Stuttgart walking tour & city guide

Schlossplatz and the city center

Schlossplatz, the largest square in the city, is framed by the baroque New Palace and the older Old Castle, which houses the State Museum of Württemberg. Königstraße, one of Germany's longest pedestrian shopping streets, runs from here to the main station.

Nearby, the Kunstmuseum, a glass cube, shows modern art, and the Staatsgalerie holds one of Germany's most important art collections.

Cars, parks and vineyards

The Mercedes-Benz Museum, in a futuristic double-helix building, traces the whole history of the automobile, while the Porsche Museum shows off the sports cars built in the Zuffenhausen district. The Schlossgarten parks stretch for kilometers through the center, and vineyards on the surrounding slopes produce local wines served in traditional wine taverns.

A classic city walk

Start at the main station and walk down Königstraße to Schlossplatz, with the New Palace on one side. Continue to Schillerplatz and the Old Castle, then visit the Markthalle, an Art Nouveau market hall.

Walk up to the Karlshöhe park or the Weissenhof Estate on the hillside for views over the valley, or stroll back through the Schlossgarten. The walk is about 3 kilometers.

Visiting tips

Spring to autumn is the best time, with wine festivals in late summer and the Cannstatter Volksfest beer festival in autumn. The Christmas market is one of Germany's largest. The Black Forest and Ludwigsburg Palace are easy day trips.