Bidish When I moved to Stuttgart in March 2024, I was alone in a big city for the first time. I didn’t know where to go or what to do. Every evening after work I’d hop on a S-Bahn to go see a new place, but the travel feeling never really clicked in. Like many writers have said over the years, with time, even a strange place can feel like home. Stuttgart warmed up to me over time and by the end, I had enjoyed my six months in Stuttgart quite well. In this post, I share some of the best things to do in Stuttgart, as explored by an introvert in the Summer of 2024.
Given that there aren’t many tourist attractions; there are still places to see, parks to leisurely stroll in, and nearby towns to explore that can make up for a wonderful vacation in Stuttgart. I was lucky to be there during the EURO Cup 2024 and it was one brilliant Summer.
Best Things to Do in Stuttgart Germany
Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart
In my first month of staying in Stuttgart, Stadtbibliothek was the place I’d go most evenings to wind down and read a page or two. When I first entered the library, I was shocked to see a vacuum. Totally empty. Literally, nothing even after I climbed three flights of stairs.
After reaching the fourth floor, the library showed up and I finally saw how charming it really was. A brilliant interior filled with all kinds of books. I enjoyed my time there and kept going back whenever I felt blue.
The library has a variety of sections for you to choose from, though most are in German. The fifth floor has books written in different languages, including English. This is the place where I spent the most time, and you can guess why.
On the top floor, there’s a cafeteria and a nice viewpoint overlooking the city. Stadtbibliothek is one of the places you must see on your trip to Stuttgart. The library opens from 9 AM to 9 PM (Monday to Saturday), while the rooftop terrace opens until 6 PM.
Stuttgart Schlossgarten
In a walkable distance (~7 minutes) from Stuttgart central station, you enter into the world of Schlossgarten (Palace Garden). A wonderful all-inclusive park in Stuttgart that spans over 5 kilometers, welcoming walkers and runners alike. With its lush greenery, fountains, and flowers, Schlossgarten offers a calming escape from the city rush of Stuttgart.
Stuttgart Schlossplatz
Stuttgart Schlossplatz is the largest square located in the heart of Stuttgart city center. The Schlossplatz is home to the Neues Schloss (new castle), which was previously used as a military parade ground until the mid-1800s and not open for public use.
In today’s Stuttgart, Schlossplatz carries the soul of the city. People picnicking, leisurely strolling, and touristing around are some of the sights you can see in Schlossplatz any day of the week. The square overlooks a beautiful castle front and is further aestheticized by a beautiful fountain located in the middle.
Schlossplatz is connected to the Königstrasse, the main shopping street of Stuttgart. Along with the diverse clothing brands such as Primark, Uniqlo, H&M, you will also find a variety of cafes and restaurants to quench your thirst and hunger.
Oberer Schlossgarten
If you walk past the castle from Schlossplatz by going around it, you will reach a small section of Oberer Schlossgarten which is another beautiful sight in Stuttgart. There’s a small lake in the middle and a small park on one side that overlooks the palace, providing beautiful photo opportunities as well as a place to picnic on a leisurely evening.
Grabkapelle Rotenberg
Grave chapel of the Wurttemberg (or, Grabkapelle auf dem Wuerttemberg) is a chapel located in Rotenberg, a small neighborhood within the close proximity of Stuttgart. The chapel was built in 1824 for King William I of Württemberg by architect Giovanni Salucci as a place to house the remains of the king’s second wife, Catherine Pavlovna of Russia. The chapel also offers a good viewpoint over the city, which is why it is quite a famous destination for youths and couples on evenings and weekends.
To reach Rotenberg, you can take a U4 to Untertürkheim bus stop, wherein you hop on the bus line 617 that takes you to Rotenberg bus station. From there, it is a 5 minute walk to reach up to the chapel. Alternatively, you can also hike to the top of the hill.
If you get hungry, head over to the nearby Rotenberger Weingärtle where you can enjoy the 2-for-1 main course offer through NeoTaste.
Explore Milaneo
Stuttgart is a big city with some big shopping malls. Milaneo is a big shopping center located only a U-bahn stop away from Stuttgart central station. It has a good number of brands and ample space for you to rest and go on a shopping spree.
The vicinity of Milaneo also has a diverse range of restaurants and cafes so you can clearly spend an afternoon at this place. If you need to wind down, Stadtbibliothek is within walking distance too.
Explore the beautiful nearby towns
One of the beautiful things to do in Stuttgart is to explore the beautiful nearby towns. There are quite a few excursions available for you to undertake, most of them within an hour of a train ride away from Stuttgart. Below I’ve named a few.
Esslingen
If you take a train from Stuttgart central station, in only 25 minutes you will reach the medieval town of Esslingen. This beautiful town was a free imperial city before it became a part of Wuerttemberg in 1802.
Some of the beautiful highlights of the city are to climb up the stairs to the Esslingen castle for rewarding views of the town, to explore the beauty of tiny canals, to discover the beauty of half-timbered houses that shine beautifully, among many more. If time permits, a short visit to Esslingen should definitely be in your Stuttgart itinerary.
Metzingen
One of the biggest outlet cities in Germany, Metzingen is another place not to miss. A small town with a dedicated few blocks of streets that look almost like a regular neighborhood, but full of the greatest shopping brands. You can comfortably spend a whole day shopping for brands such as Adidas, Puma, S. Oliver, Zara, Levis, and many more. The outlet prices are unbeatable too. Metzingen also has a cute town square that invites you to explore.
Tübingen
On the same train (MEX 12) and only an additional 25 minutes from Metzingen will take you to Tübingen, a lively student town. Tübingen has its own air to it, and I was hooked the moment I stepped foot on the Neckarbrücke, which faintly reminded me of Nyhavn in Copenhagen, but with a German touch.
The old town is incredibly beautiful and the small canals going through the town square, old-timbered houses, and the ever beautiful Neckarbrücke vicinity are some of the offerings you might take away after visiting Tübingen.
Tip: For a budget snack, consider visiting “foodsharing-Café Mehrrettich” , where you can pay for the coffee and eat dishes you like for free. They have a “pay what you want” principle and it’s a lovely, one of its kind cafe.
Visit the Mercedes-Benz and the Porsche museum
If you are an automotive buff, you are in the perfect city. Stuttgart is famous for its contribution to the automotive industry and has few museums such as the Mercedes-Benz museum and the Porsche museum. These museums house impressive collections of the cars and invite you to observe their histories.
Where to Eat in Stuttgart
One of my favorite experiences in Stuttgart was exploring the restaurants and cafes in the city, oftentimes with the help of NeoTaste. NeoTaste offers coupons such as 2-for-1 main courses, 2-for-1 coffee and cakes, and so on. My girlfriend and I explored as many places as possible and following are our recommendations on where to eat and drink in Stuttgart (with / without the help of NeoTaste):
- Carl’s Brauhaus: Not in NeoTaste. For beer lovers, Carl’s Brauhaus immediately welcomes you right in front of the Schlossplatz. They offer Swabian specialties and beers from the private brewery, Dinkelacker-Schwaben Bräu. On weekends and busy days, it gets crowded and you might have to wait in a queue to get in.
- Hans-Im Glück Burger: 2-for-1 Burger / 2-for-1 Cocktail offer in NeoTaste. Available in many locations around Stuttgart, Hans-Im Glück is a great place to enjoy some quality burgers and drinks. Their burgers are priced around 10 EUR and beers for around 5 EUR. They also offer a good selection of cocktails, all about 8-10 EUR.
- Wilma Wunder: 2-for-1 Coffee + Cake / 2-for-1 Main Course offer in NeoTaste. They are located right in the city center, near Rotebühl Stadtmitte tram station. On cool evenings, the outdoor seatings would be useful while there is also an aesthetic indoor seating available. The food and service was enjoyable in Wilma Wunder during our multiple visits.
- Mela Kaffe: 2-for-1 Coffee offer in NeoTaste. They are located within a 100m distance from Stuttgart Schlossplatz and their specialty coffee is really good.
Get Stuttcard to Get the Most out of Stuttgart
If you are visiting either for a day or a few days, getting a Stuttcard is a good idea if you want to keep yourself busy with attractions while also saving some money. Especially for foreign travelers without a Deutschland-Ticket, Stuttcard might be a great idea.
Stuttcard provides you free entry to major museums such as Mercedes-Benz museum, Porsche museum, and Staatsgalerie while also providing exciting offers in many restaurants throughout the city.
You can buy 24-hour Stuttcard for 33 EUR with public transport and for 24.50 EUR without public transport.
For a 48-hour Stuttcard, prices are 43 EUR with public transport and 30 EUR without public transport.
Similarly, for a 72-hour Stuttcard, you pay 53 EUR for the card with public transport and 35 EUR without public transport.
For further information, feel free to explore their official website.
Other things to do in Stuttgart + Recommendations
- Where to get your beers: Carl’s Brauhaus, Flora & Fauna, Sophie’s Brauhaus, Mata Hari
- Ludwigsburg is a lovely place to explore, consider visiting Ludwigsburg palace if you like royal histories.
- Head over to Häigst in late evenings to enjoy sweeping views overlooking the city. There’s also a beer garden nearby.
- Use Too Good To Go and NeoTaste mobile apps for budget food and snacks.
You might also like the following related posts about Germany.
- Best Things to Do in Oberstdorf, Germany (Year-Round Guide)
- 8 Beautiful Places to See in Bavaria Germany : A Photo Story
- 10 Best Things to do in Rüdesheim am Rhein
- 12 Best Things to do in Koblenz, Germany
- Best Day Trips from Koblenz
- Hike to Nebelhorn Oberstdorf : Your Complete Guide to an Alpine Panorama
