The Czech Republic is one of the most popular European destinations. Millions of tourists annually gather in the capital and its environs in order to feel the whole spirit of the Middle Ages, enjoy its Gothic architecture, taste national food or relax in the best resorts of 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 amenities of the resort town. It often happens that people come to the city from completely different sides, bypassing the city airport, so the question of returning to their homeland through air links in Karlovy Vary comes first. In this article we will consider all the relevant ways with which you can reach the territory of the city airport of Karlovy Vary.
History
The city airport in Karlovy Vary, the name of which coincides with the resort, appeared almost one of the first in the Czech Republic. Its construction was laid back in 1929, and during the Second World War it acted as the main base for the German air forces of the 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 the status of an international airport was assigned. Today, Karlovy Vary airport terminal has acquired a modern look. The modernized terminal, consisting of two floors, helps to easily regulate all flights. A photo of Karlovy Vary Airport at the time of the construction of the main terminal is presented below.
Airport construction
As we have already said, the city airfield is endowed with only one terminal on two floors. At first glance, the Karlovy Vary airport building may seem rather small, but this does not prevent it from satisfying almost all the needs of passengers. Absolutely the whole atmosphere inside the airport predisposes the tourist to a comfortable pastime. All conditions have been created and observed here for the convenience of passengers.
In front of the main entrance inside the building there is a large information board, where each visitor can get acquainted with all flights of Karlovy Vary Airport, next to him is the baggage packing service. Also in the room there are several cafes and one restaurant, offering guests both full-fledged dishes and fast food. The second floor includes several departure zones, sharpened for different directions (international and domestic), Duty Free shops, as well as an observation deck with magnificent views of the surrounding landscape. In addition, at the airport, any passenger can use the services of 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 taxi services, renting a private car or pre-ordering transfer services. In this case, it all depends on the individual preferences of each tourist, his financial capabilities and the availability of free time.
Bus
The most relevant and affordable way to get to the airport is city transport. Every day, bus number 8 runs in this direction, starting its route from the central stop Tržnice, which is also the final stop in the opposite direction. The bus follows 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 the movement of buses can reach one hour. The journey to the airport by bus will take you no more than 30 minutes, which is quite a good indicator in European countries. You can also get to Karlovy Vary Airport from Prague by comfortable buses that leave daily from the central bus station - Florenz. This destination is very common among tourists, so buying tickets for a flight will not be difficult.
Where to buy tickets for public transport?
A ticket can be purchased directly from the driver of the vehicle. Do not be surprised if the driver asks you to pay a certain amount for bulky luggage - this is a completely standard procedure. A one-way ticket will cost a tourist 25 Czech crowns, which in terms of amounts 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 on the forecourt, or by calling one of the companies first. The main advantage of this type of transport will be round-the-clock operation and instant delivery of passengers to the final destination. In particular, this type of 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 the good, so the cost of the trip will cost the tourist about 20 euros (1380 rubles).
The city has a large selection of carriers, but the most common among local residents are Georgia Taxi Karlovy Vary, Karlsbad Travel and A Centrum Taxi. In addition, at the discretion of the passenger, a large assortment of cars of various classes is offered. For example, you can order not only a passenger car, but also a minibus or a limousine, depending on your requirements. Naturally, the price category from this factor will vary greatly.
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 is to rent a car. You can rent a car for one day or for a long period in one of the companies intended for this. 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 various discount coupons for choosing a particular car with early booking, and secondly, in this way, the user will be able to find a wide range of different cars and choose the one suitable for their purposes. In addition, if you arrive at Karlovy Vary Airport, you can arrange one of the cars directly in the airport building for the duration of the trip, and return on the way back to the same place. It is better to rent a car for several days at once, as one-day rental is usually more expensive.
What documents are needed to rent a car? For booking any type of transport in Karlovy Vary, a vacationer should be provided with a foreign passport, an international driving license and a credit card.
Transfer
By and large, tourists book a transfer in case they need to get to the airports located in the nearest cities. This method will allow the passenger to avoid the hassle of organizing transport first from Prague to Karlovy Vary, and then start drawing up a route to the final checkpoint. Entire organizations that provide a full-fledged car with a personal driver are involved in resolving such issues. At the choice of the passenger will also be offered either a passenger car or a minivan, depending on the needs of the customer. The cost of such a service varies from 130 to 180 euros with a condition of fifty percent advance payment. Transfer services can be arranged at any time of the day.
Closest airports to Karlovy Vary
No matter how strange it sounds, the Hof Airport (HOQ), located in the German town of the same name 90 km from the Czech resort, can be considered the second remotest from Karlovy Vary. Hof International Airport serves domestic and international flights. The next nearest airfields are Vaclav Havel, located in the Czech capital at a distance of 120 km, Vodochody (VOD) and Dresden Airport (DRS).
Recommendations
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 gets to the final destination 5-10 minutes earlier. Ultimately, for a couple of minutes won, the vacationer will have to overpay a fairly round amount.