I have to be honest, the only reason I heard of Stuttgart, Germany is because I found a nearby castle (Hohenzollern Castle) that I wanted to visit, and Stuttgart was the closest big city.
I was even kind of nervous about visiting, because I wondered how many tourists ever actually visited Stuttgart. But I am so glad I did! The city is beautiful, and was one of my favorite places we visited in Germany! It is the perfect size for a city break, without being overwhelmingly huge (like Munich). Plus, there are so many amazing day trips nearby.
So here is your guide to plan a trip, with all the best things to do in Stuttgart, where to stay, and more!
Year visited: 2025
Time of Year: December
What’s in this Article:
About Stuttgart, Germany
Stuttgart is an incredibly beautiful city, full of rich history and unique architecture. It has a population of just over 600,000, which in my opinion is the perfect size city.
It is in southwestern Germany, making it easy to access from major cities like Munich and Frankfurt. Stuttgart is in the Baden-Württemberg region, and is a good base for nearby day trips in the area, like Heidelberg, the Black Forest, and Hohenzollern Castle.
The city is known as the “cradle of the automobile,” manufacturing several well-known automobile brands, like Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.
Where to Stay in Stuttgart
There are lots of great places to stay in Stuttgart. When we visited, I wanted to make sure that we were close to a transport hub (I don’t like having to drag my luggage around).
We ended up being right around the corner from the public library plaza. The underground station literally opens up into a pedestrian square with fountains, restaurants, a mall and the library. It was so perfect!
Adina Apartment Hotel
We stayed at the Adina Apartment Hotel. I couldn’t recommend it more! One stop from the main train station, and two stops from the main city square. It was in such a cute little area, with plenty to do and eat right there. And the hotel itself was very nice.
Premier Inn Stuttgart City Europaviertel
This Premier Inn was right next to our hotel, so also in the perfect location. We stayed at a Premier Inn in Edinburgh, and really liked it (or also check out the Premier Inn Stuttgart City Centre, which is just on the other side of the mall).
Aloft Stuttgart
Aloft Stuttgart is another nice apartment hotel near this area that I think would be a great place to stay!
There are so many options to choose from, so be sure to check out all of the hotels in Stuttgart.
Things to Do in Stuttgart, Germany
Stuttgart is a beautiful city, and a good place to just wander around the streets and explore, or hang out in one of the many plazas with a book and a coffee. It’s one of those places where I want to go back to just hang out and be immersed in its atmosphere.
The city also has tons of museums. Like, so many! There are definitely plenty of things to do in Stuttgart, Germany that make the city worth visiting!
Explore the Schlossplatz
The best place to start an exploration of Stuttgart, Germany is the “schlossplatz,” or castle square. The underground stop opens right up into this city square, flanked on one side by the new palace (seat of the local government), and the old palace (now a history museum).
The photogenic setting is the perfect place to begin in Stuttgart. From here you can easily walk to many of the museums, restaurants, and plenty of shopping. It’s also the location of the Stuttgart Christmas market during the holiday season. And trust me, it is a magical Christmas market setting!
Wander the City
I’ve mentioned a few times how beautiful of a city Stuttgart is… but seriously, it was such a nice place to just wander around. Once you start in the schlossplatz, just start wandering around the nearby city streets, and see what you can find!
There is plenty of stunning architecture, shops, restaurants and museums to discover. You can wander along the Königstraße, which is one of the longest shopping streets in the entire country.
Visit ALL the Museums
Well… maybe not ALL of them… there are SO many museums in Stuttgart! There are some large, popular museums, as well as smaller, lesser known ones to visit.
Let’s start with the most popular:
Mercedes Benz Museum
I think the most well-known museum in Stuttgart is the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Stuttgart is the car capital of Germany, and their most famous brand is the Mercedes-Benz. The museum is outside of the main city center, so you will have to take public transportation to get there.
Porsche Museum
In addition to the famous Mercedes-Benz Museum, Stuttgart is also home to the Porsche Museum. This museum also boasts stunning architecture and unique car models. And it also requires public transportation to reach outside of the city center.
Stuttgart Art Museum
The Stuttgart Art Museum sits right on the edge of the schlossplatz. Its iconic modern cube design stands out from the historic architecture around it. But inside is even more interesting. The museum extends much farther than its cubic boundaries, delving into an old underground tunnel beneath the building!
Other Museums to Visit
Here are some of the other museums you can visit in Stuttgart, Germany:
- Landesmuseum Württemberg (history museum)
- Staatsgalerie Stuttgart (art museum)
- Schweine Museum (pig, yes, pig museum!)
- State Museum of Natural History
- Linden Museum (cultural museum)
- Carl Zeiss Planetarium
Shop in the Markthalle
A fun place to wander around (and maybe do some shopping) is the Stuttgart Markthalle. There are restaurants, and lots of stalls selling fresh produce, baked goods, international foods, hand crafts and more. Not to mention the architecture is worth photographing.
If you’re interested, you can even get a guided tour of the historic Markthalle.
Stuttgart City Library
I am definitely someone who will visit a city’s library for a good picture, and Stuttgart is one of those libraries!
It is often listed on lists of the prettiest libraries around the world. And the Stuttgart City Library stands out on those lists, as it’s not an ancient, cozy looking library. It is a modern, open design, that definitely does make great photographs.
In addition to the library itself, there is also a cafe on the top floor that looks out over the pedestrian square outside, and some modern art exhibits on the lower floors.
- Good to Know: The “library” part does not go all the way down to the ground level. When you first enter the library, head to the elevator, and take it to the top floor for the best view (and cafe access).
- Bonus: The whole area around the public library is a pedestrian square, with lots of hotels, restaurants and the Milaneo Mall. It’s a nice place to hang out, and one of the best places to stay in the city. We stayed here!
Wilhelma Zoo
We visited the Wilhelma Zoo in Stuttgart for their Christmas light display during our December Germany trip. We didn’t really get to see any of the animals (except the penguins, who were right next to the entrance!), but the zoo grounds were extensive, and the lights display was so much fun.
If you go during the day (and hopefully when it’s warmer), not only will you see all the animals (including penguins!), but it’s also a botanical garden. It’s definitely worth exploring while you’re in the city, and easy to access via public transportation.
Day Trips from Stuttgart
I am going to be writing a whole guide to day trips from Stuttgart, which will tell you exactly why to visit these places and how to get there. There are magical libraries, castles, and storybook towns, all within easy access from your home base in Stuttgart!
Here are the places you should consider visiting on a day trip from the city:
- Ludwigsburg
- Esslingen
- Heidelberg
- Tübingen
- Hohenzollern Castle
- Lichtenstein Castle
- Wiblingen Abbey Library
- The Black Forest
Best Time of Year to Visit Stuttgart
Christmas in Stuttgart
Personally, I think the Christmas season is the best time to visit Stuttgart! They had one of my absolute favorite Christmas markets, not to mention my #1 favorite (Esslingen) was just a ten minute train ride away.
Stuttgart is such a good base for a Christmas trip to Germany. You can see the lights at Hohenzollern Castle and visit the Tübingen ChocolART Festival or the famous Heidelberg market, in addition to events right in the city itself.
My favorite part about Stuttgart’s Christmas market is that they have a contest for the best decorated stall. So instead of all the booths looking the same, they are literally all decked out in fun and unique decorations! It was so magical. I really really loved Stuttgart at Christmas!
Summer
I unfortunately was not able to experience the region in summer, but this would definitely be my second choice, after the holiday season. Beautiful weather for wandering through the hills and along the river in the nearby towns and countryside. There are so many great outdoor places to visit near Stuttgart.
Plus, of course, it will be the best weather for wandering around castle grounds and enjoying the outdoor dining and plazas in the city.
Any more questions?
If you have any more questions, or suggestions of your own ideas for things to do in Stuttgart, Germany, please feel free to email me or share them in the comments below!
Planning to visit Stuttgart?
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You might also like:
- The Perfect 1-Week Munich Itinerary
- The Best Things to Do for Christmas in Germany
- How to Get to Hohenzollern Castle
- How to Visit Wiblingen Abbey Library
Julia is a travel blogger with a Bachelor’s Degree in photography from Indiana Wesleyan University. She worked as a professional photo-retoucher for seven and a half years, before leaving the company to work in the travel industry. She now works at a historic 1800’s hotel. When she’s not working, she’s reading fantasy novels or classic literature, and planning trips to magical destinations.
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