Stuttgart has a reputation as a hard-working city thanks to its industrial success, but it’s also a friendly place with plenty of attractions. With a rental car, you can venture further afield to explore the mountains and forests on its doorstep.
Industrial heritage
For motoring enthusiasts, there are two must-see attractions in Stuttgart. Just a short drive out of the center you will find the Mercedes-Benz museum, housed in a building that is itself an impressive feat of engineering. Here, you can learn all about the car first created by Karl Benz in 1885, see many vintage models, and learn all about how the brand played a key role in shaping German industry.
Not far away you’ll find the Porsche Museum, a deeply impressive structure that seems to almost float above the ground. Its vast exhibition area houses vehicles including the world’s first electric car, a Le Mans racing car called the Pink Pig (it has a pink livery showing the butcher cuts of a pig), the iconic 917, and plenty more. You can even combine your visit to the museum with a tour of the factory, where you can learn more about how these world-famous machines are made.
Cultural highlights
For something completely different, head to the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart art museum, home to an outstanding collection of works by painters such as Dali, Picasso and Kandinsky. As well as its permanent exhibit, there are also a number of temporary collections on display throughout the year.
Stuttgart is also home to a magnificent library, the Stadtbibliothek. This cube-shaped building is an attraction in itself, with nine levels filled with books from all over the world. On a warm day it’s possible to sit outside on the rooftop terrace and, between chapters, enjoy excellent views of the city. The building is even more spectacular at night, when it is lit up with shades of blue.
Fairy tale forest
With a rental car in Stuttgart you’ll also have the chance to head outside the city and explore the Black Forest – Schwarzwald – to the south. According to legend, this was the region that inspired the Grimms’ Fairy Tales and today you can explore the area’s ruined castles, wooded hillsides and scenic valleys.
There’s plenty to see and do, and a rental car is the ideal way to get around. Head to Freiburg in the south to find many beautiful half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. It’s around a two-and-half-hour drive, so stop the night to explore the town.
This university city also has a big student population, giving it a lively nightlife and exciting cultural scene. From here, it is possible to hike into the woods or take a cable car up the Schlossberg mountain, where you can enjoy views of the city and surrounding countryside.
Outside the towns, there are many scenic hiking trails available in the Black Forest. One of the most popular areas for walking is Titisee Lake, Schwarzwald’s largest natural lake with several miles of trails among the surrounding pine forests.
If you’re feeling active, you can try windsurfing or sailing on the lake, and in the evenings there are plenty of restaurants nearby where you can enjoy traditional local pork dishes and of course, the famous Black Forest gateau.
When you rent a car in Stuttgart you will find this and many more attractions within easy reach.