Stuttgart

Understand

Stuttgart is the capital of the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg in Germany. With a population of approximately 606,000 in the immediate city (2024) and more than 2.8 million people in the metropolitan area (2024), Stuttgart is the 6th largest city in Germany. Stuttgart forms the centre of Region Stuttgart, a densely populated and idustrialised area that is closely interwoven and shares the same public transport system consisting of 179 cities and municipalities with a rich history to discover. Stuttgart consists of 23 districts (Stadtbezirke), which are further divided into 152 localities (Stadtteile). The five inner districts are named Mitte, Nord, Ost, Süd and West ("centre", "North", "East", "South" and "West", respectively). The outer districts are mostly former towns with their own names - of note are Zuffenhausen (Porsche headquarters and museum), Untertürkheim (headquarters of Daimler-Benz and Mercedes-Welt, as well as sports arenas sponsored by Porsche and Mercedes), and Bad Cannstatt (nice old centre, mineral water and lots of vineyards). Despite being smaller and most densely populated among major German cities (when looking at the statistics), Stuttgart appears anything but that. This is because the population is not concentrated in the relatively small and hardly "metropolitan" centre, but is evenly spread over the hills contained within the city area, with multiple population centres stemming from the small towns that were incorporated into the present-day Stuttgart. Therefore, you will find many points of interest quite far away from each other, and the use of Stuttgart's very convenient public transport system quite necessary. Stuttgart is a big city with a small-town atmosphere.

Tourist information Stuttgart Tourism website

Getting there

By plane

1 Stuttgart Airport (STR IATA), ☏ +49 711 948-0, [email protected]. The 6th busiest airport in Germany, reflecting the city's size and importance. It is on the southern outskirts of the city and connected via local rail (S-Bahn) and will eventually be connected to mainline high-speed railway. (updated Apr 2026)

Airlines and destinations The airport is a base for Lufthansa's low-fare subsidiary Eurowings. Moreover, most major European carriers have connections to Stuttgart from their main hubs, so there is a wide choice of direct flights to other German and European cities, and even if there is no direct flight from your origin, you will easily find a connection through any of the hubs. Moreover, Stuttgart's main railway station (Hauptbahnhof) is just an hour away by high-speed train (ICE) from Frankfurt Airport, which is one of Europe's major aviation hubs. Many airlines offer flights to Frankfurt with a connecting train to Stuttgart instead of direct flights to Stuttgart, and as this is very quick and convenient (landing you in the very city centre), you should consider this option as well. There is a significant charter/holiday traffic between Stuttgart and the popular holiday destinations in southern Europe and North Africa, mostly served by dedicated carriers such as TUIfly. There is growing low-fare traffic to Stuttgart as well, with easyJet and Vueling all serving the airport from their bases across Europe.

Ground transportation The best way to get from Stuttgart airport to the city centre is by using public transport which is clean, cheap and safe.

The S-Bahn line S2 or S3 will bring you in its red or gray vehicles to Stuttgart's centre (€3.70) within 27 minutes (see Timetable from station 'Flughafen' to station 'Hauptbahnhof'). Tickets can be purchased at vending machines at the level below the airport and above the platform (follow the symbol with a white S on a green background). Tickets should be validated at orange boxes on the platform before boarding the train. Alternatively, the VVS app can be used. The airport is not in Stuttgart, but in zone 2. You can use all public transport within the zones with this ticket. The Stadtbahn line U6 will bring you to the airport from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof in 32 min. Its yellow and black vehicles are especially designed to climb up and down the steep hills of Stuttgart. All axles of the vehicles are driven. It manages a steep slope of up to 8.5% which is the steepest regular-lane friction track in Europe that is used in local public transport. The airport U-Bahn stop is locat

Getting around

Stuttgart has a very compact city centre with most destinations within walking distance. Nearly all visitors arrive at the main train station (Hauptbahnhof). From there the remarkable 1.2-km-long pedestrian shopping street called “Königstraße” leads through the heart of the city, passing the Schlossplatz with the amazing New Palace, to the Rotebühlplatz (Stadtmitte). Other main sights (e.g. museums, opera) are just around the corner.

By public transport Stuttgart's public transportation system comprises two light rail system - the Stadtbahn (or U-Bahn) and Schnellbahn (S-Bahn), as well as a city bus system. It is managed by VVS and is fully integrated in that there is one fare and ticketing system for all forms of transit, so that a single ticket can be used on any mixture of buses and trains that may be required to complete the journey. The VVS's network called is divided in zones. The city of Stuttgart is only Zone 1. Most lines will lead via Hauptbahnhof, ending in a layout that is pretty centralised: If you want to go somewhere, chances are, you have to ride via Hauptbahnhof. The following Stadtbahn or S-Bahn stations are in the heart of the city: Hauptbahnhof, Schlossplatz, Charlottenplatz, Stadtmitte (Rotebühlplatz), Feuersee, Rathaus, Staatsgalerie and Berliner Platz (Liederhalle). For a complete description see the official map of VVS-network. From Sunday to Wednesday public transportation stops around 01:00. On the weekend the S-Bahn is running hourly the whole night on all lines. So the inner city route from Hauptbahnhof to Schwabstraße is connected frequently. Additionally there are several night buses running, all starting from the Schlossplatz. On Thursdays there are night buses at 01:20, 02:30, 03:40. Be careful if you have a very early airplane since there are no S-Bahn connections weekdays to the airport in the early morning between 01:00 and 05:00. The only option is a night bus from Schlossplatz.

U-Bahn (Stadtbahn) Stuttgart's Stadtbahn is a combination of suburban light rail, tramway/streetcar system and underground metro (subway). In the very centre of the city, the tracks run underground, and the overground sections run along city streets, partially grade-separated and partially integrated into city streets like tramways. That way, the yellow carriages of the Stadtbahn can travel all the way from the suburban hillsides to the central hub by the Hauptbahnhof, allowing convenient commuting with minimal changeovers. To distinguish the Stadtbahn from the suburban trains of the S-Bahn, it is referred to as U-Bahn. Its regular line

See

Stuttgart, which once had a reputation as the conservative capital of the south-west, has turned into a bustling metropolis with world-class culture, great shopping and night-life. The capital’s architecture is an appealing mixture of historical and modern buildings with green parks and even vineyards throughout the city. The unique cauldron-shaped landscape offers plenty of scenic lookouts and formed a dense city centre where nowadays fortunately most of Stuttgart's main attractions are. In the heart of the city centre the Palace Square is a must for visitors and an ideal starting point for a tour.

City Centre

1 Schlossplatz (Palace Square). The Schlossplatz is the largest square in Stuttgart, right in the middle of the Mitte in front of the Neues Schloss. It was created as parade grounds for the palace, and is now a public green area with lawns, flowerbeds, twin fountains and a decorative bandstand. It immediately adjoins the Koenigstraße, and a number of key buildings can be accessed immediately from it. In warmer months, the Schlossplatz is always full of locals, students and tourists enjoying its relaxing atmosphere. It is also an event location. (updated May 2026) 2 Neues Schloss (New Palace), Schlossplatz 4. The arguably most recognizable symbol of Stuttgart was constructed between 1746 and 1807 when the Duke of Württemberg, Carl Eugen, found the Altes Schloss and the erstwhile ducal residence in Ludwigsburg to be insufficiently stately. The new palace was a grandiose undertaking that took many decades, architects and four successive Dukes of Württemberg to complete, given the ever-changing tastes and plans, as well as constant scandalization within the Duchy regarding the costs of the lavish residence.The result is a palace inspired partially by Versailles and other grand royal residences, which gave the centre of Stuttgart an airy, garden park feel. The palace became a state museum in 1918 when the last King of Württemberg abdicated, and was almost completely destroyed in World War II. It was rebuilt in 1958-1964 to serve as a seat for the local government of Baden-Württemberg. It now houses the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of the Land.Guided tours are available, but they are offered infrequently and on an irregular basis. It is highly recommended to check the palace's official website well in advance for announced tour dates and mandatory registration. Several rooms and halls in the palace can also be rented for special events. Tours cost €8 per adult. (updated May 2026)

3 Altes Schloss (Old

Do

Culture 1 Zoo Wilhelma (zoological and botanical gardens), Neckartalstraße, Bad Cannstatt. Definitely a must for families. But watching monkeys and weird flowers in this old place can be fun for young adults, too. (Unless you feel pity for the locked up creatures.) Wilhelma is also worth visiting for its architecture and landscaping features - the core of Wilhelma is housed in a 19th-century palace and park landscape in the Moorish style, created for and named after the former king Wilhelm of Württemberg. In winter there is a special exhibition called Christmas Garden with beautifully illuminated sculptures. (updated Sep 2021) 2 Planetarium. A fascinating astronomical journey, projected by optical hightech equipment: Carl Zeiss Planetarium. Almost all the shows conducted here are in German. You may have to check with the office for English show timings.

3 The Stuttgart Ballet. Watch and listen to the ballet company of the state theater Stuttgart. It is one of the world's best ensembles founded by legacy of John Cranko. Definitely a top place to go to in the evening. You'll need to reserve tickets in advance. 4 SI-Centrum. There are two musical theatres (Apollo-Theater and Stage Palladium Theater) in the hotel/conference/entertainment complex called the SI-Centrum (Stuttgart Musical Centre) in Möhringen close to the A8. This complex includes also the Millennium hotel and a spacious underground complex that houses many conference rooms, bars, restaurants, a casino and a huge wellness pool area. 5 SchwabenQuellen, Plieninger Str. 100. (updated May 2024) 6 Wagenhallen (Inneren Nordbahnhof 1). Around 80 creative artists, architects, designers and musicians present their work in an old train depot and discarded train wagon. 7 Corso Cinema International, Hauptstraße 6 Vaihingen (S-Bahn Vaihingen). Most cinemas will run movies with synchronised German voice-over/dubbing and you will be unable to enjoy the movie unless you understand German. CORSO Cinema International in Vaihingen shows movies with original audio track (and possibly German text captions). €7.80 for adults. Theater Stuttgart shows when what is played where in the state capital. With depictions of the venues (such as the beautiful 8 Altes Schauspielhaus. (updated May 2024)), illustrated play descriptions, location and arrival maps and general information about the theaters. 9 Miniature world Stuttgart (Stellwerk S), Arnulf-Klett Platz 1-3 (S-Bahn to Hauptbahnhof). 1pm-5pm. Miniature model of Stuttgart (1:160) of the 1980s. €9. (updated Feb 2023) 10 Black light Stuttgart, Strohgäustrasse 10

Buy

Shopping around the Königstraße The main shopping street in Stuttgart is the Königstraße which starts at the main railway station. Left and right of Königstraße are interesting shops, too, but Königstraße is a good startpoint for navigation in the inner city. Stores and shops usually open their doors M-Sa 10:00 to 20:00.

Big department stores and shopping malls

1 Das Gerber, Sophienstraße 21 (S/U-Bahn station Rotebühlplatz). 09:30-20:00. In September 2014, this shopping mall with 86 international brands opened extending the Königstraße. There are clothing shops, a food court and two supermarkets inside the building. 2 Milaneo (U-Bahn station Stadtbibliothek). M-Th 10:00-20:00; F 10:00-21:30; Sa 09:30-20:00. Opened in Ocotober 2014 this new shopping mall north of the main station is the largest of its kind in Baden-Württemberg. In the three connected buildings there are more than 200 shops and plenty of eating options. 3 Königsbaupassagen. A modern shopping centre inside the historical Königsbau in the middle of the city at the Schlossplatz with a number of apparel chain stores and a food court. 4 Breuninger, Marktstr. 1-3 (U1, U2, U4 and buses 43, 44, station/stop Rathaus). M-Sa 10:00-20:00, Saturdays from 09:30. Breuninger is Stuttgart's homegrown department store, which now has outlets in many other German cities and became one of only three surviving major department store chains, alongside Kaufhof and Karstad. The secret of their success is focusing on high-end fashion and other branded premium/luxury goods.In Breuninger's Stuttgart flagship store, you will find a selection of local German and global brands in both apparel, accessories, sportsgear, cosmetics and home decoration spread over six levels. There are multiple restaurants/cafes, hairdressers' and a cosmetic treatment salon on site. Parking is provided across the Hauptstatter Straße with an underground passage from the garage to the store. Galeria Kaufhof. Kaufhof is one of the two traditional department store chains in Germany, offering a broad range of consumer goods (apparel, sports gear, household goods, media and some foodstuffs) at midmarket prices. They have three locations throughout Stuttgart. 5 Galeria Kaufhof Eberhardtstraße. 6 Galeria Kaufhof Königstraße. 7 Cannstatter Carré, Wildungerstraße 2 (S-Bahn to Bad Cannstatt). Shopping mall (updated Sep 2021) 8 SchwabenGalerie, Schwabenplatz 7 (S-Bahn to Vaihingen or U1 to Vaihingen Schillerplatz). Shopping mall in Vaihingen (updated Sep 2021)

Clothing 9 Abseits, Kleiner Schlossplatz 13/15 (Behind the Kunstmuseum.). M

Eat

There are restaurants all over Stuttgart. The traditional Swabian cuisine with onion-topped roast pork, think noodles called "Spätzle" or Maultaschen (stuffed noodles) is very tasty. Of course there are also restaurants serving styles from many other parts of the world. Stuttgart publishes a book annually entitled Stuttgart geht aus (Stuttgart goes out). This is available at most book stores on Königstraße (e.g. Wittwer). This book, published in German, is a great guide to restaurants in the city. Food courts with various types of (fast) food can be found in the malls Milaneo, Gerber and Königsbaupassagen.

Budget All these are in the city center:

1 Udo Snack, Calwer Str. 23. Of course McDonald's, Burger King and Subway are in town, too. If you want to try their locally renowned single shop competitor, go to Udo Snack in Calwer Straße. (updated Jan 2023) 2 Vegi, Steinstraße 13. the best falafel in Stuttgart. Perfect for vegetarians and vegans. Numerous sauces and options to choose from. Always fast and very friendly service. Seating is available in the snack bar and outside. Very friendly and young staff. (updated Jan 2023) 3 Rudolfs Küche und Café, Rotebühlpl. 28. Half of the food is vegetarian/vegan. Various daily meals. By doing self-service you get your food faster. The concept at Rudolfs is very worthy of support. (updated Jan 2023) 4 Brunnenwirt, Leonhardspl. 25. Very tasty food. Especially the schnitzel (very high quality meat and preparation). The ambiance simply iconic. Great for eating a currywurst in the cold at 11PM. Legendary snack bar in Stuttgart's red light district. Great curry special and shashlik skewers. (updated Jan 2023) 5 Al Zain, Marienstraße 18. Best shawarma. It is a decent Syrian restaurant and the food is very tasty. (updated Jan 2023)

Mid-range 6 Carls Brauhaus, Stauffenbergstraße 1 (Schlossplatz). Opened in April 2014, the Carls Brauhaus serves decent Swabian cuisine. (updated Sep 2022) 7 Biergarten im Schlossgarten (Beer garden in the palace park), Am Schlossgarten 18 (in the city park near the main train station), ☏ +49 711-22 612 74, fax: +49 711-22 612 75, [email protected]. Daily 10:30-01:00. Beautiful setting and reasonable prices. Order cafeteria style or sit down to be waited on. Free live music on Sundays from May - September. €3-10 for entrees, drinks start at €2. 8 Sophies Brauhaus, Marienstraße 28 (U-Bahn Rotebuehlplatz, S-Bahn Stadtmitte), ☏ +49 711-61 09 62, fax: +49 711-61 18 75, [email protected]. M-Th 11:30-01:30, F Sa 11:30-02:00, Su 10:00-00:00. Brewpub serving regional specialt

Drink & nightlife

Stuttgart has developed a vibrant nightlife with many clubs and pubs in the heart of the city. The most popular street for clubbing is the Theodor-Heuss-Straße ("Theo"). Several bars, clubs and lounges have opened here. During the summer, there are also many opportunities to have a drink outside. In the "Theo" you can listen to good house, drum'n'bass, hip-hop and other kinds of electronic music. However it is not always easy to get into most clubs because of the restrictive door policy! For a more laid-back atmosphere try the area surrounding the "Hans-im-Glück" ("Lucky Hans") fountain just a stone's throw from Königsstraße. In this charming quarter in Stuttgart's old town centre, many pubs and bars are crammed next to each other. Especially in the summer months a unique southern flair mixed with a great party scene with open-minded people make this area special. Concerts, nightclubs and events are covered by local magazines (generally not in English). Try Lift and Prinz. Because street drinking is still legal in Germany budget-travellers can save some money if they buy their drinks at a supermarket. A beer is there, e.g. only €0.50 compared to €3 and more in pubs. There are two of the REWE supermarkets at the beginning and the end of the Königstraße. There you can buy cheap snacks, softdrinks and alcoholic drinks from Monday to Saturday up till 22:00. Lots of young people do so and hang around the beautiful Schlossplatz.

Bars and pubs 1 Palast der Republik, Friedrichstraße 27. In a former public toilet house, the "palace" is the place to hang out in hot summer nights. Get your beer at the fastest barkeeper you've ever seen and find your place outside (maybe on the ground). 2 Mata Hari (Hans-im-Glück-Brunnen). At the Mata Hari you can get exotic beer in an old-fashioned tea-house style. At long tables and benches young folks sit together and drink their beer. Contact to others comes therefore almost automatically. 3 Biddy Earlys. A good place to go where everyone speaks English is Biddy Earlys, an Irish pub just west of the city centre/Königstraße, a 5-minute walk from the major public transport station "Stadtmitte" (S-Bahn, Stadtbahn). Keep a sharp eye because the entry is a mere doorway wide which leads down the stairs to the basement. Good bands on the weekends. €2-3 cover, €4 on weekends (plus a bag charge if you have a backpack). Everybody always welcome and you don't have to apologise for your poor German here! They show Premier League Championship and other British football here, you can celebrate or commiserate with only a handful of other

Sleep

To stay in the city centre (Mitte) around the Königstraße is probably the nicest, but also most expensive option. Still in walking distance are the beautiful districts of West and Süd. Other accommodations further out in the districts Nord, Cannstatt, Feuerbach or Vaihingen are perfectly reachable by public transport. If you intend to arrive by car check at the hotel for parking possibilities. If you have an early morning flight, it is possible to spend the night in the airport, as check-in areas stay open at night.

Budget 1 Campingplatz Cannstatter Wasen (Cannstatt), ☏ +49 711 556696, [email protected]. The only camping ground in Stuttgart is between the Neckar River, the Cannstatter Wasen and the stadium. The rates may be higher when there are big events close by. €6.50 per person; €4.50 per tent; €2.50 per car; €7.50 per caravan. 2 Alex30 Hostel, Alexanderstraße 30 (Mitte U-bahn: Olgaeck), ☏ +49 711 838895-0, fax: +49 711 838895-20, [email protected]. Check-out: 12:00. Central hostel with breakfast buffet. Youth Hostel card is not required to stay. WiFi €1; also a computer terminal at regular rates. Shared room from €22. Private rooms also available. 3 Youth hostel, Haussmannstraße 27 (10-min walk from main station, or take the U15 to Eugensplatz (Jugendherberge)), ☏ +49 711 24 15 83. €25/adult and €5 for internet + €6 for breakfast, €3 for a Youth Hostel card. They will charge you for shampoo (€1.50) and towel (cleaning fee €1.50) separately. 4 City - Übernachtung - Stuttgart (City-Overnight-Stuttgart-West), Forststr. 71 (West), ☏ +49 711-9933010, [email protected]. dorms from €12. 5 ibis Budget Stuttgart City Nord (formerly ETAP), Siemmensstraße 28 (Feuerbach, next to Maybachstraße U-Bahn and a few minutes walk from Pragsattel). An older-style Etap hotel (blue fittings) that was not updated to the newer "green room" standard when rebranded as ibis Budget. Free WiFi in the rooms and foyer however the login webpage is very bad and sometimes the "Gratis WLAN" link doesn't display. During the week a room for 1 person is €49 with a €10 surcharge for a second person and €39 at the weekend. The rooms have a double bed and a single bed in them.

Mid-range 6 Dormero Hotel Stuttgart, Plieninger Straße 100 (Möhringen), ☏ +49 711 721 0, [email protected]. The Dormero is a huge (over 450 rooms) 1980s-style tower hotel within the SI entertainment complex (cinema, musical theatre, casino, spa) in Moehringen, an outer district of Stuttgart close to the airport. Due to its particular location, arrival by public tra

Go next

Black Forest — In Triberg (120 km south), a beautiful old village in the heart of the black forest which specialises in grandfather and cuckoo clocks, you can see the largest waterfalls in Europe. Swabian Mountains — The Schwäbische Alb (hilly mattock landscape) covering natures highlights like the mystical colored "Blautopf" and stalactite caves like "Bärenhöhle". Can be a nice day trip for families with children. Go shopping in the outlet city Metzingen - Europe's largest outlet (close to Reutlingen) Visit the charming university cities of Tübingen, Heidelberg (80 km northwest), Freiburg (120 km southwest) or Ulm (80 km east).

By train For connections and timetables see webpages of Deutsche Bahn AG. For connections to nearer cities in the area which may be worth a visit (e.g. Esslingen, Ludwigsburg with their historic centres), you may also try the "S-Bahn" commuter trains which will take you there and back at least every half an hour. See Public transportation above for more information and timetable links. Other nearby cities that may be of interest include Tübingen, Reutlingen and Schwäbisch Hall.

Fast inner-German connections From main station Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof:

to Cologne (Köln) 2hr 15min: (ICE via Mannheim, Frankfurt - travelling at up to 305 km/h) to Berlin 5hr 26min: (ICE via Göttingen - doesn't reach high speed on this track) to Frankfurt 1hr 26min. (Frankfurt Airport 1hr 15min; ICE direct) to Hamburg 5hr 8 min: (ICE via Hannover) to Mannheim 38min (ICE) to Munich (München) 1hr 58min: (ICE via Ulm, Augsburg - not top speed) to Nuremberg 2hr 10min (IC) to Freiburg/Br. 2hr 16min (IC via Karlsruhe).

Fast European connections From main station Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof:

to Salzburg (Austria): 4hr 5min (ICE) to Vienna (Austria): 6hr 32min (IC, EN; via Munich and Salzburg) to Strasbourg (France) 1hr 20min (TGV), to Paris (France): 3hr 11min (TGV via Strasbourg) or 4 hours (ICE, change in Mannheim) to Zurich (Switzerland): 2hr 48min (ICE via Schaffhausen) to Amsterdam (Netherlands): 5hr 1min (ICE via Köln, Arnhem) to Prague (Czech Republic): 8hr 32 min (ICE, EC) to Brussels (Belgium): 4hr 49min (ICE, IC, Thalys) Austrian rail service ÖBB offers night services (nightjet) to

Venice (Italy): 11hrs (via Munich and Salzburg) Zagreb (Croatia): 12hrs Budapest (Hungary): 11hrs