The Heart of the City: Schlossplatz and the Palaces
Start where Stuttgart itself starts: at Schlossplatz, the enormous square that opens before the Neues Schloss like a public living room. On any warm day, you'll find locals spread across its lawns and flowerbeds, and the twin fountains and bandstand create the kind of unhurried atmosphere that makes a city feel like home. The square sits at the junction of the city's energy—immediately adjoining Königstraße, and within reach of almost every landmark you'll want to see.
The Neues Schloss itself dominates the square's far side, a palace that took over 60 years and multiple dukes to complete (1746–1807). It was inspired by Versailles and other grand royal residences, and though it was almost entirely destroyed in World War II, the 1958–1964 reconstruction restored it to its airy, garden-park grandeur. Today it houses the state ministries of Baden-Württemberg. Guided tours are available but offered infrequently—check the palace website well in advance if you want to join one (€8 per adult).
Cross over to the Altes Schloss at Schillerplatz, a fully-functional fortified castle from the turn of the 10th century that grew with Stuttgart as the city rose to become capital of the County and later Duchy of Württemberg. By the 16th century it had become a renaissance palace wrapped around a cloistered courtyard. Now it houses the Landemuseum Württemberg. Schillerplatz itself is named after the poet Friedrich Schiller, whose statue stands at its center.
The square is ringed with other landmarks worth your time: the Alte Kanzlei (Old Chancellery), a mighty monument built 1542–1544 that now operates as a restaurant and bar; the Stiftskirche, a Collegiate Church built in 1175; and the Königsbau, erected 1856–1860 as a multi-functional building with 34 columns along its Schlossplatz facade. Behind the Königsbau lies the Königsbau Passagen shopping centre.
Museums and Culture Worth Hours
Stuttgart is not a city you move through quickly—it rewards lingering, especially in its cultural institutions. The Stadtbibliothek am Mailänder Platz (opened 2011) is a landmark on its own: a nine-storey cube wrapped in glass brick, with whitewashed interiors and bright lighting that create an almost unreal ambiance. You can borrow not only books but works of art, and work with music and sound clips in its sound lab. There's a café on the top floor. A monthly pass costs €4, and most facilities are free to explore (open M–Sa 09:00–21:00).
The Weissenhof Estate at Rathenaustraße 1–3 is a world heritage–listed housing estate built for exhibition in 1927, with residential buildings designed by Le Corbusier, Peter Behrens, Walter Gropius, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Two semi-detached houses by Le Corbusier contain a museum dedicated to the area (Tu–F 11:00–18:00, Sa–Su 10:00–18:00; €5 normal, €2 reduced).
For something more intimate, visit the Pragfriedhof-Krematorium, a beautiful Jugendstil crematorium that occasionally hosts exhibitions about transience—an unexpected destination, but genuinely moving.
Green Spaces and Views Over the City
The Schlossgarten extends behind the Neues Schloss, a beautiful planted space where the Opernhaus sits in front of an artificial lake as part of the Staatstheater Stuttgart. This is where the parliament of Baden-Württemberg also convenes.
For a more intimate garden experience, seek out the Qingyin garden (also called Garten der schönen Melodie) on one of the hills near the Hauptbahnhof—a small Chinese garden with a pond, ornamental walls, and a mini-pagoda, hidden away from the main city rush. Take Bus 44 to the Im Kaisemer stop (open 09:00 till dusk or 20:00, whichever comes sooner).
The Johanneskirche, surrounded by the lake Feuersee and lit at night, offers another quiet spot to step away from the bustle. Other churches worth visiting include the Mätthauskirche, Domkirche St. Eberhard, Hospitalkirche, Leonhardskirche, Veitskapelle, St. Maria Kirche, and St. Catherine's Church (an English-speaking Anglican Church).
Beyond the city proper, Schloss Solitude—built in 1769 as a hunting lodge and summer residence—sits on a high plain outside Stuttgart and looks like a classical rococo palace from the outside. It offers views to the north and a sense of escape from the urban core.
The Hauptbahnhof: A Landmark with a Story
The Main Railway Station, built in 1920 as a terminus, is unmissable—not just as a transport hub but as a destination in itself. Its most famous feature is the 56-meter-high tower crowned with a rotating, illuminated Mercedes-Benz sign, one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. You can climb to the top for free and enjoy sweeping views of Königstraße and the city beyond. On the observation deck is an exhibition about S21, Germany's most controversial infrastructure project: a plan to convert the terminus into an underground through station by turning the tracks 90 degrees. It's both a practical way to understand the city and a window into its future.
The Bohnenviertel: Where the Old City Still Lives
The Bohnenviertel is the only preserved part of Stuttgart's old town, having survived largely intact when so much else was lost. Built mainly in the 14th century, it originally housed poorer residents who grew beans in gardens and hanging from walls—hence the name, meaning "bean quarter." Today it thrives on artisanry, small old-style retail shops, gastronomy, and a lively red-light district. It's the place to wander without a plan, ducking into galleries and cafés, and to feel the texture of Stuttgart before modern expansion.
Don't miss the Markthalle, a beautiful Jugendstil market hall built in 1910, or the Calwer Passage, a small gallery with independent shops and, notably, a building whose entire exterior is covered with climbing plants. The Prinzenbau (built 1750) and Wilhelmspalais (1834–1840) add more layers of history to explore.
Start Planning Your Visit
Stuttgart rewards a visitor who moves at the city's own pace—lingering in squares, climbing the Hauptbahnhof tower, wandering the Bohnenviertel's narrow streets, and taking time with its museums and green spaces. The cauldron-shaped landscape and the mixture of historical and modern architecture, parks, and even vineyards throughout the city create an appealing rhythm. Begin at Schlossplatz, let its atmosphere set the tone, and then follow the connections outward from there.