Frequently Asked Questions

More than 40 cold mineral springs rich in carbon dioxide rise in the town; the best known are the Cross, Caroline, Rudolph and Forest Springs. Where to find them and how they taste is shown in the springs overview; which spring to drink and how much is decided by the spa physician — see mineral springs and the drinking cure.

Yes, the springs on the colonnade and in the parks are freely accessible and anyone can taste them; the traditional porcelain cup can be bought in the shops by the colonnade or at your hotel. How the drinking cure works and why the physician decides on the quantity is described in the guide to the drinking cure.

For a stay covered by health insurance in the Czech Republic, a proposal issued by your doctor and approved by the insurer is required; as a self-paying guest you need no proposal, and the spa physician draws up your treatment plan after the initial examination. Which diagnoses are treated is set out on the indications and contraindications page.

The spa physician goes through your medical records and medicines with you, examines you and on that basis draws up a plan of procedures, drinking cure and exercise for the whole stay, adjusting it at check-ups as the stay goes on. So bring your medical reports and a list of your medicines — see the guide to spa treatment.

For guests insured in the Czech Republic, comprehensive care means the insurer covers treatment, accommodation and meals, while in contributory care it covers the treatment only and you pay for accommodation and meals yourself; the type of care is determined by the diagnosis under the Czech indication list. Details are on the indications and contraindications page.

Yes, the Ensana hotels offer outpatient treatment: you book an appointment with the spa physician through the spa reception and take your procedures as a day guest. The procedure is described on the outpatient treatment page.

The Roman Baths of 1896 are the historic pool of the Ensana Nové Lázně hotel; guests of the Nové Lázně and Centrální Lázně hotels have them included in their stay, while other visitors can buy admission only on the spot, subject to current occupancy. Details of admission are on the Roman Baths page.

From Prague it is roughly 2 hours by car on the D5 motorway or 3 hours by direct train, from Munich about 300 km; the nearest major airport is Prague. Details are in the getting there guide.

Most Ensana hotels have their own car park or garage, and there are guarded municipal car parks in the centre, for example the Parking Centrum multi-storey car park. Prices and capacities at the individual hotels are summarised on the parking page.

Spa treatments are available all year round; spring belongs to the blossoming parks, summer to the Singing Fountain and the International Chopin Festival in August, autumn to the colourful forests and winter to Advent and quiet. A comparison of the seasons is on the best time to visit page.

The price depends on the hotel, the length of stay and the range of treatments; current prices and offers are shown when you book directly with your chosen hotel. An overview of the Ensana hotels is on the accommodation page.

Comfortable walking shoes, swimwear for the pool, clothing for treatments (a bathrobe and towels are provided at the hotel), your medical reports and a list of medicines for the spa physician; a cup for the drinking cure can be bought locally. Packing tips are in the article on the three-week cure.

Most Ensana hotels have accessible rooms and adapted facilities, most of all Ensana Butterfly and Ensana Nové Lázně; tell the hotel about your needs when booking. An overview of the hotels is on the accommodation page.

Ensana Butterfly and Ensana Hvězda suit families, both with a children's play corner; Butterfly also has an indoor pool and accessible rooms. A comparison of all the hotels is on the accommodation page.

The Singing Fountain in front of the Main Colonnade plays a choreography of water, light and music in season, as a guide every odd hour; check the current performance times on the spot. More about the fountain and the colonnade is on the colonnade page.

Yes. Since 2021 Mariánské Lázně has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "The Great Spa Towns of Europe". What the inscription means and what to see is described on the UNESCO page.

The cultural season opens with the opening of the spa season in May, its high point is the International Chopin Festival in August, and all year round the Municipal Theatre performs and concerts are given in the Casino and on the colonnade. The programme and venues are described on the culture page.

Marked paths lead from the colonnade through the spa parks straight into the Slavkov Forest; the most popular destination is the Kladská peat bog with its nature trail around the lake. Routes on foot and by bike are on the nature page.

Royal Golf Club Mariánské Lázně, founded in 1905, is the oldest golf club in the Czech Republic, with an eighteen-hole course on the edge of the Slavkov Forest. Information for players is on the golf page.

For a day trip you can reach Karlovy Vary in roughly an hour, Loket Castle in 40 minutes, Teplá Monastery in 20 minutes and the Kladská reserve or Kynžvart Chateau in a few minutes. Tips with transport details are on the day trips page.