Karlovy Vary's spa quarter is closed to through traffic: you need a 100 Kč day permit just to drive in, and it doesn't let you park there. Most of the colonnades are walking streets anyway.
So I'd leave the car at the edge and walk in. Poštovní dvůr charges 80 Kč for six hours, and the street meters run every day, Sunday included.
Parking in Karlovy Vary: A 100 Kč permit to drive in, nowhere to stop
1. Don't drive into the spa zone unpaid
The spa zone (lázeňské území) needs a one-day permit, valid until midnight. The city's own article gives 100 Kč a day; Karlovarský deník reported the rise from 50 Kč on 1 January 2020. Buy it in the Vary Virtual app against your plate, or at the machines by the municipal police on Moskevská and the Imperial Spa. It's a pass to drive through, not to park. Hotel guests get one free entry on arrival and departure day, to unload, if they show the booking.
2. Leave Poštovní dvůr before hour seven
Poštovní dvůr car park is 10 Kč an hour up to five hours and 80 Kč for six. The seventh hour jumps it to 280 Kč, and 8 to 24 hours costs 320 Kč. Six hours is enough for the colonnades and lunch.
3. Park under Libušina for the funicular
The Libušina car park is 50 Kč an hour, 500 Kč for 24 hours, with a 2.10 m limit and free toilets. Galerie by the art gallery is 40 Kč an hour and 250 Kč from six hours to a full day. Becherplatz isn't a car park at all: it's the square by the Becherovka museum, and the city's car-park list doesn't include it.
4. Check the zone number on the meter
From 1 September 2026 the kerb runs in six tariff zones, charged daily 08:00–18:00. Most cap you at three hours. Zone 4 round Moskevská and the riverside is 40 Kč an hour, zone 2 at Zahradní is 80 Kč. Pay at the meter or in EasyPark or Vary Virtual; in an app, picking the right zone is your job.
5. Buy the vignette before the D6
The D6 from Prague needs the Czech e-vignette on its tolled sections: 230 Kč a day, 300 Kč for ten days in 2026, from edalnice.gov.cz. Past the city, Jenišov to Cheb-sever (exits 121–159) is listed as toll-free. The signs on the road decide.
Six hours at Poštovní dvůr for 80 Kč is my default. Hotel garages don't come close.
Car parks worth knowing
| Car park | Price | Height | EV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poštovní dvůr (DPKV)Slovenská 309/2, at the south end of the spa quarter; open 24 hours | 10 Kč an hour up to five hours, 80 Kč for six, 280 Kč for seven, 320 Kč for 8–24 hours. Cars and caravans. | not published | Not published. |
| Libušina car parkLibušina 2120/21, opposite the Imperial funicular, about 300 m from the spa centre; open 24 hours | 50 Kč an hour, 500 Kč for 24 hours; 7 days 2,160 Kč. Height 2.10 m. Free toilets. | 2.1 m | Not published. |
| Galerie (DPKV)Goethova stezka, by the art gallery in the spa quarter; open 24 hours, barrier and pay terminal | 40 Kč an hour, 200 Kč for five hours, 250 Kč from six hours to 24. 30 days 1,800 Kč. | not published | Not published. |
| Hotel Thermal garage and car parkI. P. Pavlova 2001/11; 320 spaces, open 24 hours, closed during the film festival | Visitors 50 Kč an hour (up to six hours), 600 Kč a day; hotel guests 390 Kč a day. Garage height 1.80 m. Cash and card. The city's page gives 600 Kč from ten hours; the hotel sets the price, so I go with the hotel. | 1.8 m | Four ČEZ wallboxes, 24 kW DC, in the outdoor car park; futurego app; price not published. |
| Underground garages, náměstí Dr. M. HorákovéNáměstí Dr. Milady Horákové, the largest underground garage in town; open 24 hours | 60 Kč an hour, 480 Kč for 6–12 hours, 500 Kč for 12–24 hours; 3–7 days 1,400 Kč. | not published | Not published. |
| KOME, Kouzelné městečko (DPKV)Slovenská street, south of the spa quarter; cars and coaches, open 24 hours | Cars 10 Kč for one hour, 20 Kč for two, 80 Kč for six, 280 Kč from seven hours. Coaches pay more and get a ride in on bus 20. | not published | Not published. |
The cheapest way to park, by how long you stay
| If you stay | Cheapest | Cost | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 hours in the centre | Poštovní dvůr (DPKV) | 20 Kč ≈ €0.8 | Hour seven jumps from 80 to 280 Kč |
| …and the cheapest central garage | Galerie (DPKV) | 80 Kč ≈ €3.3 | |
| …and the kerb, for comparison | Kerb, zone 4 (Moskevská, riverside) | 80 Kč ≈ €3.3 | Three hours maximum, every day including Sunday. Zone 2 at Zahradní is 80 Kč an hour. In an app you choose the zone yourself; the city publishes no fine for a wrong one. |
| A full day (10 h) | Galerie (DPKV) | 250 Kč ≈ €10.2 | |
| 24 hours | Galerie (DPKV) | 250 Kč ≈ €10.2 |
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Towed in Karlovy Vary: The towing lot on Západní
1. Ring the city before you assume theft
The city's 2021 notice sends you to its transport office on +420 353 151 418 or +420 601 158 919. The municipal police are on 156, and the Infocentrum answers on +420 355 321 171.
2. Head for the lot on Západní
The city transport company, DPKV, took over towing in 2013. Cars go to the towing service's car park on Západní street, west of the centre. No opening hours are published, so I'd ring before walking out there.
3. Don't plan with the 2013 price
The fee is set by city regulation 13/2019. I couldn't find the amount on any city or DPKV page. The last figure the city printed was 1,200 Kč for tow and storage, in 2013.
Spring and autumn street cleaning is when most cars get moved. Read the temporary signs on your street.
If your car has disappeared
- Who took it
- The city transport company DPKV took over towing in 2013. Cars are towed for blocking street cleaning and other offences under city rules
- Phone
- City transport office, towed cars (from the city's 2021 street-cleaning notice): +420 353 151 418
Same office, mobile: +420 601 158 919
Municipal police: 156
Infocentrum (city tourist information): +420 355 321 171 - Collect it at
- The towing service's car park on Západní street, west of the centre. No street number is published.
- Hours
- Not published. Ring before you go.
- What it costs
- Set by city regulation 13/2019; the amount isn't on any city or DPKV page I could reach. The last figure the city published was 1,200 Kč for tow and storage, in 2013.
- Bring
- The city lists no documents. I would bring the registration document or rental contract, a driving licence and passport; for a hire car, ring the rental company first.
EV charging in Karlovy Vary: Four ČEZ plugs at the Thermal
1. Charge at the Thermal car park
The Thermal has four ČEZ wallboxes, 24 kW DC, in the outdoor car park by reception. You start them in the futurego app, guest or not.
2. Count the parking on top
The chargers sit inside a paid car park: 50 Kč an hour for visitors, 600 Kč a day. No kWh price is published, so check the app before you plug in.
3. Skip the vignette in a pure EV
Fully electric and hydrogen cars pay no motorway vignette in 2026. The exemption is tied to the plate, so nothing to buy.
The Thermal is the only charger I could confirm in the centre. Don't arrive empty.
Where to charge
- Hotel Thermal — four ČEZ wallboxes — Hotel Thermal, outdoor car park by reception. 24 kW DC, started in the futurego app, open to guests and day visitors. No kWh price published; the car park charges 50 Kč an hour on top
- No vignette for electric cars — Czech motorways, including the D6 from Prague. Fully electric and hydrogen cars pay no motorway vignette in 2026
Free parking in Karlovy Vary: One free hour, and nights on the kerb
1. Register the free hour in zone 4A
On Moskevská, Dr. Engla and, since 1 September 2026, the lower part of náměstí Dr. Milady Horákové, the first hour is free. It only counts if you enter your plate at the meter or in EasyPark or Vary Virtual, because a camera car checks. Hour two is 40 Kč.
2. Use the kerb after 18:00
Zones 1 to 4 charge 08:00–18:00, so the evening is free. Zone 5 is the exception: 10 Kč an hour through the night. There's no free Sunday here.
3. Try Polská street
The city lists free parking on Polská street by Hotel Marttel, whose own parking page is titled "Parkování zdarma" (free parking). The airport car park is free too, but unguarded and far out.
If you remember one thing: buy the 100 Kč permit only if you must drive through, and park outside the zone. I checked every price above on the city's or operator's own page on 6 October 2026.
Free or nearly-free spots
Zone 4A: first hour free
On Moskevská, Dr. Engla and, since 1 September 2026, the lower part of náměstí Dr. Milady Horákové, the first hour is free if you enter your plate at the meter or in EasyPark or Vary Virtual. Two hours cost 40 Kč, three 80 Kč.
Evenings on the kerb
Zones 1 to 4 charge only 08:00–18:00, every day. Zone 5 also charges at night, 10 Kč an hour.
Polská street, by Hotel Marttel
Listed by the city as free parking. No capacity or time limit is published.
Airport car park
Free and unguarded, short and long stay, according to the city's car-park list. It's a long way out.
Hotels with free parking
- Hotel Marttel — By Polská street, Karlovy Vary Map. Its own parking page is titled "Parkování zdarma" (free parking); the page itself did not load for me, so check the terms when booking. No charging mentioned
⚠ The small print on 'free' parking
- Czechia has no low-emission zone. Karlovy Vary's own restriction is the spa zone: a one-day permit, 100 Kč according to the city, valid until midnight, for driving through only. Buy it in Vary Virtual against your plate or at the machines on Moskevská and by the Imperial Spa.
- Hotel guests get one free entry into the spa zone on arrival and departure day, to load and unload, on showing the booking. The city publishes no fine for driving in without a permit.
- The spa-zone price has two dates behind it: a city article gives 100 Kč a day, and Karlovarský deník reported the rise from 50 to 100 Kč on 1 January 2020. The city's current visitor pages give no price, so check the machine.
- The kerb tariff changed twice in 2026, on 1 February and 1 September. Meters update themselves; app users must pick the right zone.
- The Thermal car park closes for the film festival; its page lists 25 June to 10 July. Plan another car park for festival week.
- The D6 from Prague is tolled on parts of the route; Jenišov to Cheb-sever (exits 121–159) is listed as toll-free. Road signs decide.
Take these places with you
Every place on this page as a file you can keep — car parks with their prices, the free and park-and-ride spots, the chargers and the pound.