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Is Stuttgart worth visiting you might wonder? Stuttgart is often overlooked when people visit Germany, but in our opinion, few German cities have so much to offer their visitors. Here you’ll find old and new history, world-class art, great architecture, stunning palaces, a great food scene, vibrant nightlife, and excellent shopping. Still wondering if Stuttgart is worth visiting? Then read on to discover 9 great things to do in Stuttgart.
We might be biased, but to answer the question, is Stuttgart worth visiting? we can already let you know that it absolutely is. To be honest, we didn’t really know what to expect when we visited Stuttgart recently. Based on what others told us, we expected to find a not-so-nice city with not too many things to do. As we were planning on spending four nights in Stuttgart, we did wonder if we would get bored or if there were enough things to do in Stuttgart for that long of a time. Well, how wrong one can be. Few cities in Germany have taken us with so much surprise as Stuttgart did.
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After Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, and Frankfurt, Stuttgart is the sixth-largest city in Germany. It is located on the Neckar River and is the largest city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. People have been living in the area for centuries and Stuttgart played an important role throughout history.
Like many German cities, also Stuttgart was ravaged by Allied air raids during WWII, and in 1944 the entire city center was ruined due to the bombing raids. At the end of the war, over 57% of all the buildings in the city had been destroyed. This means that Stuttgart had to be rebuilt in the post-war years. Today, Stuttgart is a great mix of old and new architecture. Here you won’t find the beauty and cuteness found in other German towns like Görlitz or Weimar, but you will find a brave city looking into the future at the same time as protecting its past.
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Why is Stuttgart worth visiting?
With a population of some 630.000 inhabitants (over 2,8 million in the Stuttgart Region), Stuttgart offers everything one would want from a big city. It is famous for its car industry, with both Mercedes Benz and Porsche having their headquarters here. This brings money to the city and the inhabitants. Furthermore, it brings lots of competence to the city, and also lots of expat workers. This makes Stuttgart a very vibrant city with an international flair. But Stuttgart is also a city that is proud of its history and traditions, and all this mixed, makes up the Stuttgart you will find today.
What to do in Stuttgart you might wonder? Well, there are so many things to do in Stuttgart that would keep you busy for days on end. In the city, you will find world-class art, great museums, parks, architecture, great shopping, good restaurants, and cool bars. It simply has everything you would need for some days, which we will show you below.
Furthermore, Stuttgart is also the gateway to the famous Black Forest, but it’s also centrally located if you wish to combine your visit to Stuttgart with other cities like Heidelberg, Strasbourg, or even Paris. So as you soon will see; is Stuttgart worth visiting? Yes, it most definitely is.
Things to do in Stuttgart
There are so many things to see and do in Stuttgart, and to see it all you would need days in end. However, with limited time, you will still be able to explore some of the most interesting sights around the city, based on your interests. Traveling isn’t all about seeing as many sights as possible. It’s of course also about understanding a country, taking part in the culture, and observing the local life.
Our list of things to do in Stuttgart could have been much longer, but as always when traveling, we chose to spend lots of time just walking around the city without a plan. That is for us one of the best ways to explore a new place. And exploring Stuttgart was a great surprise as we didn’t know much about the city beforehand. So read on, go visit Stuttgart, and then maybe afterwards you will be able to answer the question; Is Stuttgart worth visiting?
1. Staatsgalerie Stuttgart (State Gallery Stuttgart)
Is Stuttgart worth visiting for its art? Oh, absolutely. Among several small and larger art museums in Stuttgart, Staatsgalerie Stuttgart (State Gallery Stuttgart) is where you want to be. It is considered one of the most important art museums in Baden-Württemberg. But not only is it the best art museum in Stuttgart. It is also one of the very best art museums we have visited in the whole of Germany.
TIP: If you like visiting museums and are heading to Berlin as well, then don’t miss some of the excellent museums in Berlin. The Museum Island consists of five museums and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The museum is in three buildings linked together, and this makes up the new and the old State Gallery (Alte Staatsgalerie and Neue Staatsgalerie). The extensive art collection in Staatsgallerie Stuttgart is nothing but impressive. Very impressive that is. Here you will find artworks from so many famous artists, but also from more unknown German painters as well. Among the highlights for us, there is a room dedicated to Picasso. In addition to Picasso, you can find works of Dali, Magritte, Miró, Pollock, Munch, Matisse, Manet, Renoir, Monet, Gaugin, and Cézanne to name a few. So is Stuttgart worth visiting for its art? A 100% yes from us!
Before you go – How to visit Staatsgallerie Stuttgart:
- Opening hours Staatsgalleire Stuttgart:
- Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm
- Evening opening to 8 pm Thursdays
- Closed Mondays
- Opening hours vary on German holidays so check their website before you go
- Admission: €7
- Reduced: €5
- Children and youth up to 20 years: Free
- Address: Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 30 – 32
- By public transport: Bus 40 to Alte Staatsgallerie or U-bahn to Staatsgallerie
TIP: There are two other very popular museums in Stuttgart. Both the Porsche Museum and the Mercedes-Benz Museum showcase the city’s proud car industry and history. We did not visit those museums as we are not much into cars, but we know many of you are. Check their respective websites for information, opening hours, and how to visit if you are interested.
2. Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart (Stuttgart City Library)
From the outside, the City Library in Stuttgart doesn’t look very special. But you know how the saying goes; don’t judge a book by its cover. And this is the thing about the Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart as well. Is Stuttgart worth visiting for a library? Yes definitely.
The new City Library in Stuttgart is a monolithic cube designed by the Korean-born Cologne-based architect Sun Young Yi. For this work, he won Library of the Year in 2013. Stuttgart City Library is located on the Mailänder Platz in the Europaviertel quarter. The building has now become one of the most famous landmarks in Stuttgart.
But when visiting Stuttgart, you don’t come here for the outside of the library. It’s inside you will find the magic. After entering the building you might wonder what’s so special about it. As did we. But after entering, take one of the elevators up. From the fifth level, a funnel-shaped hall opens upwards and creates a large, open space. For the architect, this symbolizes the opening to the outside world, to the world of knowledge.
From this floor and upwards you will have great views of the library and its amazing architecture. Head up to the eighth floor for the best views. Here you will also find a small bistro and literature café.
Before you go – How to visit Stuttgart City Library:
- Opening hours Stuttgart City Library:
- Monday-Saturday 9 am – 9 pm
- Closed Sundays
- Opening hours may vary on German holidays
- General admission: Free of charge
- Address: Mailänder Platz 1
- By public transport: U-Bahn to Stadtbibliothek
3. Chinese Garden
A Chinese garden in Stuttgart? And what is it doing there? You read correctly. In Stuttgart, you can travel to China without leaving Stuttgart. This tiny, but oh-so-beautiful garden, „Qingyin“ was originally a part of the international garden exhibition IGA in 1993. Due to its popularity, it was decided to move the garden to a more suitable place in the city after the garden exhibition ended. The Chinese Garden in Stuttgart moved to its current location at the corner of Birkenwaldstraße and Panoramastraße (meaning Panoramic Road).
The “Garden of Beautiful Melody” is such a quiet and peaceful place to visit away from the noise of the city. Here you can experience the beauty of Classical Chinese garden art in miniature. The buildings are typical southern Chinese architecture and from the hill in the garden, you can enjoy the view over Stuttgart’s basin and hills. Even though the Chinese Garden in Stuttgart is small, it truly is an impressive place to visit next time you are in Stuttgart.
Before you go – How to visit the Chinese Garden in Stuttgart:
- Open daily from 07 am – 08 pm
- Admission is free of charge
- Address: Panoramastraße 33
- By public transport: Bus 44 from Arnulf-Klett-Platz to Im Kaisemer
4. Schlossplatz Stuttgart
The Schlossplatz Stuttgart (Stuttgart Palace Square) is the largest square in central Stuttgart. It is a square for celebrations, festivities, and relaxation. It is located directly in front of the New Palace (Neues Schloss), a Baroque masterpiece and once the residence of the Württembergian kings.
It is difficult to visit the palace itself as it doesn’t have any regular opening hours or set guided tours. Today it houses different ministers, and tours happen very rarely.
However, a walk around the square and the park around the palace will show you the facade and size of this huge palace. Public events take place regularly at the square, such as the Stuttgart Summer Festival, and in the winter you’ll find a Christmas market and an ice skating rink here.
5. Alte Schloss – Old Castle Stuttgart
The Old Castle (Altes Schloss) in Stuttgart is a former castle located on the Schillerplatz in the city center of Stuttgart. From the early 1200s to the 18th century this was a water castle.
It might not be the most impressive castle in Germany but do visit it to get a feeling of how old medieval castles in Germany used to look like.
Today, the Altes Schloss Stuttgart houses the Württemberg State Museum, showing the history of the state from the Stone Age up to modern times. There is also a children’s museum in the old castle, called Junges Schloss.
TIP: If you want to visit a real fairytale castle, then consider visiting Schwerin Castle north of Berlin. It’s absolutely stunning, and from 2024 also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Before you go – How to visit the Old Castle (Altes Schloss) in Stuttgart
- Opening hours Altes Schloss Stuttgart:
- Tuesday-Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm
- Closed Mondays
- General admission: €6
- Reduced: €5
- Children and youth up to 17 years: free admission
- Address: Schillerplatz 6, Stuttgart
- The Old Castle is within walking distance from all over the city. The closets metro stop is U Schlossplatz
6. Markthalle Stuttgart – for the foodies
Calling all food lovers! Entering the market hall in Stuttgart (Markthalle Stuttgart) is almost like arriving in food heaven. Located in an early- 1900s art nouveau building, this lively market hall is full to the brim with cheese, hams, sausages, meat, and local -and global cuisine.
Numerous stalls are selling their products, and wandering between them is such a nice experience. Some food vendors sell ready-to-go food, while others cater to people looking to buy ingredients to cook at home. Here you will have a fantastic opportunity to try locally produced foods like cheese and sausage. Many of the stall holders offer small tastings, hoping that it will convince you to purchase something from their stall.
In addition to the stalls selling their products, there are also a few bars and restaurants serving great food and drinks. One place is serving delicious seafood such as oysters or shellfish and there’s also a tapas restaurant. However, if you are a fan of Italian cuisine, head to the second floor, to Restaurant Empore. We had an amazing lunch here that set us right back to our previous trips to Italy. The restaurant can get busy so a reservation in advance might be smart. You can call +49 0711 4704400 to make a reservation at any of the restaurants in the market hall.
Before you go – How to visit Markthalle Stuttgart:
- Opening hours Markthalle Stuttgart:
- Monday – Friday: 07.30 am – 6.30 pm
- Saturday: 07 am – 5 pm
- Closed on Sundays
- Admission is free of charge
- Address: Dorotheenstrasse 4, Stuttgart
- Markthalle is within walking distance from all over the city. The closets metro stop is U Charlottenplatz
7. Weissenhof Estate – for the architecture enthusiasts
So, what do you think? Is Stuttgart worth visiting for its architecture? Our answer to that is easy: yes, most definitely. We have already mentioned the stunning library in the city center, with its new cutting-edge design. But Stuttgart also has another great architectural treasure, the Weissenhof Estate.
The Wissenhof Estate is a housing estate built for the 1927 Deutscher Werkverbund exhibition in Stuttgart, which was an international showcase of modern architecture, aiming to provide cheap, simple, efficient, and good-quality housing.
Two buildings designed by Le Corbusier were designated a World Heritage Site in 2016 (as part of the architectural works of Le Corbusier). But not only Le Corbusier worked with the Weissenhof Estate in Stuttgart. In total 17 European architects, including the German architect Mies van der Rohe, and the German-American architect Walter Gropius.
If you have the slightest interest in architecture, Bauhaus, design, functionalism, or modernism this is a place not to be missed in Stuttgart. You can visit the estate and see the exterior of the buildings for free. The estate can be visited at any time and is open to the public. However, there’s a small but very interesting museum that requires a ticket.
Before you go – How to visit the Weissenhof Estate in Stuttgart:
- Opening hours museum at Wissenhof Estate (Weissenhofmuseum):
- Tuesday – Friday: 11 am -6 pm
- Saturday, Sunday, public holidays: 10 am – 6 pm
- Closed Mondays
- General admission: €6,50
- Reduced: €3
- Children under 11: Free
- Address: Rathenaustrasse 1, Stuttgart
- By public transport: Underground U5 from the main station to Killesberg or Bus 44 to Kunstakademie
8. Schloss Ludwigsburg – Ludwigsburg Palace
Have you ever wondered what to do in Stuttgart? Well, one of the absolute best things to do in Stuttgart is to visit some of the palaces and castles in and around the city. There are several in the near to choose from, but we absolutely recommend a visit to the stunning Ludwigsburg Palace (Schloss Ludwigsburg or Residenzschloss Ludwigsburg). Now that’s what we call a palace. Is Stuttgart worth visiting for a palace? Oh, definitely!
We have visited numerous palaces and castles in Germany, over 60 in total. But we have to say, one of the most impressive in Ludwigsburg Palace. It’s nicknamed the “Swabian Versailles” (Swabia being this part of Germany), and here is why it’s called so. Technically Ludwigsburg Palace is located in the small town of Ludwigsburg just outside Stuttgart and not in the city itself, but with great connections by public transport a visit to this stunning German palace is easy to plan.
This extravagant Baroque, Rococo, and Empire palace complex has no less than 452 rooms over 18 different buildings. The main palace building has four wings, and including the gardens, Ludwigsburg Palace is the largest palatial estate in Germany. With its lavish interiors, chandeliers, frescoes, and columns, this is truly a place to visit in Stuttgart.
Unlike many other German palaces, you can only visit the state rooms of Schloss Ludwigsburg on a guided tour, meaning you cannot wander around on your own. There are different tours, but there are two standard tours, the Duke Tour (Herzog Tour) and the Duchess Tour (Herzogin Tour). These tours start at the same place but take you through different palace wings. Both tours last around one hour, and if you do both tours in one day you will get a 50% discount on the second tour. We did both tours at Ludwigsburg Palace and can highly recommend doing both.
In addition to the tours of the palace, there’s also a ceramic museum and a fashion museum (for an additional fee) on the palace grounds. You can also visit the palace café when you require a break and a refreshment. If you visit on a nice day, don’t miss the spectacular palace gardens as well (for an additional fee). In September-October, the world’s largest pumpkin festival takes place in the garden. If you have the time, walk through the garden and visit another palace, the Favorite Palace that can be spotted from the garden.
TIP: If you love castles and palaces we recommend a trip to Berlin. There are so many castles in Berlin, and most of them are worth a visit
Before you go – How to visit Ludwigsburg Palace (Residenzschloss Ludwigsburg):
- Opening hours Ludwigsburg Palace:
- Mon-Fri: 11 am – 04 pm (23 March – 1 November)
- Sat-Sun-holidays: 10 am – 05 pm (23 March – 1 November)
- Check their website for other times of the year
- Opening hours Ludwigsburg Palace Gardens: 7:30 am – 8:30 pm (March 17 – Dec 3)
- Guided tours in English:
- 1 April – 31 October: Mon-Friday and public holidays: 1.15 pm and 3.15 pm
- 1 November – 31 March: Monday – Sunday and holidays: 1.15 pm
- Admission to the palace: You can enter the palace grounds for free. Tours, museums, and gardens require a ticket
- Adults: €9 (including tour)
- Reduced: €4,50
- Additional museum ticket: €3 (reduced €1,50)
- If you do both tours in one day, the second tour costs €4,50
- No need to make a reservation. Purchase your ticket at the palace ticket office
- Admission to the garden: €11,50 (reduced € 5,50)
- Address: Schlossstrasse 30, Ludwigsburg
- By public transport: S4 or S5 to Ludwigsburg. Walk 12 minutes or take bus 421 or 437 to Ludwigsburg Residenzschloss
- Please note: No photos are allowed inside of the palace
9. Schloss Solitude – Solitude Palace
If you are a castle lover and haven’t had enough castles yet you don’t have to worry. Stuttgart has more castles to see, and this one is another recommendation of things to do In Stuttgart.
Solitude Palace (Schloss Solitude) is a small Rococo palace and hunting retreat located on a hill with stunning views just outside the city center of Stuttgart. It is not one of the most famous palaces or castles in Germany, but it is still definitely worth your time.
Solitude Palace was constructed from 1764 to 1769 and was commissioned by Charles Eugene, Duke of Württemberg. It’s an outstanding example of German rococo architecture and was built to entertain, hunt, and socialize. It was mostly used as a summer palace.
Located on a hill outside Stuttgart, it should be possible to see all the way to Ludwigsburg Palace on a clear day. Unfortunately, when we visited it was so foggy, that in periods we could hardly see the palace itself, never mind the city or Ludwigsburg Palace.
You can always visit the palace grounds of Solitude Palace, but to enter you need to join a guided tour. Unfortunately, there are tours in German only, but it can still be worth it to see the palace from inside. As Schloss Solitude is less visited, it has limited opening hours, so plan ahead.
Before you go – How to visit Solitude Palace (Schloss Solitude):
- Opening hours Solitude Palace:
- Wed-Sun, holidays: 10 am – 05 pm (1 April – 31 October )
- Mondays & Tuesdays: Closed
- Sat, Sun, holidays 10 am – 04 pm (1 November – 31 March)
- Mon – Fri: Closed
- Check their website for updated opening hours
- Wed-Sun, holidays: 10 am – 05 pm (1 April – 31 October )
- Guided tours in German only: hourly 10:30 am – 4:30 pm (1 April – 31 October ) and until 3:30 pm in the winter
- Admission to the palace: You can enter the palace grounds for free. Tours require a ticket
- Adults: €6 (including tour)
- Reduced: €3
- No need to make a reservation. Purchase your ticket at the palace ticket office
- On-site cafe sells snacks and refreshments
- Address: Solitude 1, Stuttgart
- By public transport: U-Bahn that goes to Feuersee and then bus 92 to Solitude
- Please note: No photos are allowed inside of the palace
Best time to visit Stuttgart
When is the best time to visit Stuttgart? Is Stuttgart worth visiting year round? Well, Stuttgart can be visited all year round. Summers are warm but not too hot, and winters are chill but normally not too cold. If you visit at the end of November or December, you can visit some of the Christmas markets, and if you go in the summer you can participate in some of the many cultural events happening in the city.
In the winter it gets dark early in this part of Europe so you will have much less daylight compared to the summer half. In Germany the weather can change pretty quickly, so always bring an umbrella when traveling in Germany.
The most comfortable temperatures you will get in spring and fall, so visiting Stuttgart between mid-April and June, and in September-October might give you the best experience weather-wise.
Plan your trip – how to get to Stuttgart
Stuttgart is very well-connected, and you can get there very easily. Stuttgart International Airport has mainly European routes, but with a connection, you can easily reach Stuttgart by air.
We love train travel and recommend it as often as you can. Luckily, Stuttgart has a great location and superb train connections within Germany. You can reach other German cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich very easily. From Munich where we live, the journey takes around two hours with express train (ICE). Stuttgart also has great connections to Paris and Switzerland among others. Check bahn.com to plan your train journey and to purchase your ticket.
Trains in Germany can be expensive if not booked in advance, so if you travel on a budget, the bus will often be cheaper than the train. Check Flixbus for routes, prices, and tickets.
How to get around in Stuttgart
Stuttgart is a very walkable city, although in the outskirts it can get a bit hilly. The city center is compact so it doesn’t take much time to walk across town.
You can also get around Stuttgart by public transport. The city is served by trams, buses, underground (U-Bahn), and suburban trains (S-Bahn). Google Maps world fine for planning your route, but we recommend checking the official website for VVS Stuttgart (public transport association) or downloading the VVS Stuttgart App. There you can plan your journey and buy your ticket.
Like many other German cities, also Stuttgart is bike friendly. There are bike lanes in the city, but be aware of the hills surrounding the city. Once you leave the city center it will get hilly. If you plan to explore the outskirts of Stuttgart, you might benefit from renting an E-bike instead of a regular bike.
