'''Stuttgart''' [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/index_ENG.htm] is the capital of Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany with with a population of 590,000 or so.

Stuttgart was founded in the 10th century; its name is a modern version of the original Stutengarten ("mare's garden"). Presently it is the 6th largest city in Germany. It is most famous for its automotive industry - both Porsche and Mercedes-Benz have their headquarters in Stuttgart and both have car museums.

Stuttgarters are amazingly friendly people who will forgive you if German isn't your first or second (or any) language. If you do speak German well: beware of their dialect - Schwabisch German can differ from other forms of German (be prepared to hear the word "gell" a lot!) They love to practice other languages (especially English). Stuttgart is a big city with a small-town atmosphere.

Get in

By plane

Stuttgart has one airport [http://www.flughafen-stuttgart.de/en/index.php], located in Leinfelden-Echterdingen. Various airlines including low cost airline TUI [http://www.flytui.co.uk] serve direct flight connections between Stuttgart and major German and European cities. It will not be 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 usually don't differ if you fly into Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg or Stuttgart. Lufthansa [http://www.lufthansa.com] has an agreement with Deutsche Bahn/German rail [http://www.bahn.de] and your commuter flight from Frankfurt could actually be a train ride. This is very convenient if you head for Stuttgart CBD.

Delta Airlines has a direct service from Atlanta to Stuttgart. Depending on the success the route will maintain service, but considering the Headquarters of US European Command and Africa Command are located here, it seems most likely.

You'll most likely want to go to the center of Stuttgart but are now standing somewhat outside at the airport in Leinfelden-Echterdingen. The best way is the Public Transport [http://www.vvs.de] which is clean, cheap and safe.

  • Public Transport
  • * The S-Bahn line S2 or S3 will bring you to Stuttgart's center within 27 minutes (see Timetable [http://www2.vvs.de/vvs/navi_efa_en/index.html] from station 'Flughafen' to station 'Hauptbahnhof'). Tickets can be purchased at vending machines at the level below the airport and above the platform. Tickets should be validated at orange boxes on the platform before boarding the train.
  • * Several bus lines head for other destinations.
  • Taxis will be waiting at the airport and are the fastest connection to SAP [http://www.sap.com/germany/] in Walldorf.
  • * To call airport's taxi service: Phone 0711/ 9 48-44 09
  • * To call Stuttgart's Taxi Central: Phone: 0711/ 56 6061.
  • By train

    The main station (Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof) is in the very center of Stuttgart. Timetables for trains and booking are available on the webpages of Deutsche Bahn AG [http://www.bahn.de]. For getting on from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof and around in the city of Stuttgart itself, see Public Transportation below.

    By car

    The state highways A8 and A81 form a cross near Stuttgart ('Stuttgarter Kreuz'). The City is in the upper right quarter of that cross. West/east-Highway A8 passes Stuttgart slightly to the south, north/south-highway A81 passes slightly to the west. Generally, follow the sign "Stuttgart Zentrum" to get to the center of Stuttgart (and try to not lose yourself in a suburb district: there are smaller towns all over the place melted together to form Stuttgart.)

    Smaller but important routes from the center of Stuttgart to the areas outside are the B10 (to the east: Esslingen, Goppingen), B14 (to the southwest: 'Stuttgarter Kreuz', Sindelfingen, Boblingen) and B27 (to the south: airport, Tubingen, Reutlingen, to the north: Ludwigsburg).

  • During rush hours, all streets in the region will be a mess! Avoid 07:30 to 9:30 o'clock and 16:30 to 18:30 o'clock.
  • Highway A8 between Stuttgart-Karlsruhe is always a potential traffic-jam during worktime.
  • Never ever during rush hours drive near 'Pragsattel' (traffic node, connecting the northern suburbs). It kills your day.
  • Get around

    Public transportation

    Public transportation is provided by the Stadtbahn (U-bahn) and S-Bahn. For short distances, it is best to use the Stadtbahn (or bus if necessary). For longer distances (to get to the suburbs) the S-Bahn is faster but has fewer stations than the Stadtbahn.

    Stuttgart's public transport is fully integrated and a travel ticket can be used on any mixture of buses and trains/trams that may be required to complete the journey.

    Public transportation late at night (after midnight) is a problem! On the weekend there are night buses, but they are infrequent (1:11AM, 2:00AM, 2:22AM, 3:10AM and 3:33AM) and on odd routes. 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 you are staying for more than a day, for added mobility buy a special 3 days ticket ("3-Tage-Ticket"). These are available from:

  • Hotels
  • The airport
  • The tourist information office at the end of Konigstrase nearest Hauptbahnhof - but make sure you take proof that you're a tourist (eg. hotel booking confirmation).
  • There are two types of 3-day tickets available; one covers the main Stuttgart city and the other is valid for the entire VVS network, including Ludwigsburg.

    The city transport network is separated in zones. The city of Stuttgart is only Zone 10 and 20. Normal tickets are available at the many automats in the stations.

    Travel tickets are usually purchased (and priced) to cover the number of zones for the journey. All day tickets / EinzelTagesTickets are a good value for visitors. Group day tickets/ GruppenTagesTickets are also a good value with 1-5 people able to travel using one ticket. Four-journey tickets / 4er-Tickets are also a good value. These can be used on different days or trips and have to be stamped in the machines on the buses and trains/trams - once at each end of the ticket and on both sides.

    Fare-dodging is severely frowned upon and plain-clothes inspectors are on constant patrol. Fines are steep, starting at EUR 40 per person for the first offense.

    There are six S-Bahn lines (S1...S6) and 12 Stadtbahn lines (U1...U9 + U13...U15) and several bus lines. Most lines will lead via Hauptbahnhof, ending in a layout that is pretty centralized: If you want to go somewhere, chances are, you have to ride via Hauptbahnhof. The following Stadtbahn or S-Bahn stations are located in the heart of the city: Hauptbahnhof, Schlossplatz, Charlottenplatz, Stadtmitte (Rotebuhlplatz), Feuersee, Rathaus, Staatsgalerie, and Berliner Platz (Liederhalle). For a complete description see the official map of rail network[http://www.vvs.de/download/71.pdf].

    A specialty of public transportation is the rack-railway between Stuttgart-Marienplatz and Stuttgart-Degerloch. It is the only urban rack-railway in Germany!

    There is an old cable-car (look for Seilbahn) running from Stuttgart-Heslach to the cementary. It is landmarked.

    The [http://www.vvs.de] is a useful tool that gives prices and detailed information on how to reach every location, including foot paths to buildings.

    Stuttgart's public transportation on the web - Homepage: [http://www.vvs.de] - English version: [http://www.vvs.de/en/index.php]

    Escalators in Germany are a two-lane affair. "Gehen" on the left (to walk with the escalator) and "Stehen" on the right (to stand still). Non-compliance of this scheme is frowned upon! As a Stuttgart resident I can assure you that this is not true. Most people don't care about "rechts stehen, links gehen" ("stand on the right, walk on the left"). However, they will move out of the way if they hear you approaching energetically or if you say "Entschuldigung!".

    Walking

    In the inner city, walking is no problem. The distances are not far and a traversal of the inner city by foot can be easily done within 25 minutes.

    UK visitors should prepare themselves for small cultural differences:

  • The Germans will patiently wait at a pedestrian crossing, even when no traffic is coming, until the "green man" comes on. This only happens when children are around. Prepare to be yelled at when crossing at a red light when children are watching.
  • Stuttgart is quite safe. Even at night one may walk alone through the city without fear. One rare exception is the central city park, which should be avoided during late night hours. Of course, always use common sense when walking in a foreign city at night. The biggest danger for a pedestrian in Stuttgart is probably the cars.

    To get a sense for the inner city, you should get to know following streets and places:

  • Konigstrase: Hauptbahnhof, Schlossplatz, McDonalds 1.
  • Rotebuhlplatz: Calwer Passage
  • Marienstrase: McDonalds 2.
  • Rathaus: Marktplatz (Rathausplatz), Schulstrase
  • Stadtpark: Staatstheater, Staatsgalerie, Charlottenplatz
  • Bolzstrase, Friedrichsbau, Liederhalle
  • Biking

    The city lies in a basin of a hilly region the Stuttgarters call "Kessel", literally "cauldron", and betwen the lowest part of the city and the highest part of the city are 250 meter of altitude. There is a lot of car traffic, and routes for bikes are not well developed. Biking in the outlying areas of Stuttgart, e.g. in the Neckar Valley or the Schonbuch (just south of the city) is very nice. Stuttgart is one of the greenest urban areas in Europe. There are many paths through the surrounding forests which are in very good shape.

    By car

    If you intend to drive by car inside Stuttgart, the only possibility to park are parking blocks at about 1,50 EUR per hour. One secret hint might be the parking place at the Landtag. Some parking blocks are closed during late night, providing no way of getting your car out. The street layout and numerous tunnels in Stuttgart can be confusing for tourists. Driving by car is not recommended.

    Car drivers should know following ring and how to get there and off again, if trying to master an inner city ride.

    --- Theodor-Heuss-Str. --- Friedrichsstr. ----- | | Paulinenstr. Schillerstr. (Hauptbahnhof) | | -- Hauptstatter Str.--- Konrad-Adenauer-Str. --

    By taxi

    Taxis are expensive. For 10 EUR you will get about 4 minutes of a taxi drive. With two or more people, getting a taxi together at night (when public transportation has stopped) can make sense.

    Call a taxi in Stuttgart: Phone Nr. 0711/55 10 000 - '''Taxi-Auto-Zentrale Stuttgart [http://www.taxi-auto-zentrale.de]'''

    See

  • Mercedes-Benz factory. indelfingen. -bahn to Boblingen, then catch the courtesy bus. The heart of Mercedes-Benz manufacture, and well worth the visit. There are some 40,000 employees on site, including 9,000 in research & development alone! You need to book ahead through your Mercedes dealer.

    Museums

  • Technical museum: '''Mercedes-Benz Museum''', Mercedesstrase 137/1, Bad Cannstatt (''S-Bahn: "Neckarpark (Mercedes-Benz)"'', see timetable etc. [http://vvs.de/en/index.php]), [http://rsi-cda.mercedes-benz.com/content/classic/retailer/museum/en/home/home/home/museum.html#mainnav]. Newly built in 2006 in an astonishing architecture. Frequently visited and really very cool.
  • Technical museum: '''Porsche Museum''', Porscheplatz 1, Zuffenhausen (''S-Bahn: S6 to "Neuwirtshaus (Porscheplatz)"'', see timetable etc. [http://vvs.de/en/index.php])
  • State gallery: '''Staatsgalerie Stuttgart''', Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 30-32, [http://www.staatsgalerie-stuttgart.de]
  • Contemporary arts museum: '''Kunstgebaude''', "Art Building" [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/kunstgebaeude.htm]
  • Modern art museum: '''Kunstmuseum Stuttgart''', Kleiner Schlossplatz 1, [http://www.kunstmuseum-stuttgart.de]
  • Historical art museum: '''Württembergisches Landesmuseum''', Altes Schloss, Schillerplatz 6, [http://www.landesmuseum-stuttgart.de]
  • Ethnological museum: '''Lindenmuseum''', Hegelplatz 1, features a small but impressing collection of masks from the pacific [http://www.lindenmuseum.de/html/deutsch/home/home.php]
  • Zoo

  • '''Wilhelma''', zoological and botanical gardens, Neckartalstrase, Bad Cannstatt (''More information and arrival see Wilhelma [http://www.wilhelma.de]'')
  • Definitely a must for families. But watching monkeys and weird flowers in this old place can be fun for young adults, too. (Unless you feel pity for the locked up creatures.)

    Planetarium

  • A fascinating astronomical journey, projected by optical hightech equipment: Carl Zeiss Planetarium [http://www.planetarium-stuttgart.de/index.php?id=englisch]
  • Buildings

    Stuttgart used to be an impressive town but was hugely destroyed during World War II and only few buildings were rebuilt to classical elegance. The 50's still were post-war, in the 60's and 70's architectural things didn't matter at all and in the 80's and 90's with major insurance companies and banks building monuments of bad taste in the inner city, the aesthetic situation wasn't really improving.

    Here are some of the exceptions:

  • '''Altes Schloss''', Old Palace (1300-1500) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/altesschloss.htm]
  • '''Stiftsfruchtkasten''', Collegiate Storehouse (1393)[http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/3614_ENG_HTML.htm]
  • '''Alte Kanzlei''', Old Chancellery (16th century) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/altekanzlei.htm]
  • '''Prinzenbau''', Princes' Building (1605-1715) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/prinzenbau.htm]
  • '''Neues Schloss''', New Palace (1700-1800) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/neuesschloss.htm]
  • '''Solitude Schloss Solitude''', Solitude Palace (1700-1800) [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/]
  • '''Wilhelmspalais''', King William's Palace (1834-1840) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/wilhelmspalais.htm]
  • '''Königsbau''', King's Building (1850) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/koenigsbau.htm]
  • '''Markthalle''', Market Hall (1910) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/markthalle.htm]
  • '''Staatstheater (Grosses Haus)''', State Theater (1912) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/staatstheater.htm]
  • '''Hauptbahnhof''', Main Railway Station (1920) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/hauptbahnhof.htm]
  • '''Weissenhofsiedlung''', (1927) [http://www.weissenhof.de/index.php?p=menu&language=en]
  • '''Liederhalle''', Culture and Congress Centre, (1956) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/liederhalle_kkl.htm]
  • '''Staatsgalerie''', State Gallery (1977) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/staatsgalerie.htm]
  • Towers and scenic outlooks

  • '''Fernsehturm Stuttgart''' , TV Tower (1954-1956), world's first TV tower built from reinforced concrete and prototype for all modern TV towers, with a beautiful view over Stuttgart. The Stadtbahn U15 to Ruhbank (Fernsehturm) gives you a wolderful view of the city. Entrance is €5 per person and is worth it for the near-fairground quality of the ride in the lift to the top. There's a nice cafe at the top which serves fresh food and drinks.
  • '''Grabkapelle Wurttemberg''' (Burial chapel Wurttemberg) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/grabkapelle.htm]
  • '''Killesbergturm''' (Killesberg Tower) [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killesbergturm]. A recently built tower in the "Killesberg Park" (see also "green U" under Parks & Gardens), north of the city centre
  • '''Bismarckturm''', [http://www.bismarcktuerme.de/website/ebene4/bawue/stuttg.html], a small tower northwest of the city centre, not far from Killesberg Tower
  • '''Hauptbahnhof''' The tower of the Hauptbahnhof is a free climb (to the Mercedes-Benz symbol at top), granting awesome views of Konigstrase and the city.
  • Churches

  • '''Domkirche St. Eberhard''' (St. Eberhard's Cathedral Church), [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/domkirche_st_eberhard.htm]
  • '''Grabkapelle Wurttemberg''' (Burial chapel Wurttemberg) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/grabkapelle.htm]
  • '''Hospitalkirche''' (Hospital Church), [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/hospitalkirche.htm]
  • '''Leonhardskirche''' (St. Leonard's Church), [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/leonhardskirche.htm]
  • '''Stiftskirche''' (Collegiate Church), built in 1175, restored 1999 to 2003 [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/stiftskirche.htm]
  • '''Veitskapelle''' (St. Vitus Chapel), [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/veitskapelle.htm]
  • '''St. Catherine's Church, Stuttgart'''(English speaking Anglican Church)[http://stcatherines-stuttgart.de/index.php?page=about-us]
  • Squares

  • '''Schlossplatz''' (Palace Square) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/schlossplatz.htm]
  • '''Marktplatz'''(Market Square) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/marktplatz.htm]
  • '''Karlsplatz''' (Charles Square) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/karlsplatz.htm]
  • '''Schillerplatz''' (Schiller Square) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/schillerplatz.htm]
  • Other historic parts of the city

  • '''Bohnenviertel'''(14th century) [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/bohnenviertel.htm]
  • Parks and gardens

  • '''"Das Grune U"'''[http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/gruenes-u.htm]: Most of Stuttgart's many parks and gardens are usually referred to by locals as "das Grune U" (the green "U") because of the U-shaped form in which they are located around the city centre. They form a long and beautiful path around the city, starting at the Schlossgarten at the northern facade of the new palace (Neues Schloss), continuing through Rosensteinpark with the natural history museum and a rear entrance to Wilhelma (the zoo), and ending in Killesberg Park. Walking at a reasonable pace, you can walk the entire circuit in about 2 hours. There are beer gardens (look for Biergarten signs) and restaurants along the way, and the Killesberg Park is a real treat. It was designed for a huge botanical expo several years ago and remains a truly stunning park, especially in spring when in full bloom. If you're interested in architecture, be sure not to miss the structural engineering wonder Killesberg Tower, a minimalistic steel construction composed of one central support and a cable outer support system.
  • Other significant green areas in the city centre are:

  • '''Akademiegarten''', Academy Garden [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/akademiegarten.htm]
  • '''Schlossgarten''', Palace Garden [http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/schlossgarten.htm]
  • Rail transport systems

  • Killesberg Railway, a small railway in Killesberg park, on weekends using steam-powered engines!
  • Stuttgart cable Car, an old cable car running to the forest cemetery
  • Rack Railway Stuttgart , German's only urban rack-railway. It uses modern cars like the light railway and offers a nice view
  • Do

    Arts and culture

    Theater & Concert

  • Ticket services (this list is by no means complete):
  • * Airport Ticket Tower, Airport Stuttgart, Terminal 1, Phone: 0711/9484567
  • * ClubHouse, (SWR3 Club-Veranstaltungen) Hauptbahnhof, Kleine Schalterhalle, 70173 Stuttgart, Phone: 0711/260077
  • A good entry spot in the web for theaters, culture and events is [http://www.stgt.com/stuttgart/aktuelle.htm] (English).
  • Watch and listen to the ballet company [http://www.stuttgart-ballet.de/] of the state theater Stuttgart Staatstheater [http://www.staatstheater-stuttgart.de]. (Stuttgart is quite fond of its ballet company dancing at very high skill. Definitely a top place to go to in the evening. You'll need to reserve tickets in advance.)
  • Classical concerts and serious music are covered by the Liederhalle [http://www.liederhalle-stuttgart.de/]
  • A Musical Theatre (the Apollo-Theater) is placed in Mohringen in the SI-Zentrum [http://www.si-centrum.de]. (It has shown musicals like "Cats" and "Miss Saigon" and usually stages a new musical every year.)
  • There is also the Palladium Theater in the Stuttgart Musical Center, which is currently presenting the Broadway musical ''Wicked'' [http://www.wicked-welt.de], starring Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba and Lucy Scherer as Glinda. This has gotten very good reviews, including Tim Schleider's review, of the ''Stuttgarter Zeitung'', proclaimed, "there is no doubt, ''Wicked'' is the most entertaining, the liveliest, the most colorful and, above all, the smartest production that we have seen at the Stuttgart Musical Centre."
  • Cinema

    The entry fee will be about 7,- EUR per person.

  • Most cinemas will run movies with synchronized German voice without text captions and you will fail listening to the movie unless you understand German.
  • But there are at least one or two movie theaters, showing movies with original audio track (and possibly German text captions), which are:
  • * Communal movie theater - Kommunales Kino [http://www.koki-stuttgart.de] (Original with captions = OmU)
  • * Corso Stuttgart Stuttgart-Vaihingen [http://www.corso-kino.de/] (All movies in original language; Tuesday are Kinoabends with greatly-reduced tickets. Great theatre atmosphere)
  • * Ambo [http://www.kinostar.com/index2.htm] (center of Stuttgart, close to the main train station)
  • Seasonal Festivals

  • Huge wine festival (''Weindorf'') 10 days in early September. free entrance
  • Huge Christmas Market (''Weihnachtsmarkt'') during December. free entrance
  • Huge fun fair ("'''Cannstatter Wasen '''"), beertents and rollercoasters, early September. (Families should go there during daytime: after 20:00 o'clock beware of tough public and drunken people.) Canstatter Wasen is the second largest fun fair in the world. Visiting it is more pleasant than the Oktoberfest in Munich, because tents are not so overcrowded like on the Oktoberfest. free entrance
  • Stuttgarter Fruhlingsfest , a fun fair like Cannstatter Wasen in April/May, but smaller. free entrance
  • Festival of Animated Film [http://www.itfs.de] (''Internationales Trickfilmfestival'' - every year, April or May)
  • Long Night of the Museums (''Lange Nacht der Museen''), Long Night of Sciences (''Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften'')
  • Stuttgart Jazz Open [http://www.jazzopen.com], festival in mid July lasting about one week featuring American, European and other international performers at two downtown venues, one outdoor near the main train station and one indoor at a jazz club
  • Hamburg Fish Market - 10-day festival featuring seafood, beer, and vendors from the northern port city of Hamburg. The market fills Karlsplatz near the Schlossplatz in mid-July. free entrance
  • Bohnenviertelfest [http://www.das-bohnenviertelfest.de] (Bean Quarter Festival) downtown street music festival in mid July - music, food, drinks. free entrance
  • Stuttgart Summer Festival (''Sommerfest'') early August, city centre - music, food and drinks. free entrance
  • International Festival of Science Fiction, Horror and Thriller (''Fantasy Filmfest'', late July or early August: Festival for strange films, one week of Horror, Splatter, Asia, Suspense, Action and Animation.
  • Many non-commercial traditional Swabian Events [http://www.stuttgart-journal.de/tp/index.php?id=121] in the summer.
  • Scenes & Underground

    1. Nightclubbing & Bands

  • You can listen to good house, drum'n'base, hiphop and other kinds of electronic music in Stuttgart. However it is not always easy to get into most discotheques. The discotheque N-Pir, which is in a very ugly building in Stuttgart-Feuerbach, has a very restritictive door policy!
  • Bands, Nightclubs and Events are covered by local magazines (generally not in English).
  • * Try [http://lift-stuttgart.de] and [http://www.prinz.de/stuttgart.html] (event magazines for Stuttgart).
  • * Entry spots for nightclubbing in the cities of Stuttgart/Tubingen/Reutlingen could be:
  • ** Stuttgart By Night [http://www.stgt.com/stuttgart/stnachte.htm] - A plain listing trying to keep track of all clubs, bars, cafes (plus valuable infos about '''Food After midnight''', '''24-Hour Petrol Stations''')<br>
  • ** [http://www.dancefloorguide.de/stuttgart/], [http://www.partymoon.de], [http://www.partys-in-stuttgart.de/]
  • 2. Small Art Galleries

  • Handouts with a list of ongoing exhibitions should be delivered in local art galleries.
  • The web can deliver more info.
  • 3. People

  • Take a day visit to the town Tübingen by train. (From Hauptbahnhof, main station, either take a train to Tubingen or take the S1 to Herrenberg, then change to the Ammertalbahn which goes directly to Tübingen main station. It's mediaeval center is very charming and worth the travel from Stuttgart. Apart from that, there's also a jazz cellar and various bars and cafes in Tübingen which are quite worth a visit. Special recommendations: Wurstküche ("sausage kitchen", kind of a restaurant), the Arsenal (a most lovely cinema) and after perhaps 10PM the Tangente Night.
  • Nightlife

    A good place to go where everyone speaks English is Biddy Earlys, an Irish pub just west of the city centre/Konigstrase, a five minutes walk from the major public transport station "Stadtmitte" (S-Bahn, Stadtbahn). Do a google search for directions and keep a sharp eye because the entry is a mere doorway wide which leads down the stairs to the basement. Good bands on the weekends. Two or three euro cover. Everybody always welcome and you don't have to apologize for your poor German here!

    The most popular street for clubbing is the Theodor-Heuss-Strase. Over the past years several bars, clubs and lounges have opened here. It has become the most popular place for people to go out on the weekend. During the summer, there are also many opportunities to have a drink outside.

    If you want to go to a place where you can meet locals, you can visit the Bonnie and Clyde. It`s near the Stadtbahn station Stockach. The owners speak English well, so do most of the guests. Many students, so music is from rock to punk. No cover charge.

  • [http://www.bonnieandclyde-stuttgart.de/]
  • Another great bar is the Classic Rock Cafe which is a few blocks away from Biddy Early's. Do a Google on it and you can find directions. No cover charge here even on weekends and the music is great! Interesting decor too. And everyone is welcome!

    If you're into Indie music, you might wanna check out the Zwolfzehn bar/discotheque in the Paulinenstrase, about 10 minutes west from "Stadtmitte". It is close to the next S-Bahn stop "Feuersee". In that area, around Rotebuhlstrase, you'll find some nice theatres and bars.

    Another interesting fact about Germany is that prostitution is legal. There are brothels everywhere. One of the biggest ones, a three story affair, is right in the heart of Stuttgart Stadtmitte, about a block from the town hall clock tower. You'll have to look for it though or ask a local where it is as there are no signs --just an unmarked door at street level. It's called the Drei-Farben-Haus (the three color house). Entry is free, looking is free.

    On the outskirts of Stuttgart, in Mohringen, there is a hotel/conference/entertainment complex called the SI Centrum. A lot of foreigners stay here. This complex includes a theater for Broadway shows, the Millennium hotel, and a spacious underground complex that houses many conference rooms, bars and restaurants. It's a very nice place to stay and although it's one of the best hotels in Stuttgart, it's not that expensive. Plus there's a Stadtbahn stop right behind the hotel so you can explore easily.

    Discotheques with unproblematic access

  • Universum, Stuttgart, inside the stop "Charlottenplatz", take the exit to "Landtag", it's on the right on the way out (rock music, independent music, concerts)
  • Alfa, Stuttgart-Mohringen (Hip-Hop, house, many aggressive people)
  • Rohre, near Wagenburg Tunnel (independent music, not open every weekend, dancefloor is slightly inclined, which may be enerving at dancing)
  • LKA at Stuttgart-Wangen (rock-, country-music)
  • Boa (meat market)
  • Zwolfzehn
  • Keller Club near Rotebuhlplatz (indie dance music)
  • Rockfabrik Ludwigsburg (Metal, Goth, etc. located in the city of Ludwigsburg north of Stuttgart)
  • Further clubs (access may be difficult)

  • Perkins Park
  • Zapata
  • Proton
  • M1 Stuttgart
  • MOVE Club
  • ALASITAS
  • MONO
  • Bett
  • TO-12 (has won several prizes for its interior design)
  • Muttermilch
  • Bett
  • Gay & Lesbian

  • Eagle (men only leather bar)
  • Boots (men only country style bar)
  • Laura (mixed dance pub)
  • Kings Club (mixed dance club)
  • Jenseitz (mixed gay bar)
  • Zap
  • Recreation

    Travel and wander

    Schedule at least a daytime for such action (plus prepare some equipment like maps, drinking water, solid shoes, food, rain gear, warm clothing during cold seasons, etc.!) You may want to contact a local tourist office for guidance.

  • the Black Forest (Schwarzwald)
  • the Schwabische Alb (hilly mattock landscape) covering natures highlights like the mystical colored "Blautopf" and stalactite caves like "Barenhohle". Could be a nice trip for families with children.
  • From Stuttgart you can take many nice day trips. Just an hour to an hour and a half south is the Swiss border and Zurich. On the way you can see the largest falls in Europe. An hour to the south is Triberg, a beautiful old village in the heart of the black forest which specializes in grandfather and cuckoo clocks. There is also a hiking trail which parallels a stream there. An hour to an hour and a half west from Stuttgart is Strasbourg, France. It is a small but beautiful city and possibly the most charming in France!

    Some old university towns are also nearby, e.g. Tubingen (30 km/20 miles south), Heidelberg (ca. 80km/50 miles northwest) or Freiburg (120 km/80 miles southwest).

    Sports

  • Swim: Stuttgart is fond of its mineral springs. The best one might be the Leuze Mineralbad [http://www.stuttgart.de/baeder] which also offers a sauna, but there are many others like Neckarbad or Cannstatt Mineral Bath [http://www.stgt.com/stuttgart/mibacae.htm], which is open until 21.30 weekdays and serves excellent food til late !
  • Several commercial Tennis- and Squash-Centers available
  • You can windsurf on areas of the Max-Eyth-See when there is enough wind. (But honestly, surfers should better head for either Atlantic, North Sea or Lago di Garda!)
  • Relax

  • Stuttgart is full of mineral springs. Take some time out and enjoy The Leuze [http://www.stgt.com/stuttgart/leuzed.htm] or Mineral Bad Cannstatt.
  • Spectate (Sports/concerts)

  • See the city's most famous sports team, the Fussball Bundesliga Club (premier league football club) VfB Stuttgart [http://vfb-stuttgart.de], in action - if you call such encounter recreation. The club's home ground, the Mercedes-Benz-Arena, is in the Bad Cannstatt district, in the same neighborhood as the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Cannstatter Wasen, where the Volksfest (i.e. Stuttgart's "Oktoberfest") takes place in autumn (see above).
  • News about Sport in Stuttgart see Nachrichten Stuttgart Sport [http://www.stuttgart-journal.de/tp/index.php?id=62].

  • International ladies' tennis can be seen in September/October each year, with the WTA's Porsche Grand Prix event having transferred in 2006 from Filderstadt to central Stuttgart at - unsurprisingly - the Porsche Arena [http://www.porsche-arena.de]. This prestigious Tier I event usually attracts all the top players, with large prize-money and a brand new Porsche car on offer to the winner !
  • Only concerts of classical music take place in the city centre's concert halls, especially Liederhalle [http://www.liederhalle-stuttgart.de]. Rock and pop concerts are usually held in the Schleyer Halle [http://www.schleyer-halle.de] or the newly (2006) opened Porsche Arena [http://www.porsche-arena.de] or - rarely - inside the Daimler Stadium (see above). The mentioned halls/arenas are also in the Cannstatt district, close to the stadium and the Wasen.
  • You should travel to the stadium, the Benz museum and/or the Schleyer/Porsche Arena by Stadtbahn (subway) or S-Bahn (local train) and get off at the stop Mercedesstrase (Stadtbahn, long walk and you will probably have to ask for further directions) or "Neckarpark (Mercedes-Benz)" (S-Bahn). Finding parking spaces is very difficult, especially at football games and concerts and during the Volksfest.

    Buy

    Major points

    The UK and US enjoy an (almost) 24/7 retail environment. This is definitely not the case in Germany.

  • The banks close at lunchtime on weekdays, usually 13:00 - 14:00.
  • The banks close at 13:00 on Saturday and stay shut until Monday morning.
  • Other than the EuroCard, a surprisingly large number of stores and restaurants do not take credit cards and it may be difficult to find ATMs that accept other cards as well.
  • Shops ''are'' open until about 8PM Monday-Saturday.
  • Stuttgart city centre has practically NO shops open on Sunday. The only shops you're likely to find open are the odd chemist (Apotheke) and a brezel shop or two. If you're leaving Germany on a Sunday and are putting off your souvenir-buying until the day you leave, you'll be getting all your presents from the airport.
  • By the same token, ensure you've got enough food, drink and toiletries to last you from Saturday until Monday.
  • Don't try perfumes and aftershaves by spraying directly onto your wrist etc. - you'll get disapproving looks. There are small sticks of card provided - spray onto those and smell them.
  • Shopping around the Konigstrase

    The main shopping street in Stuttgart is the Konigstrase which starts at the main railway station. Left and right of Konigstrase are interesting shops, too, but Konigstrase is a good startpoint for navigation in the inner city.

    What may come as surprise to American visitors is that the price listed on German price tags is the price you pay - tax (MWST) is already included. Non-EU shoppers can buy Value Added Tax (VAT) forms (€3 each) and use each for 19% off the listed price! Since they cost money, this is only practical for items over a certain amount.

    Big department stores/shopping malls

  • Galeria Kaufhof (range of goods: all products you can think of / price and quality: mass market)
  • Breuninger (range of goods: clothing and household / price and quality: high / '''the''' traditional department store in Stuttgart)
  • Karstadt(range of goods: household, clothing, electronics / price and quality: average)
  • Konigsbaupassagen [http://www.koenigsbaupassagen.de] (range of goods: all products you can think of / price and quality: mass market / high)
  • Clothing

  • Abseits[http://www.abseitsgermany.com] (trendy designer labels at high prices. Just behind the Kunstmuseum.)
  • Breuninger Subway (latest fashion highlights and shoes)
  • Breuninger [http://www.breuninger.com] (nice clothes and shoes for the business man and woman)
  • C&A
  • Fruit of the Loom, Uli Knecht
  • Geschwisterliebe (German brand for young people)
  • H&M (Hennes & Mauritz, cheap trendy bodywear)
  • Pimkie and NewYorker (trendy clothes for teens)
  • SportScheck (sport shoes, clothing and equipment), near to the train station
  • COS (Konigstrase)
  • Music stores

  • WOM = World of music (near Hauptbahnhof)
  • Saturn
  • Ratzer Records [http://www.ratzer-records.de/]
  • Second Hand Records [http://www.secondhandrecords.de]
  • Food markets

  • market square: "Marktplatz am Rathaus", public market on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings;
  • "Wilhelmsplatz", somewhat smaller public food market on Friday
  • market hall: "Markthalle" (exotic wares, exotic prices)
  • indoor farmer's market: '''Bauernmarkthalle''', Herderstrase 13 (U9 Vogelsang) [http://www.bauernmarkthalle.de/]
  • Food stores

    Messe Stuttgart (trade fairs)

    Still located few kilometers away from the main train station on a hill called Killesberg on the top of Stuttgart.

    Homepage: [http://www.messe-stuttgart.de/cms/index.php?id=19&L=1]

    (At the time of writing, a new and bigger trade fair is being built near the airport outside of Stuttgart and will in Spring 2007 be used instead.)

    Consumer exhibitions

    Some of the consumer exhibitions of the Messe Stuttgart can be entertaining and educational:

  • (October) Suddeutsche Spielmesse - South Germany's largest exhibition for games
  • (October) Modelbau Sud - Exhibition for model cars, aircraft, ships
  • (October) Future World - The consumer exhibition for multimedia
  • Eat

    Major points

    Food and drink in Germany can differ from the US/UK and other countries. Here are a few miscellaneous points to consider:

  • Generally, meals won't come with potatoes/noodles/pasta or vegetables unless specifically ordered.
  • Smaller restaurants sometimes don't have much for vegetarians.
  • Groups of diners will usually receive their orders individually when the food is ready, rather than all together.
  • In a bar, beer will be served at your table and you usually pay the waiter/waitress when you leave (or when they leave).
  • Mineral water is usually carbonated ("mit Kohlensaure") and still water ("ohne Kohlensaure/stilles Wasser") usually has to be specified.
  • If you ask for tea (the drink) you'll probably get fruit tea. Ask for "englischen Tee" for normal tea but have a backup plan as smaller cafes may not have any.
  • "Milch" (milk) for drinks and breakfast cereal is usually condensed/evaporated milk. Ask for "frische Milch" for normal milk.
  • Many fruit juices are packed with multi-vitamins, giving them a cloudy/opaque appearance and a somewhat silty texture.
  • If you ask for coffee, it will usually come with milk already in it. Ask for "schwarzen Kaffee" for black coffee.
  • Grocery stores can often be found in the basement level of department stores.
  • Fast Food

  • Stuttgart is known for the Brezel. (You'll find them at the small wooden cabins on Konigsstrase and at any baker's shop.)
  • At the many Döner (Turkish food) stands. Take care to order "mit Scharf" (Pul Biber - dried chili, hot) or "ohne Scharf" (not hot...). If you order hot, you'll mostly be given an asking look. Say again and you'll get what you asked for.
  • Some Italian and Asian delivery services at varying quality. (Order online for example with [http://www.stuttgart-pizza.de/] or [http://www.joeys.de/])
  • Some small snack shops sell potato chips with ketchup and roasted sausage. They are sometimes located in white trailers.
  • Of course McDonalds, Burger King and Subway are in town, too. If you want to try their locally renowned single shop competitor, go to ''Udo Snack'' in Calwer Strase or ''XXL Burger'' on Steinstr. which is run by an old couple.
  • Also on Steinstr. is ''Veggie Voodoo King'', a vegan falafel shop.
  • Only two or three fast food shops are opened during night. Kebap Nemo at Rotebuhlplatz. Dilan Kebab (walk from Stadtmitte towards Wilhelmsplatz and take a left "Tagblattturm")
  • For opened during night: The "Gul Kebap" which is a Döner and has opened 24/7. You can find it near the "Rathaus" (City Hall) and even closer to the "Conrad".
  • If you have young children with you, try Wienerwald across from the train station. They have a play area with a small slide and their half chicken meal with salad and fries is enough food for an adult and small child to share.
  • In the Hauptbahnhof, you can eat at "Nordsee" (a chain of fast food seafood restaurant). There is an amazing variety of seafood dishes, sandwiches, sushi, etc. The price is very good and the presentation is colourful and appetizing!
  • Restaurants

  • If you enter restaurants of small hotels or guesthouses you'll most likely get the local Swabian food (and often bad support for vegetarians). Order some 'Spatzle' or 'Knodel' as a rich side dish there.
  • Stuttgart publishes a book annually entitled "Stuttgart geht aus" (Stuttgart goes out). This is available at iPunkt next to the Hauptbahnhoff on Konigstrasse. This book, published in German, is a great guide to restaurants in the city. The small biergartens typically have great food, and they're all listed in this book! (The German is low-level and a pocket dictionary will be all you'll need if you don't speak German)
  • There are good and bad restaurants of any color in town: German, Italian, French, Greek, Japanese, Chinese, Indian, African, American among others.
  • Common restaurant prices:
  • * Pizza prices start at about 8,- EUR.
  • * Nice meat or fish will start at about 16,- EUR.
  • * Non-alcoholic drinks start at 2,50 EUR
  • * Glass of beer start at 2,60 EUR
  • * Glass of wine with ok quality start at 5,- EUR
  • * Longdrinks start at 6,- EUR
  • Stuttgart also has two star rated restaurants
  • * Wielandshohe [http://www.wielandshoehe.de] (Vincent Klink)
  • * Speisemeisterei [http://www.speisemeisterei-stuttgart.de] (Martin Oxle)
  • Two nice Italian restaurants can be found at the beginning of Calwer Strase at the Stadtmitte S-Bahn stop.
  • Restaurant Cafe Markthalle. orotheenstrasse 4. ne block from Rathaus Marktplatz farmer's market . 49 (0)711/24 59 79 . 49 (0)711/23 61 040. -F 6AM-10PM Sa 7AM-6PM. 7-?15 for entrees, drinks start at ?2. Restaurant attached to Stuttgart's international marketplace for produce, meat, and cheese (which is a nice shopping experience by itself). Serves regional and seasonal dishes. Also serves substantial breakfasts if you are hungry for more than bakery fare.

  • Sonja's Biergarten im Schlossgarten. eer garden in the palace park. m Schlossgarten 18. n the city park near the main train station. 49 (0)711 - 22 612 74. nfo@biergarten-schlossgarten.de. 49 (0)711 - 22 612 75. ttp://www.biergarten-schlossgarten.de. aily 10:30AM-1 AM. 3-10 for entrees, drinks start at ?2. Beautiful setting and reasonable prices. Order cafeteria style or sit down to be waited on. Free live music on Sundays from May - September.

  • Sophies Brauhaus. arienstrase 28. -Bahn Rotebuehlplatz, S-Bahn Stadtmitte. 49 (0)711/61 09 62. ophies-brauhaus@web.de. 49 (0)711/61 18 75. ttp://www.sophies-brauhaus.de. -Th 11:30AM-1:30AM, F-Sa 11:30AM-2AM, Su 10AM-midnight. 1.20-?15 . Brewpub serving regional specialties and its own beer.

  • Punto Fisso italienisches Restaurant. unto Fisso . Christophstrase 14 . 70178 Stuttgart. 49 (0)711 605126" url="http://www.punto-fisso.de. -Th 12:00AM-2:30PM and 18:00PM-1:00AM, F-Sa 12:00AM-2:30PM and 18:00PM-2:00AM, Su 12:00AM-1:00AM. 2.50-?17,50 . Die Adresse fur hervorragende italienisches Kuche in Stuttgart . One of the best italian restaurant in stuttgart

    Canteens

    Canteens fit the gap between fast food and a common restaurant. Canteens serve somewhat richer meal at medium prices. Most canteens have a busy ambience.

    Breakfast

    In the morning, locals definitely want to get some fresh bread (and brezels and broetchen [bread rolls/buns]) from the baker's shop and serve them with butter, cheese, ham, honey, jam and eggs from the fridge.

    Many locals and visitors will enjoy breakfast at the bakery itself, in the "Stehcafe" - literally, "standing cafe". These are usually a corner of the shop with tall tables which you stand at rather than sit at.

    Orange juice together with coffee or tea or hot chocolate will fit nicely.

    The breakfast in hotels will also look more or less that way.

    You can also order this breakfast setup in some or the other cafe or pub, but you'd have to know the good places at first, if you don't want to end up with a poor dish.

    There are 2 Starbucks Coffee Shops along Konigstrase (a 3rd to open soon on the high-end districk on Calwer Strase). But don't look for low-fat muffin or cream cheese options.

    Drink

    Many shops offer inside free water from a fountain. Be prepared for solid prices in bars, cafes, pubs, clubs and the like. You'll find plenty of them (including, for example Irish Pubs and Community).

  • '''Waranga''', Kleiner Schlossplatz
  • '''Palast der Republik''' (during summer), Friedrichstrase 27
  • '''The Sky Beach''' (during summer) [http://www.skybeach.de/index.php?id=6,2,0,0,1,0]
  • '''Suite 212''', the first bar/lounge that opened on Stuttgart's party street - the Theodor-Heuss-Strase
  • If you're looking for a posh club, you can try one of the following:

  • '''Penthouse''', Heilbronner Str. [http://www.penthousestuttgart.de/]
  • '''Perkins Park''', Stresemannstr. 39 [http://www.perkins-park.de/]
  • In such places, it's hard to be overdressed. But even if you "dress to impress", there's no guarantee that the doormen will let you in.

    For a more alternative atmosphere, check out one of these:

  • '''Schocken''', Hirsch Str. 36 [http://www.club-schocken.de/]
  • '''Schraglage''', Marktstr. 6 [http://www.schraeglage.tv/]
  • '''Kap Tormentoso''', large smoking section, good beer, Hirschstr. 27 [http://www.myspace.com/kap_tormentoso]
  • '''Hotzenplotz''', rustic atmosphere, Silberburgstr. 88 [http://www.zumhotzenplotz.de/]
  • Sleep

  • Alex30 Hostel" . lexanderstrasse 30. -bahn: Olgaeck " phone="+49 (0)711 / 838895-0" email="info@alex30-hostel.com" fax="+49 (0)711 / 838895-20" checkout="12:00"

    price="Shared room from ?22. Private rooms also available" url="http://www.alex30-hostel.com">Centrally located hostel with breakfast buffet. Youth Hostel card is not required to stay.</sleep>

  • '''Youth hostel''' at Haussmannstrase 27, Tel:+49.711.24 15 83. About ten minutes walk from main station [http://www.jugendherberge.de/jh/Stuttgart_english], or take the U15 to Eugensplatz (Jugendherberge).
  • There's a relatively new service that provides comparably cheap accommodation for shorter or longer stays [http://www.night-and-day.de/].
  • Also try '''T-Com Tageshotel''' at Universitat in Vaihingen. Reasonable prices for weekend stays, including buffet breakfast.
  • If you have an early morning flight, it is possible to spend the night in the airport, as check-in areas stay open at night.
  • Splurge

  • '''Le Meridien''', Willy-Brandt-Strase. Has luxury rooms ranging from typical to suites. Booked over the internet or in advance can secure you lower rates (150 Euro for Deluxe Room or ?325 for Suite). This establishment has newer less traditional rooms suited for those on business.
  • '''Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin''', Arnulf-Klett-Platz. Has more traditional luxury rooms. Rates are similar to the Le Meridien.
  • Communicate

    Phone

  • Call Shops are frequented by a lot of foreigners to call home.
  • A mobile/cell phone is known as a "Handy".
  • Prepaid Handys are cheap - about EUR 20,- and certain phones get free in-coming calls, so long as the call is received in Germany (TMobile). Calling a different country is expensive, so beware. Prepaid Handys can be found cheaply in Electronics stores and other stores as well (Saturn, Tschibo, etc.).
  • Don't forget that the text messages and voice messages from the network (eg. when checking or topping up credit) will be in German. If you don't speak German, get somebody to help you.
  • The mobile GSM networks are fully developed. UMTS (3G), too.
  • Public phone cells accept telephone-cards and coins. Since almost everybody owns his own mobile, public phone cells outside crowded areas become less and harder to spot, but they are still available.
  • Net

  • Internet cafes
  • Local phone lines are either usable for analog-modems or for ISDN. An up-to-date list of call-by-call providers can be found at heise.de [http://www.heise.de/itarif/view.shtml?function=ohneanmeldung].
  • Commercial WLAN-Hotspots are available at the airport and few other places.
  • Some hotels provide WLAN-Hotspots. Ask in advance.
  • If you find a private WLAN with an email-address as its network name, it's most likely an invitation to contact its friendly operator via email.
  • Usenet, see group: stgt.general
  • IRCnet: join channel #stuttgart
  • Get out

    By train

    For connections and timetables see webpages of Deutsche Bahn AG [http://www.bahn.de/p/view/international/englisch/international_guests.shtml].

    For connections to nearer cities in the area which may be worth a visit (e.g. Esslingen, Ludwigsburg with their historic centres), you may also try the "S-Bahn" commuter trains which will take you there and back at least every half an hour. See Public transportation above for more information and timetable links. Other nearby cities that may be of interest include Tubingen and Reutlingen.

    Fast inner-German connections

    From main station Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof:

  • to Cologne (Koln) 2:15 hours: (ICE via Mannheim, Frankfurt - traveling at up to 305 km/h)
  • to Berlin 5:26 hours: (ICE via Gottingen - doesn't reach high speed on this track)
  • to Frankfurt 1:26 hrs. (Frankfurt Airport 1:15; ICE direct)
  • to Hamburg 5:08 hours: (ICE via Hannover)
  • to Mannheim 0:38 hours (ICE)
  • to Munich (Munchen) 2:11 hours: (ICE via Ulm, Augsburg - not top speed)
  • to Nuremberg 2:10 hours (IC)
  • to Freiburg/Br. 2:16 hours (ICE via Karlsruhe).
  • Fast European connections

    From main station Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof:

  • to Salzburg (Austria): 4:05 hrs. (ICE)
  • to Vienna (Austria): 7:32 hrs. (IC, EN; via Munich and Salzburg)
  • to Strasbourg (France) 1:20 hours (TGV),
  • to Paris (France): 3:40 hours (TGV via Strasbourg) or 4:00 hours (ICE, change in Mannheim)
  • to Zurich (Switzerland): 2:48 hours (ICE via Schaffhausen)
  • to Amsterdam (Netherlands): 5:01 hours (ICE via Koln, Arnhem)
  • to Prague (Czech Republic): 8:32 hours (ICE, EC)
  • to Brussels (Belgium): 4:49 hours (ICE, IC,Thalys)