Palace Square (Schlossplatz)
The symbolic heart of Stuttgart, the Schlossplatz or Palace
Square, is a popular meeting point for locals and travellers alike,
with the beautifully Baroque New Palace providing a majestic
backdrop. The former residence of kings, the New Palace was built
between 1746 and 1806 and is now a base for the state government of
Baden- Wurttemberg. If the New Palace feels a bit French it's
because the Duke Carl Eugen of Wurttemberg wanted to create a
Versailles in Stuttgart. The König Wilhelm Jubilee Column, rising
in the fore, was erected in 1841 in honour of King Wilhelm's silver
jubilee (25 years of reign). The statue of Concordia, the Roman
goddess of harmony at the pinnacle, was added in 1863. The two
fountains were built at the same time, with the eight cherubs each
representing one of Wurttemberg's rivers.
There's always something going on in the square. It is a popular
hangout for locals and there is usually a musician or two busking.
Those lucky enough to visit over the Christmas season should make
sure to visit the Christmas market at the Schlossplatz.
It is possible to catch the hop-on hop-off tour bus from the
square, which is a popular starting point for explorations of the
city.
Transport:
Stuttgart's underground stops directly beneath
Schlossplatz.
Palace Square
Stefan Fussan
Old and New State Gallery
Built between 1838 and 1843 under King Wilhelm I of
Wuerttemberg, the Old State Gallery in Stuttgart features a
prestigious range of paintings, drawings, sculptures, watercolours
and prints from the 14th to the 19th centuries, with Jerg Ratgeb,
Canaletto, Memling and Rembrandt taking centre stage. Connected to
the Old State Gallery, on the same level, is the New State Gallery,
dedicated to the art of the 20th century. Looking at important
schools within various art movements like Fauvism, German
Expressionism, Die Brucke and Cubism, the New State Gallery
includes works by masters such as Picasso, Beckmann, Schlemmer,
Beuys, Kiefer and Klee. A common criticism of this otherwise very
popular gallery is that there isn't much seating available in the
actual exhibition rooms, but if you need a break the museum has a
restaurant and a cafe that serves lovely light meals and
refreshments. There is also a gift shop.
Address:
30-32 Konrad-Adenauer Street
Opening time:
10am - 6pm (8pm on Thursdays); closed on
Mondays
New State Gallery
Timothy Brown
Kunstmuseum Stuttgart
Centrally located, Kunstmuseum Stuttgart is a work of art in
itself. Its modern cuboid design transforms from a glass hexahedron
during the day to reveal a colourful skeletal interior when lit up
at night. Opened in 2005, the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart is renowned for
its prestigious collection of work by Otto Dix, the famous German
artist remembered for his realistic depictions of Weimar society
and the brutality of war. The colourful and abstract art of Willi
Baumeister and the mixed media work of contemporary artist Dieter
Roth are also on display at the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, along with
ever-changing international exhibitions. Don't miss the museum shop
and bookshop, or have a light snack at the onsite restaurant.
Address:
Kleiner Schlossplatz 1
Transport:
Bus - 42 or 44 to Schlossplatz; U-bahn - U5, U6, U7, U12
and U15 to Schlossplatz
Opening time:
10am - 6pm Tuesday to Sunday; 10am - 9pm Friday;
closed on Monday.
Kunstmuseum Stuttgart
Julian Herzog
Mercedes-Benz Museum
Opened shortly before the start of the Football World Cup in
Germany, the impressive Mercedes-Benz Museum is housed in a slick,
contemporary building, an icon of modern architecture. With an
exhibition space of almost 182,986 square feet (17,000m/sq),
filling seven levels, the museum takes visitors on a chronological
journey through the history of the Mercedes automobile, combining
world events occurring at the same time as Benz breakthroughs and
displaying more than 160 different vehicles from racing cars and
concept cars to the pope mobile and airplane engines. Automobile
aficionados will be in heaven but even for non-petrol heads there
is a lot to see in this world-class museum which covers a lot of
interesting history through the lens of the automobile. Visitors
take the elevator to the top of the building and then wind their
way down chronologically on a spiral until they reach the ground
and the present day. There is a museum shop, a restaurant and a
cafe/bar to be enjoyed on the premises. An audio guide is
available.
Address:
Mercedesstrasse 100
Transport:
S-Bahn - line S1 (Neckarpark); Bus line 56
Opening time:
9am - 6pm Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on
Monday.
Mercedes-Benz Museum
Chris Tomlinson
Wilhelma Zoo
Europe's only combined zoological and botanical garden, the
Wilhelma Zoo never fails to leave a lasting impression on the
hearts and minds of all who explore it. Initially built as a
Moorish garden for King Wilhelm I in the 19th century, the
beautiful botanical garden is extraordinary all year round.
Countless exotic plants, a range of climatic biospheres in
magnificent greenhouses, a petting zoo, insect exhibit, aquarium
with crocodile hall, modern ape house, bear facilities, walk-in
bird flight facility and wild animal enclosures are some of the
exhilarating sights to be enjoyed. The Wilhelma Zoo is home to
about 8,000 animals, including polar bears and elephants, and 5,000
different species of plants. The gardens are also interspersed with
lovely historic buildings. Ideal for children and adults, there are
a host of ice cream stands, cafeterias and playgrounds to keep the
whole family entertained for the entire day. The covered walkways
make it possible to visit even when the weather is bad.
Address:
Neckartalstrasse Road
Transport:
Stadtbahn/Metropolitan Railway, route U 14: Wilhelma
Station
Opening time:
See website for opening hours each
month
Lutung monkey
Josefma
Mineral Baths
Sitting on one of the largest mineral water reserves in Europe,
the inhabitants of Stuttgart have been enjoying its liquid vitality
for more than two millennia and the famous mineral baths of
Stuttgart are a major tourist attraction for the city. Nineteen
natural springs pump something like 22 million litres of mineral
water into Stuttgart on a daily basis so there is no shortage of
this resource. Relaxing in a hot, steamy mineral bath is a good way
to spend some of your down time and the water is thought to help
with skin ailments and respiratory and heart problems; of course,
relaxation brings with it a swathe of health benefits as well. Das
Leuze, Mineralbad Cannstatt and Mineral Bath Berg all feature hot
and cold mineral baths, saunas, hot tubs and swimming pools. Das
Leuze is geared toward families with its playground, children's
pool and bright colours, while Mineralbad Cannstatt caters more for
adults looking for a haven of relaxation. Mineral Bath Berg is a
1950s gem, its iron-rich waters recognised by the state as a
'heilbad' for its medicinal properties.
Be warned that generally the Germans don't see a need for
clothing of any kind at these establishments so some nudity should
be anticipated.
Mineralbad Cannstatt
Klaus Enslin
Porsche Museum
The Porsche Museum in Stuttgart is a retrospective of more than
75 years of Porsche engineering and memorabilia. Porsche is both
the smallest independent German automaker and the world's most
profitable automaker. This museum is extremely popular with petrol
heads but will also interest those who are not obsessed with cars
as there is a lot to entertain and inform visitors. Although there
used to be a much smaller Porsche Museum, the company wanted an
inspiring place in which to display their corporate history and
built and inaugurated an extraordinary building which opened to the
public in 2009. The new Porsche Museum, which has become a city
landmark, displays all the historical and contemporary knowledge
about the Porsche brand as well as housing a collection of about 80
cars as well as a number of smaller exhibits. They also put up
regular special exhibitions and you can check for details on these
temporary treats on their website. The museum offers free audio
guides which are available in numerous languages and there is a
special version for children.
Address:
Porscheplatz 1 D – 70435, Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen,
Germany
Transport:
S-Bahn - line S6 towards Weil der
Stadt/Leonberg
Opening time:
9am - 6pm Tuesday to Sunday; closed on
Mondays
Porsche Museum
Benutzer Bran
Stuttgart has an oceanic climate, with huge temperature swings
from summer to winter. Summers are warm, with an average
temperature of 68°F (20°C), although it can reach as high as 95°F
(35°C) in July and August. Winters are long, lasting from December
to March, with the coldest months (December and January) averaging
temperatures around 32°F (0°C). Rainfall is spread evenly
throughout the year, with an average of 9 to 10 rainy days per
month. Summer is considered the best time to visit Stuttgart due to
the long, sunny days. However, the heat and crowds at summer's peak
mean many choose to visit in the early autumn (September and
October).
Stuttgart International Airport
Location: The airport is located eight miles (13km) south of
Stuttgart city centre.
Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March
and the last Sunday in October).
Transfer Between Terminals:
All the terminals are within easy walking distance of one
another.
Getting to the city:
The airport is connected to central Stuttgart by S-Bahn lines S2
and S3. In addition to the train service, there are several direct
bus links to destinations in and around Stuttgart, as well as a
24-hour taxi service.
Car Rental:
Car hire companies include Avis, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis are available outside the terminals and the trip to
central Stuttgart takes about 30 minutes.
Facilities:
Facilities at the airport include banks, ATMs and bureaux de
change. There are restaurants, bars and fast food outlets, a
variety of shops including duty-free, and wifi access.
Parking
There are short and long-term parking options available at
Stuttgart Airport and parking can be reserved in advance.
Most attractions and places of interest in Stuttgart are in the
inner city, making getting around on foot easy. The public
transport system is good. Trains include the U-Bahn and the S-Bahn
(good for getting to the suburbs). Guests can use tickets across
transportation modes from buses and trains, to trams. For tourists,
all day tickets (Tages Tickets) are more cost effective. If staying
longer, the special three-day ticket (3-Tage-Ticket) is a good
alternative. Taxis can be expensive but if sharing or looking for
transport late at night, they are a more convenient option.
Bicycles can also be hired in some areas and as Stuttgart has some
lovely open areas and parks, cycling can be a fun and convenient
way of getting around.
You can easily hire your own car but the public transport
network is more than sufficient and driving around a foreign city
can be stressful and confusing. Stuttgart is generally considered
to be a safe city but as petty crimes against tourists, like bag
snatching and pick pocketing, are on the rise all over Europe, it
is recommended that you stay vigilant and keep an eye on your
possessions when using public transport or when walking around the
city.
With good restaurants, superb local wineries, a hearty dose of
culture, beer festivals, art galleries and some beautiful parks,
Stuttgart has all the elements of a big city destination. The
variety of things to see and do in Stuttgart will impress visitors
from all walks of life. Families can be swept up in the open spaces
and thoroughly entertained at the planetarium and Wilhelma Zoo. The
city's mineral-rich pools, saunas, hot tubs and spas lure those in
search of health and relaxation. Car enthusiasts can enjoy the
Porsche and Mercedes-Benz museums never cease to enthral.
Other attractions in Stuttgart include the city's impressive art
galleries. The Kunstmuseum Stuttgart is housed in a building which
is a work of modern art in itself. The Old and New State Gallery
houses some real masterpieces dating from the 14th to the 19th
centuries. The Palace Square, or Schlossplatz, is a must for
visitors as it is the symbolic heart of the city, a popular meeting
and greeting spot, and it adjoins the remarkable New Palace, a
Baroque fortress built between 1748 and 1806.
Stuttgart can get swelteringly hot in summer and bitterly cold
in winter, so the best time to visit is in the shoulder seasons, in
autumn or spring. At the end of August and during the month of
September visitors can join the fun at the Wine Village Festival,
tasting more than 200 different wines, or enjoy music and
merrymaking at the Cannstatt Beer Festival, the second largest beer
festival after Munich's Oktoberfest. The city shimmers in
springtime, as do the parks and surrounding vineyards, which play
host to a plethora of different festivals.