If you like to explore new places outdoors, the best time to visit Stuttgart will be during the late spring to early fall. (Unless you are willing to see the Christmas market). We were there first time during winter and enjoyed the weather in September much more.
9 reasons why Stuttgart is a special, captivating city…
- Stuttgart is the 6-largest city in Germany and the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg.
- It is very green.
- A long time ago Stuttgart has been a breeding ground for war horses, a “stud garden”. You can still see a black stallion on the Porche logo and the Stuttgart coat of arms:
- Stuttgart is the place where the first petrol-powered car was created.
- Home to the headquarters of Mercedes Benz and Porsche.
- Located over the hills: there are over 400 sets of outdoor stairs in the city!
- Nearly 8% of people are employed in the culture sector: museums, etc.
- There are plenty of… giant sequoias in and around Stuttgart.
- Stuttgart has the second biggest mineral water source in Europe!
Visit Stuttgart: our hand-picked 13 places
1. Wilhelma Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Wilhelma Zoo is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Baden-Württemberg, seeing more than 2 million visitors annually. In Germany, its Zoo collection ranks second after the Berlin Zoological Garden!
Wilhelma Botanical Gardens:
2. Mercedes-Benz and Porsche Museums
A unique architectural structure, the Mercedes-Benz museum shows its visitors a chronological journey through the evolution of its vehicles over 130 years of history.
Porche, one of the world’s premier sports car manufacturers, has its headquarters and museum on the outskirts of Stuttgart. The museum is worth visiting to learn about brand’s achievements in motorsports, design, and engineering.
3. MineralBad Cannstatt
Germany boasts the largest count of certified natural mineral water sources in Europe, 821 in total! One of the biggest sources of that water is located in Stuttgart, (although its neighbor, Baden-Baden is more famous).
MineralBad Cannstatt is a nice place to visit with a family and swim in mineral waters:
4. Mineral water fountains
If you are not ready to swim, fill the bottles at the numerous mineral water fountains (we just searched on Google Maps “Mineralwasserbrunnen”). Below is one of them:
5. Oberer Schloßgarten and Karlsplatz
Both places are amazing when the weather is warm and during the Christmas season: they are Stuttgart’s Christmas market locations.
The Christmas market opens every year on the last Thursday in November and finishes on Christmas Eve.
6. Visit Stuttgart: Johanneskirche
The Protestant Church of St. John, or “Johanneskirche”, among locals often called the “Little Notre Dame of Stuttgart”. It was built in the Gothic style in 1876.
Following its near destruction in the Second World War, the primary church structure faced reconstruction and tower was left unfinished to function as a war memorial:
7. Museum of History, Landesmuseum Württemberg, located at the Old Stuttgart Castle
The 16th-century palace and cultural museum, Old Stuttgart Castle traces the history of Swabia from the Stone Age to the present day:
On the picture below: children’s section of the museum, interesting for big and small, especially on a rainy day:
8. Our favorite: Hohenpark Killesber park
Hohenpark Killesber Park literally has it all: carousel, flower gardens, flamingos, mini zoo, adventure playground, cafes, and an observation tower:
And even a miniature railroad that travels all around the park:
9. Wine in Stuttgart
In 3AD Romans brought grape vines from the Tyrol region to Stuttgart and grapes continued to thrive around the city creating popular wines such as Riesling and Trollinger.
Book a tour, or tasting event, or just hike along the fields – many of them easily accessible by public transport from the center of the city!
10. Food to try: Maultaschen, the local specialty
The regional food, Maultaschen, is a type of ravioli filled with a diverse range of stuffings (sometimes meat). It is still often cooked at home or could be tried at local cafes. And.. there is an interesting story behind Maultaschen. 😀
“Herr Kächele Maultaschen und mehr” – is a nice place to try Maultaschen in Stuttgart.
11. Sequoia trees in Stuttgart
After being deeply surprised by towering trees during his travels in America, King Wilhelm I ordered to plant 5,000 (!) Californian sequoias across Germany, with a significant concentration in and around Stuttgart. Some of them you can spot at Wilhelma Zoo.
12. Chinese garden
The Chinese garden in Stuttgart isn’t big, but it offers nice views over the city. It is located near one of the oldest vineyards in the city.
13. Schlossplatz Stuttgart
Schlossplatz is the main square in Stuttgart and is considered the city’s central hub. Decorated by Baroque-style gardens, it often hosts open-air concerts, cultural events, and festivals in summer.
Schlossplatz is a nice place to start or finish your trip in Stuttgart:
Make sure to check out schedules, fees, and conditions before you go
Thanks for reading! We are glad you are here 🙂
