Visiting the bustling capital city of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany called Stuttgart. Well known as the birthplace of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, making it an automotive industry hub, it also has a major university with a reputation for well-dressed competitive professionals.

Stuttgart offers travelers museums, castles, historical churches, and scenic parks. In addition, nature lovers can find perfect hiking trails and vineyards to wander through while sipping elegant German wines. Stuttgart is also famous for hosting fun beer festivals and a world-famous Christmas market that draws tourists from around the world!

Let’s explore the best things to do in Stuttgart:

Schlossplatz

In the center of the city is Schlossplatz, a pedestrian zone square that sits among historical buildings, including the New Palace and restaurants.

Schlossplatz was originally a private garden but was opened to the public as a beautiful park and grounds with open-air concerts and events.

While visiting the city, you could find people lounging in the grassy area. In the summer, you might see children playing in the fountains. During the winter, Schlossplatz is surrounded by Christmas stalls, hot mulled wine, and Christmas music.

Württemberg State Museum

If you wish to learn the history of Württemberg, this is the place for you! Collections of the highest quality in archaeology, art, and cultural history make it one of the most important institutions in the county.

The Museum building is housed in the Altes Schloss (Old Castle), once a water fortress in the 19th century before turning into a royal palace. Surviving wars, the building was converted into a museum, established by King Wilhelm in 1862.

• Hours: Tue. – Sun. 10:00 – 18:00; Thu. 10:00 – 20:00; Closed on Mondays
• Admission: 6 EURO per adult

Königstraße

In the heart of the city is what Germans of Stuttgart call the “shopping mile,” a pedestrian-only street—filled with popular brands such as Primark, Zara, TK Maxx, and various restaurants and cafes to fulfill your shopping needs! One end of the street ends at the train station; the opposite is Schlossplatz.

Stiftskirche

Stiftskirche is an inner-city church in Stuttgart and the main church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Württemberg. In 1240 the three-naved church with two towers was built in the Romanic style by the Counts of Württemberg. Tombs of Ulrich I, Count of Württemberg, and his second wife, Agnes von Schlesien-Liegntize, rest in the south tower chapel that dates to the late 13th century. Later, extensions were made to the church nave in Gothic design and the choir altar.

• Schillerplatz

Schillerplatz is a historic old town square, only a few minutes from Schlossplatz. It’s named after poet Friedrich Schiller, commemorated with a statue in the center.

Markthalle

If you are looking for a culinary experience or purchasing gourmet specialty food items to take home, then you must visit Markthalle. Housed in an Art Nouveau building constructed in 1914, you will find stalls selling meats, cheeses, vegetables, wines, flowers, and more. Markthalle also boasts gourmet restaurants featuring international cuisines.

If you are a foodie and want to sample delicious cuisine from around the world, book a food-guided tour here.

The Stadtbibliothek

This is one of the most photographed libraries in Europe. Here you will find unique architectural interests making it an excellent place for an Instagram shot!

Stroll Neckar River

Spend some time by the riverbanks of the Neckar River, where you will find lovely views from any park bench. If you feel a little adventurous, you can rent a canoe or paddleboard and see more from the edge of the river.

St. John’s Church

As you walk along Feuersee on the southwest side of downtown, you will see this stunning Gothic church’s perfect reflection in the lake surrounding it. After being bombed in WWII, it was rebuilt except for the Tower, which was left unfinished. It became a memorial of the war. During our visit, some restoration work was being conducted outside the building.

Killesbergpark

This 50 hectares park is designed with gardens, fountains, and sculptures in a former quarry on high ground in a northern borough of Stuttgart. The garden opened with the horticultural show in 1939.

The Württemberg Mausoleum

East of Stuttgart is where you will find the memorials of the royals in the Neckar Valley at the Wurttemberg Mausoleum—built by William I at the start of the 1920s following the death of his wife Catherine Pavlavna of Russia.

The Sepulchral Chapel was built based on a legend that when the queen discovered her husband was having an affair, she died of a broken heart; thus, the husband built the chapel to house her tomb, overlooked by his chamber.

• Hours: April 1- November 1: Wed., Thu., Fri., Sat., Sun. – 12:00 – 17:00; December 1- March 1- Closed
• Admission: 4 EURO per adult

Standseilbahn

Take the time to visit the Standseilbahan in Heslach, southwest of Stuttgart, and ride the elegant wooden cable car from Südheimer Platz U-Bahn to the Stuttgart Degerloch cemetery. In 1929, this was the first semi-automatic cable railway in Europe. Each cable car is built out of dark teakwood, giving it that warm elegance for a pleasurable ride. The shuttle takes about four minutes, but you can join a guided tour or walk back and enjoy nature.

• Admission: 6 EURO per adult round trip

Museums

If you enjoy Museums, you won’t have trouble finding a wide selection in Stuttgart. Here you can find just about any Museum that might tickle your fancy. I will begin with the most famous museums.

Mercedes-Benz Museum

For many car enthusiasts, visiting the Mercedes-Benz Museum is more like a pilgrimage. This unique helix design building offers some of the most beautiful influential cars ever built. The Museum tells the story of the creation and mechanics of the models but also shares background information on the founder, Mercedes-Daimler-Benz. A display of over 1,500 exhibits and more than 160 cars to see while walking the museum grounds. A free audio guide is available to learn about the exhibits.

• Hours: Tue. – Sun. 9:00 – 18:00, Closed on Mon.
• Admission: 10 EURO per adult

Porche Museum

The Porche Museum is at Zuffenhausen, on the outskirts of Stuttgart. The Museum was opened in the 1970s but later redesigned in 2009. Here you will uncover the early days of the Porche brand and learn the innovations of the engineer and founder, Professor Ferdinand Porsche. He also invented the VW Beetle and the first gasoline-electric hybrid car.

• Hours: Tue. – Sun. 9:00 – 18:00
• Admission: 10 EUROS per adult.

Staatsgalerie

The Staatsgalerie Museum is considered one of the best museums in the city. Here you will find an impressive collection of art from Middle Ages to the present. Artists such as Monet and Renoir can be found in the old annex, while Picasso and Matisse can be found in the new building.

• Hours: 10:00 – 17:00; Evening open on Thursday 10:00 – 20:00; Closed Mon.
• Admission: 7 EURO per adult

Linden Museum

Linden Museum is one of the finest ethnological museums in Europe. Artifacts on exhibit are from Africa, the Far East, Oceania and North, and Latin America. Indian sculptures dating back to the 700s and ancient sculptures from Japan’s Kamakura Dynasty are available inside the Museum. In addition, the Museum offers guided tours to showcase its collection from around the world.

• Hours: Tue. – Sun. 10:00 – 17:00; Sun. 10:00 – 18:00
• Admission: 4 EURO per adult

House of History

This Museum has creative and integrated modern technology to make it an interesting place to learn the rich history of Baden- Württemberg. In addition, there are all kinds of artifacts on display for real-life interviews to watch. The Museum has gone to great lengths to make it exciting for all ages to enjoy.

• Hours: Tue. – Sun. 10:00 – 18:00; Thursday until 21:00; Closed on Monday.
• Admission: 5 EURO per adult

ACTIVITIES

• Walking Tour of the City – If you want to understand Stuttgart’s history and culture, join a FREE 120-minute guided walking tour that visits the city’s most popular areas.
• Take the Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour – If you are only in Stuttgart for a day or two, I highly recommend getting a quick overview of the entire city on this tour.
• Get your exercise in with a Bike Tour – which offers many different tour options to see Stuttgart by Night or visit the vineyards.
• Rent a bike for the day – and explore the city on your own time. Download the DeutschBahn App, and wherever you see one of these bikes, you can rent it from your phone.
• Beirbike through Stuttgart- is a fun experience. If you are visiting Stuttgart with a group, this is a fun way to enjoy the city while sipping on a cold brew!

Enjoy your travels! Please read my blogs about other exciting places around the world at Traveling Lens Photography.

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Happy Travels!

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