Best Things to Do in Stuttgart Germany

Stuttgart is the capital and largest city of the state of Baden-Württemberg. It has a lot more to offer than just Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. The manufacturing hub is known as the “cradle of the automobile,” but there are also great museums, beautiful parks, and historic palaces to see.

Along the Neckar River, it is spread out over many hills and valleys and has been an important center of trade for a long time. Because of this, during the Second World War, Stuttgart was bombed a lot, and almost all of its historic center was lost. Today, you can see well-restored castles, churches, and houses, as well as some amazing modern buildings with art collections.

It is also close to some beautiful farms and interesting old towns, like Esslingen and Tubingen, which can be reached quickly by public transportation. But for many people, the best thing to do in Stuttgart is to visit its two state-of-the-art car museums. A lot of people also go to the traditional Christmas market every winter to party, shop, and enjoy the holiday atmosphere.

List of Best Things to Do in Stuttgart Germany:

Grabkapelle on Württemberg Hill

The very grand-looking Grabkapelle sits high on Wurttemberg Hill and looks out over the rushing Neckar River. The ornate tomb is just 20 minutes east of the city center. It is a quiet and beautiful place.

Between 1820 and 1824, King Wilhelm I had the Neoclassical-style church built for his beloved wife, Queen Catharina, who had died too soon the year before. Later, the long-ruling king and queen and their daughter were also buried there.

You can look down at the beautiful fields and rivers below, or you can go inside the old building and admire its huge rotunda. Inspired by the queen’s Russian Orthodox religion, it is lined with tall columns and statues of the Apostles that stand out. Overall, the mausoleum is worth going to if you have the time. It is in a beautiful place, has great views, and is built uniquely.

Day trip to Tübingen

If you want to see more of Baden-Württemberg in one day, Tübingen, a pretty university town, is a great choice. Just 45 minutes by train south of Stuttgart, its charming Old Town is full of colorful medieval buildings, lively bars, and some nice old churches.

Along the Neckar, it is tucked away among hills and woods. Its charming cobblestone streets and crooked half-timbered houses look very much like they did in the 1600s. The heart of the city, which was luckily not hit by bombs during WWII, is the best place to walk around.

In addition to visiting the old city hall, castle, and huge St. George’s Church, many people take boat rides along the city’s beautiful river. Around the center of Marktplatz, you can also find a lot of great bars, beer gardens, and museums. Tubingen feels young and lively because it has a lot of students. There are always fairs and cultural events going on.

Weissenhof Estate

The beautiful Weissenhof Estate in Stuttgart’s north is a must-see for anyone who loves building. On its mountain site, you can take a tour of eleven amazing buildings that were built in the 1920s by famous architects. There is also a small museum that tells about the groundbreaking project and the different types of architecture on display.

Twenty-one simple but stylish modern buildings were put up around the land in 1927 for the Deutscher Werkbund exhibition. The goal was to show how cheaply and quickly good-quality homes could be made available. Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, and Le Corbusier, all well-known builders from around the world, were among those who took part.

The rest were unfortunately damaged or killed during the Second World War, but the ones that are still standing are fun to explore. On tours, you can learn about their innovative modernist approach to design and look at all the functional, sleek living places they made. The museum also has displays about each architect and how the project changed modern buildings in a big way.

Solitude Palace

The beautiful Solitude Palace is another great piece of architecture that you should see. The romantic-looking Schloss Solitude is on top of a long ridge just west of town. It is surrounded by well-kept fields and gardens.

Duke Charles Eugene used the Rococo-style palace, which was built in 1769, as a summer home and hunting camp. The center domed roof is very elegant, and it looks out over the pretty pale yellow walls and the lovely woods, gardens, and points of view around them.

You can also go on guided tours in German that show you the lavishly designed rooms inside. Here, you’ll find grand ballrooms and halls with gold and glass that sparkle, as well as beautiful murals and sparkling chandeliers. People who don’t speak German are given pamphlets in English.

Even though it’s a peaceful place, we’re not sure if it’s worth the time it takes to get there (at least on public transportation). If you don’t go on the tour, it doesn’t take long to take pictures of its luxurious building. If you want to stay longer, there is a cafe and some hiking tracks.

Go Shopping at Outletcity Metzingen

If you want to shop until you drop off after seeing all the sights and going on day trips, Outlet City Metzingen is the place to go. Even though it’s about a 40-minute drive south of the city, the huge mall has more than 150 stores run by the biggest luxury names in the world.

It has hundreds of stylish shops and a few restaurants, making it Europe’s biggest outlet. It is laid out and designed beautifully. Every year, tens of thousands of eager buyers come here to take advantage of the huge discounts on brand shoes, clothes, and accessories. Along its fashion mile, the stores of Burberry, Gucci, and Dolce & Gabbana are some of the most popular places to visit.

If you need a break from shopping for deals, you can choose between fine dining and fast food. Outlet City is a great place to shop, and it’s almost impossible to leave without at least a few cool new clothes and great deals on brand clothes.

Public Library Stuttgart

We also really liked going to the Public Library in Stuttgart, which has a bright and beautiful interior. It is a simple cube-shaped building that is only ten minutes on foot from the main train station. It is near many shops and restaurants on Mailander Platz.

The state-of-the-art library was opened in 2011. It was designed by South Korean architect Eun Young Yi. Even though the outside of the building isn’t very interesting (except when it’s lit up at night), the inside is a great treat for the eyes.

First, take the lift up to the eighth floor to get the best view of the main room, which is very pretty. Lined with well-lit bookcases, it is sleek, white, and has a lot of straight lines. Inside, each level is connected by a confusing set of stairs. You can take some great pictures here. The library also has a cafe and a rooftop deck.

Neckar Park

Neckar Park is just a short drive northeast of the city center. It is on the right bank of the river and has lots of fun things to see and do. At the large, multi-use complex, you can go to concerts, exhibitions, sports events, and the Mercedes-Benz Museum, among other things.

The park covers a huge area and has a lot of places for events and stadiums. There are a lot of exciting indoor sports events at the Porsche Arena, and the city’s football team, VfB Stuttgart, plays at the much bigger MHPArena. Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle also has shows by big names that are a lot of fun.

There are also swimming pools and sports facilities to use if you don’t want to watch an exciting game or go to the museum. In the fall and spring of each year, the Cannstatter Volksfest and the Fruhlingsfest are held in Neckar Park. There are lots of rides, games, and food stands at these three-week-long fairs. There are also huge beer tents full of noisy adults.

Read More: Terrifying Skywalks Around the World

Konigstrasse

The busy Konigstrasse is Stuttgart’s main shopping street. It runs right through the middle of the city. Since Outletcity is surrounded by hundreds of high-end shops and bars, it is much easier to stop by its high-end stores.

It starts at the main station and goes for more than a kilometer. It is one of the longest walking streets in Germany. The busy street is split in half by the beautiful Palace Square. In the middle, there are a lot of leafy trees that provide much-needed shade. There are also a few small fountains and seats here and there.

On either side are a lot of nice shops, big grocery stores, and fast food places. It also has a lot of cafes and restaurants right next to it and on the streets around it. Because everything is so close, it’s hard to go to Stuttgart and not pass by Konigstrasse at some point.

Porsche Museum

The wonderful Porsche Museum has been one of Stuttgart’s most popular tourist spots for a long time. It is on the city’s northern edge. It’s in a building that looks very futuristic, and it shows the past of the car brand through dozens of cool classic cars in its shiny showrooms.

It is just outside of Zuffenhausen, where the offices of the luxury car company are, and now has more than eighty cars to look at. Interactive displays show how the technology and design of stylish cars have changed over the years. You can look at all of its bright, photogenic Porches and also take tours of its workshop to see how they are made and kept up.

The museum itself is a beautiful, modern building that is just as interesting. It just opened in 2009, but its cutting-edge design and well-thought-out bright white interior show off the world-famous brand’s most famous race cars in the best way.

Frequently Asked Questions: