Travel Guide Stuttgart

Travel Guide

Stuttgart

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Getting around Stuttgart Top 10 sights Shopping in Stuttgart Restaurants Nightlife Calendar of events Hotels © thinkstock/iStock

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Stuttgart - a brief overview

Stuttgart, capital of Baden-Württemberg state, is a prosperous place. This is where the modern motorcar was invented, and some of the main attractions here reflect its proud automotive heritage. But despite the apparent industrial edge, it is also a big city with the friendly heart of a small town. While it may lack the stunning historical architecture of some other central

European cities, what it offers instead is green spaces in abundance, which lend it a laid-back charm, and a vibrant cultural scene the locals are justly proud of. In summer, the whole place comes even more to life, when everyone moves outside and enjoys the café terrace lifestyle.

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Germany

General Information

Country overview

Still misunderstood by many, Germany stands as one of the most endlessly engaging countries on the continent. Anyone expecting a homogenous nation conforming to rigid Teutonic stereotypes is in for a shock. As a travel destination it’s somewhere with huge personality, notable for a clutch of truly lovable cities, culture served up in hefty portions and rural scenery so heart-melting you’ll be left bemused why some people still think of the place as lacking allure.

It’s the country’s urban highlights that tend to draw the attention first. Berlin is the very definition of a dynamic city, having forged a goodtime reputation for ground-breaking creativity while still keeping sight of it's past. Elsewhere, the likes of Cologne, Munich and Hamburg are rich in historical buildings, eyes-to-the-future nightlife and excellent gastronomy.

Geography

Germany borders Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland. The northwest has a coastline on the North Sea while the Baltic coastline in the northeast stretches from the Danish to the Polish border.

The country is divided into 16 states (Bundesländer) and has an exceedingly varied landscape. In what was once known as West Germany, the Rhine, Bavaria and the Black Forest stand as the three most famous features, while in the east, the country is lake-studded with undulating lowlands.

River basins extend over a large percentage of the region, and some of Europe’s most prominent rivers flow through the country. These include the Elbe, the Danube and the Rhine.

The highest point in the country is the 2,962m (9,718ft) peak of Zugspitze Mountain in the Bavarian Alps. Cable cars run to the summit – it can also be climbed.

General Information

Key facts

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Travel Guide

Stuttgart

Population: 81147265

Population Density (per sq km): 227 Capital: Berlin.

Language

German is the official language. Regional dialects often differ markedly from standard German. Minority languages include Danish and Sorbic, while some English and French is also spoken.

Currency

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Electricity

230 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style round two-pin plugs are in use.

General business opening hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1600 (many close earlier on Fridays).

Public holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2016 - December 2017 period.

Note: Regional observation only.

2016

New Year's Day: 1. January 2016 Epiphany: 6. January 2016 Good Friday: 25. March 2016 Easter Monday: 28. March 2016 Labour Day: 1. May 2016 Ascension Day: 5. May 2016 Whit Monday: 15. May 2016 Corpus Christi: 26. May 2016 Assumption: 15. August 2016 Day of German Unity: 3. October 2016 Day of Reformation: 31. October 2016 All Saints' Day: 1. November 2016 Repentance Day: 16. November 2016 Christmas Day: 25.-26. December 2016

2017

New Year's Day: 1. January 2017 Epiphany: 6. January 2017 Good Friday: 14. April 2017 Easter Monday: 17. April 2017 Labour Day: 1. May 2017 Ascension Day: 25. May 2017 Whit Monday: 5. June 2017 Corpus Christi: 15. June 2017 Assumption: 15. August 2017 Day of German Unity: 3. October 2017

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Travel Guide

Stuttgart

Day of Reformation: 31. October 2017 All Saints' Day: 1. November 2017 Repentance Day: 22. November 2017 Christmas Day: 25.-26. December 2017

Travel etiquette

How to fit in

Handshaking is customary, and it is considered rude to address people by their first name unless invited to do so. Normal courtesies should be observed. Before eating, it is normal to say "guten Appetit" to the other people at the table to which the correct reply is "danke, gleichfalls" (“Thank you, the same to you”). If you’ve been invited to eat at a German house, it is customary to present the hostess with unwrapped flowers (according to tradition, you should always give an uneven number, and it is worth noting that red roses are exclusively a lover's gift). In shops and other businesses, courtesy dictates that visitors should utter a greeting such as "guten tag"

(or "grüss gott" in Bavaria) before saying what it is that they want; to leave without saying "auf wiedersehen" or "tschüss" can also cause offence.

Similarly, when making a telephone call, asking for the person you want to speak to without stating first who you are is impolite. Casual wear is widely acceptable, but more formal dress is required for some restaurants, the opera, theatre, casinos and important social functions. Smoking is prohibited where notified and on public transport and in most public buildings.

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Health

Health

Main emergency number: 112

Food & Drink

There's nothing to mark out German produce as particularly risky to general health (although it has a partly founded reputation for being fatty). Tap water is safe to drink.

Other Risks

Tick-borne encephalitis is present in forested areas of southern Germany; vaccination is advisable. Rabies is present; look out for 'Tollwut' signs. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered.

During the summer months, sunburn can be a problem. The southwest generally draws the highest temperatures. The usual precautions apply: use a generous amount of sunscreen and be sensible about how long you spend in direct sunlight. Be aware that a breezy day can sometimes mask high temperatures.

If walking over a long distance in warm weather, it’s advisable to drink – and carry – plenty of water and wear appropriate clothing, including a sun hat. Blisters can be another problem for hikers. These can often occur if new walking shoes are being worn across a long distance. Ideally footwear should be worn in before the trip.

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Travel Guide

Stuttgart

As a counterpoint to the balminess of the summer, German winters can be fairly severe. This is generally truer the further east you travel. If you’re arriving during the coldest months of the year, ensure you have adequate clothing. At any time of year, in fact, temperatures can be unpredictable – even in July and August, it makes sense to have a sweater (and maybe a brolly too) to hand.

Other health problems that inexperienced travellers might reasonably encounter are the various knock-on effects of too much alcohol consumption. The risk, unsurprisingly, is particularly prevalent among those attending Munich’s Oktoberfest. Be aware that some beer’s ABV levels can be 6 or 7%, so should be treated with respect.

Contractual physician of Lufthansa Dr. Künzel, Jens

Airport Medical Center Terminal 1 West D-70629 Stuttgart Germany

Tel. +49-71193315872

Please note that Lufthansa accepts no responsibility for the treatment nor will it bear the cost of any treatment.

Phone calls & Internet

Phone calls & Internet

Telephone/Mobile Telephone

Dialing Code: +49

Telephone

Local and international calls can be made from phone boxes in towns and cities. These usually accept both coins and pre-paid cards (available at post offices and other outlets). In larger cities, you'll often be able to make international calls from internet cafes too.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good. It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile telephone while driving. If you're going to be in Germany for a long period of time, consider obtaining a local SIM card.

Internet

Internet is readily available; there are many Internet cafes all over the country. Large Internet access centres exist in most main cities. Most hotels also provide facilities, either included in the room rate or charged separately.

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Getting around Stuttgart

Getting around

Public Transport

Stuttgart’s public transport network includes buses and the U-Bahn metro system. There’s also a suburban S-Bahn rail network. Services are operated by the

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Travel Guide

Stuttgart

Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund Stuttgart (VVS; tel: (0711) 66060; www.vvs.de). Buy tickets from machines at stations, or from bus drivers where this is not possible. Single journey tickets are available, but day tickets and three-day tickets usually offer visitors better value. The tourist Stuttcard pass includes free public transport.

Taxis

Pick up taxis from designated ranks, or call the central line Taxi Auto Zentrale (tel: (0711) 551 0000). Tipping is not necessary.

Mercedesstrasse 100 70372 Stuttgart Germany Tel: (0711) 173 0000 Opening times: Tues-Sun 0900-1800 www.mercedes-benz-classic.com Porscheplatz 1 70435 Stuttgart Germany Tel: (0711) 9112 0911 Opening times: Tues-Sun 0900-1800 www.porsche.com/museum Schillerplatz 6 70173 Stuttgart Germany Tel: (0711) 8953 5111 Opening times: Tues-Sun 1000-1700 www.landesmuseum-stuttgart.de

Top 10 sights

Top 10 sights in Stuttgart

Mercedes-Benz Museum

This unmissable nine-floor museum traces the history of the car from its invention by Gottlieb Daimler to the present day. The collection includes more than 160 classic and vintage vehicles.

Porsche Museum

Like Mercedes-Benz, Porsche also has a stunningly designed purpose-built museum tracing the development of the company from 1948 on. The museum houses 80 vehicles, as well as several thematic exhibits.

Landesmuseum Württemberg

Located in the Altes Schloss (Old Castle), the State Museum tells the history of Württemberg from prehistoric times on. On show are the crown jewels once worn by the regional royal family.

Wilhelma

Europe’s largest combined zoological and botanical gardens is named after King Wilhelm I of Württemberg, who ordered them built for his personal entertainment in the 1850s. It now provides refuge to more than 10,000 animals and 5,000 exotic plant species.

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Stuttgart

Wilhelmaplatz 13 70376 Stuttgart Germany Tel: (0711) 54020 Opening times: Various www.wilhelma.de Schlossplatz 70173 Stuttgart Germany Taubenheimstrasse 13 70372 Stuttgart Germany Tel: (0711) 173 0000 Opening times: Tues-Fri 1400-1700 Sat-Sun 1100-1700 Kleiner Schlossplatz 13 70173 Stuttgart Germany Tel: (0711) 2161 9600 Opening times:

Tue-Thurs and Sat-Sun 1000-1800 Fri 1000-2100 www.kunstmuseum-stuttgart.de Schlossgarten 70173 Stuttgart Germany

Schlossplatz

The large central square is a lively meeting point, the perfect place to watch the world go by. There’s an ice-skating rink here in winter, while outdoor concerts are staged in summer.

Gottleib Daimler Memorial

This memorial to the local engineer and inventor who – along with partner Wilhelm Maybach – developed the petrol combustion engine and the world’s first motorcar, is located in a greenhouse that was once their workshop.

Kunstmuseum

The Stuttgart Art Museum is located in a striking modern building constructed in 2005. Much of the exhibition space is below ground, in two former traffic

underpasses. The permanent collection includes works by local Swabian painters.

Schlossgarten

This long-thin green corridor of parkland stretches northeast for more than 3km (1.8 miles) from the central Schlossplatz to the banks of the Neckar River.

Staatsgalerie

Housed in three separate buildings, the State Gallery houses an important art collection that includes works from across the ages. The 20th-century wing features Picasso, Chagall and Klee, among others.

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Stuttgart

Konrad-Adenauer-Strasse 30-32 70173 Stuttgart

Germany

Tel: (0711) 470 400

Opening times:

Tue-Wed and Fri-Sun 1000-1800 Thurs 1000-2000 www.staatsgalerie.de Württembergstrasse 340 70327 Stuttgart Germany Tel: (0711) 337 149 Opening times: Various www.grabkapelle-rotenberg.de

Grabkapelle auf dem Württemberg

On the eastern city outskirts, this hilltop sepulchral chapel was erected by King Wilhelm I in memory of his wife Katharina, who died at a young age. The setting among the vineyards provides great views over Stuttgart and the surrounding area.

Shopping in Stuttgart

Shopping in Stuttgart

Stuttgart’s city centre is filled with shops covering all bases in terms of styles and budgets. All the big international brands can be found on or around Königstrasse. This bustling central shopping street is pedestrianised for over one kilometre, starting near from the main station, and has department stores and chic boutiques. Markets

Stuttgart’s indoor market, the Markthalle, is an attractive Jugenstil building packed with stalls selling quality delicatessen items. You’ll find traditional outdoor markets on both Marktplatz and Schillerplatz every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday – come in the morning as they close early. For second-hand goods and bric-a-brac, try the Saturday morning flea market on Karlsplatz. Several Christmas markets appear in the city during December. The largest is on Schlossplatz.

Shopping Centres

Stuttgart’s biggest central shopping mall is the Königsbau Passage (Königsstrasse 26), which has more than 70 shops and eateries spread over five floors.

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Feuerbacher Weg 101 Price: Expensive

Restaurants

Restaurants in Stuttgart

Stuttgart is filled with great places to eat in every budget range. The international nature of the options reflects the multicultural nature of this industrial city, where the car manufacturers have long attracted immigrants from around the world. Local hearty Swabian food is also well represented.

YoSH

Sophisticated restaurant serving classic seasonal cuisine created by a Michelin-starred chef.

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Stuttgart

70192 Stuttgart-Feuerbach Germany Arnulf-Klett-Platz 7 70173 Stuttgart Germany Price: Expensive Olgastrasse 133b 70180 Stuttgart Germany Price: Moderate Rosenbergstraße 89 70193 Stuttgart Germany Price: Moderate Brahlesgasse 14 70372 Stuttgart Germany Price: Cheap

OLIVO

Elegant Michelin-starred restaurant located on the first floor of a grand hotel.

il quinto quarto

Refined Italian dining in a southern suburb, with a local reputation for great seafood.

Speisekammer West

Refined German food, prepared only from local seasonal organic ingredients.

SIDEWAYS

Trendy living room-style bar selling traditional snacks in unusual ways – think currywurst in a glass.

Marienstraße 28 70178 Stuttgart

Nightlife

Nightlife in Stuttgart

Stuttgart has a thriving nightlife with a great selection of bars, clubs and music venues. The hub of the action is the city’s infamous ‘Party Mile’, comprised of Theodor-Heuss-Strasse,Wilhelmsplatz and Geisstrasse. More traditional German pubs are found all over the city.

Sophie’s Brauhaus

Popular brewpub and restaurant serving beer in volume and hearty local food.

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Stuttgart

Germany Am Schlossgarten 18 70173 Stuttgart Germany Wagenburgstraße 147 70186 Stuttgart Germany Bolzstraße 8 70173 Stuttgart Germany Theodor-Heuss-Straße 23 70174 Stuttgart Germany

Sonja’s Biergarten im Schlossgarten

Large outdoor beer garden, perfect for warm evenings, and with free live music on summer Sundays.

Laboratorium

Music venue hosting international performers from a range of musical backgrounds.

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Ultra-chic upmarket lounge bar below a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Muttermilch

One of the largest clubs on the Party Mile, the place to head for house and electro.

Calendar of events

Calendar of events

Spring Festival

The Stuttgarter Fruehlingsfest (Stuttgart Spring Festival) is a long established event aimed at providing a fun day out for families. The event is characterised by a funfair rides, rollercoasters and entertainment in beer tents. In recent years an increasing number of visitors to the Spring Festival have worn the Tracht (traditional costumes) of Baden-Wuerttemberg. The festival tents sell beer and the festive evening atmosphere is comparable to the Oktoberfest.

16 April - 8 May 2016

stuttgarter-fruehlingsfest.de/de/home/

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Stuttgart

Venue: Cannstatter Wasen

Hamburg Fish Market

The famous jaunty atmosphere of the Hamburg Fish Market makes an annual appearance in Stuttgart every summer. The market takes the form of a fish and food festival, accompanied by live music. For gastronomes who enjoy fish dishes and people watching, Stuttgart's Hamburg Fish Market is definitely worth a look.

7 - 17 July 2016

www.fischmarkt.events/ Venue: Karlsplatz

Jazz Open

The city enjoys a major summer music festival that attracts names such as BB King and Chicago. Open air performance are given on Schlossplatz and at the Mercedes-Benz Museum and indoor, at the BIX Jazzclub and Lounge. The atmosphere is buoyant and the top performers are world class.

8 - 17 July 2016

www.jazzopen.com Venue: Schlossplatz

Summer Festival

The Stuttgarter Sommerfest (Stuttgart Summerfestival) is held in the heart of the city over four nights, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy good food, drinks and live entertainment. Tents are erected and a party atmosphere reigns. In total more than 120 hours of live music, ranging from jazz to Latin American to light classical, are performed for free.

4 - 7 August 2016

stuttgarter-sommerfest.de/home Venue: Schlossplatz

Stuttgart Wine Village

More than 600 regional wines are on offer here, served by the glass to a backdrop of live music. The relaxed, festive atmosphere is best enjoyed on the market places around the Old Castle. Swabian foods such as Maultaschen (filled pasta) and Käsespätzle (pasta in cheese) are sold to accompany the wines.

24 August - 4 September 2016

www.stuttgarter-weindorf.de/ Venue: Kirchstraße / Marktplatz

Stuttgart Beer Festival

The Cannstatter Volksfest (Stuttgart Beer Festival) is the world's second biggest beer festival (after the Munich Oktoberfest) and takes place around a 26m-high

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Travel Guide

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(85ft) Fruchtsäule (fruit column) which is a reference to the origins of the event, as a harvest festival. Some visitors come for the rides of the funfair, but many more come to enjoy a beer and to sing, dance and make merry within the 5000-seat festival tents.

23 September - 9 October 2016

cannstatter-volksfest.de Venue: Cannstatter Wasen

Christmas Market

Stuttgart's popular city centre Advent markets attract more than three million visitors a year. Over 270 traders operate seasonally decorated wooden stalls selling a wide range of wares, from Christmas decorations to handcrafted gifts. The busy markets around the Old and New Castles draw locals and visitors from overseas. They provide a great opportunity to sample spiced seasonal foodstuffs and warming drinks and to shop for presents and souvenirs.

23 November - 23 December 2016

stuttgarter-weihnachtsmarkt.de/de/home/ Venue: City centre

Willy-Brandt-Strasse 30 70173 Stuttgart Germany Category: Expensive Schillerstrasse 23 70173 Stuttgart Germany Category: Expensive

Kronenstrasse 48 Category: Moderate

Hotels

Hotels in Stuttgart

Stuttgart’s accommodation covers all bases from guesthouses to luxury retreats, but places at the lower end of the budget spectrum are thin on the ground in the centre.Book well ahead during popular periods, such as in December during the Christmas market.

Le Méridien Stuttgart

Central modern luxury chain accommodation overlooking Schlossgarten Park.

Althoff am Schlossgarten

Luxurious spacious rooms in the perfect central location.

Kronenhotel

Friendly design hotel with modern comforts, close to the city centre.

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70174 Stuttgart Germany Guts-Muths-Weg 18 70597 Stuttgart Germany Category: Moderate Elfenstrasse 120 70567 Stuttgart Germany Category: Cheap

Waldhotel

Quietly situated design hotel by a forest on the outskirts of Stuttgart, close to transport links.

Riedsee Gasthof

Rustic family-run guesthouse in a quiet southern suburb, with good transport links.

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Travel Guide

Stuttgart