What to See at the Mercedes-Benz Museum: Hours, Prices, and Tips

The Mercedes-Benz Museum is one of the most visited attractions in Stuttgart. Originally created to share the history of the automobile, it has since focused on the Mercedes-Benz brand, showcasing both themes by displaying 160 models ranging from the very first vehicles. Car enthusiasts will surely appreciate it, as well as children and all other visitors. Here are all the details for a visit to the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart: tips, prices, and how to get there!

What to See and How to Visit the Mercedes-Benz Museum

The Mercedes-Benz Museum spans an area of 16,500 square meters, organized over nine accessible floors, including spacious elevators, and offers 2 exhibition paths that showcase 160 models and 1,500 related items.

The exhibitions consist of a chronological route called "Journey of Myths" which narrates the history of the brand, and another thematic route called "Journey of Collections" that displays the wide range of vehicles produced, both converging in a shared space called "Fascination of Technology" where the themes covered are design, development, and production. Throughout your visit, which we recommend starting chronologically and then thematically, you will discover work vehicles, super sports cars, Silver Arrows, cars with gull-wing doors, and many other models created over the years by this famous car manufacturer. Here are more details on what awaits you inside the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the 10 must-see highlights:

Journey of Myths

In this part of the tour, as previously mentioned, you traverse chronologically through automotive history from the invention of the first car to the birth of the Mercedes-Benz brand and its fascinating models from past to present. Each vehicle is displayed within its historical or contemporary context, enriched with exhibits of objects, documents, and photographs related to its specific period. This exhibition divides into seven thematic areas:

Pioneers - The Invention of the Automobile
Mercedes - The Birth of the Brand
Times of Change: Diesel and Supercharger
Post-War Miracle: Form and Diversity
Visionaries - Safety and the Environment
New Beginning: The Road to Emission-Free Mobility
Silver Arrows: Races and Records

Journey of Collections

The Journey of Collections features a thematic exhibition in its bright halls that showcases vehicles of all types produced by the Mercedes-Benz brand divided by category, including vehicles for normal private use, work vehicles, public transport, and luxury cars. This exhibition includes 4 areas:

Collection 1 - Gallery of Travelers
Collection 2 - Gallery of Carriers
Collection 3 - Gallery of Helpers
Collection 4 - Gallery of Celebrities

Fascination of Technology

Fascination of Technology is the shared space where both previous routes converge. This is where the advancements and evolution achieved over the years in the automotive world in general, and particularly by the Mercedes-Benz brand, are showcased, in terms of technology, structure, engines, and design. These factors have allowed the car manufacturer to always keep pace with the times, successfully meeting the ever-changing demands of its clientele and remaining continually refreshed!

1 - Speedboat "Marie"

That's right! The first of the must-see vehicles in the museum is not a car but a speedboat, so elegant that it was named with a feminine name by Chancellor Bismarck. In 1886, test cruises were conducted on the waters of the Neckar River to test its hull and engine.

2 - 75 PS Mercedes Double Phaeton

This other elegant model was the first produced with a six-cylinder engine, which took 4 years of work from 1907 to 1911 to complete. It was available in various shapes and colors and featured two rows of seats.

3 - 27/170/225 PS Mercedes-Benz SSK Sports Two-Seater

Style and elegance even in racing! With this model, of which only 35 units were produced, the manufacturer aimed to provide greater comfort while also enhancing agility during uphill and cornering races, more than it had ever done with previous cars.

4 - Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe

Better known as the Gullwing, this sporty model based on the 1952 competition version enjoyed great success in the 1950s. Its main characteristic is undoubtedly the doors that open upward. This is a result of the sturdiness and weight of the frame, which did not allow for the installation of normal doors.

5 - Mercedes-Benz Auto 2000

This model was first introduced at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in 1981 as a project for the future with the goal of reducing fuel consumption. To create this car, various trials were conducted with diesel, gasoline, and gas engines, but in the end, the true savings came from the vehicle's optimized body!

6 - Mercedes-Benz W 25 750-kg Racing Car

One of the first Silver Arrows, initially painted white, which was too heavy for racing standards causing mechanics to remove the paint, exposing it in its characteristic shiny gray. The experiment worked excellently, both in its first race and in subsequent events, officially becoming a Silver Arrow!

7 - Milnes-Daimler Double-Decker Bus

Mercedes Milnes Daimler Double-Decker Bus

This model is a double-decker bus in Collection 1 - Gallery of Travelers, the typical bus model that has become a symbol for London. Its use began there starting in 1904. This particular model features bright colors and shapes, similar to modern buses but much less refined.

8 - Mercedes-Benz L 406 Panel Van

One of the very first vans, created in 1955 based on trucks and work vans but with a completely new, more modern, and elegant design, and above all capable of meeting multiple needs. From here, a true trend and lifestyle gradually took shape!

9 - Mercedes-Benz LF 3500 Fire-Fighting Truck

With this model, you have in front of you one of the first fire-fighting vehicles. The vehicle dates back to the early 1950s, weighing 3.5 tons and featuring the essential ladder to facilitate rescue maneuvers. Additionally, the design was quite modern even back then.

10 - Mercedes-Benz CLA StreetStyle Designed by Cro

A quirky and charming model still relevant today, produced in 2015 in collaboration with the famous German rapper Cro, who used the freehand spraying technique to give the vehicle a street art touch, transforming it into a highly appreciated modern work of art.

Hours and Prices

The museum is open daily except Mondays and on holidays such as Easter, Christmas, and New Year's Day, during hours that cover the entire day allowing visitors to better plan their visit. It's important to note that the Mercedes-Benz Museum receives a large number of visitors each day, especially during the central hours of the day, which is a factor not to be overlooked when planning your visit. As for tickets, there are no special reductions from the regular price of $10.00, only free admission for children and a 50% discount for teens.

Open hours from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, closed on Mondays
Best time to avoid crowds before 11:00 AM
Ticket cost $10.00
Discounts $5.00 for ages 14 to 18
Free for children under 14 years old

Useful Tips for Visiting the Attraction

Get up early ideally to reach the entrance by 9:00 AM
Online Ticket purchase your ticket online to avoid queues at the entrance
Minimum Time we recommend setting aside at least 2.5 hours for the visit. Ideally, you should be able to dedicate 3 hours
Parking if arriving by car, considering the area's popularity, use the museum's large parking lot for $1.00 for the entire day

Where to Find It and How to Get There

On foot from downtown Stuttgart, it would be impossible to reach the museum on foot as it is 6 km away (more than an hour's walk), however if you are already in the area you can get there via Mercedesstraße - Directions
By bus lines 45 and 56 to Mercedes-Benz Welt stop
By subway line U19 to NeckarPark (Stadium)
By train lines S1, S3, S11, S13, and S31 to Stuttgart Neckarpark

Historical Notes and Curiosities: What to Know in Brief

Did you know that the Mercedes-Benz Museum is the only one in the world that has perfectly reconstructed the history of the automotive industry from 1886 to the present? That's right! The aim of the project was to offer a journey through time from the very first vehicles to experiments for future mobility, while focusing on the famous Mercedes-Benz brand. Additionally, for the building of the museum, the manufacturer UN Studio spared no expense: consider that 35,000 3D drawings were created prior to its construction featuring a helix-shaped plan and a cloverleaf structure. The first museum, however, was already established years earlier but was located in the industrial complex that could only be accessed via a designated shuttle.