Travel to Stuttgart

Travel to Stuttgart

Stuttgart is an attractive city, with over two-thirds ofits urban area occupied by parks and natural attractions. The city lies in a lush valley west of the Necklar River, and is renowned for its vineyards including the Kriegsberg vineyards, located on the northeastern banks of the river. Amid the flourishing greenery is a charming and historic city. Here you will find old palaces, museums and a lively nightlife in its many taverns, cafs and clubs. Weather in the region is mild when compared with other parts of Germany: summers are warm, though winter temperatures can occasionally drop to -10C.

Transportation to Stuttgart

The Stuttgart Echterdingen Airport is located only eight miles south of the city centre, and is connected to over 100 destinations. Domestic flights to Frankfurt take as little as 50 minutes, while journeys to Hamburg and Berlin take just over an hour. There are frequent connections to the city centre onboard the S-Bahn commuter train, which leaves from the Arrivals level of Terminal 1 (journey time: 30 minutes).

Motorists can reach Stuttgart via the A8, when arriving from the east and west, or via the A81, when travelling from the north and south. Stuttgart is also well connected to other German cities, offering over 40 daily trains to Munich, with a journey time of between 2 and 3 hours. Up to 30 trains depart daily for Frankfurt andthe journey takes 1 hour, 30 minutes. A long-distance bus service operated by Europabus is also available, and connects Stuttgart with other major centres in Germany.

What to see

Stuttgarts centre is well-suited to pedestrians, and most attractions are located within a short distance of the city centre. The primary shopping district is also closed to traffic. In the heart of the city, the Schlossgarten (Palace Garden) offers miles of greenery including pleasant paths for walkers and cyclists. The park is also home to the citys natural history museum, the Schloss Rosenstein.

Another attraction worth visiting is the Wilhelma Botanical Gardens and Zoo, with over 1,000 species of animals to be discovered. There are also a number of rare species including the snow leopard and the exotic mountain tapir, which is nearing extinction. Automobile aficionados will take great pleasure in a tour of the Mercedes-Benz Museum, which exhibits over 100 automobiles including the first car ever built.

Daytrips

Only 10 miles away, Leonberg is an attractive town that dates back to the Middle Ages. There is a 16th century castle in the town, and the Steinhaus, which dates from 1350. The Black Forest is also nearby, and can be accessed along the route between Stuttgart and Leonberg. Ludwigsburg is also in the vicinity, and features an enormous 18th century Baroque castle called the Residenzschloss. A longer trip from Stuttgart might include a tour of Munich, located among the hills of Bavaria. Marienplatz, the lively central square, is a good locationin which tosample the citys busy atmosphere.

Activities and leisure

Stuttgart is renowned for its mineral waters and offers mineral baths at the Bad Cannstatt as well as saunas and swimming pools. For night-time entertainment, the Staatstheater is a good venue for theatre and live performances. While by day, shoppers can browse through a wide variety of shops and designer boutiques including Hugo Boss and Ulli Knecht outlets.

Safety issues

Though Stuttgart is generally a safe city, visitors should be wary of their personal belongings when in busy streets and unfamiliar environments. Pick-pocketing is an occasional problem during festivals, and also at night-time in bars and clubs. Travellers should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance prior to arrival, to ensure that they are safeguarded in the event of theft or a medical emergency.