The city has many beautiful parks and green spaces, including the Schlossgarten, Rosensteinpark and Killesbergpark. Wilhelma, one of the biggest zoos and botanical gardens in Europe, has a strong focus on conservation and breeds endangered species.
Rosenstein Castle was built between 1822 and 1830. Architect Giovanni Salucci designed this stunning castle as the summer palace for King Wilhelm I of Württemberg. Wander around the gorgeous grounds, which look especially lovely in summer. Castle Solitude is another regal site worth visiting.
Ludwigsburg Palace, built in 1733, has over 400 rooms and features Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, and Empire styles of architecture. The palace is one of the largest in Germany and the sole one from the Baroque period not damaged during World War II. You can admire one of the largest collections of Baroque art in Europe at Ludwigsburg Palace.
The Old Palace is a stunning former castle on the Schillerplatz. Originally a water castle dating back to the 10th century, it was the home of counts and dukes of Württemberg and today is the home of the Landesmuseum Württemberg. The castle church is still used as a place of worship.
The New Palace is an 18th-century Baroque palace in the middle of Stuttgart on the Schlossplatz. Public tours must be pre-arranged since government offices are inside the building.
Stuttgart is well-known for swimming pools and mineral baths, and many have saunas, spas and fun areas for children and family groups. We recommend trying the Fildorado adventure pools in Fildertstadt-Bonlanden with indoor and outdoor pools, water slides and a spa. Another great one is the Badezentrum Sindelfingen for swimming, soaking and having fun in the water on the outskirts of Stuttgart.
Go stargazing and learn all about astronomy at the Carl Zeiss Planetarium and the Welzheim Observatory. Live lectures and high-tech presentations show visitors what the cosmos is all about in a fascinating way.
Stuttgart has many museums if you are interested in history. One of the most surprising ones is SchweineMuseum Stuttgart. The strange museum in an old slaughterhouse features the history, mythology and gastronomy of hogs.
Ride the world’s first fully automatic cable car over a vertical distance of 87 meters, arriving at a forest cemetery. Then experience the Zacke, one of the last four cogwheel railways in Germany. You travel back down to the plaza Marienplatz where you can enjoy coffee and shopping.
Car enthusiasts might be interested to know Stuttgart is a manufacturing hub. Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have headquarters and museums in the city, so don’t be surprised to see quite a few shiny new cars driving around the streets of Stuttgart.