Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 602,000 spread over an area of 207 sq km. Stuttgart is spread across natural surroundings – tourists find it unusual for a German city associated with the upmarket Porsche and Mercedes-Benz cars.
Stuttgart was founded in the 10th century; its name is a modern version of the original Stutengarten ("mare's garden").The city's motto is "Stuttgart is more" (to tourists; to business it describes itself as "Standort Zukunft", translated by town hall marketing as "Where business meets the future"). In 2007 the Bürgermeister marketed Stuttgart to foreign investors as "The creative power of Germany", but today the slogan is "Das neue Herz Europas" ("The new heart of Europe"). Stuttgart is equidistant from the Black Forest and the Swabian Jura (60 minutes). The city is quoted as "zwischen Wald und Reben", translating into “between woods and vines.” In the hot summer months local residents refer to this area as the Stuttgarter Kessel, or Stuttgart cauldron, for its hot and humid climate which is mostly warmer than the surrounding countryside of Württemberg.
How to Get There:
Stuttgart has one airport, located in Leinfelden-Echterdingen. Many airlines
including budget carrier TUI offer direct connections between Stuttgart and major cities across the nation and Europe. It is not difficult to book a flight to Stuttgart from outside Europe connecting through a major hub such as London Heathrow or Paris Charles de Gaulles. Fares are the same whether you fly into Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg or Stuttgart. Lufthansa has an agreement with Deutsche Bahn/German rail and your commuter flight from Frankfurt could actually be a train ride, a highly convenient option.
The S-Bahn will bring you to Stuttgart's centre within 27 minutes. The main station (Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof) is in the very centre of Stuttgart. State highways link to Stuttgart ('Stuttgarter Kreuz'). The West/east-autobahn passes Stuttgart slightly to the south; the north/south-autobahn passes slightly to the west. Follow the signage to get to the city centre. You can come in from Esslingen, Göppingen, 'Stuttgarter Kreuz', Sindelfingen, Böblingen, Tübingen, Reutlingen and Ludwigsburg.
Stuttgart's public transport system is intercrossed efficiently and a single ticket can be used on any mix of transportation to reach your destination.
Be careful if you have a very early airplane since there are no connections to the airport in the early morning between 1 and 5. If staying for more than a day, buy a customised 3 days ticket.
What to See:
Mercedes-Benz museum and factory; Mercedes-Benz Museum; Porsche Museum;
Staatsgalerie Stuttgart; Kunstgebäude; Wilhelma zoological and botanical gardens; Planetarium; Altes Schloss, Old Palace (1300-1500); Stiftsfruchtkasten, Collegiate Storehouse (1393); Alte Kanzlei, Old Chancellery (16th century); Prinzenbau, Princes' Building (1605-1715); Killesbergturm; Hauptbahnhof; Domkirche St. Eberhard; Leonhardskirche; St. Catherine's Church; Schlossplatz (Palace Square); Marktplatz(Market Square); Karlsplatz (Charles Square);
Schillerplatz (Schiller Square) are just some of the sights you can take in.
There are a plethora of diverse sites worth visiting. Nightlife is active and encompasses all kinds of activity. Gay and Lesbian hangouts are known to all locals, as are nightclubs of the respectable and not so respectable variety. Discotheques abound but check out its leaning before going there.
Where to Eat:
Stuttgart is full of eateries of every kind, from the formal book-a-table to stand and eat kind. Small restaurants or guesthouses will probably offer you Swabian cuisine. Order some 'Spätzle' or 'Knödel' as a rich side dish there. Restaurant Cafe Markthalle, Sonja's Biergarten im Schlossgarten, Sophies Brauhaus and Punto Fisso italienisches Restaurant are low cost restaurants. Altes Schutzenhaus, Bierhaus West, Café Stella, Gastsätte zum Paulaner are expensive.
Where to Stay:
Stuttgart has over 200 hotels. Le Meridien Stuttgart, Arcotel Camino, SI-Suites, Moevenpick Hotel Stuttgart Airport, Mo.Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn Stuttgart and NeckarPark are some of the many expensive hotels. Golden Leaf Zuffenhausen, Telekom Training Tagungshotel, Theaterpension Hedda Kage, Wangener Aparthotel Landhaus and Weinsberger Tal are mid-range. Alex30 Hostel, Youth hostel at Haussmannstraße 27 and T-Com Tageshotel are budget class.
