Stuttgart Travel Guide
A detailed destination guide for your next Germany vacation
Stuttgart Overview
Stuttgart is the capital of Baden-Württemberg, Germany with with a population of 590,000 or so.
Stuttgart was founded in the 10th century; its name is a modern version of the original Stutengarten (mare's garden
). Presently it is the 6th largest city in Germany. It is most famous for its automotive industry - both Porsche and Mercedes-Benz have their headquarters in Stuttgart and both have car museums.
Stuttgarters are amazingly friendly people who will forgive you if German isn't your first or second (or any) language. If you do speak German well: beware of their dialect - Schwäbisch German can differ from other forms of German (be prepared to hear the word gell
a lot!) They love to practice other languages (especially English). Stuttgart is a big city with a small-town atmosphere.
Where to stay in Stuttgart?
Check out our selection of hand-selected and quality Stuttgart vacation rentals and holiday apartments.
Things to See in Stuttgart
- Mercedes-Benz factory, Sindelfingen (Sindelfingen vacation rentals | Sindelfingen travel guide) (S-bahn to Boblingen, then catch the courtesy bus). The heart of Mercedes-Benz manufacture, and well worth the visit. There are some 40,000 employees on site, including 9,000 in research & development alone! You need to book ahead through your Mercedes dealer.
Museums
- Technical museum: Mercedes-Benz Museum, Mercedesstraße 137/1, Bad Cannstatt (S-Bahn: "Neckarpark (Mercedes-Benz)"). Newly built in 2006 in an astonishing architecture. Frequently visited and really very cool.
- Technical museum: Porsche Museum, Porscheplatz 1, Zuffenhausen (S-Bahn: S6 to "Neuwirtshaus (Porscheplatz)", see timetable etc.)
- State gallery: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 30-32
- Contemporary arts museum: Kunstgebäude, "Art Building"
- Modern art museum: Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, Kleiner Schlossplatz 1
- Historical art museum: Württembergisches Landesmuseum, Altes Schloss, Schillerplatz 6
- Ethnological museum: Lindenmuseum, Hegelplatz 1, features a small but impressing collection of masks from the pacific
Zoo
Wilhelma, zoological and botanical gardens, Neckartalstraße, Bad Cannstatt (More information and arrival see Wilhelma)
Definitely a must for families. But watching monkeys and weird flowers in this old place can be fun for young adults, too. (Unless you feel pity for the locked up creatures.)
Planetarium
A fascinating astronomical journey, projected by optical high tech equipment: Carl Zeiss Planetarium
Buildings
Stuttgart used to be an impressive town but was hugely destroyed during World War II and only few buildings were rebuilt to classical elegance. The 50's still were post-war, in the 60's and 70's architectural things didn't matter at all and in the 80's and 90's with major insurance companies and banks building monuments of bad taste in the inner city, the aesthetic situation wasn't really improving.
Here are some of the exceptions:
- Altes Schloss, Old Palace (1300-1500)
- Stiftsfruchtkasten, Collegiate Storehouse (1393)
- Alte Kanzlei, Old Chancellery (16th century)
- Prinzenbau, Princes' Building (1605-1715)
- Neues Schloss, New Palace (1700-1800)
- Solitude Schloss Solitude, Solitude Palace (1700-1800)
- Wilhelmspalais, King William's Palace (1834-1840)
- Königsbau, King's Building (1850)
- Markthalle, Market Hall (1910)
- Staatstheater (Grosses Haus), State Theater (1912)
- Hauptbahnhof, Main Railway Station (1920)
- Weissenhofsiedlung, (1927)
- Liederhalle, Culture and Congress Centre, (1956)
- Staatsgalerie, State Gallery (1977)
Towers and scenic outlooks
- Fernsehturm Stuttgart, TV Tower (1954-1956), world's first TV tower built from reinforced concrete and prototype for all modern TV towers, with a beautiful view over Stuttgart. The Stadtbahn U15 to Ruhbank (Fernsehturm) gives you a wonderful view of the city. Entrance is € 5 per person and is worth it for the near-fairground quality of the ride in the lift to the top. There's a nice cafe at the top which serves fresh food and drinks.
- Grabkapelle Württemberg (Burial chapel Württemberg)
- Killesbergturm (Killesberg Tower) - A recently built tower in the
Killesberg Park
(see alsogreen U
under Parks & Gardens), north of the city center - Bismarckturm, a small tower northwest of the city center, not far from Killesberg Tower
- Hauptbahnhof - The tower of the Hauptbahnhof is a free climb (to the Mercedes-Benz symbol at top), granting awesome views of Königstraße and the city.
Getting there
By plane
Stuttgart has one airport, located in Leinfelden-Echterdingen (Leinfelden-Echterdingen vacation rentals | Leinfelden-Echterdingen travel guide). Various airlines including low cost airline TUI serve direct flight connections between Stuttgart and major German and European cities. It will not be difficult to book a flight to Stuttgart from outside Europe connecting through a major hub such as London Heathrow or Paris Charles de Gaulles. Fares usually don't differ if you fly into Frankfurt (Frankfurt vacation rentals | Frankfurt travel guide), Munich (Munich vacation rentals | Munich travel guide), Hamburg (Hamburg vacation rentals | Hamburg travel guide) or Stuttgart. Lufthansa has an agreement with Deutsche Bahn/German rail and your commuter flight from Frankfurt could actually be a train ride. This is very convenient if you head for Stuttgart CBD.
You'll most likely want to go to the center of Stuttgart but are now standing somewhat outside at the airport in Leinfelden-Echterdingen. The best way is the Public Transport which is clean, cheap and safe.
Public Transport:
- The S-Bahn line S2 or S3 will bring you to Stuttgart's center within 27 minutes (see Timetable from station
Flughafen
to stationHauptbahnhof
). Tickets can be purchased at vending machines at the level below the airport and above the platform. Tickets should be validated at orange boxes on the platform before boarding the train. - Several bus lines head for other destinations.
- Taxis will be waiting at the airport and are the fastest connection to SAP in Walldorf.
- To call airport's taxi service: Phone +49 (0) 711/ 9 48-44 09
- To call Stuttgart's Taxi Central: Phone: +49 (0) 711/ 56 6061.
By train
The main station (Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof) is located in the very center of Stuttgart. Timetables for trains and booking are available on the webpages of Deutsche Bahn AG. For getting on from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof and around in the city of Stuttgart itself, see Public Transportation below.
By car
The state highways A8 and A81 form a cross near Stuttgart (Stuttgarter Kreuz
). The City is located in the upper right quarter of that cross. West/east-Highway A8 passes Stuttgart slightly to the south, north/south-highway A81 passes slightly to the west. Generally, follow the sign Stuttgart Zentrum
to get to the center of Stuttgart (and try to not lose yourself in a suburb district: there are smaller towns all over the place melted together to form Stuttgart.)
Smaller but important routes from the center of Stuttgart to the areas outside are the B10 (to the east: Esslingen (Esslingen vacation rentals | Esslingen travel guide), Göppingen), B14 (to the southwest: 'Stuttgarter Kreuz', Sindelfingen, Böblingen) and B27 (to the south: airport, Tübingen (Tübingen vacation rentals | Tübingen travel guide), Reutlingen (Reutlingen vacation rentals | Reutlingen travel guide), to the north: Ludwigsburg).
- During rush hours, all streets in the region will be a mess! Avoid 07:30 to 9:30 o'clock and 16:30 to 18:30 o'clock.
- Highway A8 between Stuttgart-Karlsruhe is always a potential traffic-jam during worktime.
- Never ever drive during rush hours near 'Pragsattel' (traffic node, connecting the northern suburbs). It will ruin your day!
[ source: Wikitravel ]
Maps and Driving Directions to Stuttgart
Travel Insider Tips for Stuttgart
[Porsche Museum] - I was just there also. Really nice museum. Good little cafe and gift shop too.
Shared by Glen Ferguson, Dec 2009
I met my lovely wife in Stuttgart in 1987, lived in this beautiful place with our two children from 1993 to 1997. We enjoyed going to the Chistmas market, the wine fest, the volksfest, the near by Blackforrest, and many historic castles and palace. I miss this place!!
Shared by Ramon Rodriguez Martinez, May 2010
Stuttgart ist great! I live about 10 min away from there and it is great for clubbing! I love this city! :)
Shared by Natalie Bebion, Oct 2009
Stuttgart, Stutgart...Fernsehturm over 211 meters high, you overlook down into the "kessel" the beautiful town of stuttgart...then go outside about 15 kilomoeters north to MARKGROENING beautiful old town with old, old FACHWERKHAEUSER they having a SCHAEFERLAUF every year in AUGUST, close by in Ludwigsburg is the MAECHENGARTEN....
Shared by Cornelia Schopf-Woodruff, Jul 2010
yes, the f-turm and the MERCEDES MUSEUM!! AN AMAZING BUILDING, FILLED WITH AMAZING CARS!!!
Shared by Pat Gust Tasker, May 2010
Yes,there is very good view of Stuttgart and surroundings from the Television tower. A similar pictureque view can also be had from Weisteige.The Zahnrad bahn is another attraction.
Shared by Krishan Kapoor, Jul 2010
[Porsche Museum] - automotive nirvana! every sports car buff needs to go just once...
Shared by James Kidd, Dec 2009
Stuttgart, Schlossplatz
[ source: Flickr]
Popular Points of Interest in and near Stuttgart
Old Palace and State History Museum
[ source: Wikipedia ]
Together with the neighboring Collegiate Church, the Old Palace (Altes Schloss) is the city's most ancient remaining monument. Parts of the foundation walls date back to the 10th Century, when the palace was constructed as a simple moated fortress in the year 941. More than once over its eventful history it has been rebuilt, besieged and destroyed by war. During the 16th Century, a Renaissance palace grew up out of the former moated fortress. The greater part of the building was reduced to dust and rubble in intensive air raids on Stuttgart in the summer of 1944. The rebuilding of the Old Palace took until 1969.
Since 1948, the Old Palace, itself a symbol of Wüttemberg's state history, has housed the Landesmuseum Württemberg, the outstanding state history museum. The Palace Chapel, which was constructed in the mid 16th Century, is among one of South Germany's oldest Protestant places of worship.
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 5pm.
Admission: Adults 4.50 €, Concessions 3 €, children under 14 years free.
New Palace
[ source: Wikipedia ]
The New Palace (Neues Schloss) stands proudly at the heart of the State Capital Stuttgart. This late Baroque building was one of the last big city palaces to be built in Southern Germany, and is reminiscent of the magnificent French palaces of the 17th Century.
It was Duke Karl Eugen who commissioned architects Nikolaus Friedrich Thouret, Leopold Retti and Philippe da la Guepière as well as Reinhard Ferdinand Heinrich Fischer to construct the three-winged palace complex along the lines of the celebrated Palace of Versailles between the years 1746 and 1807. The residence of the Kings of Württemberg was destroyed in World War II and later rebuilt. Today, the New Palace houses the Ministries of Financial Affairs and Education, and is also used by the State Government to receive important visitors and for state occasions ; it is only available to tour by special arrangement. Tel. +49-(0)711-6673-4331 (State Property and Building Surveyor's Office in Stuttgart) or email info@neues-schloss-stuttgart.de.
Sepulchral Chapel on Württemberg Mountain
[ source: Wikimedia ]
The inscription over the entrance to the vault which houses the double Carrara marble sarcophagus translates as Love never dies
. The tomb is the resting place of Queen Katharina, who died at an early age, and King Wilhelm I who was buried here in 1864. The then Crown Prince Wilhelm and his cousin Katharina Pawlowa, Grand Duchess of Russia, were married in 1816. Katharine died just three years later at the age of 30. Wilhelm had the Sepulchral Chapel built for his adored wife on Württemberg Mountain, which had formerly been the site of the ancestral castle of the Württembergs (11th Century).
Inside the chapel, built in the Classicist style, the wall niches are occupied by colossal statutes of the four Evangelists. Court sculptor Johann Heinrich Dannecker produced these statues with the aid of his pupil Theodor Wagner using Carrara marble. The Sepulchral Chapel was used from 1825 to 1899 for Russian Orthodox worship. Still today, the Russian Orthodox community attends the Service on Württemberg Mountain
here every Whit Monday. The Chapel affords a glorious view over the idyllic winegrowing district of Uhlbach and the Neckar Valley with Stuttgart Harbour.
Hours: March 1 - November 1: Sunday and bank holidays 10am - 12pm, 1 - 6pm. Friday, Saturday 10am - 12pm, 1 - 5pm, Wednesday 10am - 12pm.
Admission: Adults 2.20 €, Concessions 1.10 €.
Mercedes-Benz Museum
[ source: Wikipedia ]
The modern Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt brings 120 years of automotive history to life. 1500 exhibits - including 160 vehicles - illustrate the development of the automobile from the very first horseless carriage to the modern limousine. Fascinating exhibits on view include for instance the very first Daimler automobile dating back to 1886, the legendary Silver Arrow
or the Popemobile
used to convey Pope John Paul II.
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 9am - 6pm.
Admission: Adults 8 €, Concessions 4 €.
Wilhelma - Zoological-Botanical Gardens
[ source: Wikimedia ]
Wilhelma, built as a royal palace, is now a zoo in Stuttgart. It is Europe's only large combined zoological and botanical garden and is home to over 8,000 animals from over 1,000 different species and countless exotic plants from over 5,000 species. The zoo is famous for keeping all four kinds of great apes, all in families with offspring, as well as for its aquarium featuring animals and plants from all over the world. The botanical gardens are renowned for containing Europe's biggest magnolia grove. It was also the home of the polar bear Wilbär.
The Wilhelma was originally a royal palace, in Moorish Revival style. After the second world war, it was gradually converted to its present day use. Besides animals and plants, the Wilhelma is therefore also worth visiting for its architecture.
Hours: The park is open every day of the year. The gates are always opened at 8:15 am. Depending on the month the park closes at different times, from 4 - 6pm (earlier in Winter).
Admission: Adults 12 €, Concessions 6 €, Family Tickets available.
Porsche Museum
[ source: Wikipedia ]
The new Porsche museum stands on a conspicuous junction just outside Porsche Headquarters in Zuffenhausen. The display area covers 5600 square meters featuring around 80 exhibits, many rare cars and a variety of historical models. The museum design is based on a model by HG Merz who was also involved in the building of the award winning Mercedes-Benz Museum.
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday from 9am to 6pm.
Admission: Adults 8 €, Concessions 4 €, Children under 14 years free.
Stiftskirche Collegiate Church
[ source: Wikipedia ]
The history of Stuttgart's Stiftskirche, or Collegiate Church, spans back to the 10th or 11th century. Evidence discovered in the altar area points towards a presence on the site from the early Romanesque period. A Romanesque village church was constructed on the same site in around 1175. The original church continued to evolve, with new extensions added, and other sections demolished and increased in size. A particularly striking feature of the church, and one of Stuttgart's best known landmarks, are its two contrasting towers.
Solitude Palace
[ source: Wikipedia ]
Solitude Palace lies on the heights southwest of Stuttgart with a magnificent view of the lowlands. Built in the years between 1764 and 1769, it is the center of an entire complex which, as an expression of the royal will to build in the fading rococo, is considered one of the outstanding architectural ensembles of the 18th century in the German Southwest.
With its three wings arranged around a central open space, its preserved interior fittings and a number of items of original furniture, this palace evokes a sense of the splendour of its heyday. The eleven rooms on show in the palace are notable for their mix of Rococo to Classicist styles. During the transformation phase from one epoch to the next, it was perfectly acceptable to display the two different styles side by side. Today, this popular destination for day trippers with its Palace Restaurant is home to an academy for young artists.
Hours: Open by guided tour only; April 1 - October 31: Tue - Sat 9am - 12pm, 1:30 - 5 pm. Sunday and bank holidays 9am - 5pm. November 1 - March 31: Tue - Sat 1:30 - 4 pm, Sunday and bank holidays 10am - 4pm.
Admission: Adults 3.30 €, Concessions 1.70 €, Families 8.20 €.
Related Sites
We collected some useful links related to Stuttgart. If you know a few more sites not listed here, or also know some insider tips or point of interests for this destination? Please share and submit your Germany travel tip. If approved it will be shown on this page!
- Homepage of Stuttgart: Stuttgart (official home page)
- Wikipedia: Stuttgart
More about the History of Stuttgart
The first known settlement of Stuttgart was around the end of the 1st century AD with the establishment of a Roman fort in the modern district of Cannstatt on the banks of the river Neckar. Early in the third century the Romans were pushed by the Alamanni back past the Rhine and the Danube. Although nothing is known about Cannstatt during the period of Barbarian Invasion it is believed that the area remained inhabited as it is mentioned in Abbey of St. Gall archives dating back to 700 AD.
In the 18th century, Stuttgart temporarily surrendered its residence status after Eberhard Ludwig founded Ludwigsburg (Ludwigsburg vacation rentals | Ludwigsburg travel guide) to the north of the city. In 1775, Karl Eugen requested a return to Stuttgart, ordering the construction of the New Castle.
In 1803, Stuttgart was proclaimed capital of Württemberg Kurfürstentum (ruled by a Prince-elector) until Napoleon Bonaparte's breakup of the Holy Roman Empire in 1805 when Stuttgart became capital of the Kingdom of Württemberg. The royal residence was expanded under Frederick I of Württemberg although many of Stuttgart's most important buildings, including the Wilhelm Palace, Katharina Hospital, the State Gallery, the Villa Berg and the Königsbau were built under the reign of King Wilhelm I.
During the Cold War, Stuttgart became home to the joint command centre of all United States military forces in Europe, Africa and the Atlantic (US European Command, EUCOM). EUCOM is still headquartered there today.
What makes this Live Like a German Stuttgart Travel Guide special...
This Stuttgart travel guide provides you with an overview of Stuttgart, Stuttgart pictures, and a local travel guide that suggests many special trips, unique activities, and vacation ideas, that you can't find in a typical Germany travel guide.
Some of this information is compiled from popular and well-known sources (e.g., such as Wikipedia, Wikitravel, and great pictures from Flickr). However, what makes this Germany travel guide special is that most of the travel suggestions and insider tips are provided by local residents, property owners, and our readers, who share and submit their travel tips with us. All submissions are then editorially reviewed to ensure high quality. All this information is logically organized within this destination guide to make it easy for you to find things quickly.
In addition, the Stuttgart destination guide features restaurant recommendations, restaurant reviews, where to go for grocery shopping, sports activities, getting around, cultural events and highlights, entertainment, and health related information - so you are informed for your travel to Germany, and you can learn about all the cool things you can do during your Germany vacation!
