With nearly 650,000 residents, Stuttgart is the sixth-largest city in Germany. It is also the capital and most populous metropolitan area in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
It’s located amidst a particularly fertile swath of land along the Neckar River within an easy drive of the famed Black Forest.
Stuttgart is a regional center for sports, the arts, food, and culture, and it’s one of the countries centers for automobile design and production as well.
With an abundance of tour options to satisfy those of different ages and interests, finding things to do while in the area shouldn’t be a challenge.
1. 24-Hour Hop-On-Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour
Source: Simon Dux Media / shutterstockHop-on-hop-off tours have taken the travel and tourism worlds by storm in recent years because they’re fun, reasonably inexpensive, and allow visitors to see and experience things on their own terms.
Stuttgart is a multi-faceted city with lots to offer inquisitive tourists. This 100-minute option includes some of Stuttgart’s premier attractions, like the Mercedes Benz and Linden museums and Schlossplatz, to name just a few.
Tickets allow participants to see what interests them while ignoring those things that don’t.
Tickets are good for 24 hours from the time of purchase and include audio guides in more than ten languages.
2. Vineyard Wine Safari
Source: marako85 / shutterstockThe fertile farmland around Stuttgart has been producing grapes for countless generations; they’re turned into some of the world’s most sought after wines.
This three ½-hour afternoon tour begins and ends in Stuttgart and includes the services of a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide and wine aficionado.
Guests will hike to vista points and take in the area’s magnificent scenery, learn about its history and winemaking traditions, tour a winery, and sample some of its tastiest products.
Since it’s an outdoor tour, pack a camera, a number of layers appropriate for various weather conditions, and wear comfortable shoes.
3. Exclusive City Walk
Source: Sina Ettmer Photography / shutterstockThe Upper Palace Gardens, Eckensee Lake, the Stuttgart Opera, and New and Old Palaces are a few of this guided city walk tour’s main attractions.
Tour size is smaller than most, meaning guests will have a more personalized experience while learning about the city’s history, culture, and economy as they’re strolling leisurely between sites.
In addition, guests will experience the Market Hall that’s generally considered the city’s culinary epicenter.
It’s usually abuzz with buyers and sellers haggling over everything from produce and fresh meat to cheese, pickles, bread, and sweets.
Tours begin and end in a central location that’s convenient for guests.
4. Christmas City Tour by Bus
Source: Phillip Grobler / shutterstockFor those lucky enough to find themselves in Stuttgart during the Christmas season, the city is truly a sight to behold.
Previous guests have described it as a winter wonderland, and this Christmas city bus tour is a great way to see a ton of holiday-related attractions in a short time.
Tours get started at the central tourist information called I-Punkt in the city’s heart.
From there, guests will plug in their audio guides, sit back, and take in the sights as the bus heads into the hills overlooking the city.
Tours last less than an hour, and children under three are free.
5. Bad Cannstatt Culinary Excursion
Source: struvictory / shutterstockStuttgart’s food scene is a mishmash of contemporary and traditional regional cuisines that are best experienced with the assistance of a local guide.
Bad Cannstatt is one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, and also one of the metropolitan area’s food hotspots.
This two ½-hour tour is engaging, educational, and downright tasty. It offers an excellent opportunity to see things from a unique perspective.
Guests will visit markets and restaurants and sample a variety of delicacies, ranging from soup and pasta to bread, cheese, and meat.
Though full meals aren’t included, most guests fill-up quickly and have a truly memorable time in the process.
6. Mercedes-Benz Arena: VfB Stuttgart Stadium Tour
Source: Yuri Turkov / shutterstockThe Mercedes-Benz Arena is home to the VfB Stuttgart football club, and on match days, welcomes nearly 60,000 fanatic fans from all over the country.
On this one ½-hour tour, guests will get behind-the-scenes access that’s usually only reserved for players, coaches, and arena staff.
Tours are available in English and German and are led by experienced guides who know all the ins and outs of the team’s history and players.
Highlights include the tunnel leading from the team’s changing rooms to the pitch, the press room, and the main grandstand.
Participants get a 10% discount on apparel in the team store after the tour as well.
7. Stuttgart Nature Experience Day
Source: Juergen Faelchle / shutterstockIncluding the surrounding towns and suburbs, the combined population of Stuttgart exceeds two million people.
For those who need to spend some quality time with Mother Nature away from the city’s hustle and bustle, this guided nature experience would be a great way to spend a day.
After a brief ride to scenic Max-Eyth Lake, energetic tour guests will have the option of canoeing, paddle-boarding, swimming, or just relaxing and taking in the majestic scenery.
Tours also include a guided vineyard hike, a motor-less scooter excursion, and a relaxing afternoon barbecue in the great outdoors before heading back to the city center.
8. Evening of Raclette, Wine, and a Show
Source: www.getyourguide.comAccording to previous tour guests, wine, cheese, and magic were made for one another, and there’s no better way to experience them together than with this three ½-hour combo tour.
It’s an evening event like few others. In addition to indulging in some of the area’s most sumptuous treats – like raclette cheese and local wine – guests will see a show that includes multiple forms of entertainment, including comedy, magic, and singing.
The evening takes place along the scenic shores of the Neckar River. After the show, guests will have time for a brief stroll to enjoy the view and take in the fresh night air.
9. Private Super Premium Pub Crawl Tour
Source: www.getyourguide.comFor clubbers who want to hit Stuttgart’s swank nightclub scene without messing with all the pesky details and logistics, this four-hour super-premium pub crawl would be a wise choice.
It’s a big hit with bachelor, bachelorette, and birthday parties, and attracts significant numbers of international visitors as well.
Tour tickets include access to exclusive venues, a free drink or shot at every stop, and all entry fees too.
As a free gift, each female participant gets a tiara, and men get a bottle opener.
Click the link below to discover other tantalizing adult-only options that are available as well.
10. Guided Segway Tour
Source: Simon Dux Media / shutterstockSegway tours are great options for those interested in seeing the sights of Stuttgart from a unique and exhilarating perspective.
Tours begin when participants meet their guide and get an overview of how to use their two-wheeled electric conveyance.
From the shores of the Neckar River, riders will set out to see city attractions like the Burgholzhof Tower, and country ones like Max Eyth Lake and the vineyards in the nearby river valley.
Guests will benefit from their guide’s local knowledge and see some of the area’s most stunning natural and humanmade attractions.
Tours include paved and dirt-path portions, as well as moderately busy traffic zones.
11. TV Tower Tickets
Source: Supratchai Pimpaeng / shutterstockAt more than 600 feet tall, Stuttgart’s iconic television tower looms over the city below.
Whereas some towers are considered eyesores, Stuttgart’s is regarded as both architecturally unique and aesthetic.
It’s also one of those attractions that most visitors choose to experience on their own because it doesn’t warrant the services of a guide.
Upon reaching the top, guests will have unobstructed views of both the city and countryside, including the Alps, the Neckar River Valley, and the Black Forest.
There’s also a cool on-site café for those who’d like to relax with a bite or a drink before heading off to other attractions.
12. Stuttgart in 1 Hour: Highlights of the City Center
Source: Jens Goepfert / shutterstockThough you may miss a few things that guests will see on longer half and full-day tours, it is possible to get a thorough overview of Stuttgart and its attractions in just an hour.
This tour is a wise choice for those who’ve just landed in town and are looking to get their bearings quickly.
It’s a walking tour, so all you’ll really need is a hat, some sunglasses, and a willingness to stretch your legs.
Tours of this nature don’t stop long at any one attraction, but they’re great ways to discover things that you’d like to check out on your own later.
13. Curling Experience
Source: www.getyourguide.comCurling is one of those sports that’s kind of a mystery to those who’ve only seen it on late night international sports news reports.
Thankfully for those who like to try new things, there’s a way to try your hand, and it won’t take up a lot of time or cost an arm and a leg.
After meeting their coach-guide and getting an overview of the misunderstood winter sport, participants will hit the ice and enter into a little friendly competition with fellow guests.
The idea of the game is to gently slide a stone towards a target; those that get the closest win the most points.
14. Stand-Up Paddle Board Yoga Experience
Source: www.getyourguide.comSince yoga and paddleboarding are both so popular, it was only a matter of time before some enterprising entrepreneur combined the two.
In stand-up paddleboard yoga, the floating board is the mat, thereby increasing the workout and the amount of concentration necessary to remain as motionless as possible.
Guide yoga sessions include a 15-minute intro and warm-up, 1 hour of yoga, and another 30 minutes of free paddling time.
Sessions are offered in the morning and afternoon, take place in a quiet and idyllic setting away from the crowds, and last slightly longer than an hour and a half.
15. Magician Show and Dinner
Source: vchal / shutterstockMagic shows are often-overlooked forms of vacation entertainment for those more intent on seeing local attractions with their limited time.
But according to previous guests, there’s no better way to end a day than taking in an impressive magic show while enjoying a delectable three-course meal, just a stone’s throw from the Neckar River in Stuttgart.
This evening magic tour and dinner combo is a great option for families traveling with kids. It tends to be an interactive experience, which means the audience may be asked to get involved at any time.
Meals include appetizer, entrée, and dessert.