5 Things to Do in Stuttgart Germany

Stuttgart is Germany’s eighth largest city with a population of just over half a million. It serves as the state capital of Baden-Wurttemberg, a state in southwest Germany. For those who plan to visit Southern Germany but prefer not to fly into busy airports, the Stuttgart Airport (STR) is the ideal airport to land in.

Direct flights are available from Atlanta to Stuttgart and connecting flights are available from major European airports. 30 airlines ranging from Delta to Lufthansa serve Stuttgart. Stuttgart is only a two-hour 18-minute drive from Munich and a two-hour six-minute drive to Frankfurt.

Whether you are in Stuttgart for two days or two weeks, there are plenty of things to do in the city and the surrounding areas.

Here are Travelmath’s 5 things to do in Stuttgart:

1. Mercedes-Benz Museum

The Mercedes-Benz Museum is the only car museum in the world that documents in a single continuous timeline, 130 years of auto industry history – from 1886 to the present. The museum has nine stories, 160 vehicles, and over 1,500 exhibits.

Tours start on the highest floor and guests are taken in chronological order, starting at the M1 Pioneers (1886-1900) room and ending at the basement where the restaurants, shops, and Mercedes-Benz Classic Customer Center are located.

The museum is closed on Mondays. It is open from Tuesday through Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm. While the Mercedes-Benz Museum is a treat for car and racing enthusiasts, it is in fact captivating for everyone, especially those who enjoy history and culture. Take the tour at your own pace with a headphone audio guide (provided with entrance fee), winding from the top floor to the bottom. There are a few stairs in the museum; everything is at a slight incline.

Information: Mercedes-Benz Museum

2. Market Hall Stuttgart (Stuttgarter Markthalle)

The Market Hall Stuttgart art nouveau building was built in January 1914, accommodating over 400 stalls. It was the central trading venue in Stuttgart. The market was damaged during the war but restored to its former glory in 1953.

Today there are restaurants, fresh fruit and vegetable stalls, meat and poultry stalls, restaurants and a variety of shops in the market. A stroll through the market will give you a glimpse into the Swabian food culture. Visitors can also sample a variety of desserts and unique delicacies from Turkey, Hungary, Croatia and Persia. Stop by for food souvenirs or a meal at one of the restaurants in the market hall.

Information: Market Hall Stuttgart

3. Pig Museum (Schweine Museum)

Located in Stuttgart’s former slaughter house, the Pig Museum is the largest museum of it’s kind in the world. It holds over 50,000 exhibits in 25 themed rooms, a beer garden, and restaurants that serve local delicacies including a variety of foods with pork and parts of the pig.

The Pig Museum is open daily from 11 am to 7:30 pm.

Information: Pig Museum

4. Stuttgart City Tour

Take the hop-on-hop-off tour if you don’t have the time to figure out Stuttgart’s public transportation. The hop-on-hop-off bus covers a large area of Stuttgart, including stops at the Mercedes-Benz Museum, the Pig Museum, Killesberg Park, Weissenhof Museum and a chance to take a Vineyard Walk.

The tour bus stop off point for Vineyard Walk will allow you to walk through Stuttgart’s hilly vineyards and enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

Information: City Tour Stuttgart

5. Day Trip to Swabian Alps Castles

When in Stuttgart, take a tour of the Swabian Alps and visit two of its famous castles - The Castle of Lichtenstein and Hohenzollern Castle.

The Castle of Lichtenstein is located about an hour’s drive from Stuttgart. It is not swarmed by tourists and presents a beautiful view of Baden-Wurttemberg’s countryside. The original walls of the castle were built in 1388 and inside there is a large collection of historic armory, weapons, and hunting gear.

Hohenzollern Castle is a private property of Georg Friedrich Prince of Prussia, a descendant of Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor and King of Prussia.

Both castles are rich in German history and offer a place to relax in the countryside. For lunch, we recommend the Cafe Restaurant at Hohenzollern Castle for a traditional Swabian meal (local Baden-Wurttemberg food) of lentil, noodles, and sausage.

Have you been to Stuttgart? What were your favorite things to do there? Let us know.