The Best Things to See in Stuttgart (tips from a local!)

So you’re coming to visit and wondering what the best things to do in Stuttgart are? Well, Stuttgart is the 6th largest city in Germany with a metro area of 2.5 million people, so you are sure to find something you’ll like. Stuttgart is known for being an automotive city (it’s home to both Porsche and Mercedes-Benz), its parks and greenways, its vineyards, and its regional Swabish identity.  

I’ve been living in Stuttgart for the last year and a half and have put together a guide to my favorites. Here are my top recommendations for things to do in Stuttgart.

Schlossplatz 

Visitors will quickly find that Schlossplatz is the heart of Stuttgart.  The 365-room Schloss (palace) and its surrounding park make a great backdrop for the city center. The palace was built in 1744 when the new 16-year-old Duke of Württemberg decided that the old palace wasn’t good enough for him. Today it houses government offices, so it is not open to tourists on a regular basis. 

Königstrasse

This street (King Street) is the city’s main pedestrian street that starts at the train station and runs right through Schlossplatz. It’s the place to see and be seen, especially on Saturday afternoons. In fact, it’s one of the longest shopping streets in Germany.

Landesmuseum Württemberg 

It’s hard to know which is more impressive at this museum–the building itself or its collection.  The four-story building is the old ducal palace (Altes Schloss), and it has the luxurious feel of a refurbished medieval castle.  The interior courtyard is surrounded by wrap-around balconies and turrets and is a popular location for special events. 

Inside the Landesmuseum are exhibits that include items like a 70,000-year-old hand axe, gold, clocks (the cuckoo clock is from the Black Forest region), paintings, and the crown jewels of the kings and queens of Wurttemberg.

Mercedes-Benz Museum 

This is the most visited museum in Stuttgart and the building itself is a cool piece of modern architecture. Carl Benz was one of the original inventors of the automobile, and his early creation is on display here.  The Mercedes-Benz Museum is for more than just car lovers–it combines the history of cars, the Mercedes-Benz company, and world events into a museum that has something for everyone. 

Schweinemuseum 

This museum is the World’s Largest Pig Museum! If you like quirky places you’ll definitely want to visit.  What started out as a small personal collection has grown to over 50,000 items all about pigs.  From stuffed animals to statues and paintings to piggy banks, this museum is both fun and weird.  Don’t miss the giant pig school bus out front.  

The first floor houses a nice restaurant and outdoor beer garden and yes, they serve bacon.

Hauptbanhof and Stuttgart 21 Project 

While it may be a giant construction site now, by 2026 (hopefully!) the Hauptbanhof area will be transformed into a space-age carpet of green with glass skylights that covers the current railroad tracks.  The Stuttgart 21 project has become infamous in Europe for being slow and over budget (billions of dollars over budget and years late). But when it’s finished you will want to stop and see it. 

In the meantime, you can see the history and the plans in a small exhibit within the train station that also has a tower to give views of the construction site.  

Walk the Vinyards

Stuttgart is the only big city I know of that has terraced vineyards right in the city itself. Of course Stuttgart’s wines are divine, but the vineyard paths also offer some of the best views around. 

There are many short paths that you can walk, but some of the most popular are near the Weinbaumuseum.  It’s a museum nestled in historic wine cellars and of course they offer wine tastings.

Fernsehturm Stuttgart 

This TV tower has long been a recognizable symbol of Stuttgart, as it was actually the world’s first TV tower! The idea of a TV tower made of reinforced concrete was a novel idea but proved wildly successful when it opened in 1956. Today you can pay to go up in the tower, where there is an indoor/outdoor viewing platform and a small café, plus great views of the city.

Chinese Garden 

This hidden Chinese Garden is off the beaten path but a great place to sit and reflect. It’s small but free and a lovely oasis in the middle of the city with a koi pond, a traditional pavilion, and Chinese statues. 

Staatsgalerie

If you’re an art aficionado, a visit to the Staatsgalerie is a must. Staatsgalerie houses a vast collection, from Old Masters to contemporary geniuses. I was especially impressed with the surrealism and cubism section, which includes a number of paintings by Picasso.

Killesberg Park

This park in the northwestern area of the city has a little bit of everything, from rose gardens to wide open spaces to a petting zoo.  Plus there are flamingos. This weird mix translates to a park you need to see.  

The petting zoo is definitely a hit with kids. It has miniature horses, llamas, and machines that you can buy food to feed them from.  

The biggest draw at Killesberg is the viewing tower. DNA-like double helix staircases take visitors 174 steps up to the top, where there is one of the best views in Stuttgart. 

Stadtbibliotek

Stuttgart’s city library is in the middle of the newly-developed European quarter and it’s one of those buildings that you either love or hate. Either way, it’s impressive and often on lists of the world’s most unique libraries. Built by Korean architect Eun Young Yi, the simple modern design looks a bit like a jail on the outside. Inside there are 500,000 books and items and visitors can go up to the rooftop for a great view of the city.

Wilhelma Park and Zoo

This large park started as a royal bathhouse. Its most iconic building has distinctive Moorish architecture and you can imagine yourself in sunny Spain as you walk amongst the palm trees. 

Wilhelma Park and Zoo has animals of all sizes including sea lions, elephants and koalas.  Wilhelma hosts lots of special events and one of the most popular is the special light displays and celebrations at Christmas time. 

Schloss Solitude

This palace is a bit hard to get to by public transportation, but a big part of its charm is its location. It is free to visit the grounds, so the space and the view makes it a popular place to have a picnic. Schloss Solitude was a hunting palace of the extravagant Duke Carl Eugen and was started in 1763. Touring the inside of the palace is only possible with a guided tour in German.

Porsche Museum

Fans of this sports car will love touring the Porsche Museum and seeing over 100 cars in numerous exhibits. There are also options to test drive a Porsche for the day (Drive a Porsche on the Autobahn? Yes, please!) or to tour the factory for an additional cost.

I hope this list has given you some ideas of the best things to see in Stuttgart. If you have more time, combine Stuttgart with a day trip to Heidelberg. I’d also recommend that you try to come to Stuttgart for one of the special events like the Christmas Market in November/December, the Weindorf in August or the Canstatter Volksfest in September/October.