Karlovy Vary airport is reception and departure aircraft with passengers.
However, do not forget, this is not just an airport, but an airport resort town. Therefore, another function of the airport is to entertain resort guests.
For this purpose, the administration of Karlovy Vary Airport has provided sightseeing flights to the nearest cities, or along an individual route.
A typical Czech sightseeing plane.
On a special excursion plane, together with a pilot, you can take an entertaining flight, for example, to Karlštejn or Karlštejn. Just imagine, you are soaring high in the sky, surrounded by clouds, and picturesque natural spaces, mountains, fields, forests, cities open below.
Karlštejn Castle is beautiful, but also from above!
Or how do you like this perspective, for example?
You can fly over Karlovy Vary or Marianske Lazne and see them from a bird's eye view. Or you can circle over the Ore Mountains, fly over their highest point.
This is what the tour looks like from the ground.
Excursion flights are conducted in summer weather all year round. Flight prices from 2700 CZK.
And if you fly very high into space, the view of the airfield will be something like this on this map:
Finally, a couple of videos - one Russian, the other Czech: take a closer look at everything we wrote about here:
Despite its minimalism, Karlovy Vary Airport is very functional. Here passengers will find everything they need for a pleasant trip, and even more. Have a comfortable flight!
Irina Sidorova
Perhaps I have never seen an airport smaller than Karlovy Vary Airport before. It looks more like a rural airfield from which corn croppers take off to spray chemicals on Colorado potato beetles. Probably, this airport was previously a “collective farm” or military airport. Be that as it may, he apparently hasn't changed much since then. Although for this small town Like Karlovy Vary, there’s probably no need for an airport anymore.
Review with photos about Karlovy Vary Airport
In general, the Karlovy Vary airport was built in the 20s of the last century. Airplanes from Prague for those wishing to relax on medical resort were flying before the war. But the final modernization and complete reconstruction of the airport took place only in 2009. Now it is a small but modern building.
The design of the terminal is incredibly similar, as if they had the same architect bureau.
This plan of the airport shows all the main facilities, exits and halls.
To enlarge the picture, you must click on it.
Of course, no “sleeves” are extended from the plane directly to the airport. Arriving passengers leave the plane along the ramp, and then walk straight to the entrance to the building where passport control is located.
Arrivals hall of Karlovy Vary airport
This is a very small nook, into which even from one small Boeing people are crowded to the limit. You should immediately prepare to stand in line for at least half an hour; we waited for our turn for as much as 45 minutes. For a long time... two receiving officers are clearly missing.
The baggage claim hall is also impressive in its miniature size. This is not the first time we have flown to Karlovy Vary with Pobeda Light Airlines, so we never linger at the belt with bags.
This hall also has a toilet for arriving passengers.
Departure area
When departing from Karlovy Vary, after passing through passport control, we find ourselves in a small but quite cozy hall. It even has a measly “children’s corner” =)
And a tiny business lounge.
And a small duty free))
There is a café for those waiting to board.
Unfortunately, you can only pay in cash, and only in Czech crowns. That is, a cafe for those who still have local currency in their hands. Here are the prices on the menu.
If you are flying on Pobeda, you may be asked to put your bag in the calibrator again before landing.
Don’t forget that Pobeda Airlines charges 25 euros for check-in when departing from Karlovy Vary. I wrote about how to avoid this chaos in this article.
Main hall of Karlovy Vary Airport
All main passenger areas are located on the ground floor of the airport. It is quite small, but there are several check-in counters, airline ticket offices and a cafe.
Quite spacious and rustic quiet))
There is one ATM in the main hall, but there is no currency exchange, which surprised me, because... To get to the city you need Czech crowns.
From Karlovy Vary Airport you can get to the city quite inexpensively by public transport. There is a stopping point literally across the road, right opposite the exit from the terminal.
The only one stopping here bus route No. 8. Travel to the center costs 20 CZK. For this price you purchase a ticket valid for 20 minutes. This time is quite enough to get from the airport to Karlovy Vary, because... The city is small and everything is relatively close.
Now let’s get back to where we can get Czech crowns to pay for travel if we don’t want to withdraw money from an ATM. Firstly, the driver accepts euros, such a fare costs 1€. This is not profitable mathematics, because... In crowns the travel will be cheaper, but at least this is an option. True, you should have small euros on hand; no one will exchange large bills. Secondly, you can pay for travel with a regular bank card, just by tapping it to the terminal. And it’s incredibly convenient, you don’t need any travel cards or other hassles, like in Prague, you just get on the bus, swipe your card and the ticket is in your hands.
Airport in Karlovy Vary public transport schedule
Bus 8 Karlovy Vary Airport to city center
This schedule of route No. 8 is valid on weekdays. Stop Letiště This is Karlovy Vary Airport.
On weekends, the bus from Karlovy Vary Airport runs less frequently and has a shorter schedule.
2. You can also take bus number 8 to Trznice station ( Tržnice), from where you can take buses No. 3, No. 6, No. 18 and No. 23 to the bus station Dolni Nádraži(also called a stop). Intercity buses depart from the bus station to Prague. Ticket price is on average 5 euros.
You can purchase tickets immediately at the box office, or in advance online at. The second option is usually 20-30% cheaper. Your review about this bus company I have previously shared on the blog.
3. Well, the last method is the easiest, but more expensive than the others - a transfer from Karlovy Vary airport directly to Prague by car. If you are traveling with a family or a group, then this option is definitely more profitable and convenient than traveling on buses and trains with transfers.
The average transfer cost is 100€. Cars and prices can be viewed and selected on the website by.
Karlovy Vary has always been my mother's dream. And then one day, having saved up some money, she and I finally decided to go to this fairytale city. We don’t like package tours, so we decided to fly on our own. There are several ways to get to the city. We decided not to waste time and take a direct flight to the resort. I don’t like to feel insecure, and therefore, when the tickets were purchased, I immediately started looking for information on how to get to the center of Karlovy Vary. I have read many sites and guidebooks, and now I am happy to share my knowledge.
What you should know about Karlovy Vary Airport
Flying directly to Karlovy Vary is the easiest, but most expensive way to get to the resort. A small airport has been built in the town, located 5 kilometers from the city, so getting to the center will not be difficult.
Karlovy Vary Airport is constantly developing and improving. On this moment it consists of one terminal serving both domestic and international flights. The exterior of the airport is stylized to resemble an airplane turbine. Inside, on two floors, there is everything a traveler needs: waiting rooms, restaurants, shops, a medical center, a mother and child room, storage rooms, banks and exchange offices. Tickets can be purchased both online and at the airport ticket offices located on the ground floor. There are also reception desks on the ground floor. The second floor is divided into several zones: on the left is the arrival point and baggage claim area, in the center is the exit for departures on domestic flights and to Schengen countries, on the right is the area of international departures to countries that are not parties to the Schengen agreement. Interesting feature airport is Observation deck, which offers a beautiful view of planes taking off and landing. You stand there in the morning with a glass of coffee and admire...Blooper! :) The exit to the site is located on the second floor.
Currently, direct flights from Russia to Russia are operated from only two cities: Moscow and St. Petersburg. Perhaps that is why ticket prices are amazing in their scope.
View the online scoreboard and also get acquainted with useful information You can find out more about the airport on the official website.
How to get to the city center from Karlovy Vary Airport
Traveling to the center by public transport
The easiest and most economical way to get there is, of course, by bus. You can go to the resort directly from the airport. Bus No. 8 from the airport terminal departs from 5:30 to 22:20 on weekdays and from 7:10 to 22:20 on weekends and holidays once every 40-60 minutes. You can view the bus schedule. To get to the city center, you need to go to the Tržnice stop - it is the last one. The trip to Karlovy Vary from the airport will take no more than 30 minutes.
Where to buy tickets
Bus tickets can be purchased directly from the driver. The driver may also ask you to pay for large luggage.
Ticket price
The ticket costs only 25 CZK (about 1 euro).
Taxi
A taxi can be ordered directly upon arrival at the airport building. The advantage of a taxi is that it operates 24 hours a day. The taxi rank is located on the station square, opposite the exit from the terminal. The driver will take you to the city in 15 minutes. But the cost of the trip will be about 20 euros. Since the travel time is not much different from the bus, it is worth ordering a taxi for those who want to get there with maximum comfort.
There are a huge number of carriers operating in the city, but only three companies enjoy the trust of local residents:
- Georgia Taxi Karlovy Vary.
- Karlsbad Travel.
- A Centrum Taxi.
The vehicle fleets of these companies include not only passenger cars of various classes, but also minivans, limousines and trucks. The big advantage of these companies is their highly qualified staff who speak several languages.
Transfer from Prague Airport to Karlovy Vary
The advantage of the transfer is that it can be ordered directly from home before departure. Therefore, upon arrival you will not worry about how to get to the resort. A company representative will definitely meet you in the arrivals area and whisk you away to your chosen hotel. The transfer price varies depending on the class and capacity of the vehicle.
Trip to Karlovy Vary by car
Today, many tourists like to get to their destination on their own using rented cars. This method of transportation is especially convenient for families with children. You can rent a car right at the airport. The terminal houses rental offices of several popular companies in the country. It is better to book a car in advance via the Internet. The minimum rental period is one day, but it is cheaper to rent a car for several days at once. To make a reservation, you must provide a passport, international driver's license and credit card. It’s best to drive using a navigator, although you can figure it out without one: there are information signs on the roads.
There are both local and world famous car rental agencies in the city. The following companies are most popular in Karlovy Vary:
- Alamo.
- Europcar.
- Hertz.
- National.
- Sixt.
