Stuttgart Travel Guide: Things to Do & Best Time to Visit

Top things to do in Stuttgart

Stuttgart combines a compact city centre with green hillsides and world-class museums, all easily reached by S-Bahn, U-Bahn and the city’s light rail.

• Mercedes-Benz Museum — A striking modern building tracing more than a century of motoring history, from the earliest motor cars to racing legends.
• Porsche Museum — A sleek showcase of sports cars and racing machines in the Zuffenhausen district, a must for car enthusiasts.
• Schlossplatz — The city’s grand central square, framed by the baroque New Palace and the Old Castle, which houses the regional museum.
• Wilhelma — A combined zoo and botanical garden set in historic Moorish-style gardens, popular with families.
• Staatsgalerie — One of Germany’s leading art museums, with collections ranging from old masters to modern and contemporary art.
• Weissenhof Estate — A landmark housing estate of modernist architecture, including houses by Le Corbusier that are part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
• Vineyards and the Württemberg hill — Walk through the vineyards that climb the valley slopes to a hilltop mausoleum with wide views over the Neckar valley.

Best time to visit Stuttgart

Late spring to early autumn, from May to October, is the most pleasant time to visit. Days are warm and long, beer gardens and wine taverns open their terraces, and the surrounding hills are ideal for walks among the vineyards. July and August are the warmest months, and the valley location can make the city feel hot and still on summer days.

Stuttgart has a strong festival calendar. The Spring Festival fills the Cannstatter Wasen grounds in April and May, the Wine Village brings regional wines to the old town in late summer, and the Cannstatter Volksfest, one of the largest folk festivals in Germany, runs from late September into October. Hotels can be busy during these events and during major trade fairs.

Winter is cold, with occasional snow on the surrounding hills. During Advent, the Stuttgart Christmas Market, one of the oldest and largest in Germany, fills the squares around the town hall and palace with stalls and lights. January to March is the quietest period for sightseeing.

Getting from the airport

Stuttgart Airport lies around 13 kilometres south of the city centre, next to the city’s trade fair grounds, and is well connected to central Stuttgart by rail and road.

• S-Bahn trains — The S2 and S3 suburban lines run frequently from the station beneath the terminals to Stuttgart main station and the city centre in around 25 to 30 minutes.
• Light rail — A U-Bahn light rail line also links the airport with the southern districts of the city, which can be handy if you are staying in that area.
• Taxi — Taxi ranks are located outside the terminals. The drive to the city centre usually takes around 20 to 30 minutes, longer at peak times, and is the most expensive option.

Tickets for the S-Bahn can be bought from machines at the airport station. A day ticket can be good value if you plan to use public transport several times on the day you arrive.

Where to stay

Stuttgart’s districts are well linked by S-Bahn, U-Bahn and buses, so most visitors choose based on atmosphere and the purpose of their trip.

• Mitte (city centre) — Ideal for first-time visitors who want to walk to Schlossplatz, the main shopping street, museums and the main station.
• Bohnenviertel — One of the city’s oldest quarters, with restored houses, small galleries and traditional wine taverns, suited to couples and food lovers.
• Stuttgart-West — A lively residential district with handsome old buildings, cafés and independent shops, good for longer stays.
• Bad Cannstatt — Close to the Mercedes-Benz Museum, the Wilhelma and the festival grounds, with mineral springs and a historic old town.
• Airport and trade fair area — Convenient for business travellers attending trade fairs or catching early flights, with quick rail links to the centre.

Travel tips

• Getting around — S-Bahn, U-Bahn light rail and buses share one ticketing system. Buy and validate tickets before boarding, as inspectors carry out random checks and fines apply.
• Hills and stairs — The city centre sits in a valley, and many neighbourhoods are reached by steep streets and public stairways, so bring comfortable shoes.
• Payment — Cards are widely accepted, but some smaller bakeries, market stalls and wine taverns still prefer cash, so carry some euros.
• Tipping — Service is included in bills, but rounding up or adding around 5 to 10 percent for good service in restaurants is customary.
• Sundays — Most shops close on Sundays and public holidays, though restaurants, museums and station shops generally stay open.
• Entry requirements — Visa and entry rules depend on your nationality. Check the latest requirements with official sources before you travel.