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Stuttgart is the capital of the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg, located near the Black Forest and the Neckar river. The city consistently ranks in the top 20 for quality of living in Europe. Its residents are statistically among the most cultured in Germany, with over 190 cultural festivals and high attendance at museums and concerts.
The city spreads over hills and valleys, offering views, parks, and vineyards directly within the city limits. Notably, the city of Stuttgart owns one of the wine estates, making it the only city in Germany to do so. Stuttgart is also a hub of technology and innovation, with plenty of museums and theatre houses providing cultural activities.
Top Places To Visit In Stuttgart
Stuttgart is ideal for a weekend vacation, offering parks, museums, historical buildings, and cultural events. The city centre’s parks and gardens form the "Green U," a U-shape visible on a map, with cycling trails and picnic spots. Top attractions on the Green U include the Old Castle, the State Theater, and the Wilhelma.
Many historic buildings date from the 18th and 19th centuries, when Stuttgart was a royal capital. Heavy World War II bombing destroyed much of the industrial centre, but the city reconstructed most historical structures, leaving a mix of old and modern buildings and commercial streets.
When visiting, there is no shortage of interesting sights and historical places to explore. For planning your trip, consider a month-by-month guide to the weather in Italy for comparison, or check out things to do in Pattaya, Thailand for another destination.
Walk Through The History Of The Automobile At The Mercedes-Benz Museum
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Photo by Marc Schneider on Pixabay[/caption]
The Mercedes-Benz Museum traces the 125-year history of the automobile conglomerate. It is the most visited museum in Stuttgart, receiving 440,000 visitors per year.
The museum displays 160 vehicles, showing the evolution from 'horseless carriages' to modern limousines. The Fascination of Technology exhibition covers current innovations in automotive technology. The Popemobile used by Pope John Paul II, built by Mercedes, is also on display.
Experience Cutting Edge Exhibits At The Porsche Museum
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Photo by Gabriele Bendler on Pixabay[/caption]
The Porsche Museum shows an overview of the history of Porsche. Visitors can see around 80 vehicles that trace the history of the automobile powerhouse, including models from the early 20th century to the present day. A museum workshop shows how workers restore and prepare classic cars for events. The modern building itself is an architectural feat, elevated above the ground on three pillars.
Take In The Extravagance Of The Ludwigsburg Residential Palace
This baroque-style former palace is now a museum and a large public park. Known as the Versailles of Swabia, it is the largest palace grounds in Germany with 79 acres, 18 buildings, and 452 rooms. The grounds house small museums including a ceramic museum, a fashion museum, and a children's museum.
Strolling around the Ludwigsburg Residential Palace can take an entire day. Locals love relaxing in the huge baroque garden, and the palace is a popular venue for concerts and cultural events throughout the year.
See The Formal Residence Of The New Palace And The Schlossplatz
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Photo by Horst Eisele on Pixabay[/caption]
The New Palace stands at the very center of Stuttgart on Schlossplatz. It was originally the residence for the royals during the 18th century. The castle was rebuilt after being destroyed in World War II and is the current home to the State Ministries. For those planning a visit, a month-by-month guide to the weather in Italy can help you decide the best time to travel.
Spend A Day In The Wilhelma
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Photo by David Mark on Pixabay[/caption]
The Wilhelma was originally a summer palace built in the Moorish style. It is now a huge botanical garden and zoo, the only one of its kind in Germany.
The greenhouse houses some of the more than 5,000 plant species found in the Wilhelma. The largest magnolia grove in Europe is located here and is breathtaking during Magnolia season.
The Zoological section has over 10,000 animals representing almost 1,000 species. Their great ape program is particularly strong; its young animal facilities serve as the ‘kindergarten’ for great apes for zoos all over Europe.
Get Cozy At The Stuttgart Christmas Market
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Photo by Miriam Müller on Pixabay[/caption]
If you're traveling to Stuttgart in December, you can't miss the Stuttgart Christmas market. It is one of the best examples of an old-fashioned Christmas Market in Germany. The market has over 200 stands and hosts more than 3.5 million visitors every year. It stands out compared to other Christmas markets in Germany because of its abundant decorations.
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Hike To A Beautiful View At Castle Solitude
Castle Solitude was originally built as a hunting palace and is now open to the public. It has a vast network of hiking trails and beautiful views over the surrounding valleys and nearby towns. It’s a great idea to spend a half-day wandering the areas around Castle Solitude and to end the day by watching the sunset in the west.
Attend A Soccer Match At The Mercedes-Benz Arena Stuttgart
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Photo by moerschy on Pixabay[/caption]
If your timing is right, you can catch a soccer (or fußbal) match at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart. This modern stadium was one of the host sites for the 2006 World Cup. Attending a match is one of the most quintessential German experiences in Stuttgart.
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See The Origins Of The City At The Old Castle
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Photo by Th G on Pixabay[/caption]
Visiting the Old Castle allows visitors to explore a 15th century Castle. The air raids of World War II destroyed large parts of the castle but the city rebuilt them in the original style.
The Castle is now home to The Würtemmburg State Museum. The museum displays artifacts from the time when Stuttgart was the capital of the Kingdom of Würtemmburg, as well as stone age artifacts. For travelers planning a trip, a month-by-month guide to the weather in Italy can help coordinate a broader European itinerary.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm
Catch A Performance At The Staatstheater
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Photo by Nicole Köhler on Pixabay[/caption]
Stuttgart is a city full of cultural offerings and one of the best venues to catch a performance is the Staatstheater Stuttgart. The beautiful building serves as a multipurpose theater house with Opera, Ballet, and Theater performances nightly. In fact, the Stuttgart Opera received the award for the 'Opera of the Year' 6 times.
Interesting Facts About Stuttgart
Whether you’re a local or you currently live in Stuttgart, there are lots of interesting facts about this city. We've gathered the most interesting and unique things about Stuttgart in one list.
1.
The TV Tower In Stuttgart Was The First Of Its Kind
Stuttgart’s Television Tower (Fernsehturm in German) was the first concrete TV tower built with a large structure at the top that functions as a viewing platform and restaurant. Before the Stuttgart TV tower, most television antennas were simple metal structures. Nowadays, the TV tower design seen in Stuttgart can be seen in many cities around the world. But Stuttgart was the first. For travelers planning a trip, consider pairing a visit with a month-by-month guide to the weather in Italy to compare climates.
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Stuttgart Is The Birthplace Of The Gas-Powered Automobile
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Photo by Bernd Schray on Pixabay[/caption]
Invented by Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler, the first gas-powered car was a 3-wheeled motorcar. The German word for gas, 'Benzin,' is named after Carl Benz. Daimler and Benz never met, but their companies later merged into Daimler-Benz, now Mercedes-Benz. See the whole history at the Mercedes-Benz Museum.
Stuttgart is the ‘cradle of the automobile’ for industrializing personal car production. Both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have headquarters here, along with Bosch. The prototype of the classic Volkswagen Beetle was also manufactured in Stuttgart. For planning your trip, check a month-by-month guide to the weather in Italy to compare climates.
The Name 'Stuttgart' Means Stud Garden
The name Stuttgart comes from the old German word Stuotgarten, which loosely translates to ‘stud garden’. This is because the city was originally the site where Duke Luidolf of Swabia bred his warhorses in 950 AD. It is pretty amusing that this unique origin is what gives modern and cutting edge Stuttgart its name.
This agricultural heritage connects the modern metropolis to its horse-breeding roots, and for travelers planning a trip, a month-by-month guide to the weather in Italy can help decide the best time to visit the region's vineyards.
4.
Stuttgart Is The Only City In Germany That Owns A Wine Estate
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Photo by Hubert Pelikan Pixabay[/caption]
Early Roman settlers brought the first grapevines from Tyrol in the year 3 AD. The weather in Stuttgart proved perfectly suited for wine grapevines, and they now cover the hills, giving the city its picture-perfect look. Local wineries still produce popular wines like Riesling.
The city of Stuttgart owns one of the wine estates. The city took over some of the vine-covered land and initially planned to build new governmental buildings, but the start of World War II delayed these plans. As a result, most of the land remains a vineyard to this day.
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Stuttgart Hosts The Second-Largest Beer Festival In Europe
The city is home to a huge beer festival in Europe, second only to Munich's Oktoberfest. The Cannstatter Volksfest receives over 4 million visitors per year. It's similar to Oktoberfest in that there are carnival rides, live bands and lots of beer tents. Some Germans prefer the Stuttgart Volksfest over Munich’s Oktoberfest because it is not as touristy. If you want to coordinate your trip with this festival, it runs for 3 weeks from late September until October.
6.
Stuttgart Has 20 Kilometers Of Outdoor Staircases
When you’re exploring things to do in Stuttgart, you should be prepared to take lots of stairs. Because the city is built on hills, there are over 400 sets of outdoor stairs that total 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) of steps. Reaching the top rewards you with a beautiful view of the city and surrounding valleys. Most staircases also pass the many grapevines that blanket the hills.
7.
Stuttgart’s Regional Dish Has A Humorous Origin Story
The city and surrounding region are famous for their regional dish, Maultasche. These oversized ravioli are filled with minced vegetables and occasionally minced meat. The name comes from a monk at the Maulbronn monastery who tried to bend Lenten rules: Catholics are not supposed to eat meat during Lent, so he reasoned that hiding the meat inside the pastry cover would keep God from noticing.
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Stuttgart Is One Of The Most International Cities In Europe
People from over 170 countries live in Stuttgart, making it one of the most international cities in Europe. This diversity fuels many multicultural events and demonstrates peaceful coexistence.
This unique fact, alongside the many things to do in Stuttgart, ensures a memorable visit to this beautiful German city.
