Stuttgart Travel Guide
Introduction
Mention Stuttgart to a German car enthusiast, and their eyes will light up. That’s because this city, despite its tranquil appearance, is home to two auto giants – Mercedes Benz and Porsche. If you love fast cars, don’t miss this destination.
Top Attractions
Begin your time in Stuttgart by visiting the Mercedes Benz Museum. This institution pays homage to the automobile brand that calls this city home. Before walking in, appreciate the building itself. From the moment you arrive, its post-modernist curves steal the show.
Within, you’ll find 160 vehicles, dating from the earliest models to the most recent. Get a free audio guide when you arrive – it will fill in details you might not already know. If you have time, tour the Untertürkheim engine factory, which allows a look at this company’s manufacturing process.
Stuttgart is also home to the Porsche. Not to be outdone by their rivals, they also offer an attraction – the Porsche Museum. Since 2009, this institution has offered more than 80 exhibits showing off Porsche models from various eras.
Here, you’ll find everything from street-legal cars to Formula 1 machines. As with the Mercedes Benz Museum, the Porsche Museum offers audio guides in various languages. Take one, as it’ll teach you things that you’d never know otherwise.
Art lovers will not want to miss a visit to Staatsgalerie. Once an art museum of only regional significance, a change in focus in the 1980s changed everything. Today, critics regard it as one of Europe’s finest collections of art.
Here, there are two main focuses – European classics and modern art. In the old gallery, you’ll find German and Italian works dating back to the 14th century. In the new gallery, you’ll find modern art from artists like Picasso, Schlemmer, and Beuys.
Around the holidays, make an effort to attend the Stuttgart Christmas Market. Every year, more than three million come here to buy crafts, drink gluhwein, and listen to carols. Feel free to join and share in their merriment.
Other Attractions
Love soccer/football? If possible, attend a match at the Mercedes Benz Arena. During the Bundesliga season, this stadium is home to VfB Stuttgart. If you’re not familiar with German football, Bundesliga is equivalent to the English Premier League in the United Kingdom.
Usually, this arena plays host to as many as 60,000 spectators. However, back in 1950, its attendance record was a stunning 97,553 during an international match between Germany and Switzerland. When this building isn’t hosting football-crazed fans, it also holds concerts. In the past, bands such as Depeche Mode and Pink Floyd have packed this venue.
Scope out amazing views from the top of Fernsehturm Stuttgart. Standing 700 feet above the surrounding landscape, the vistas from its observation deck are gobsmacking. Not only can you get views over Stuttgart, but views of distant mountains are also possible.
Up here, there are plenty of amazing photo opportunities. However, be sure to bring a warm jacket, as winds up here can get pretty stiff.
If you are travelling as a family in the Stuttgart area, add the Wilhelma Zoologisch-Botanischer Garten to your list. The creators of this combination botanical garden/zoo located it on the grounds of a former castle. This decision has given this place an ambience that places it above competing attractions in Germany.
Here, you’ll find 1,200 species of animal, plus 6,000 different plants from around the world. This park also includes an aquarium, where you’ll find sea lions and other marine species.
During your Stuttgart explorations, take some time to chill out in Höhenpark Killesberg. This giant public park, which spans over 123 acres, contains not just flower beds, but monuments, an observation tower, and even a mini-railway. If you just want to relax, find the beer garden and watch the world go by.
What To Eat
If you’re visiting Stuttgart at a chilly time of year, warm up with some Gaisburger Marsch. This beef stew, which originated in Stuttgart, contains cubed beef and a medley of vegetables. Chefs slow-cook this hearty meal for hours, producing a rich flavour you won’t want to miss.
More in the mood for pasta? Then find a restaurant that serves Schwäbische Maultaschen. Cooks start by stuffing these pasta dumplings with minced beef/pork, bread crumbs, and spinach. Then, they either fry it in oil with egg, or they cook it in broth. No matter how they prepare it, this dish will make you feel whole.
Lastly, get a Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte for dessert. Translating to English as Black Forest Cake, this dark chocolate and cherry cake is a beloved local’s favourite. And if you’ve never had it before, it will soon become yours.
