Discover Stuttgart

Stuttgart is famous for being the home of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, but it has so much more to offer.
The name comes from “Stutengarten” which means a horse or stud garden. It was originally a place for breeding horses, hence the horse on the Stuttgart coat of arms. The same symbol is used in the Porsche logo.

The city is on the banks of the Neckar River and just north of the Swabian Jura (Swabian Alps) in Baden-Württemberg. The weather makes it ideal for cultivating grapes and there are over 4000 hectares of vineyards in Stuttgart. In Stuttgart, you will find castles, theatres, mineral spas, interesting museums, art galleries, concert and sports stadiums, a planetarium, wine plantations, amusement parks, lakes, rivers, mountains, beautiful parks, and unique architecture. In Köningstrasse there is a pedestrian zone that hosts all the major shops as well as some unique and specialty shops.
There are stunning lakes like the Bärensee, Pfaffensee, Max-Eyth-See, Katzenbachsee and the Riedsee

The official Tourism page has plenty of ideas to inspire your visit to this exciting city.

Why Stuttgart Is The Perfect destination?

01.

Most Relaxing City

The city is filled with greenspaces and In 2017 it ranked as the least stressful city in the world.

02.

Culture

Opera, ballet, drama, festivals, musicals, conceterts, musuems and art galleries - Stuttgart has more than enough to offer

03.

Location

Surround by rivers and mountains it is perfect for nature lovers.

Explore

The Wilhelma Zoo is open the whole year. It is great for family outings
Go up the Fernsehturm for spectacular views of Stuttgart and beyond.
The Killesbergbahn is in a beautiful park, you can also go up the tower for spectacular views
The Planetarium has interesting shows during the day and you can do stargazing at night.

Freizeitparks (Amusement parks)

Europapark in Rust is about 2 hour’s drive away
Legoland in Günzburg is about 90 minutes away by car
Tripsdrill Theme Park in Clebron is a short drive from Stuttgart
Sensapolis Theme park is in Sindelfingen and great for kids
Sommerbobbahn Sonnenbühl – Toboggan track
Bobbahn Dornstettern – Toboggan track
Waldbahn – Steam Train

Shopping

Outlet city Metzingen

Automotive Passion

Food and drinks to try

Typical Schwäbian food to tantalise your taste buds

Maultaschen is a type of ravioli filled with meat, onions, and spinach. It can be served in a broth, in a salad, or fried with egg.
Käsespätzle is the ultimate comfort food. It is a type of noodle and served with Bergkäse (a strong cheese) and fried onions
Linsen & Spätzle are noodles served with lentils that were boiled with vinegar. You can also have it served with sausages on top or with pork belly
Zweiberostbraten is roast beef served with a rich gravy topped with onions
Schupfnudeln is another type of pasta. It is made from half wheat flour and half potato flour. It is traditionally served with sauerkraut
Brezeln and other laugengebäck

Culture

Geheimtips

Boat trips on the Neckar. You can take a boat trip to Marbach and include a wine-tasting tour, or do a theatre dinner cruise or Sunday Breakfast Cruise

For a stunning view of the city visit the Biergarten in Karlshöhe
Take a nostalgic trip in the classic Cable car (Funicular railway)
Carls Brauhaus
Best steaks at Abacco’s or visit Paulaner directly across for authentic Bavarian grub and beers
Beach party in the city centre at Sky Beach
Grill at Max-Eyth-See or take a boat ride on the river. Close by is a beer garden on the beach

Day trips

If you want to explore the regions around Stuttgart, head to the University town of Tübingen, go for hikes in the mountains around Bad Urach, visit the castle

🏰 Castles & Palaces: Step into a Fairytale

Neuschwanstein Castle – The inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle, set against the stunning Bavarian Alps. (~200 km, ~2h 30m)
Hohenzollern Castle – A majestic hilltop fortress, once home to Prussian royalty. (~70 km, ~1h)
Lichtenstein Castle – A dreamy, cliffside castle perfect for history lovers and hikers. (~60 km, ~1h)
Hohenneuffen Castle – A scenic ruin with falconry displays and a cosy restaurant. (~40 km, ~45 min)
Heidelberg Castle – A romantic hilltop ruin overlooking the Neckar River, rich in history and stunning views. (~120 km, ~1h 30m)
Schloss Solitude – A charming pleasure palace offering fantastic views of Stuttgart. (~10 km, ~20 min)
Ludwigsburg Palace – A grand Baroque palace with seasonal festivals, including the famous Pumpkin Festival and a fairy tale garden (~15 km, ~20 min)
Rastatt Residential Palace – A stunning Baroque palace with lavish interiors. (~90 km, ~1h 15m)
Eltz Castle – A well-preserved medieval fortress hidden in the Eltz forest. (~300 km, ~3h 30m)

🏛️ Historic Towns & Villages: A Journey Through Time

Rothenburg ob der Tauber – A picture-perfect medieval town with cobbled streets and preserved city walls. (~150 km, ~2h)
Dinkelsbühl – A beautifully preserved medieval town known for its colourful architecture. (~150 km, ~2h)
Altensteig is a fairytale town that is especially magical during the Christmas season. (~60 km, ~1h)
Michelstadt – A charming Hesse village famous for its 1484 timber-framed town hall. (~200 km, ~2h 30m)
Cochem – A picturesque Mosel River town with a hilltop castle. (~300 km, ~3h 30m)
Tübingen – A picturesque university town with cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, and scenic Neckar River punts. (~40 km, ~45 min)
Ulm – A historic town known for the stunning Ulm Minster, the tallest church in the world, and its charming old town. (~90 km, ~1h 15m)

🌿 Nature & Outdoor Adventures

The Treetop Walk at Bad Wildbad – A 1,250-meter-long canopy walk with a panoramic lookout tower. (~60 km, ~1h)
Nebelhorn (Allgäu Alps) – Enjoy breathtaking views of 400 peaks. (~220 km, ~2h 30m)
Eibsee – A crystal-clear mountain lake near Zugspitze, perfect for hiking. (~230 km, ~3h)
Lake Konstanz – A summer paradise with lakeside promenades, vineyards, and fresh strawberries. (~175 km, ~2h)
Blautopf – A striking blue karst spring surrounded by beautiful hiking trails. (~80 km, ~1h 15m)
Bad Urach – A spa town nestled in the Swabian Alps, famous for its beautiful waterfalls, historic town centre, and relaxing thermal baths. (~50 km, ~50 min)

🕍 Monasteries & Churches: Architectural Wonders

Maulbronn Monastery – A UNESCO-listed medieval monastery with impressive Gothic architecture. (~50 km, ~50 min)
Bebenhausen Monastery & Palace – A well-preserved Cistercian monastery with beautiful gardens. (~40 km, ~45 min)
Birnau Basilica – A Baroque pilgrimage church with breathtaking views over Lake Constance. (~175 km, ~2h)
Kloster und Schloss Salem – A historic monastery with vast gardens and a renowned library. (~180 km, ~2h 15m)

🎢 Family-Friendly Attractions

Seewald Leisure Park – A fun-filled adventure park featuring Germany’s longest toboggan run. (~75 km, ~1h 15m)
Pfahlbauten Unteruhldingen – An open-air archaeological museum showcasing prehistoric lake dwellings. (~170 km, ~2h)
Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum – A fascinating museum featuring a collection of vintage cars, aircraft, and military vehicles, perfect for tech and car enthusiasts. (~30 km, ~30 min)
Black Forest Open-Air Museum (Vogtsbauernhof) – A captivating museum that offers an immersive experience of traditional Black Forest life, with historic houses and interactive exhibits. (~130 km, ~1h 45m)

🌆 Cities Worth Exploring

Esslingen – A medieval town known for its half-timbered buildings, Kessler Sekt cellar tours, and a magical Christmas market. (~15 km, ~20 min).
Frankfurt – A blend of medieval charm and modern skyscrapers. (~200 km, ~2h)
Karlsruhe – A vibrant city with a botanical garden and the Grand Ducal burial chapel. (~80 km, ~1h)
Weil der Stadt – The birthplace of astronomer Johannes Kepler, with a dedicated museum. (~30 km, ~40 min)
Schorndorf – The hometown of Gottlieb Daimler, featuring charming streets and historical sites. (~30 km, ~40 min)
Oberstdorf – A charming mountain town in the Allgäu Alps, known for skiing, hiking trails, and stunning alpine views. (~150 km, ~2h)

amazing things to know about Stuttgart

The Fernsehturm (television tower) was the first of its kind and served as a model for others.
In the Wilhelma Zoo , you can see some of the Californian Mammoth trees planted by King Wilhelm I.
There are 14 Mineralbäder or Mineral water spas in Stuttgart
The Wasen (Stuttgart Beer Festival) held in September/October is the second-largest beer festival in Europe
There is a pig museum
The Stadtbibliothek received the Library of the Year award in 2013

Festivals

Some of the well-known festivals are:

Frühlingsfest in April
Cannstatter Volksfest (Wasen) – Stuttgart’s version of the Oktoberfest
Stuttgarter Weindorf
Esslinger Mittelatermarkt & Weihnachtsmarkt – Medieval Market and Christmas market
Open Air Trickfilm festival
Hamburger Fischmarkt in Stuttgart – in July
For more information have a look on the Stuttgart Tourism website