Stuttgart

Stuttgart [1] is the capital of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, with a population of approximately 635,000 in the immediate city and more than 2,5 million people in the metropolitan area.

Understand

Schlossplatz

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) as well as its mineral springs in the district of Bad Cannstatt which owns the second largest source of mineral water in Europe after Budapest. Also, it is Germany's city with the largest vineyard area.

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 that many people speak the local Schwäbisch dialect natively which may somewhat affect their standard German - which however everyone can speak. Stuttgart is a big city with a small-town atmosphere.

Get in

By plane

Stuttgart airport

Stuttgart has one airport [2], located in Leinfelden-Echterdingen. Various airlines including low cost airline TUI [3] 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 [4] has an agreement with Deutsche Bahn/German rail [5] and your commuter flight from Frankfurt could actually be a train ride. This is very convenient if you head for Stuttgart CBD.

Delta Air Lines has non-stop service from Atlanta to Stuttgart. American Airlines offers codeshare service from Frankfurt Airport on the ICE high-speed trains to the Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof (ZWS). These tickets are often cheaper than buying a flight soley to Frankfurt, despite having the additional segment.

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 [6] 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 from station 'Flughafen' to station 'Hauptbahnhof'). Tickets can be purchased at vending machines at the level below the airport and above the platform (or by the VVS app). Tickets should be validated at orange boxes on the platform before boarding the train.
  • Several bus lines head for other destinations.
  • The Stadtbahn line U6 is currently being extended to the airport and will start operation by end of 2021

By train

Stuttgart Main Train Station

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 [7]. For getting on from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof and around in the city of Stuttgart itself, see Public Transportation below.

Be aware: the main train station is currently one of Europe's largest construction sites. The project "Stuttgart 21" will transform the overground terminal into an underground through station with the aim to reduce traveling times in future. The currently (August 2021) predicted opening date of the train station is end of 2025. Expect detours and plan additional times for transfer.

By bus

The newly (2016) built bus terminal (SAB) is located right next to the airport and provides connections to most major cities in Europe [8].

Some bus companies also head to S-Zuffenhausen, S-Vaihingen or the city of Kornwestheim. These are just bus stops with access to the S-Bahn but closer to the city centre.

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, Göppingen), B14 (to the southwest: 'Stuttgarter Kreuz', Sindelfingen, Böblingen) and B27 (to the south: airport, Tübingen, 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.
• Dont trust your navigation system. The Germans have decided to perform every single project associated with roadways at the same time.
• Be aware that there is no ring motorway forcing drivers from the (north) east to always pass the city centre in order to reach destinations in the south, west or north.

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.

From Sunday to Wednesday public transportation stops around 1 am in the morning. On the weekend the S-Bahn runs throughout the entire night hourly on all lines. So the inner city route from Hauptbahnhof to Schwabstraße is connected frequently. Additionally there are several night buses all starting at the Schlossplatz. On Thursdays there are night buses at 1:20, 2:30, 3:40. Be careful if you have a very early flight since there are no connections weekdays to the airport in the early morning between 1 am and 5 am.

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 Königstraße 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 1 (attention: the airport of Stuttgart is (mainly) in the county of Esslingen. I.e. zone 2). 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 - once at each end of the ticket and on both sides.

Note that in the Stadtbahn and the buses stamping machines are available inside the cars, while on the S-Bahn they are located at the entrances of the stations and there is no possibility to stamp once you are in the train. (If you do forget to stamp your ticket in the S-Bahn, either get out at the next station, stamp and wait for the following train, or write the current time and location on the stamping field with a non-erasable pen – this will also be accepted by the inspectors most of the time.)

Tickets can also be purchased by the VVS app. There is a small discount and no ticket validation is needed.

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.

Charlottenplatz metro station

There are seven S-Bahn lines (S1...S6,S60) and various Stadtbahn lines (U1...U9, U11-U16, U19) 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 (Rotebühlplatz), Feuersee, Rathaus, Staatsgalerie, and Berliner Platz (Liederhalle). For a complete description see the official map of rail network[9].

A specialty of public transportation is the rack-railway ("Zacke") 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 cemetery. It is signposted.

Both rack-railway and cable-car do not require a special ticket, instead all normal tickets valid in Zone 1 (including day tickets) are valid.

Stuttgart's public transportation on the web - Homepage: [10] - English version: [11] – this is also a useful tool that gives prices and detailed information on how to reach every location, including foot paths to buildings.

The city can also be explored by a Hop on / Hop off bus providing different tours heading to the main sights. There is also a wine tour provided. Check for details at the tourist information centre (i-Punkt) Königstrasse 1A.

If you're visiting Stuttgart on a Sunday you can also use the nostalgic oldtimer tram 23 that connects the tram museum in Bad-Cannstatt with the TV tower (multiple stops in between). Tickets from the driver [12].

Walking

Pedestrian zone in Stuttgart

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.

Some foreign 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.

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

• Königstraße: Hauptbahnhof, Schlossplatz.

Calwer Passage

• Rotebühlplatz: Calwer Passage and Calwerstraße
• Marienstraße.
• Rathaus: Marktplatz (Rathausplatz), Schulstraße
• Stadtpark: Staatstheater, Staatsgalerie, Charlottenplatz
• Bolzstraße, Friedrichsbau, Liederhalle

Being surrounded by many hills, Stuttgart is famous for its many stairs ("Stäffele" or "Staffeln"). There are tours offered but they can also be explored individually

Biking

The city lies in a basin of a hilly region the Stuttgarters call "Kessel", literally "cauldron", and between 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 Schönbuch (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.

Also fun is "downhillbiking", you can carry your bike with the steep rackrailway from Marienplatz to Degerloch and drive down the hills (Woodpecker Trail). But be carful when walkers come across.

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. 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)
  |                                               |
   -- Hauptstätter 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.

Be aware when calling taxi operators that they are likely to speak no or little English and it may be difficult for them to locate you or understand where you are.

See

The "Tazzelwurm" mini-train in Killesberg Park

• Mercedes-Benz factory, Sindelfingen (S-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!

• Stadtbibliothek, (Europaviertel close to train station / U-Bahn stop Stadtbibliothek). Library with an award winning architecture. Illuminated at night but even more specatucalar from inside. Accessible roof top

Museums

• Technical museum: Mercedes-Benz Museum, Mercedesstraße 137/1, Bad Cannstatt (S-Bahn: "Neckarpark (Mercedes-Benz)", see timetable etc. [13]), [14]. 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. [15]), [16]

Neue Staatsgalerie (Modern art State Gallery)

• State gallery: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 30-32, [17]. There are two exhibitions in different buildings. "Alte Staatsgalerie" ("Old": Art from 1500 to 1900) and "Neue Staatsgalerie" ("New": Modern art) . You can walk inside from one exhibition to the other. The permanent exhibits are free on Wednesdays.
• Contemporary arts museum: Kunstgebäude, "Art Building" [18]

Kunstmuseum (Modern Art Museum)

• Modern art museum: Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, Kleiner Schlossplatz 1, [19]
• Historical art museum: Württembergisches Landesmuseum, Altes Schloss, Schillerplatz 6, [20]
• Ethnological museum: Lindenmuseum, Hegelplatz 1, features a small but impressing collection of masks from the pacific [21]
• Musical instruments museum: Musikinstrumentenmuseum located near the Stiftskirche in the "Fruchtkasten" in the center of the city. See a unique selection of historical keyboards. Free entry! [22]
• Museum Ritter of the chocolate bar manufacturer Ritter Sport: [23]
• Natural History museum: Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1, 70191 Stuttgart. Two exhibitions, one features biology and evolution and the other features paleontology and archeology. [24]
• Museum of illusions: Museum der Illusionen located near Stadtbibliothek [25]

Zoo

• Wilhelma, zoological and botanical gardens, Neckartalstraße, Bad Cannstatt (More information and arrival see Wilhelma [26])

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.) Wilhelma is also worth visiting for its architecture and landscaping features - the core of Wilhelma is housed in a 19th century palace/park landscape in the Moorish style, created for and named after the former king Wilhelm of Wuerttemberg. In winter there is a special exhibition called Christmas Garden with beautifully illuminated sculptures [27]

Planetarium

• A fascinating astronomical journey, projected by optical hightech equipment: Carl Zeiss Planetarium . Note that almost all the shows conducted here are in German. You may have to check with the office for English show timings.[28]

Buildings

Stuttgart used to be an impressive town but was heavily damaged 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)
• Stiftsfruchtkasten, Collegiate Storehouse (1393)
• Alte Kanzlei, Old Chancellery (16th century)
• Prinzenbau, Princes' Building (1605-1715)
• Neues Schloss, New Palace (1700-1800)
• Solitude Schloss Solitude, Solitude Palace (1700-1800)
• Wilhelmspalais, King William's Palace (1834-1840)
• Königsbau, King's Building (1850)
• Haus der Wirtschaft (1889-1896)
• Markthalle, Market Hall (1910)
• Staatstheater (Grosses Haus), State Theater (1912)
• Teehaus in Weissenburgpark (1913)
• Hauptbahnhof, Main Railway Station (1920)
• Kursaal (1837 / rebuilt 1949)

Weissenhofsiedlung

• Weissenhofsiedlung, (1927) [29]

Liederhalle (Culture and Congress Centre)

• Liederhalle, Culture and Congress Centre, (1956)
• Staatsgalerie, State Gallery (1977)

Towers and scenic outlooks

• Fernsehturm Stuttgart , TV Tower (1954-1956)[30], 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 wonderful view of the city. Entrance is €9 per person(€5 for students) 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 Württemberg (Burial chapel Württemberg)
• Killesbergturm (Killesberg Tower). A recently built tower in the "Killesberg Park" (see also "green U" under Parks & Gardens), north of the city centre
• Bismarckturm, a small tower northwest of the city centre, not far from Killesberg Tower
• Kriegsbergturm, a small tower from the 19th century close to the Chinese garden
• Hauptbahnhof The tower of the Hauptbahnhof is a free climb (to the Mercedes-Benz symbol at top), granting awesome views of Königstraße and the city. 10am-6pm. Currently closed until further notice.
• Birkenkopf A debris mountain made of 15 million cubic meters of rubble from WWII as a memorial to everyone who died in the war. It is the highest point in Stuttgart.
• Karlshöhe A hill that separates the western and southern city. Walk uphill 10 minutes southern from S-Bahn-Station "Feuersee" through a park (via Senefelder Str, right to Reinsburgstr, left to Jean-Améry-Weg). Have a outlook and enjoy the beer garden.
• Weißenburgpark A hill opposite to the Karlshöhe. Easy approach: It is a short hop from Station "Bopser" (U5, U6, U7). Outlook and nice Jugendstil-restaurant and beer garden (closes at 11pm)
• Santiago-De-Chile Platz Spectacular view over the city with a small Moai sculpture and stones from the Maipo Valley donated by Chile. Rack railway stop "Haigst" between Marienplatz and Degerloch.
• Eugensplatz Nice view, beautiful fountain (U15)

Churches

• Domkirche St. Eberhard (St. Eberhard's Cathedral Church)
• Grabkapelle Württemberg (Burial chapel Württemberg)
• Hospitalkirche (Hospital Church)
• Leonhardskirche (St. Leonard's Church)
• Stiftskirche (Collegiate Church), built in 1175, restored 1999 to 2003
• Veitskapelle (St. Vitus Chapel)
• St. Catherine's Church, Stuttgart(English speaking Anglican Church)[31]
• Johanneskirche Church, Stuttgart picturesquely located in the center of Feuersee lake

Squares

Schlossplatz

• Schlossplatz (Palace Square)
• Marktplatz(Market Square)
• Karlsplatz (Charles Square)
• Schillerplatz (Schiller Square)

Other historic parts of the city

• Bohnenviertel(14th century)
• The old town of Bad-Cannstatt

Parks and gardens

• "Das Grüne U": Most of Stuttgart's many parks and gardens are usually referred to by locals as "das Grüne 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 (or Höhenpark Killesberg). 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.
• Chinesischer Garten (Chinese Garden): a beautiful small park with Chinese buildings that were originally part of the International Garden Festival (IGA) in 1993 in Killesberg Park and later donated to the city. Close to Hauptbahnhof.
• Wernhaldenpark: many sequoia trees from the 19th century.
• Rotwildpark: Several lakes in a forest that had been created as a water reservoir in the 19th century and are now a recreational area. There is a Lustschloss (small palace) called Bärenschlössle that serves now as a beer garden. No swimming.
• Kurpark (Bad Cannstatt): Separated into two parts - lower Kurpark including Kursaal, Gottlieb Daimler memorial, a mineral bath and a beer garden as well as the upper Kurpark with a nice view over Bad Cannstatt , Daimlerturm (a small tower - normally not accessible) and some quite old trees.

Other significant green areas in the city centre are:

• Akademiegarten, Academy Garden
• Schlossgarten, Palace Garden
• Max-Eyth See

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 , Germany's only urban rack-railway. It uses modern cars like the light railway and offers a nice view.

Do

Arts and culture

The Ghostwalk

• Wagenhallen
• Waggons am Nordbahnhof
• Arttours - Unique tours of Stuttgart created by local and international artists [32]
• Ghostwalk - guided tour through Stuttgart's eerie history [33] (English)

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 [34] (English).

• Watch and listen to the ballet company [35] of the state theater Stuttgart Staatstheater [36]. (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 [37]

• A Musical Theatre (the Apollo-Theater) is placed in Möhringen in the SI-Zentrum [38]. (It has shown musicals like "Cats" and "Miss Saigon" and usually stages a new musical every year.)

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 is at least one movie theater, showing movies with original audio track (and possibly German text captions), which is:
  • Corso Stuttgart Stuttgart-Vaihingen [39] (All movies in original language; Tuesday are Kinoabends with greatly-reduced tickets. Great theatre atmosphere)

Seasonal Festivals

• International Solo-Tanz -Theater Festival, mid of March, contemporary dance festival [40].
• Huge wine festival (Weindorf) 10 days in early September. free entrance
• Huge Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt) during December. free entrance
• Huge fun fair ("VOLKSFEST ") [41] on the Cannstatter Wasen, beertents and rollercoasters, late September-early October. (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 Frühlingsfest , a fun fair like Cannstatter Wasen in April/May, but smaller. free entrance
• Festival of Animated Film [42] (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 [43], 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 [44] (Bean Quarter Festival) downtown street music festival in mid July - music, food, drinks. free entrance
• Heusteigviertelfest[45] quarter festival, street music end of July
• Afrika festival [46] mid July, Erwin-Schoettle Platz
• Marienplatzfest [47] beginning of July, street music
• Henkersfest End of July, live music, street food, Wilhelmsplatz
• 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.

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 restrictive door policy!

• Bands, Nightclubs and Events are covered by local magazines (generally not in English).
  • Try [48] and [49] (event magazines for Stuttgart).
  • Entry spots for nightclubbing in the cities of Stuttgart/Tübingen/Reutlingen could be:
    • Stuttgart By Night [50] - A plain listing trying to keep track of all clubs, bars, cafes (plus valuable infos about Food After midnight, 24-Hour Petrol Stations)
      
    • [51], [52], [53]

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 Tübingen 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 cafés 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/Königstraße, 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, four euros on weekends (plus a bag charge if you have a backpack). Everybody always welcome, and you don't have to apologize for your poor German here! They show Premier League Championship and other British football here, you can celebrate or commiserate with only a handful of other drinkers.

The most popular street for clubbing is the Theodor-Heuss-Straße. 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 Stöckach. The owners speak English well, so do most of the guests. Many students, so music is from rock to punk. No cover charge.

• [54]

Another great bar is the Classic Rock Cafe. 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!

In the area around S-Bahn stop "Feuersee" you'll find some nice theatres and bars.

Go to "Hans-im-Glück-Brunnen" (between 3rd and 4th street southern from the western Königsstr.: Stadtbahn-station "Rotebühlplatz/Stadtmitte" or "Rathaus"): Many bars and Mainstream to Alternative Music. Mixed and broad-minded people (in contrast to some places at Theodor-Heuss-Str). Party especially on Friday and Saturday. In summer quite crowded with people standing outside in front of the bars.

Two great Jazzclubs are located in the Hauptstätterstr (Stadtbahn-station "Rathaus"). The "Kiste" (means "box": indeed a tiny club) charges 5 EUR (added to the drink) for a concert daily, starting at 9 or 10pm. The "Bix," named after Bix Beiderbecke, offers local to top-class acts: entry from about 7 to 30 EUR, depending on the artist.

Another interesting fact about Germany is that prostitution is legal and there are many brothels located in the city. A conglomerate of brothels and hotels letting rooms by the hour are located in the "Bohnenviertel" (Bean Quarter) between Hauptstätter Str. and Olgastr. (Stadtbahn-station "Rathaus"). The girls charge at least 30 Euros for 20 min, depending on the service.

On the outskirts of Stuttgart, in Möhringen, 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.

Clubs 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-Möhringen (Hip-Hop, house, many aggressive people)
• LKA at Stuttgart-Wangen (rock-, country-music)
• Boa (meat market)
• Wagenhallen near Eckardtshaldenweg
• Waggons near Nordbahnhof

Further clubs (access may be difficult)

• Perkins Park
• Proton
• Lehmann
• ALASITAS
• MONO
• Bett

Gay & Lesbian

• Eagle (men only leather bar)
• Boots (men only country style bar)
• Kings Club (mixed dance club)
• Jenseitz (mixed gay bar)
• Zap
• Cafe Monroe's [55]

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 Schwäbische Alb (hilly mattock landscape) covering natures highlights like the mystical colored "Blautopf" and stalactite caves like "Bärenhöhle". Could be a nice trip for families with children.
• the Stuttgart wine trail [56]. The Obertürkheim - Uhlbach - Rotenberg - Untertürkheim trail includes a viniculture museum, the Grabkapelle Württemberg (Burial chapel Württemberg) and restaurants where you can try the local wine.
• the Blaustrümpflerweg (blue socks) trail - a 7.5km hike within the city incl. some paranomic lookouts [57]

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. Tübingen (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 [58] which also offers a sauna, but there are many others like Cannstatt Mineral Bath [59], which is open until 21.30 weekdays and serves excellent food til late !
• Go ice skating at Waldau (next to TV tower). From May to August the rink can be used for roller blading or inline skating (not to rent).
• 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!)
• Take a boat cruise on Neckar river from Untertürkheim or Bad Cannstatt to the lovely town of Besigheim. Combine it with a visit of the Hessigheimer Felsengärten for hiking or climbing
• Canoeing: you can go canoeing (or SUP) on one of the rivers in the greater area: Enz [60], Neckar, Nagold or a little bit further off the Donau [61] and Rhein - there are several good companies offering guided tours. You can check out http://www.viabono.de to find good and certified companies.

Relax

• Stuttgart is full of mineral springs. Take some time out and enjoy The Leuze [62], Mineralbad Berg or the Solebad Bad Cannstatt [63]. All are located in Bad Cannstatt and have also excellent sauna facilities. In Leuze there is even no supplement for the sauna, so you get a premium sauna for only 13 € the whole day. And from Wednesday til Saturday (8.40 PM-10.40PM) there is nudist swimming in the cold swimming pool. You can swim naked in sparkling water which tingles on your skin.

• If you want to get out into the countryside, the University of Hohenheim is worth a visit. Take U3 to the last stop Plieningen and follow the crowd of people getting off and head down Garbenstrasse about 800 m until you reach Schloss Hohenheim. The Schloss is open during the day and free to go inside. It is lovely and there are pamphlets in German and English describing the history of the palace. There are two very large and beautiful gardens (the Botanical and Exotic gardens) which begin at the corner of Garbenstrasse and Filderhauptstraße. At this intersection opposite to the garden is a restaurant called Wirtshaus Garbe [64], which serves Swabian food and has a lovely biergarten; it is very popular with the locals. Another restaurant is Speisemeisterei [65] located in the Schloss. The university has a few small museums of interest. The German Agricultural Museum is located at Garbenstr.9 and entry is 2 Euros. The Zoological and Veterinary Museum is located inside the Schloss, is open Sundays 10:00-16:00, and entry is free.

Spectate (Sports/concerts)

• See the city's most famous sports team, the Fussball Bundesliga Club (premier league football club) VfB Stuttgart [66], in action. 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 [67] [68].

• 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 [69]. 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 [70]. Rock and pop concerts are usually held in the Schleyer Halle [71] or the newly (2006) opened Porsche Arena [72] [73] 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 Mercedesstraße (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 US enjoys an (almost) 24/7 retail environment. This is definitely not the case in Europe.

• 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.
• A surprisingly large number of stores and restaurants do not take credit cards other than MasterCard and Visa, 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.
• Unlike the US, public restrooms in all Germany are usually not free. Carry change with you as it usually costs 0,50-1,00€.

Shopping around the Königstraße

The main shopping street in Stuttgart is the Königstraße which starts at the main railway station. Left and right of Königstraße are interesting shops, too, but Königstraße 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 €15,80.

Big department stores/shopping malls

• Milaneo (one station away from Main Station) (biggest shopping mall in Stuttgart: mostly clothing, famous for "Primark")
• 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)
• Königsbaupassagen [74] (range of goods: all products you can think of / price and quality: mass market / high)
• Das Gerber (located near the S-Bahn stop Stadtmitte)
• Merz & Benzing (Unique department store in Stuttgart's historic Markethall that covers everything from flowers to furniture)

Clothing

• Abseits[75] (trendy designer labels at high prices. Just behind the Kunstmuseum.)
• Breuninger Subway (latest fashion highlights and shoes)
• Breuninger [76] (nice clothes and shoes for the business man and woman)
• C&A
• Uniqlo
• 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 (Königstraße)

Music stores

• Saturn
• Cheap Trash Records [77]
• Ratzer Records [78]
• Second Hand Records [79]

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, Herderstraße 13 (U9 Vogelsang) [80]

Food stores

Aldi, Edeka, Kaufland, Lidl, Penny, Rewe, Real, Netto

Messe Stuttgart (trade fairs)

The trade fair [81] and exhibition centre is located right next to the airport in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, south of Stuttgart. Public transportation is available via buses and the S-Bahn lines S2 and S3 (station Flughafen/Airport). From there it is just a short walk.

Consumer exhibitions

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

• (January) CMT - Travel, Vacation and Camping exhibition
• (November) Süddeutsche Spielmesse - South Germany's largest exhibition for games
• (November) Modellbau Süd - Exhibition for model cars, aircraft, ships

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:

• 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 Kohlensäure") and still water ("ohne Kohlensäure/stilles Wasser") usually has to be specified.
• If you ask for tea (the drink) you'll probably get fruit tea. Ask for "schwarzen Tee" (black tea) for normal tea but have a backup plan as smaller cafes may not have any.
• "Milch" (milk) for drinks is usually condensed/evaporated milk. Ask for "frische Milch" for normal milk.
• 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 Königstraße and at any baker's shop.) A Brezel tastes even better with some butter on it. A "Butterbrezel" costs about 1 Euro.

• At the many Döner (Turkish food) stands. Take care to order "mit scharf" (Pul Biber - dried chili, hot) or "ohne scharf" (not hot...). For learners of German it's worth noting that both "mit scharf" and "ohne scharf" are incorrect German and would literally translate to either "with spicy" or "without spicy". Instead simply "scharf" (spicy) or "nicht scharf" (not spicy) should be used, but may then not be understood at the food stands.

• Some Italian and Asian delivery services at varying quality.

• Some small snack shops sell potato chips with ketchup and roasted sausage. They are sometimes located in white trailers.

• Also on Steinstr. is Veggie Voodoo King, a vegetarian falafel shop with vegan options.

• Only two or three fast food shops are opened during night. Kebap Nemo at Rotebühlplatz. Dilan Kebab (walk from Stadtmitte towards Wilhelmsplatz and take a left "Tagblattturm")

• For opened during night: The "Gül 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".

• Food courts: you will find a food court with various types of food in Königsbau Passagen mall at the 2nd floor, in Milaneo at top floor or in Gerber at basement floor.

• 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 'Spätzle' or 'Knödel' as a rich side dish there.

Local food includes Maultaschen (similar to a ravioli containing spinach and meat), Linsen mit Spätzle (lentils and noodles) or Gaisburger Marsch (beef stew containing potatoes and Spätzle).

• Stuttgart publishes a book annually entitled "Stuttgart geht aus" (Stuttgart goes out). This is available at iPunkt next to the Hauptbahnhoff on Königstrasse. 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 star rated restaurants
  • Wielandshöhe [82] (Vincent Klink)
  • Speisemeisterei [83] (Martin Öxle)
  • Der Zauberlehrling [84] (Fabian Heldmann)

• Two nice Italian restaurants can be found at the beginning of Calwer Straße at the Stadtmitte S-Bahn stop.

• Restaurant Cafe Markthalle, Dorotheenstrasse 4 (one block from Rathaus Marktplatz farmer's market), ☎ +49 (0)711/24 59 79 (fax: +49 (0)711/23 61 040). M-F 6AM-10PM Sa 7AM-6PM. 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. €7-€15 for entrees, drinks start at €2.

• Carl's Brauhaus, Stauffenbergstrasse 1 (directly at Schlossplatz), ☎ +49 (0)711 - 25 97 46 11, [x]. M-F 11:30AM-8PM, Sa-Su from 12pm-8pm. Brew house providing local dishes and own beer 8-30€.

• Brauhaus Schönbuch, Bolzstrasse 10 (close to Friedrichsbau), ☎ +49 (0)711 - 72 23 09 30, [x]. M-F 11:00AM-0AM, Sa-Su from 11am-1am. Brew house providing traditional local dishes and own beer meal around 15€.

• Sonja's Biergarten im Schlossgarten (Beer garden in the palace park), Am Schlossgarten 18 (in the city park near the main train station), ☎ +49 (0)711 - 22 612 74 ([email protected], fax: +49 (0)711 - 22 612 75), [x]. Daily 10:30AM-1 AM. Beautiful setting and reasonable prices. Order cafeteria style or sit down to be waited on. Free live music on Sundays from May - September. €3-10 for entrees, drinks start at €2.

• Sophies Brauhaus, Marienstraße 28 (U-Bahn Rotebuehlplatz, S-Bahn Stadtmitte), ☎ +49 (0)711/61 09 62 ([email protected], fax: +49 (0)711/61 18 75), [x]. M-Th 11:30AM-1:30AM, F-Sa 11:30AM-2AM, Su 10AM-midnight. Brewpub serving regional specialties and its own beer. A lovely bar with impressive decorations. €1.20-€15.

• Punto Fisso italienisches Restaurant, Punto Fisso . Christophstraße 14 . 70178 Stuttgart, ☎ +49 (0)711 605126, [x]. M-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. Die Adresse für hervorragende italienisches Küche in Stuttgart . One of the best italian restaurant in stuttgart €2.50-€17,50.

• Restaurant Aspendos, Neckarstraße 98. 70190 Stuttgart, ☎ +49 (0) 711 2859503, [x]. M-Sa 17.30 - 24.00 Uhr. Excellent Turkish restaurant with a decent list of vegetarian plates. €10-€25.

• Restaurant Der Zauberlehrling, Rosenstr. 38. 70182 Stuttgart, ☎ +49 (0) 711 2377770, [x]. Mo-Fr 18:00PM-22:00PM and Sa 19:00PM-23:PM, Su closed. Good international Gourmet Cuisine. Modern Restaurant with an outstanding winelist. Candle light Dinner on Saturdays. Menus from 99€.

• Die Wunderkammer, Rosenstr. 33. 70182 Stuttgart, [x]. Tu-Su 8:00PM-16:00PM. Cozy Café in the Bohnenviertel. Also with outside seating. Big breakfast & brunch menu, lunch. Mostly organic ingredients. 10-18€.

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 Königstraße (a 3rd to open soon on the high-end district on Calwer Straße). But don't look for low-fat muffin or cream cheese options.

The number of breakfast restaurants and cafes with a large breakfast menu has risen sharply in recent years.

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), Friedrichstraße 27
• The Sky Beach (during summer) [85]
• Suite 212, the first bar/lounge that opened on Stuttgart's party street - the Theodor-Heuss-Straße

If you're looking for a posh club, you can try one of the following:

Café House at Heilbronner Strasse

• Penthouse, Heilbronner Str. [86]
• Perkins Park, Stresemannstr. 39 [87]

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 [88]
• Schräglage, Marktstr. 6 [89]
• Kap Tormentoso, large smoking section, good beer, Hirschstr. 27
• Hotzenplotz, rustic atmosphere, Silberburgstr. 88 [90]

• ZEM bar.lounge, Rotbühlstrasse.7, 71063 Sindelfingen, Germany, ☎ 07031-4289929, [x]. Trendy bar and lounge in Sindelfingen Cocktails and shisha lounge. Dressy. Outdoor seating is available. Terrific service. Make reservations by emailing [email protected]

Sleep

• Stuttgart Private Accommodations, [x]. Over 100 Options in Stuttgart starting at €29 a night

• Alex30 Hostel, Alexanderstrasse 30 (U-bahn: Olgaeck), ☎ +49 711 838895-0 ([email protected], fax: +49 711 838895-20), [x]. checkout: 12noon. Centrally located hostel with breakfast buffet. Youth Hostel card is not required to stay. WiFi €1; also a computer terminal at regular rates. Shared room from €22. Private rooms also available.

• Youth hostel, Haussmannstraße 27, ☎ +49 711 24 15 83. (10 min walk from main station, [91], or take the U15 to Eugensplatz (Jugendherberge)). €25 Euro/adult and €5 for internet + €6 for breakfast, €3 for a Youth Hostel card. They will charge you for shampoo (€1.50) and towel (cleaning fee €1.50) separately.

• Ibis Budget, Siemmensstrasse 28, (next to Maybachstraße U-Bahn and a few minutes walk from Pragsattel). Free WiFi in the rooms and foyer however the login webpage is very bad and sometimes the "Gratis WLAN" link doesn't display. During the week a room for 1 person is €49 with a €10 surcharge for a second person and €39 at the weekend. The rooms have a double bed and a single bed in them.

• Park Inn Hotel Stuttgart at Hauptstaetter Strasse, ☎ +49 711 320 94 0 [92]. 200 m from Marienplatz.

• NH Stuttgart Airport, Bonlaender Hauptstrasse 145. D-70794 Filderstadt, ☎ +49 711 77810, [x]. Between the airport and the town centre. The rooms are comfortable. Beach club restaurant. From €99.

• T-Com Tageshotel, Universität 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.

• Mövenpick Hotel Stuttgart Airport & Messe, Flughafenstrasse 50, 70629, Stuttgart, Germany, ☎ +49 711 553 440, [x]. Superior 4 star hotel with direct access to the airport and convention centre.

Splurge

• Le Méridien Stuttgart, Willy-Brand-Straße 30, ☎ +49 711 2221 0 ([email protected]), [x]. Park-side hotel of 291 rooms and suites, wellness area with pool, jacuzzi, sauna and fitness centre, a French restaurant, Le Cassoulet, and 13 meeting rooms From €138.

• Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin. Has more traditional luxury rooms. Rates are similar to the Le Meridien.

• Der Zauberlehrling, Rosenstr. 38, ☎ +49 711 2377770 ([email protected], fax: +49 711 2377775), [x]. small private city hotel of 17 rooms and suites (each in a different style), cooking school, restaurant and 1 meeting room From €125.

• Jaz in the City, Wolframstr. 41 (Europaviertel), ☎ +49 711 969840. Design hotel with spa including a rooftop bar From €120.

• Maritim Hotel Stuttgart, Seidenstraße 34, ☎ +49 711 9420 ([email protected]), [x]. 555 rooms including 5 allergy-friendly rooms and 78 suites, 3 restaurants, café and piano bar, swimming pool, fitness room, relaxing beauty and spa treatments From €131.

Communicate

The main telecommunications provider in Germany is Deutsche Telekom which trades under the names of T-Home (for landline phones), T-Online (for Internet connections) and T-Mobile for mobile communications. Anything relating to these companies are easily identified by the bright pink "T" logo. There are often shops in German towns called "T-Punkt" (Literally T-Point) where you can buy cell phones and get other information.

Phone

See Germany - Telephone.

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 [93].
• Hugendubel (walking from Hauptbahnhof to Schlossplatz, it's about halfway in between, on the left side) has free wifi for customers in their cafe on the 3rd floor.
• Commercial WLAN-Hotspots are available at the airport and few other places.
• Do be aware though, that a lot of WLAN-Hotspots are operated by T-Mobile (Germany's main telecommunications provider) and they can be quite expensive and some only give you German instructions! The Germans do tend you help you out with this.
• 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

Stay safe

Stuttgart is one of the safest cities in Germany. Walking alone is not a problem but some areas should be avoided at night such as Schlossgarten. Normal precaution is sufficient.

Get out

By train

For connections and timetables see webpages of Deutsche Bahn AG [94].

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 Tübingen, Reutlingen and Schwäbisch-Hall.

Fast inner-German connections

From main station Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof:

• to Cologne (Köln) 2:15 hours: (ICE via Mannheim, Frankfurt - traveling at up to 305 km/h)
• to Berlin 5:26 hours: (ICE via Göttingen - 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 (München) 2:11 hours: (ICE via Ulm, Augsburg - not top speed)
• to Nuremberg 2:10 hours (IC)
• to Freiburg/Br. 2:16 hours (IC 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 Köln, Arnhem)
• to Prague (Czech Republic): 6:11 hours (IC, change in Nürnberg to bus)
• to Brussels (Belgium): 4:49 hours (ICE, IC,Thalys)

Cope

Consulates

• Spain, Lenzhalde 61, ☎ +49 (0) 711 9979800 ([email protected], fax: +49 (0) 711 2265927), [x].

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