Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Stuttgart?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Stuttgart?
Many travelers spend two to four days in Stuttgart during their visit. After all, the authentic city has plenty to explore such as the big city activities, the restaurant scene, and the nightlife scene.
Stuttgart is a manufacturing center that mixes old and new seamlessly. The city plays an influential role on the automotive industry and it has a strong commercial economy that attracts international workers and students. The city also has some interesting historical sights as well gardens and zoos.
Do you have one or two days to visit Stuttgart? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Stuttgart?
Stuttgart isn't a particularly popular city for tourists, despite having some sights and attractions worth seeing. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the authentic city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to four days to fully enjoy the city. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.
How to spend a day in Stuttgart
Stuttgart is renowned for its world-class museums and iconic landmarks. Be sure to allocate a day or so to explore the most popular and famous historical and cultural gems. It's a large and international city with a huge expatriate population.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Stuttgart Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour in a double-decker bus ($22)
- Stuttgart city tour ($15)
- Ice stock sport in the Frozen Riverland ($34)
You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this city, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. The city blends traditional German flavors with modern twists. You'll find much more than the standard bratworsts that so many people associate with German cuisine. One favorite dish is maultaschen, which is like a ravioli. Also make sure you try spätzle, zwiebelrostbraten (roast and onions) and flädlesuppe (soup with long pasta).
A few tour suggestions include:
- Vineyard hike along one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Stuttgart with wine tasting ($29)
Public transit in Stuttgart is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. The city's transit system includes buses, the U‑Bahn and the S‑Bahn. The U-Bahn is a denser train system in the city center and the S-Bahn covers more distance and reaches into the suburbs with stops that are more spread out.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Stuttgart?
A weekend trip is usually not enough time to experience the authentic city of Stuttgart, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. Or, perhaps you'll want to return another time to take it all in. You don't want to miss the chance to enjoy the city's energy, dine out at amazing restaurants, take advantage of the local nightlife, and browse the shops. Many tourists set aside two to four days for their visit. However, if your schedule only gives you a couple of days, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your weekend adventure in Stuttgart below.
Stuttgart, Germany
How to spend 2 days in Stuttgart
With a weekend (two to three days) in Stuttgart, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Shopping in Stuttgart is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. The city is filled with pedestrian shopping streets as well as flea markets and major shopping malls. The main shopping street in town is Koenigstrasse, where you'll find many upscale boutiques. For a local food market head to Markthalle Stuttgart. The flagship store of the Breuninger chain is also found in Stuttgart.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Shopping Tour from Stuttgart to Outletcity Metzingen ($148)
- Private Shopping Tour from Stuttgart City to Outletcity Metzingen ($164)
This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. The nightlife scene stays active late into the evening. You'll find no shortage of clubs, bars, music venues, and beer gardens. You'll meet a combination of locals, tourists, students, and expats at many venues.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Stuttgart, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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