6 hours to kill in Stuttgart!
 

I will be in Stuttgart for 6 hours on
Sept. 9th. What would be a memorable
way to spend the day? Also, where to eat?

Option if you like shopping, go out to Metzingen - 30 minutes or so I think - it is the most intense factory outlet town in Germany which offers great deals for Bally, Boss, Joop and lots of other shops (17 in total). Weekend it seems this town is totally packed, but weekdays its OK.

Do you have a total of 6 hours in Stuttgart or only a 6 hr. layover at Stuttgart airport. As it is a 30 minute train ride into the city, add an hour getting through arrivals and waiting for trains, plus 2 hour check in and you end up with only with only 2 hours to spend "safely" in Stuttgart. Perhaps time for a quick lunch but no sightseeing.

If you have 6 hours from Stuttgart airport, go to the old university town of Tübingen. If you have 6 hours in downtown Stuttgart, just walk around in the city center. Most of this city was bombed during the war, but many historical buildings have survived/been reconstructed. There are many eating places in Bohnenviertel/the Bean Quartier, an old surviving part of downtown. Spätzle is a local speciality, a kind of noodles. Drink Trollinger, the local red wine. There is a great art myuseum in the city center; the building designed by ä controversial Scottish architect, James Sterling if I remember correctly.

hi there,

Charlie is right, You have to check out how many time YOu have to spend totaly. From the airport You need about 25 min to downtown (with the D-train which is easy to use). From the trainstation You can easyly walk most of the things. There are 2 castles in the center of town, one You can visit. If YOu are in museums: the museum of Art as Absurd told You and the Mercedes Benz museum are wellknown. A few other for special interests.
Best thing to do maybe is to "climb" the tv-tover in Degerloch. You have a beautiful view over the town and the surroudings.
Typical cuisine YOu find in the "Stuttgart Staeffele" but maybe You dont get place here. Others will be "Urbanstuben" near "Musikhochschule", also easy to walk to, just ask. Also nice is the restaurant (forgt the name) on the left side of the hotel "Zeppelin" right opposite of the train station. If YOu prefer Italian food try the "Amici" at the "Zeppelin Carré" near the Train station.
If You dont mind give me a line before coming, perhaps I can show YOu around for a few hours.
have fun
Gar

PS: Shopping to Metzingen is not the big deal. First YOu need more then 30 min to go, and prices are not so good as they seem to be.

Gargamel why do you say that about shopping prices at Metzingen?. All my German friends used to go to Boss if they were in Stuttgart area -also comments made from students at Tubingen. I only had time to go to Bally and got full good sale price deals, but on a much greater selection of stock than is typically offered in any one store at sale time.

hi travelnick,
well, I'm in that business, and if You have time and open eyes to take a look arround, You will find the same things in "normal" stores for the same price or even less. And: You wont find the last designs (specialy Boss) there. The only thing is You find a lot of factory outlets there on one place.

have fun
Gar

If this is a "layover" then there isn't any need to be back at the airport two hours ahead with the luggage checked through, etc. Why would anyone have a six-hour layover in that city of all places?????

Well - Minky - you could find a biergarten and toast my birthday!

If you can get quickley out of the airport (get a rental car) you must go to Tuebingen. When there, head up to the castle by foot, it is wonderful! Downtown Stuttgart is an option as well, as it is easily accessible by the "S-Bahn", a train that will take you from the airport ( inside the terminal) directly to downtown in about 25 minutes. If all else fails you can go and have a beer with my dad in Oberaichen, only 5 minutes away by the "S-Bahn"... Enjoy

If you like cars, set up a tour of the PORSCHE factory. You can pre-arrange the time through a Porsche dealer. It is on the opposite side of town from airport, but with a true 6 hours, should be no problem.

Downtown Stuttgart is very nice. Great shops and people watching. That may be your best bet.

As someone else already suggested, take the S-Bahn from the airport to the Hauptbahnhof (central station) in Stuttgart. Then take a short taxi ride or bus ride to the WILHELMA Zoological and Botanical Gardens. One of the best things to see in Stuttgart. I believe you can also enjoy a good lunch there. I don't live in Stuttgart, but have been there several times visiting relatives.
http://www.wilhelma.de/de/sommer/#

The Mercedes Benz Museum is easy to reach by S-Bahn (Gotlieb-Daimler Stadium station) an is by far more interesting than the Porsche Museum. The Staatsgalerie is a good choice if you like art. The Altes Schloss (Old Castle) has a good museum if you prefer history.