Stuttgart: Things to Do and See for the First Time

Located in the southwest of Germany, Stuttgart is simultaneously the vibrant capital of the Baden-Württemberg region, an important industrial hub, an international airport, a major river port thanks to its location on the Neckar River, and a rapidly growing tourist destination.

A modern city with innovative architectural buildings, Stuttgart is very diverse in terms of nationality, religion, and culture, one of the most advanced cities in Europe that is also trying to regain its former status as an elegant noble residence.

Known for being home to famous automakers like Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, and the largest engineering and electronics company Bosch, it also hosts an important university, a renowned Christmas market that attracts tourists from all over the world, and fun beer festivals like the Cannstatter Wasen, a popular festival that invades the city with giant beer tents and a massive fair every autumn for three weeks.

Stuttgart has much more to offer visitors in terms of art, history, and cuisine, from museums to castles, scenic parks to hiking trails across the numerous hills within the city's boundaries, from vineyards to historic churches. Its city center hosts many cultural events and festivals, and its cosmopolitan atmosphere makes it a city with high living standards, perfect for families.

Strolling through the famous Schillerplatz square or the nearby Schlossplatz park reveals important landmarks like the Stiftskirche, the Fruchtkasten, and the Schiller memorial, the Old Palace, and the New Palace, or the Stuttgart Museum of Modern Art with its contemporary art collection.

Its ancient name Stuotgarten means "garden for horses" and it is no coincidence that Stuttgart is still considered one of the greenest cities in Europe, thanks to a series of vast scenic parks, 14 mineral water springs, various "Mineralbäde" or spas, mostly concentrated in the Bad Cannstatt area of the city, and hiking trails. Moreover, the hilly surroundings of the city feature vineyards owned by renowned wineries where visitors can taste locally produced wines.

Johanneskirche

Collegiate Church

Schlossplatz

Porsche Museum

Mercedes Benz Museum

Killesberg Park and Tower

Stuttgart TV Tower

Stuttgart Public Library

Wilhelma

Burial Chapel on Württemberg Hill

Schloss Solitude (Solitude Palace)

Market Hall

Blühendes Barocco

Königstrasse

Unlike other major German cities, Stuttgart is relatively small, nestled between valleys, hills, and vineyards, it is divided into five inner areas and 18 outer suburbs.

For a comprehensive view from above, one can ascend the Fernsehturm (TV Tower) south of the city center, the former TV tower standing at 217 meters tall and visible from almost every corner of Stuttgart.

From its observation deck, one can enjoy magnificent views of the city that on a clear day can extend over the entire southwestern Germany to the distant Swabian Alps.

Most exploratory tours of Stuttgart begin from its beautiful historic center and more precisely from the large Schlossplatz "palace square" dominated by the Jubilee Column and the New Palace, an impressive Baroque structure that was once the residence of the kings of Württemberg.

A short walk away leads to some of the city's most famous attractions; on the opposite side of the square is Königstrasse, the main shopping street that leads to the Hauptbahnhof (central railway station), while walking from Schlossplatz through the palace gardens ("Schlossgarten") down to the Neckar River one can reach Wilhelma, the zoological-botanical garden, among the largest in Germany, featuring historic buildings scattered throughout a large park. The zoo hosts about 1,200 animal species and 8,500 varieties of plants in the garden.

Located in a 1914 Art Nouveau building, Market Hall hosts stalls selling cold cuts, cheeses, vegetables, wines, flowers, and much more, and also boasts gourmet restaurants with international cuisine.

Walking on the southwest side of the center, one can see the reflection of the Gothic church of Johanneskirche shimmering in the surrounding Feursee lake.

Reconstructed after World War II, except for its tower, it has now become a significant war memorial.

The Collegiate Church, located in one of the most charming areas of the city, was once a Romanesque church, but over the centuries, Gothic elements have taken over, and today it is a beautiful church that encompasses a mix of two artistic periods.

The Burial Chapel on Württemberg Hill offers spectacular views and is considered the most romantic location in the city, partly due to the inscription above the entrance that reads "Love never dies."

Stuttgart is also the ideal destination for car lovers as it is the birthplace of two world-renowned car manufacturers: Mercedes and Porsche, with their museums located on opposite sides of the city.

The Porsche Museum is located in the northern suburb of Zuffenhausen and is distinguished by the dynamic architecture of its structure designed to reflect the innovative nature of the brand itself. In addition to the magnificent cars on display, there are thousands of drawings, photos, and designs from the vast historical archive of Porsche and the popular 12-meter interactive touch wall.

The Mercedes-Benz Museum, on the other hand, is situated along the Neckar River southeast of the city center and is accessible by riverboat, bicycle path, subway, or through the palace gardens.

The impressive museum structure occupies a massive area of 16,500 square meters divided into 12 rooms filled with exhibitions showcasing some of the oldest cars ever built, as well as prototypes of futuristic vehicles with over 1,500 different exhibits.

On the opposite side of the Neckar, across from the Mercedes-Benz Museum, is the Schweinemuseum ("Pig Museum") - allegedly the largest in the world - located in a former slaughterhouse which also features an outdoor brewery and restaurant.

For contemporary art, the destination to visit is the Kunstmuseum, located in a distinctive glass cube structure that captures the attention of passersby. The museum spans three floors, covering a total of 5,000 square meters of exhibition space dedicated to special exhibitions, public art collections, and works by young contemporary artists. Much of the museum is underground in a system of former traffic tunnels housing small thematic and monographic exhibitions.

The State Museum of Natural History exhibits over 4 million fossils, 40,000 minerals, while the State Gallery showcases works by Picasso, Miró, and Beuys, 20th-century paintings, and collections of German Renaissance art and Dutch and Italian classics from the 14th to 19th centuries.

The State Museum of Württemberg in the Old Castle extensively illustrates local art and history with artworks ranging from Stone Age artifacts to ancient jewelry from the Kingdom of Württemberg.

The Public Library, located just around the corner from Stuttgart's main station, boasts a beautiful minimalist interior and thousands of books of every kind that make it one of the most well-stocked and photogenic public libraries in the world.

For a relaxing picnic in the sun within the green oases in the center, one can choose between Schlossgarten or Killesberg Hill Park, a 50-hectare park with gardens, fountains, and sculptures in a former quarry on a hill in a northern district of Stuttgart.

Blühendes Barocco is the oldest and most beautiful garden with vast fairy-tale gardens and colorful flowers attracting half a million visitors each year.

At the northern end of the park, there is a historic playground, while a fountain sprays water into the Schüsselesee lake.

The best way to conclude a visit to Stuttgart is to go a few kilometers from the city center to see Schloss Solitude (Solitude Palace), one of the main attractions in the region.

Originally built by a former duke of Württemberg in the 18th century in Rococo style, as a private hunting lodge, it features gardens and woods to explore with walks or hikes along trails like the Solitude Allee, a 13-kilometer path that connects the palace to the residential palace of Ludwigsburg, offering spectacular views of the Württemberg plains and the city from afar.