If you only have one day in Stuttgart, of course you want to make the most of it! Let The Travel Tester guide you to some of the highlights of this city.
One day in Stuttgart
Morning in Stuttgart
Where to Start the Day?
At the tourist information in front of the main train station (Hauptbahnhof), you can browse the brochures (or check our own brochure rack before you leave to save time!), ask for information and organise a so-called “StuttCard”. With this card, you can get free admission and reductions on the regular prices of more than 50 partners in the Stuttgart Region.
The StuttCard is available both with and without unlimited free travel on the entire VVS (Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund Stuttgart) Stuttgart Transport and Tariff Network. There is a 24, 48 and 72 hours cards.
The Stuttgart Citytour
Yes, this is one of those red tourist buses that take you past all the highlights around town and it leaves right next to the Tourist Information Center. Easy! Hate them or Love them, but in around 100 minutes, you get a pretty good background story on the city, with the chance to hop-on and hop-off at the different stops along the route.
I really liked how this audio guide wasn’t just a lot of facts and numbers (that I never remember), but a fun conversation between a girl and her grandpa talking about life in Stuttgart and all the fun sights you can spot or go to.
www.stuttgart-tourist.de/citytour-stuttgart
Palace Square
Either start directly with the bus tour, or walk around Palace Square for a bit. This is the real heart of the city and a great place to start exploring as well.
I’ve heard that the Old Palace you see here was not fancy enough for the Duke (he was determined to make Stuttgart a second Versailles), so he ordered the built of the New Palace, along with three others, soon after moving to Stuttgart. This became the residence of the kings of Württemberg up to the middle of the 19th century.
Today, you’ll find the ministries of the Baden-Württemberg state government here. The palace gardens were laid out in 1807 on request of King Friedrich I and they are still beautiful today!
Part of the Old (left) and New Palace
Let’s Hop!
When you’re ready for the hop-on-hop-off bus, enjoy the audio guide and get off at stops like the Mercedes-Benz Museum if you’re into cars…
www.stuttgart-tourist.de/mercedes-benz-museum
… the Wine-Experience if you’re into wine…
www.stuttgart-tourist.de/weingenussroemer
… or even the Pig Museum if you’re into pigs… Yes, there is a museum dedicated to pigs here. Something for everyone!
www.stuttgart-tourist.de/pig-museum
Afternoon in Stuttgart
Shopping in Stuttgart
For some good shopping, you can start on the Königstrasse (1,2 km of shopping, woopwoop!). Don’t miss Fluxus, a hip concept mall that is open until end 2015. Or head over to the massive Breuninger department store, a name that’s been standing for quality since 1881 and is similar in fame as Harrod’s is in London.
Markets in Stuttgart
If you’re a fan of markets, you should visit the Markthalle, which is located in a heritage listed building in Jugendstil style. You’ll find plenty of food, household items and garden equipment here. And behind the old palace on the Schillerplatz, there is a cute church and wile I was there, also a little farmer’s market.
Evening in Stuttgart
Where to eat in Stuttgart
Getting peckish? I had a typical Swabian dinner at the cute Weinstube Kachelofen. You’ll find that many restaurants in Stuttgart serve up local dishes (go for Maultaschen, Zwiebelrostbraten or Spätzle), but of course there is enough modern (fast) food to go around as well.
When you’re ready for a good night out, head over to the area surrounding the ‘Hans-im-Glück’ (lucky Hans) fountain, as this is -so I have been told- the trendy part of the old town centre. Also around the Marienplatz, there are lots of cafés, bars and restaurants to enjoy. I was a party-pooper and went to bed early, but you’ve got plenty of options if you’ve got more energy than me left at the end of the day :)
Download this brochure to read more:
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| Stuttgart City Tour |
| Download Brochure |
| page 1 – page 2 – page 3 |
All practical advice on how to get to Stuttgart, where to stay in Stuttgart and what to see and do in Stuttgart. Click below:
Looking for other cool places to visit in Germany? We can recommend:
- One Day in Gengenbach
- One Day in Freiburg
- One Day in Berlin
- One Day in Bremen
- One Day in Hamburg
- One Day in Magdeburg
- Transromanica Road Trip
Disclaimer: I traveled to Stuttgart as part of the #JoinGermanTradition campaign created and executed by iambassador in cooperation with the Dutch office of the German Tourism Authority. All photos and opinions are my own, as always.
I would like to visit the Otto Dix Museum instead of the Pig Museum!