Stuttgart – The city of fast cars, good wine, and great day trips. We were lucky enough to spend a long weekend in Stuttgart and, despite the unpleasant autumn weather, experienced a lot, even seeing the occasional glimpse of sunshine. The city may not be on your list of “must-do city trips” in Germany, but a few days in and around Stuttgart are worthwhile. The city center boasts many interesting museums, numerous cool cafés and restaurants, unique shops, cozy neighborhoods, great viewpoints, and plenty of green spaces. In the following article, we’ll take you through our weekend in Stuttgart and give you some inspiration for your own city trip.

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• Other great places in Germany
• Weekend in Stuttgart – Day 1
  • 1. With a classic car through Stuttgart
  • 2. Mercedes-Benz Museum
  • 3. Porsche Museum
  • 4. Dinner at the Weinstube Fröhlich
  • 5. Our hotel: V8 Hotel Motorworld
• Weekend in Stuttgart – Day 2
  • 1. Stuttgart Market Hall
  • 2. Detour to the Art Museum
  • 3. View from Eugensplatz
  • 4. Out and about in the Bohnenviertel
  • 5. Feuersee & Johanneskirche
  • 6. Absolute MUST: The City Library
  • 7. Stroll through the Schlossgarten
  • 8. Dinner at Dean & David
  • 9. Sauna & Drinks at the bar
• Weekend in Stuttgart – Day 3
  • 1. Pumpkin exhibition in Ludwigsburg
  • 2. Lunch at the Rotenberger Weingärtle
  • 4. View from the burial chapel
  • 4. Vineyards and wine museum
  • 5. Sundowner at the teahouse in Weißenburgpark
  • 6. Dinner at the best Thai restaurant in town
• Conclusion of the weekend in Stuttgart
• Stuttgart tip – The StuttCard

Weekend in Stuttgart – Day 1

Off to Stuttgart! Flying within Germany is out of the question for us; we love traveling by train far too much (as long as the trains are on time). From Rostock, it took us around 8 hours to reach the capital of Baden-Württemberg. From Stuttgart Central Station, we continued on to the Mercedes-Benz Museum to pick up our rental car for the next 3 days. You can find out what else we experienced on our first day in Stuttgart in the following section.

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1. Through Stuttgart in a classic car

Our exciting weekend in Stuttgart started at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. The museum provided us with a “blogger car” for the next few days, which we were able to use to explore the surrounding area. It wasn’t just any rental car, however, but a nostalgic classic car. For the next few days, we drove through the city in a bright red 1977 Mercedes C230 (W123 series). This series, by the way, is the most-produced Mercedes-Benz model to date.

Marco was naturally overjoyed and looking forward to this very unusual driving experience. I mean, when do you ever get the chance to drive a classic car from 1977, without any technical gimmicks like power steering or parking assistance? The car’s interior also transported us back to the 1970s, even with a “wobbly dachshund” on the rear shelf. Unfortunately, these vintage cars from the museum aren’t available for rent, but there are a few other providers, such as the Porsche Museum, Apollo Vintage Cars, Auto Nostalgie, etc.

It’s never been so fulfilling to drive along the highway at just 80 km/h. With a vintage car like this, you’re somehow no longer part of the hectic and stressful outside world. Many thanks to the museum for this unique opportunity!

A happy Emmi

2. Mercedes-Benz Museum

After picking up the car, we packed our things in the trunk and prepared for the museum visit. The Mercedes-Benz Museum is by far the most visited museum in Stuttgart and awaited us with more than 1,500 exhibits. In this museum, you’ll learn all about the inventors Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler, about the beginnings of the automotive industry, and about technology, culture, and contemporary history. Whether it’s riding cars, carriages, locomotives, racing cars, or Silver Arrows – at the Mercedes-Benz Museum, you’ll be impressed by the rapid development of the industry.

I (Bolle) have to admit that I’m not particularly interested in cars, but the visit to the museum was truly impressive. The architecture of the museum alone amazed us both. The building was constructed in the shape of a double helix (DNA) with no enclosed spaces or straight walls. We took the futuristic elevator to the top and strolled through the museum’s various rooms. The main attraction in the museum are, of course, the more than 160 vehicles of all kinds.

If you’re spending a weekend in Stuttgart, you definitely shouldn’t miss this museum. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ticket office closes at 5 p.m.). A day ticket currently costs €9.75 and a reduced ticket costs €4.90. The evening ticket (valid from 4:30 p.m.) also costs only €4.90. With the StuttCard, you don’t have to pay admission for your visit. More on this at the end of the article.

3. Porsche Museum

In no other city can you see as many Mercedes and Porsche cars in everyday life as in Stuttgart. Why is that? Quite simply: here in Stuttgart, three pioneers (Ferdinand Porsche, Gottlieb Daimler, and Robert Bosch) laid the foundations for what are still highly successful companies today. We drove to Zuffenhausen in our bright red vintage car to visit the Porsche Museum. There are around 80 vehicles on display across almost 5,600 square meters. You’ll also learn a lot about the Porsche brand, its technical achievements, and its product and motorsport history.

The escalator takes you up to the exhibition. In an orderly fashion, we explored the various stages of Porsche’s history, marveling at the elegant vehicles of the past and the futuristic cars of the future. The Porsche Museum also impresses with its unique architecture and modern technology with touch walls and cool sound installations. You even have the opportunity to take a seat in a Porsche vehicle or experience the various sounds (indicators, doors, engine noise, etc.) of the Porsche models via the sound system.

The Porsche Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Adults pay €9.70 admission, and reduced admission costs €4.80. Children under 14 are free. The Porsche Museum also offers an evening ticket for just €4.80 (reduced admission: €2.90). This ticket is only valid from 5 p.m. During your visit, you can borrow a free multimedia guide (there’s even a children’s version). The museum also offers various factory tours (see here).

4. Dinner at Weinstube Fröhlich

Our first day in Stuttgart was slowly drawing to a close. We drove our classic car from the Porsche Museum in Zuffenhausen to dinner at Weinstube Fröhlich. Located in the charming Bohnenviertel district, it served hearty Swabian dishes. This restaurant was recommended to us by our Instagram community and the friendly staff at Stuttgart Tourism. We naturally ordered Käsespätzle (cheese spaetzle) and Maultaschen (ravioli) with potato salad. It tasted incredibly delicious, and we would definitely go back to this restaurant. With full stomachs, we drove back to our hotel in Böblingen after dinner.

5. Our Hotel: V8 Hotel Motorworld

The only thing missing for our weekend in Stuttgart was a suitable roof over our heads. In keeping with the “fast car” theme, we stayed at the V8 Hotel Motorworld*. This themed hotel opened in 2018 and offers truly unique rooms. Across the street is the V8 Hotel Classic, which has been around for over 10 years. As soon as you enter the lobby, you realize that everything here revolves around fast and sporty cars. The first eye-catcher is the sporty McLaren Senna, which is parked directly in front of the reception.

The hotel features a bar with a restaurant, a sauna with a relaxation area on the top floor, double rooms, single rooms, and very special themed rooms. No two rooms are alike, and you’ll find a variety of furniture and beds made from real vehicle parts. We were able to take a look at the Jaguar room and got our first great glimpse into this fascinating themed world. We stayed in the V6 Classic Double Room with a comfortable bed, seating area, bathroom with shower and bathtub, safe, and TV.

What an exciting first day! First the fascinating Mercedes-Benz Museum, then the cool vintage car, the interesting Porsche Museum, the super delicious food at the Fröhlich wine bar in Stuttgart, and finally, this fantastic themed hotel! Amazing! After checking into our room, we jumped in the shower and fell exhausted but satisfied into the soft, cozy bed. The alarm was set, and it took less than five minutes before we fell asleep. Sleep was desperately needed, because more exciting adventures awaited us the next day.

Weekend in Stuttgart – Day 2

The second day in Stuttgart had plenty of highlights in store for us. We started the day with a hearty breakfast at the hotel before driving to Stuttgart in our bright red vintage car. Our first stop was the market hall, then we continued to the art museum, through the charming Bohnenviertel district, to the Feuersee lake, the famous city library, and the idyllic palace gardens. But it’s best to see for yourself…

1. Stuttgart Market Hall

Built in 1914, the Stuttgart Market Hall is located at Dorotheenstraße 4 (right in the city center) and is a little paradise for those with a sweet tooth. Across approximately 6,800 square meters, you’ll find 33 stalls and 3 restaurants. As soon as you enter the hall, you’ll be greeted by a variety of smells. Whether cheese, fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, spices, oils, flowers, or baked goods – you can find absolutely everything here. On the upper floor, there are plenty of home and decorative items. We immediately snapped up the large spice stalls because the prices are truly unbeatable. The fresh baked goods were also incredibly delicious!

2. Detour to the Art Museum

From the market hall, we walked on to the Art Museum. The striking glass cube on Schlossplatz in the heart of the city will surely catch your eye from afar. Each year, the art museum presents two to three major special exhibitions, as well as the city’s art collection. With our Stuttgart Card, we didn’t have to pay admission and were able to start exploring the museum immediately. We first viewed the diverse collection on the lower floors and then the special exhibition “Walls” on the upper floors. Tip: By the way, you have a fantastic view over Schlossplatz from the Art Museum.

3. View from Eugensplatz

The weather wasn’t quite on our side, but suddenly the sun made a brief appearance. We wanted to take advantage of this and headed straight to Eugensplatz by subway (a 6-minute journey). Once here, you’ll immediately notice the beautiful Galatea Fountain and the wonderful view over several parts of Stuttgart. From the fountain, one of the most beautiful staircases leads you back down into the city center. These staircases are also called “Stäffele” here, and there are probably around 600 of them in the city. These staircases were once used as access to the vineyards. Book your Stäffele tour here*.

4. Out and about in the Bohnenviertel

From Eugensplatz, we walked up the many steps (the so-called Eugenstaffel) back into the city center and made our way to the Bohnenviertel. Here, we discovered numerous cozy cafés, small boutiques, leafy courtyards, charming and historic house facades, galleries, antique shops, and quaint wine bars. We immediately noticed that there were hardly any cars on the streets, allowing us to stroll leisurely. And why Bohnenviertel? In the past, the poor residents probably planted beans in their gardens here.

We were recommended the following cafés for this region: Zimt & Zucker, Hüftengold, Café DA, and Kuchenliebe. In the end, however, we ended up at the Ché Café. This small café is particularly captivating due to its unique interior, a hodgepodge of diverse furniture. As soon as we entered, we sensed a cozy, “living room” feeling and were looking forward to a delicious cappuccino in a relaxed atmosphere. You’ll also find countless books here that you can simply grab to browse and read.

5. Feuersee & St. John’s Church

Imagine walking through the densely built-up streets of a big city and suddenly spot a large lake with a church at its center behind the next intersection. A few meters earlier, we couldn’t imagine that there was actually a lake here. In the middle of the west of the city lies the so-called Feuersee with the imposing St. John’s Church. This lake was artificially created in the 18th century to ensure there would be enough water in case of a fire.

6. Absolute MUST-VISIT: The City Library

We were already in front of the famous City Library at Mailänder Platz in the morning, but didn’t feel like waiting in line. So we saved this Stuttgart highlight for the evening. Shortly before dinner, we went back to the library and only had to wait in line for 10 minutes (due to COVID-19 and the weekend). The City Library in Stuttgart is one of the city’s top attractions, so you’ll see not only students but also tourists here. By the way, we were here five years ago, but you can’t get enough of this view.

The City Library houses more than 500,000 media items and is the most photographed building in the city. The architecture (by Korean architect Eun Young Yi) is very unique, as you can easily see from our pictures. The atmosphere is very relaxed thanks to the open and modern structures. Our highlight is also the roof terrace, which offers a fantastic view of Stuttgart. However, it is currently closed to the public. The library is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (free admission).

7. Walk through the Palace Gardens

The second day of our trip to Stuttgart was slowly drawing to a close. Finally, we strolled through the beautiful palace gardens, which are divided into an upper, middle, and lower section. This park is around 600 years old and is still a popular place for jogging, walking, picnicking, reading, sunbathing, and relaxing. We arrived at the right time; the last rays of sunlight fought their way through the leaves of the trees and gave the palace gardens a very special light.

8. Dinner at Dean & David

As you know, we’re not exactly THE “food bloggers.” Sometimes we’re just taking it easy, sitting down at the nearest unassuming snack bar or simply ordering a pizza to our hotel room. Dean & David might not be the ultimate food tip, but we love this food chain because they always serve super fresh salads, bowls, and soups. You can find this shop at various locations in Stuttgart (Mailänder Platz 25, Calwer Str. 60 & Königsbau Passagen).

9. Sauna & Drinks at the Bar

After this long and exciting day, we drove back to our hotel in Böblingen. Despite the foul weather, we were able to visit plenty of cool places on day 2. In Stuttgart, there are generally many opportunities to experience something, even in bad weather. We would have liked to visit a few other spots (Birkenkopf, Karlshöhe, TV Tower, etc.), but the rain put a damper on our plans. We spent the evening enjoying delicious cocktails at the bar and then relaxing in the sauna in the cozy warmth.

Weekend in Stuttgart – Day 3

We’ve really enjoyed our weekend in Stuttgart so far. On the third day of our trip, the weather was finally supposed to improve a bit. We didn’t want to waste any time and headed straight to Ludwigsburg for the world’s largest pumpkin exhibition. Afterwards, we drove to the burial chapel, strolled through Stuttgart’s vineyards, visited the wine-growing museum, and enjoyed the sunset from the teahouse in Weissenburg Park. The evening was crowned with a fantastic meal at arguably the best Thai restaurant in town.

1. Pumpkin Exhibition in Ludwigsburg

Did you know that the (supposedly) world’s largest pumpkin exhibition takes place not far from Stuttgart? Since 2000, thousands of visitors have flocked to the grounds of the Blooming Baroque in Ludwigsburg every year to admire the various pumpkins and sculptures. This year, there are said to be around 450,000 pumpkins adorning the park. And in addition to all the beautiful formations, there are also plenty of delicacies, such as pumpkin waffles, pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup, pumpkin Maultaschen, and much more.

Not to forget that the German and European Championships are also held here. Then the question will be: Who has grown the heaviest pumpkin? Who will set a new world record? The Ludwigsburg Residence Palace itself is also an eye-catcher, captivating above all with its baroque gardens, idyllic waterways, and architecture. Allow at least two hours to explore the beautiful gardens surrounding the palace and soak up the wonderful atmosphere.

This year’s pumpkin exhibition will run until December 6, 2020. A day ticket for the Blooming Baroque costs €10 for adults and €4.80 for children between 4 and 15 years. For €5, you can also visit the Residential Palace. It is open Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. You can find all the details here: Ludwigsburg Palace Opening Hours.

2. Lunch at the Rotenberger Weingärtle

The clouds slowly gathered again, it began to rain, and we set off in our vintage car to another destination near Stuttgart. We had been recommended the view from the burial chapel on the Württemberg hill several times. When we got there, everything was still gray and cloudy. So we used the time for a short lunch break. After parking the car in the streets of Rotenberg, we discovered the Rotenberger Weingärtle restaurant. We made ourselves comfortable here and ordered fresh pumpkin soup, coffee, and cake.

The view from the outdoor terrace is particularly beautiful. While you eat, you can look directly out over Stuttgart’s idyllic vineyards. Since it was far too cold and rainy, we made ourselves comfortable on the heated, covered terrace. The restaurant offers homemade cakes and hearty Swabian cuisine. The restaurant is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (until 10 p.m. on weekends).

4. View from the Sepulchral Chapel

Finally, the clouds cleared. Just after dinner, we were able to marvel at the view from the Sepulchral Chapel under sunshine and blue skies. Our readers hadn’t overestimated it, as the view is truly exceptionally beautiful. You can visit the chapel itself for €5 (free with the StuttCard), open every day.Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The burial chapel was once built by King Wilhelm I as an eternal token of love for his deceased wife Katharina. A beautiful and at the same time romantic gesture, we think.

From the chapel, you can see not only some of Stuttgart’s districts but also the surrounding wine-growing regions. If you have a little time, you should stroll through the streets and toast this beautiful area with a bottle of wine. The view is certainly especially beautiful at sunrise or sunset. We were a little early, but even before sunset, the atmosphere on Württemberg was truly beautiful.

4. Vineyards and Wine Museum

After visiting the burial chapel on the Württemberg hill and taking a few beautiful photos of the view, we strolled through the wine region for a while. Every now and then, we spotted lush grapes in the vines. Winegrowing has always played a major role in Stuttgart, as the city is located in the climatically favorable Neckertal valley. Various wine hiking trails lead through the region, taking you through the wine-growing areas and to various viewpoints and wineries. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for that, but we’ll make up for it on our next visit.

We also made a quick detour to the Wine Museum, which is located in Stuttgart-Uhlbach (just a 5-minute drive from the burial chapel). The museum is small and easy to navigate, yet it still provides a great overview of the history of winemaking in Stuttgart and the surrounding area. In the small wine shop at the entrance, you can sample some regional wines. Admission to the museum costs €3 per person (free with the StuttCard). You can find the opening hours here.

5. Sundowner at the Teahouse in Weissenburg Park

Our third day in Stuttgart was slowly drawing to a close. We were repeatedly recommended the view from the Teahouse in Weissenburg Park. Since it wasn’t raining, we headed there. After parking the car, we walked up the path to the pretty Art Nouveau pavilion, which is a listed building and now operates as a café. From here on the hill in the southeast of the city, you have a beautiful view of parts of Stuttgart and can even spot the TV tower.

6. Dinner at the best Thai restaurant in town

For our last evening, we found a highly rated Asian restaurant on Google Maps. “The Legend of Floating Market” is centrally located in Stuttgart at Gerberstraße 5A. Since we were early, we got a table without any problems and without a reservation. However, we suspect that this restaurant is usually busy. Our mouths still water when we think about the delicious food. We highly recommend the spring rolls, the chicken rice curry, and Pad Thai. The staff are very charming and friendly.

Summary of the weekend in Stuttgart

And just like that, three days were over, and it was time for us to pack our bags. After checking out, we drove into the city one last time in the chic, bright red vintage car. At the Café Misch Misch, we ordered a delicious cappuccino, bought a pack of Ernst coffee beans, and briefly reflected on the past few days.

To be honest, we were a little surprised by Stuttgart, as we hadn’t initially expected such a variety of options. Stuttgart is perfect for shopping, strolling, feasting, and enjoying life. Besides fast cars and delicious wines, Stuttgart has a whole lot more to offer. But the best way to see for yourself is to spend a long weekend in Stuttgart.

Stuttgart Tip – The StuttCard

We were provided with the StuttCard for our weekend in Stuttgart. With this card, you receive many discounts and free admission. The card is available with public transport (StuttCard PLUS) and without (StuttCard). Even if you’re only in Stuttgart for one day, this €18 card is definitely worth it. If you visit the Mercedes-Benz Museum (€9.75), the TV Tower (€9), and the Porsche Museum (€9.70), you’ll save more than €10.