Hear about travel to Stuttgart, Germany as the Amateur Traveler talks again to Kristin Montgomery from growingglobalcitizens.com and mycornerofgermany.com about her corner of Germany in the Baden-Wuerttemberg region.
Why should you go to Stuttgart?
Kristin says, “Stuttgart is the car capital of Germany. It’s home to Porsche and Mercedes Benz. It’s a wine region. In fact, there are actually vineyards within the city, which is pretty cool. And around here, there are some amazing castles and also some really cool special events that I’m going to tell you about.”
Kristin recommends an itinerary that includes a mix of Stuttgart’s city attractions, day trips to nearby medieval towns, wine regions, and castles, as well as attending seasonal festivals. Here’s the itinerary she suggests:
Day 1: Exploring Stuttgart
- Start at Schlossplatz: The heart of the city, surrounded by historic buildings, gardens, museums, and shopping.
- Visit the Württemberg State Museum in the Old Castle: Learn about the history of the region from prehistoric times to the monarchy.
- Stroll along Königstraße: One of the longest shopping streets in Germany, leading toward Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof.
- See Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof and Stuttgart 21 Project: Learn about the controversial railway infrastructure project.
- Relax at a Beer Garden in Schlossgarten: Enjoy local German specialties such as Käsespätzle (cheese noodles), German Maultaschen (Swabian ravioli), or lentils with spätzle.
- Visit the Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart (City Library): A strikingly modern library, popular for its Instagram-worthy architecture.
- Tour a Car Museum:
- Mercedes Benz Museum (Recommended for its historical storytelling)
- Porsche Museum (If you’re more interested in sports cars)
- Dine at a Besenwirtschaft (Temporary Wine Tavern): Experience local Swabian wine culture, where small, family-run wineries temporarily open their homes as restaurants.
Day 2: Wine Cruise & Museums
- Take a Wine Cruise on the Neckar River: Starting in Besigheim, with stops at vineyards for wine tasting.
- Visit the Pig Museum (Schweinemuseum): The world’s largest pig-themed museum, featuring over 40,000 pig-related items.
- Tour Kunstmuseum Stuttgart: A modern art museum in Stuttgart.
- Day Trip to Esslingen am Neckar:
- A well-preserved medieval town with half-timbered houses.
- Visit the oldest half-timbered house in Germany (1262).
- Explore the vineyards and climb to the castle for panoramic views.
- If visiting in December, attend the Esslingen Medieval Christmas Market.
Day 3: Festivals or Additional Sightseeing
- Attend a Festival (Seasonal Events):
- Esslingen Christmas Market: A unique medieval-style Christmas market.
- Stuttgarter Weindorf (Wine Village): A festival celebrating local wines and Swabian food (late August).
- Cannstatter Volksfest (Stuttgart Beer Festival): A traditional beer festival similar to Oktoberfest but less touristy (late September – early October).
- Pointed Cabbage Festival (Filderkrautfest): A quirky festival celebrating Swabian pointed cabbage with decorations, food, and even Baileys shots from cabbage leaves.
- Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival: Europe’s largest pumpkin festival at Ludwigsburg Residential Palace, featuring pumpkin art, pumpkin regatta races, and pumpkin-based dishes.
Day 4: Castles & Countryside
- Day Trip to Hohenzollern Castle:
- The ancestral seat of the imperial House of Hohenzollern, perched atop a hill with panoramic views.
- Visit Lichtenstein Castle:
- A fairytale-like 19th-century castle with a dramatic clifftop location and a drawbridge.
- Drive through the Swabian countryside: Enjoy scenic vineyards and small villages.
Day 5: More Day Trips & Historic Sites
- Visit Tübingen:
- A charming university town with half-timbered buildings and a traditional punting experience on the Neckar River.
- If visiting in December, explore the Tübingen Chocolate Festival.
- Explore Baden-Baden:
- Relax in the Friedrichsbad Spa, a historic Roman-Irish bath.
- Tour the Roman bath ruins.
- Learn about Roman History at Limes Germanicus in Aalen:
- See the remains of Roman frontier fortifications and visit the museum.
Bonus: Day Trip to Heidelberg
- Explore Heidelberg Castle & Pharmacy Museum: One of Germany’s most famous ruins.
- Walk the Philosopher’s Way: A scenic hike offering stunning views of the Neckar River and the old town.
- See the World’s Largest Wine Barrel inside Heidelberg Castle.
- Attend Heidelberg’s Castle Illuminations (Summer Event): A fireworks and light show celebrating French-German history.
Alternative Travel Options
- If you’re short on time, you could base yourself in Stuttgart and do day trips instead of changing accommodations.
- If you prefer an extended itinerary, combine Stuttgart with a visit to the Black Forest or extend the trip to Munich.
Kristin’s itinerary blends history, food, wine, quirky attractions, and local traditions, making it a well-rounded trip for anyone visiting Stuttgart and Baden-Württemberg.
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Show Notes
Growing Global Citizens
My Corner of Germany
My Corner of Germany on YouTube
Stuttgart
Schlossplatz (Stuttgart)
State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart
Württemberg State Museum in Stuttgart
Fabergé Museum – Baden Badden
Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof
Stuttgart 21
Königstraße
Schlossgarten
Beer garden in the Schlossgarten
Käsespätzle
German Maultaschen
Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart
Porsche Museum
Mercedes Benz Museum
StuttCard
Museums-PASS-Musées
Besenwirtschaften
A list of the Besen (temporary wine/food places)
Kunstmuseum Stuttgart (Art Museum)
Schweinemuseum Stuttgart
Esslingen am Neckar
Esslingen Christmas Medievalmarket
Stuttgarter Weindorf (Wine Village)
Cannstatter Volksfest
German Lebkuchen Hearts
Pointed Cabbage Festival | Filderkrautfest
Pointed cabbage
Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival
Ludwigsburg Residential Palace
House of Hohenzollern
Lichtenstein Castle (Württemberg)
Tübingen
Tübingen Christmas Market
Baden-Baden
Friedrichsbad
Limes Germanicus
Heidelberg
Philosopher’s Walk
Best things to do in Stuttgart
Is Heidelberg worth visiting?
Esslingen Medieval Christmas Market
Stuttgart’s Volksfest (Oktoberfest)
Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival
Video of Christmas Markets around Stuttgart
Community
Amateur Traveler Trips
