Discover Stuttgart’s Neighborhoods

As you explore the different neighborhoods and areas that make up this fine city, you’ll begin to notice the nuances that exist within, giving each quarter a unique flavor. Whether you’re looking for a Bohemian paradise, some of the best shopping around, fantastic food, or just to do a bit of sightseeing, our guide to Stuttgart’s best neighborhoods will be with you every step of the way.

Kernerviertel

One of the city’s quietest and more residential neighborhoods, Kernerviertel packs in plenty to see and do, as well as being home to an array of green spaces and parks. It’s central, close to many of the main sights and sits just north of Schlossplatz, the city’s hub and focal point. A major road runs through the district, but there’s still a selection of quieter side streets and places to park and stroll, taking in the unique aura of Stuttgart.

Venture to the south of the neighborhood to find the Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart’s excellent art gallery. You’ll spot it from a distance as you approach, thanks to its modern, colorful exterior - a vibrant pop against the urban background. Inside, the modern is replaced by the classic. Works by Picasso, Rembrandt, Monet, Matisse, Klee, and Kandinsky rub shoulders in what is perhaps one of the best collections around. Close by, on Willy-Brandt-Strasse, discover the Carl Zeiss Planetarium, a striking glass pyramid offering up state-of-the-art laser shows and stargazing presentations to transport you off into the galaxy and beyond. Check the schedule in advance for the timings of English-language shows and prepare to be wowed by the projections.

You’ll also find the Mittlerer section of the park called Schlossgarten in Kernerviertel. It’s an ideal place to spend an afternoon. Sit back on the grass and enjoy a picnic, drop into its famed beer garden, or check out the history of the area with a visit to its castle.

If you’re in the area for lunch or dinner, you’ll be spoiled for choice with restaurants serving up German, Italian, Turkish, Dutch, and even Croatian cuisine. Arnulf-Klett-Platz, running along the south of Kernerviertel, is home to numerous restaurants, including a couple of notable Michelin-starred destinations. For great steaks in a casual setting, try Block House, where you can slice into melting filet mignon or American tenderloin with herb butter. For those with celiac disease or a dairy intolerance, the menu helpfully lists allergens.

Stuttgart West

Close to the center, Stuttgart West is a large, sprawling area that incorporates a dense web of residential streets as well as lovely bursts of greenery. There’s no shortage of cafes, restaurants, and theaters on offer here, giving you the chance to enjoy exploring by day and indulge in something a little more cultural by night. You’ll live like a local here, finding those special out-of-the-way places away from the tourist centers.

You’ll also find the university here, which means it’s an area brimming with students and ensures a lively nightlife and excellent retail opportunities. There are few better places on a sunny day than Rot- und Schwarzwildpark, where you can try to spot some deer in their natural habitat or grab a few pictures against the calming backdrop of the park’s stunning lakes. As you enter Stuttgart West from Stuttgart Mitte, you might also pass Feuersee, a remarkably pretty lake that often fully freezes over in winter. Come at the right time of year for ice-skating in the shadow of the handsome St. John’s Church.

Reserve a table at Speisekammer Restaurant to discover a place that’s proud of its ingredients’ provenance – they’re all from the region and listed in full. It’s fine Swabian fare, with whole trout, ravioli, and wild boar ragout offered up. The wine list is a delight too – designate a driver and take your pick from a range of excellent German bottles.

Stuttgart-Ost

The eastern district of the city – Stuttgart Ost – butts up against the Neckar River and incorporates several smaller areas such as Ostheim, Gablenberg and Stöckach, with Kernerviertel just to its west. The main attraction is Park Villa Berg, covering over 24 acres. Beautifully landscaped, it was developed for Crown Prince Karl, complete with the mid-19th-century Villa Berg. This Renaissance-style dwelling was destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt. Once-lavish interiors are now in disrepair, although the city has recently bought back the building and is in the process of a complete renovation.

There’s more serenity to be found in the lower section of the Schlossgarten, with a vast area to walk, cycle or jog through. Relax in natural settings and discover mineral baths to sink into when you visit Leuze and Berg. Finally, discover a little more about the area’s past at the historic Berger Church, built in the 13^th century and extended in the 15^th. Although what you see today is largely 19th-century neo-Gothic, with some post-World War II renovations, it still tells a wonderful story of the city and its neighborhood.

Bad Cannstatt

One of the most varied neighborhoods of Stuttgart, Bad Cannstatt incorporates the majority of mineral baths – or mineralbad - that give the area its name. These give tired visitors the opportunity to kick back and relax in a beautiful natural setting. Sporting saunas, steam rooms, pools, and five mineral springs, there’s no better place to close your eyes and let your worries drain away. Treatments are available, or you can just wander around the facilities, alternately steaming and showering for the true German spa experience. One of the pools sits beneath a parabolic roof, which is a joy to swim in at night with a view of the starry sky high above. The area is also home to some great sporting arenas with a year-round program of festivals, events, and parties to keep you busy whenever you visit.

For a different kind of day out, Bad Cannstatt also houses the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums, both celebrating cars and automotive history in stunning settings. For those not into cars, there are numerous taverns in an area that hosts two huge beer festivals every year. Oktoberfest is riotous, raucous, and utterly brilliant when celebrated responsibly.

Sports fans are well catered for too, with three stadiums, including the home of local soccer team VfB Stuttgart. Bag a ticket for a game at Mercedes-Benz Arena, along with 60,000 others, and you’ll see a passion for soccer that resonates throughout Germany. After this slice of modern sporting architecture, travel back in time with a meal at Ackerbürger, based in a 16th-century farmhouse. The food is largely Swabian – mushroom soup with snails, pork fillet with pepper and spätzle, but the vibe is just as important in this highly-rated classic.

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