Stuttgart

Pass the New Palace to the left and you find yourself in the beautiful Schlossgarten with the Opernhaus in front of an artificial lake, as part of the Staatstheater Stuttgart. Also the parliament of the state of Baden-Würrtemberg is there.

The Railway Station was built in 1920 as a terminus station. The 56-meter-high tower with its rotating and illuminated Mercedes-Benz is one of the most famous city landmarks. On top of the tower there is an exhibition of the most controversial infrastructure project in Germany called S21. The plan is to convert the main line terminus station into an underground through station by turning the tracks with a 90-degree angle to the present station. It's free to climb up and grants awesome views of Königstraße and the city.

A beautiful Jugendstil market hall built in 1910.

(1834-1840)

Small gallery with little stores (somewhat similar to Milan's famous gallery but a lot smaller). Right next to it is a building whose exterior is covered with plants.

(1956)

Although there is no Cologne Cathedral in Stuttgart, there are a few churches worth visiting. Most beautiful is the Johanneskirche, which is surrounded by the lake Feuersee and lighted at night. Other interesting churches are: Mätthauskirche (St. Matthew's Church), Domkirche St. Eberhard (St. Eberhard's Cathedral Church), Hospitalkirche (Hospital Church), Leonhardskirche (St. Leonard's Church), Veitskapelle (St. Vitus Chapel), St. Catherine's Church (English-speaking Anglican Church), St. Maria Kirche (St. Mary's Church).

The Bohnenviertel is the only preserved part of Stuttgart's old town, having miraculously survived to the present day largely intact. Built mainly in the 14th century, it used to house the poorer part of the population, who fed mainly on beans which were grown all around the quarter in gardens and even hanging from the houses' walls, hence the name meaning "bean quarter". Today, the Bohnenviertel is thriving on artisanry and small, old-style retail, as well as gastronomy and red light district.

Stuttgart's city library moved into this spectacular new building in 2011. It took 13 years of planning, an international architectural competition (which was won by Eun Young Yi from South Korea) and €80 million to complete it. On the outside, it is a sombre, nine-storey cube with a glass-brick facade. Inside, the whitewashed surfaces and bright lighting provide an almost unreal ambiance. There is quite a lot of innovative features and facilities inside, not only related to the rather simple layout and fit-outs, but rather to the way the library itself works - for example, you can borrow not only books, but also works of art, or work with music and sound clips in the sound lab. There is also a cafe on the top floor (open 10:00-18:00), and you can get a free map and audioguide from the reception on the ground floor.

A small Chinese garden, with a pond, ornamental walls and a mini-pagoda included, hidden on one of the hills close to the Hauptbahnhof.

A beautiful Jugendstil crematorium with occasional exhibitions about transience.

A world heritage listed housing estate built for exhibition in 1927, features residential buildings by such famous architects like Le Corbusier, Peter Behrens, Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. In two semi-detached houses designed by Le Corbusier, there is a museum dedicated to the area. The historical building is not suitable for people using wheelchairs.

The Solitude palace was built as a hunting lodge and summer residence in in 1769 and looks from the outside like a classical rococo palace. It is on a high plain outside Stuttgart and offers views to the north. During the opening hours there are guidance every 45 minutes. Ask for English guidance.

Bad Cannstatt is older than Stuttgart, and has been a thriving town when today's centre of Stuttgart was still a horse pasture. Moreover, unlike the centre of Stuttgart, the old town of Bad Cannstatt survived the Second World War relatively unscathed. Therefore, you can still get an authenthic, medieval feel wandering around its winding narrow streets, which all lead to a peculiarly-shaped market square.
On the market square, you will find the town church of Cannstatt (Stadtskirche) and the old town hall, still in use as the district's government seat (Bezirksrathaus), both from the late 15th century. It also owns the oldest dwelling in Stuttgart ("Klösterle" / 15th century) that is now used as a wine tavern.

Cannstatt owes the Bad (German for bath) in its name to numerous mineral water springs. To enable locals and visitors to enjoy them, a small but very peaceful Kurpark was arranged for in the 19th century, along with a large Kursaal (spa hall) building, which today is a restaurant and special event venue. Right next to it is the MineralBad-Cannstatt (Solebad Bad Cannstatt) spa-wellness-fitness complex with a large pool covered by an impressive glass dome. The Kurpark is divided into two parts Unterer (lower) Kurpark and Oberer (upper) Kurpark separated by Kursaal. The upper Kurpark provides a nice view of Bad Cannstatt.
Close to Kurpark, around Uff-Kirchhoff, is the home of around 50 parrots (yellow headed amazons) that can be spotted throughout the year. They barely leave their trees (mainly platanus trees) but their distinctive cry can be heard from distance. It is the only population outside the Americas.

Stuttgart in general claims to be the birthplace of the automobile, but if you want to see the actual place where it was born, head to the Kurpark in Bad Cannstatt, where the garden house that Gottlieb Daimler converted into his workshop still stands. There he and Wilhelm Maybach worked in the latter half of the 19th century on combustion engines and motorised vehicles they have eventually so successfully developed. Today, it houses an exhibition maintained by Mercedes-Benz Classic that tells the story of the early days of the Daimler motor car company.

Seat of the state government. The historical building and the park are occasionally accessible for the public. Registration required way in advance.

There are two exhibitions in different buildings. "Alte Staatsgalerie" ("Old": Art from 1500 to 1900) and "Neue Staatgalerie" ("New": Modern art). You can walk inside from one exhibition to the other. The permanent exhibits are free on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The simple glass cube of the Kunstmuseum contrasts with the lavish historic architecture of its surroundings, while not being intrusive thanks to its transparency. Its collection of modern art pieces is now over 15,000-strong, but obviously not all of them are displayed at the same time, but rather selected ones in temporary thematic exhibitions. Apart from exhibition spaces, the building hosts a large thematic bookstore, as well as a high-end restaurant Cube and o.T. bar, affording splendid views over the Schlossplatz.

The Landesmuseum is a direct descendant of a collection of local antiquities formed in 1862 by King Wilhelm I of Württemberg, and since 1948 has the Altes Schloss as its main seat. The museum's collections are a potpourri of archeological artifacts and works of art from different periods, mostly related in one way or another to the region. This includes a large collection of folk art.
While the museum actually manages many locations across Stuttgart and the entirety of Baden-Württemberg, it is in the Altes Schloss where the main exhibitions take place. There are small permanent exhibitions of a cross-section of the museum's collections, and temporary themed exhibitions in the Schloss.

The Museum is named after Karl von Linden, the president of the Württembergischer Verein für Handelsgeographie, who started the collection of various artifacts acquired from all corners of the world. The museum is housed in a purpose-built property from 1911, together with which it became a public property in 1973. There are permanent exhibitions devoted to all regions of the world except for Europe, as well as temporary thematic exhibitions. The on-site restaurant offers an exquisite menu in the evenings and a very affordable lunch menu on weekdays until 14:00.

Two exhibitions: one features biology and evolution and the other features paleontology and archeology in two separate buildings (Schloss Rosenstein and Museum am Löwentor / about a 10-15min walk apart).

The collection of Landesmuseum of local, European and extra-European instruments spanning centuries from prehistoric to contemporary is displayed in the historic Fruchtkasten, the granary in Schillerplatz. More than just a display of historic artifacts, the museum tries to engage and educate its visitors through temporary, thematic exhibitions and an interactive audioguide.

Built in 2006 in an astonishing architecture, the Mercedes-Benz museum houses a collection of automobiles built by the company over its long history. Both pioneering vehicles, significant technological breakthroughs as well as those significant for their participation in history (record-breaking or winning sportscars, cars used by famous personalities) are exhibited brilliantly.
The museum ticket includes the use of an electronic audioguide, but the visit may be enhanced by a guided tour (extra €4), of which there is a variety to choose from. You can also combine your museum visit with a tour of the factory in Unterturkheim (€4, 90 min, Tu F 11:45 in English). There is an on-site cafe and high-class restaurant in the Museum and a museum shop. There are special events throughout the year, so do browse the page to see what is on on the days of your visit to Stuttgart.

The building is an architectural marvel in itself, inside and out, but the highlights are obviously the exhibited examples of historic Porsche cars (and cars that Porsche designed for other companies, like the legendary Volkswagen "Beetle"), taken from Porsche's impressive collection of more than 500 historic and significant automobiles. A visit may be combined with a factory tour (you have to contact the museum to arrange for that).

The museum houses 36 historic tram vehicles in its 1929 depot, and offers tram rides on Sundays on metre-gauge, museum tram route 23 with a panoramic portion having an 8.5% maximum grade.

Open air museum showcasing ancient sculptures (most of which originate from destructed buildings after WW2), terraces and fountains from Stuttgart's history.

Small museum for optical illusions.

A privately owned museum about the world of pigs.

Museum about the history of firefighters including some old fire trucks.

Exhibition about the German secret police during World War II.

The world's first TV tower constructed from reinforced concrete was built from 1954-1956. It is the prototype for all modern TV towers, and affords visitors a beautiful view over Stuttgart. The Stadtbahn U15 to Ruhbank (Fernsehturm) gives you a wonderful view of the city. Entrance is €7 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.

A small tower (20 m) northwest of the city centre, not far from Killesberg Tower.

A small tower (10 m) from the 19th century.

The Württemberg Mausoleum stands in Rotenberg on the peak of the Württemberg Hill overlooking the Neckar river. The memorial was built for Catherine Pavlovna of Russia, the second wife of William I of Württemberg. The remains of William I and his daughter Maria Friederike Charlotte of Württemberg are also housed in the mausoleum. The mausoleum was constructed between 1820 and 1824 based on a design drafted by Giovanni Salucci.

A hill that separates the western and southern city. Walk uphill 10 minutes southern from S-Bahn-Station "Feuersee" through a park (via Senefelder Str, right to Reinsburgstr, left to Jean-Améry-Weg). Have an outlook and enjoy the beer garden.

A hill opposite to the Karlshöhe. Easy approach: it is a short hop from Station "Bopser" (U5, U6, U7). Outlook and nice Jugendstil-restaurant and beer garden (closes at 23:00)

A debris mountain made of 15 million m³ of rubble from World War II as a memorial to everyone who died in the war. It is the highest point in Stuttgart.

A tower in the "Killesberg Park" (see also "green U" under Parks & Gardens), north of the city centre.

A scenic lookout with a Moai sculpture and stones donated by Chile

Beautiful view and fountain.

Small ruin close to the observatory. Nice view.

Observation tower (27 m). Accessible in summer on the weekends. View of Bad Cannstatt and the Neckar Valley. Admission free.

A small hill with a wind power station on top in an outskirt of Stuttgart.

Remains of a castle from the 13th century.

One of the few remains of the city wall from the mid-16th century.

Oberservation tower from 1896 with a barbecue area and a small kiosk.

Skyscraper from the 1920s. It served as the office for the local newspaper and was the city's tallest building when completed. Not publicly accessible.

Protected nature reserve in a forest that includes a few lakes (the best known being Bärensee) that had artificially been created in the 19th century to serve as a backup water reservoir. Popular weekend destination with a small palace (Bärenschlössle) that now serves as a beer garden.

Small park with many sequoia trees from the 19th century.

Small lake next to the Neckar river. Popular for jogging, sailing, fishing and BBQs at the weekend. Also small boats can be rent. Swimming is not permitted.

Set of small waterfalls that can be followed in a trail. Not far from Birkenkopf / Rotwildpark.

Botanical and exotic garden of the University of Hohenheim one of the leading universities in agriculture.
The university itself is a palace and quite picturesque.

Barbecue area, playground and scenic lookouts.

A small park showcasing sculptures from quasi-local artist Otto Hajek that spent big parts of his life in Stuttgart. At the end of the park is the ruin of the Hasenberg tower that was intentionally destroyed by the Germans in WW2.

an old cable car running to the forest cemetery

Germany's only urban rack-railway. It uses modern cars like the light railway and offers a nice view. Connecting Marienplatz with Degerloch

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.) Wilhelma is also worth visiting for its architecture and landscaping features - the core of Wilhelma is housed in a 19th-century palace and park landscape in the Moorish style, created for and named after the former king Wilhelm of Württemberg. In winter there is a special exhibition called Christmas Garden with beautifully illuminated sculptures.

A fascinating astronomical journey, projected by optical hightech equipment: Carl Zeiss Planetarium. Almost all the shows conducted here are in German. You may have to check with the office for English show timings.

Watch and listen to the ballet company of the state theater Stuttgart. It is one of the world's best ensembles founded by legacy of John Cranko. Definitely a top place to go to in the evening. You'll need to reserve tickets in advance.

There are two musical theatres (Apollo-Theater and Stage Palladium Theater) in the hotel/conference/entertainment complex called the SI-Centrum (Stuttgart Musical Centre) in Möhringen close to the A8. This complex includes also the Millennium hotel and a spacious underground complex that houses many conference rooms, bars, restaurants, a casino and a huge wellness pool area.

Around 80 creative artists, architects, designers and musicians present their work in an old train depot and discarded train wagon.

Most cinemas will run movies with synchronised German voice-over/dubbing and you will be unable to enjoy the movie unless you understand German. CORSO Cinema International in Vaihingen shows movies with original audio track (and possibly German text captions).

Scale model of Stuttgart (1:160) of the 1980s. Including complete model railway layout and landscape parts. Biggest city model in Europe.

Indoor mini golfing at black light.

Stuttgart is fond of its mineral springs, the biggest in Western Europe. The best one might be the Leuze Mineralbad which also offers a sauna, but there are many others like the Höhenfreibad Killesberg (open-air pool for €4.10) or the Mineralbad Berg.

Mineralbath with sauna

Being surrounded by many hills, Stuttgart is famous for its stairs ("Stäffele" or "Staffeln"). There are tours offered but they can also be explored individually on one's own pace.

The Stuttgart wine trail. The Obertürkheim - Uhlbach - Rotenberg - Untertürkheim trail includes a viniculture museum, the Grabkapelle Württemberg (Burial chapel Württemberg) and restaurants where you can try the local wine. There are signs explaning the different types of wine that are grown. Along the (partly steep) path, you will find (sub)mediterranean plants such as pine trees, almonds, kiwis and dwarf palms.

7.5km trail within the city limits including a few panoramic lookouts

Die Roten (The Reds) play soccer in Bundesliga, Germany's top tier. The stadium (capacity 54,800) is 3 km northeast of city centre, with S-bahn and U-bahn nearby. In 2024 it hosted games in the UEFA Euro Finals.

International ladies' tennis (WTA's Porsche Grand Prix) can be seen in the Porsche Arena in September/October each year. This prestigious event attracts top players, with large prize-money and a new Porsche car on offer to the winner.

The city lies in a basin of a hilly region the Stuttgarters call "Kessel", literally "cauldron", and between the lowest part of the city and the highest part of the city are 250 m of altitude. There is a lot of car traffic, and routes for bikes are not well developed. Biking in the outlying areas of Stuttgart, e.g. in the Neckar Valley or the Schönbuch (just south of the city) is very nice. Stuttgart is one of the greenest urban areas in Europe. There are many paths through the surrounding forests which are in very good shape. There is an official downhill track called the Woodpecker's trail from Degerloch.

Go watch a baseball (or softball) match. The Stuttgart Reds play in Germany's first division. Season from spring to early summer.

Founded in 2021, the Stuttgart Surge play in the European League of Football (EFL).

Huge fun fair on the Cannstatter Wasen, beer tents and rollercoasters, late September-early October. (Families should go there during daytime: after 20:00 beware of drunken people.) Canstatter Wasen is the second largest fun fair in the world. Visiting it is more pleasant and less crowded than the Oktoberfest in Munich.

Huge wine festival over 10 days in early September. More than one million visitors can try around 5000 different sorts of wine.

Huge Christmas market during December.

a fun fair like Cannstatter Wasen in April/May, but smaller.

Every year, April or May

All museums open up to Sunday 02:00 in the morning. There is also a Long Night of Sciences (Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften)

Festival in mid-July lasting about one week featuring American, European and other international performers at two downtown venues, one outdoor near the main train station and one indoor at a jazz club.

10-day festival featuring seafood, beer, and vendors from the northern port city of Hamburg. The market fills Karlsplatz near the Schlossplatz in mid-July.

Early August, city centre - music, food and drinks.

Downtown street music festival in mid-July - music, food, drinks.

Late July or early August: Festival for strange films, one week of Horror, Splatter, Asia, Suspense, Action and Animation.

Enjoy liner trips on the Neckar, roundtrips or event trips. Or charter a complete ship just for you. Season is from Easter till end of October. For the conditions see the website. Beverage and food is offered on the ships.

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! There are also guided tour in English.

This is a location where people can store their valuable cars safely and allow the public to see them at the same time in a safe environment. Customers can rent glass boxes to keep their classic car in pristine condition. Workshops with qualified mechanics that are specialised in maintenance, repair and restoration of vintage and classic cars, car dealerships: Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche, Bentley, Harley-Davidson, restaurant, cigar lounge, hotel, event location, outside location, playground nearby.

Learn the history of Ritter Sport and visit the factory store. Can be combined with a hike in the nearby Schönbuch park or Siebenmühlen Tal

Germany's biggest baroque style palace. The palace can be visited as well as the huge garden "Blühendes Barock" where the world's largest pumpkin festival takes place every September. Also part of the garden is the fairy tale garden (Märchengarden) where some of the Grimms brothers' fairy tales are showcased in animated installations. Nice for children.

Close to Ludwigsburg Palace are Favorite Palace and Monrepos Palace. The two are connected by Favoritepark which is an enclosed park where deer can be spotted on a regular basis (free)

Amusement park and zoo mainly for younger kids. Close-by are a few lakes (Ebnisee, Aichstrutsee) that allow swimming and camping

Forest water playground for kids.