deziner

Hello Travel Guides,

The old car v. train question; and nearby Stuttgart tips.

We're staying 5 days in Stuttgart in a few weeks. Hoped to use only trains & public transport for this trip as I like my kids (10 & 11) to have what I consider a more "European" feel to our European travel. "When in Rome...."

Planning just one day IN Stuttgart city - Perhaps Mercedes museum and walkabout town. As I look at photos of the gorgeous, quaint towns nearby, they interest us more. BUT, I see that trains will double the travel time, if not rule out certain possibilities. I wonder if we need a car. This is my list of possible day trips: Rothenburg, Dinkelsbuhl, Tubingen, Schwabisch Hall, Bad Wimpfen, Waldenbuch (Ritter Sport), Esslingen. For example, Dinkelsbuhl is 19 hrs by train. Esslingen 30 min. vs 60 min. Waiting on trains, transfers, etc.

1. Can you suggest a few picturesque towns easily accessible (and FYI hotel is south of Stuttgart proper) by train? Or recommend just get a car? [picturesque, but also interesting for kids: town + chocolate factory, castle, museum]

2. Also, we definitely want to get closer to Alps before, after or during our 5 days. Not sure if we fly into Stuttgart, Frankfort or Munich, yet, even. If we could only do a day trip to or near Switzerland, recommendations for alpine meadow/valley/lake day trip?

3. Further details: Since we're not sure where flying into and out of, we could possibly take trains coming to and from Stuttgart, but just get a car for this base.

Many thanks!

Fussgaenger

I guess you know Esslingen is 10 train minutes from Stuttgart, Tübingen about 40.

Besigheim, 23 min. by direct train - http://images.fotocommunity.de/bilde...99927274a9.jpg

Calw - http://images.fotocommunity.de/bilde...99927274a9.jpg
(It's 1:10 to Calw... train to Weil der Stadt, bus connection to Calw.)

Fussgaenger

Can you fly into Zurich? Zurich-Stuttgart takes less than 4 hours by train, I believe, and Luzern is only about 45 minutes from Zurich.

deziner

Thanks @Fussgaenger

From hotel at Salzäcker station, to Esslingen for example, my map shows 20 min by car and almost 60 by train. Now I'm looking up getting my husband to biz appointments and its via public transport 50 min. vs. 10 min. car. Do they have an Uber type service there? Plentiful taxis?

Would LOVE to fly into Zurich. Will look into that! Thanks.

ter2000

Tubingen is a lovely University town and well worth a visit, but I'm not sure how interesting it would be for your children! It's a very easy train journey from Stuttgart. Heidelberg would be another option - again

Definitely do not miss the Mercedes Museum. This is coming from someone with minimal interest in cars (I don't even drive). It is excellently planned and designed and manages to combine the history of the factory with the history of Germany - without glossing over the bad bits either. I think your children would love it.

The tourist office in Stuttgart is very helpful - we organised a walking tour from there which was enjoyable. You can also book tickets to see the Stuttgart soccer team there also - you could combine that with a trip to the Mercedes Museum.

Fussgaenger

"From hotel at Salzäcker Station..." Well yeah, if you've selected a base out near Salzaecker SUBWAY station, then you've positioned yourselves for a subway ride prior to any train outing, and you don't really have a "Stuttgart Base." The times I provided are from Stuttgart's main station.

How did you pull up 19 hours for Dinkelsbuehl? With 19 hours you could be in Rome. D'buehl takes about 3 hours from your location. Way too far IMO by train, especially with so many nice options closer in, but then D'buehl can't really be reached by train - a bus is needed for the final travel leg.

Anyway, if you're sold on your hotel, a car might be handier. If you're sold on using the trains, it would be handier to have a better hotel location.

I cannot speak to Uber options.