City Break Stuttgart
Other than being the capital of Germany’s Baden-Württemberg region, Stuttgart is also an important industrial center, a major international airport and a large river port due to its position on the Neckar river. It is a modern city still carrying the marks of two difficult wars, which tend to be covered by modern buildings and innovative architecture. As one of the country’s most diverse spots in terms of nationality, religion and culture, and one of most developed cities in Europe, Stuttgart is slowly making its way towards reclaiming its old 8-century-old status of noble residence. If you have decided to visit this beautiful city with rich historical background, check out our 3 day guide and make sure to make the most of your time!
Day 1
It is very easy to reach Stuttgart city centre: due to its convenient location, the city is well-connected both to other parts of Germany and the rest of the Europe. The fastest way is, of course, travelling by plane to Stuttgart Airport, which is connected to the city by train and by bus, so getting to the city is not a problem. After you arrive to your hotel or your flat, take a short break and start exploring this amazing metropolitan city.
The best way to do so is by going to Koenigstrasse, the city’s main-1200m-long street and the primary destination of all shopping lovers. There you can make a mini tour of many specialist shops, department stores, cafés, restaurants and relaxation places. This area is one of Germany’s longest and finest shopping zones, and since it begins opposite the main railway station, you will have no trouble finding it. The street runs right through the heart of the city and leads you to other streets nearby also offering much to see, such as Eberhardstrasse, Stiftstrasse and stylish Calwer Strasse. Koenigstrasse expands to Schlossplatz, a massive square and a favourite place among locals, but among tourists as well. There you will see many sculptures by Calder and Hrdlicka, but what catches the eye the most are the baroque Neues Schloss or New Palace dominating the square and Altes Schloss or Old Castle nearby. If you happen to be there during their working hours, you can enter the Württemberg Landesmuseum, the best museum in the city with a great collection of medieval masterpieces like crown jewels, musical instruments and art.
After doing some shopping and sightseeing, it’s time for Stuttgart’s famous Wilhelma Zoological and Botanical Garden, which once used to a fancy royal palace, but today is a home for more than 8,000 animals and garden of 5,000 plants. If you want to see pandas, polar bears and many other attractions, pay 14€ admission fee and keep in mind that it will take at least 4 hours of your time to see this impressive one-of-a-kind collection.
Spend your evening walking through the Killesberg Park, where you can even climb the Killesberg Tower and have an amazing view of the park and the surrounding area. If you’re lucky enough to be there July, do not miss out on Lichterfest Stuttgart, when thousands of lanterns are lit and used to decorate the park.
Call it a night in one of city’s pubs like Αckermanns, Biddy Early’s Irish Pub or Mata Hari.
Day 2
It’s museum-and-gallery time! We hope you did indeed rest because there’s plenty to see today. First things first, Stuttgart is known for its love with automobile industry, so it comes as no surprise that the city’s Mercedes-Benz Museum is one of the main highlights. With more than 160 star vehicles, it is a perfect place to go, especially for the car enthusiasts among you. Nearby is the Porsche Museum with a massive collection of more than 300 models, also worth a visit. Next stop is the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart. For only 6€ you can see the classics of Adolf Holzel, Otto DixKosuth, Dieter Krieg, Wolfgang Laib, Markus Lüpertz and many others. It is a newly built museum (2005) and has a very interesting design, especially beautiful in the evening when it looks like a cube glowing from the inside. Another place which is a must-see is Stuttgart’s State Museum Of Natural History with more than 4 million fossils, 40,000 minerals and lots more to admire.
After seeing the most important museums of the city, your next stop should be the State Gallery. It is definitely worth a visit since it is a home to legendary works by Picasso, Miro and Beuys. Best known for its impressive collection of 20th-century paintings, the museum also boasts breathtaking collections of German Renaissance art as well as Dutch and Italian classics from the 14th to 19th centuries.
Enough with education, now it’s time to relax. You can’t say you’ve been to Stuttgart without visiting the Neckar park. It is a home to many festivals and a perfect place to meet new people and enjoy traditional German food and, of course, beer, but music and amusement area as well. The Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Tram Museum are in the area of the park, so it doesn’t take much time and energy to see it all.
For the most energetic ones among you, we recommend a crazy night out in Club Grace, Schwarz-Weiss Bar, Sky Beach, Paul & George, California Bounge or, for the karaoke lovers, Blinde Kuh.
Day 3
Start your last day in Stuttgart by visiting Collegiate Church situated in one of the city’s most charming areas. It used to be a Romanesque church, but over the centuries the gothic elements took over and today it’s a beautiful church containing a mixture of two artistic periods. After the short tour, sit down and have lunch in one of the restaurants with traditional German cuisine, like Der Rote Hirsch or Brenner, selected as the top 2 by tourists. The best way to relax after the meal is taking a peaceful walk in Schlossgarten situated very close to the main Koenigstrasse and a perfect place to escape the crowd and enjoy the stunning nature. Another attraction you must see before leaving Stuttgart is the Sepulchral Chapel on Württemberg hill. The chapel offers a spectacular view of the city and is considered to be the city’s most romantic spot, even above the entrance is a inscription ‘Love never dies’, so if you’re on a trip with your loved one, make sure to go there.
The best way to finish your visit to Stuttgart is by going few miles outside the city center and see Scloss Solitude (Solitude Palace), one of the top attractions in the region built in the 18th century in Rococo / early Neoclassical style. Entry to Schloss Solitude is only possible as part of a guided tour and for English speakers it has to be booked in advance. You can walk along the Solitude Allee, a 13 kilometer route joining the palace to Ludwigsburg Residential Palace and offering spectacular views of the Württemberg lowlands.
If you want to continue your trip outside Stuttgart, we recommend you to look up your desired destination here.
