One-Day Stuttgart Itinerary
The itinerary starts with the must-see attraction in Stuttgart: the Mercedes Benz Museum, one of the main highlights of the city and of Germany. The visit will take up most of your morning, and once finished, head to the Markthalle Stuttgart, the central market, the perfect spot for lunch.
After lunch, explore the historic center, with the beautiful Schlossplatz, the main square, Königstraße, the shopping street, and the Stiftskirche, the city's main church. In the afternoon, take public transport to the Fernsehturm Stuttgart, known as the Television Tower, for some incredible views, perhaps at sunset.
Once you descend from the TV Tower, return to the historic center, the hub of nightlife, especially around Marktplatz and Steinstrasse.
- Morning Mercedes Benz Museum, Markthalle Stuttgart
- Afternoon Schlossplatz and Königstraße, Fernsehturm Stuttgart
- Evening historic center
- Distance covered 12.8 km
- Where to eat Lunch at Markthalle Stuttgart, Dorotheenstraße 4 (Get directions) / Dinner at Weinstube Kachelofen, Eberhardstraße 10 (Get directions)
1 - Mercedes Benz Museum
The day can only start at the Mercedes Benz Museum, a destination for enthusiasts but also for the curious (Get directions). The museum consists of several floors where you can discover the history of one of the world's most renowned automotive brands. You can admire the evolution and engineering of various car models and all their transitions.
Before entering, stop to admire the museum's external structure, already a true attraction in itself, a grand architectural work that also represents one of Stuttgart's most Instagrammable spots! Opened in 2006, it features 16,500 square meters of exhibition space and over 160 vehicles on display! This is a place that everyone will love, even the little ones.
Visit duration: 2 hours
2 - Markthalle Stuttgart
To reach this stop: 30 min by subway (Get directions).
After visiting the Mercedes Benz Museum, head to the historic center for lunch: we recommend stopping at Markthalle Stuttgart, the famous indoor market in Stuttgart. To get there, take the S1 line from Stuttgart Neckarpark station to Rotebühlplatz Stadtmitte, in the historic center (30 min).
Get ready, as this is a paradise for gourmet lovers! Besides traditional German dishes, you can find culinary specialties from around the world, but we of course recommend getting to know the local cuisine, along with strolling through the various stalls and stands that sell just about everything! The best time to visit is right around lunchtime, to sample as many dishes and street food as possible and immerse yourself in a slice of the city's daily life!
Visit duration: 1 hour
3 - Schlossplatz and Neues Schloss
To reach this stop: 5 min on foot (Get directions).
After a delicious lunch at the Markthalle, it's time to discover the historic center of Stuttgart, starting from Schlossplatz, the beating heart of the city, frequented by both locals and tourists. Numerous attractions surround the square, such as the Neues Schloss Stuttgart, which is now home to government offices and only open to the public on certain occasions.
Visit duration: 30 min
4 - Stiftskirche (Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross)
To reach this stop: 3 min on foot (Get directions).
Adjacent to Schlossplatz is Schillerplatz, another important square where the Stiftskirche stands, the most important Protestant church in the city. It is absolutely worth a visit, which will take less than 30 min, because this place is one of the cradles of Protestantism.
Visit duration: 30 min
5 - Königstraße
To reach this stop: 2 min on foot (Get directions).
Finally, enjoy a stroll along Königstraße, the shopping street of Stuttgart, a kilometer where numerous shops of all kinds, cafes, and restaurants are lined up. It is a completely pedestrianized street, ideal for a pleasant walk.
Visit duration: 30 min
6 - Fernsehturm Stuttgart
To reach this stop: 10 min on foot (Get directions).
Conclude your afternoon by reaching the most beautiful viewpoint in Stuttgart: the Fernsehturm Stuttgart, or the Television Tower. A short distance from the center, you'll need to take public transport to reach it: from the center, take the U7 metro line to Waldau station (9 min).
The Television Tower is one of the most important attractions in the city! But not only that: it's worth a visit because it is the first one built in the world, and for this reason, it is affectionately called 'the mother of all modern television towers'! It stands 217 m tall and has two elevators that will take you to the top, from where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the surrounding area!
Visit duration: 1.5 hours
The city is rich in museums, all requiring at least 2 hours for a visit, so if you are not interested in visiting the Mercedes-Benz Museum, you can replace it with another museum. History lovers can visit the Altes Schloss, which houses the Landesmuseum Württemberg, or the Natural History Museum Naturkundemuseum Stuttgart in Schloss Rosenstein. If you love cars, there's also the Porsche Museum in the city, which retraces its entire history!
Don't forget to check out the famous Civic Library (free), one of the most photographed spots in the entire city, though a bit inconvenient to reach as it's located far from the center!
If you have visited Stuttgart in the past, you might explore the surroundings of the city, such as the wonderful Schloss Solitude, about 10 km from the center, but the visit will take up the entire afternoon. Wine lovers can instead join a vineyard safari (duration 3 hours 30 min), as this is a notable wine region.
If you are traveling with family, Stuttgart is a perfect destination! We recommend spending the day in the northern part of the historic center, where you can visit the famous Wilhelma Zoo and Botanical Garden. Nearby is also the Killesbergpark, which features the Killesbergturm Stuttgart.
- Family City Tour morning and early afternoon at Wilhelma Zoo and Botanical Garden. Afternoon at Killesbergpark and climbing the tower for the view. Evening in the historic center
- Free Attractions Itinerary morning stroll in the historic center and visit the Landesmuseum Württemberg in the Altes Schloss. Lunch at the Markthalle and stop at the Stuttgart Civic Library, then Killesbergpark. Evening in the historic center
- Day Among Historic Palaces and Castles morning visit to the Württemberg Mausoleum. Lunch in the historic center, with a stroll in Schlossplatz. All afternoon at Schloss Solitude (10 km from the center). Evening in the historic center
- Automotive World Itinerary morning visit to the Porsche Museum. Afternoon visit to the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Late afternoon and evening in the historic center
- Gastronomic Day morning stroll in the historic center, with a visit to the Landesmuseum Württemberg. Lunch at the Markthalle and then a vineyard safari (departure at 2:00 PM, duration 3 hours 30 min). Finally, an evening of raclette, wine, and a show
- Get around by public transit the historic center is best explored on foot, but to reach various attractions, you'll need to take public transportation, which is very efficient - find out more
- Plan your itinerary well even though the historic center is compact, many attractions are located outside, such as the Fernsehturm, Wilhelma Zoo, or the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Therefore, it's necessary to plan your moves carefully to avoid wasting precious time
- How to navigate by car to drive in the city, you need to obtain a Green Sticker, as it is a Low Emission Zone (LEZ). It's recommended to park your car in one of the P+R parking lots, convenient and with transport to the center - find out more
- Enjoy a quick lunch given all the things to do, we recommend opting for a quicker lunch, perhaps with an excellent currywurst, the quintessential German street food - find out more
- Consider the tourist bus if you'd rather enjoy a scenic ride around the city instead of visiting individual attractions, the best option is to take a tour on the tourist bus. Info and costs here