Looking for information on stuttgart. I have a limited time there (6 days) and have heard that many things (shops, museums, etc) close early on Saturdays and on Sundays most "tourist" type places are closed. Does anyone know where I might get information of what is open and when? Also thinking of doing a bit of exploring outside of Stuttgart (short day trips) - but need some advice. I've been to Munich (many years ago) but I didn't have much chance to explore the area. Thanks for your help.

kotten:
While I have never been to Stuttgart personally, this appears to be a great website, available in english, and giving operating hours of many sights (House of Art, Solitude Palace, city church are all open on Sat/Sun. Home Life Display on Sat only, etc).
www.stuttgart.de
click on the British flag in the right upper corner and scroll down the list along the left for comprehensive info about the town and area sights! It is true that many smaller shops close at 1 PM on Saturdays, with one Saturday per month belong "long Saturday--open till 4PM).

Happy Travels!

We live a couple of hours away from Stuttgart, and my husband spends one weekend there each month. Honestly, we've never considered Stuttgart especially "touristy", but the downtown shopping area is nice. Hubby recommends the Mercedes museum and the Porsche museum, as well as day trips to Munich and Baden-Baden.

Good luck!

Don't miss the Daimler-Benz (MB) museum!
M

We lived in Stuttgart in the 70s while in the Army. The town of Ludwigsburg has a great castle and park that is worth a visit. You can find castles south of town in Lichenstein (not the country) and Hohenzollern. The downotown area has been redone and is great for shopping. It is not all that far to drive north to Heidelberg. Great city and fun castle to visit.

hi there,

6 days are a good time to see a lot of Stuttgart. Shop in Stuttgart close on Saturdays normaly at 6 pm. Museums also will do. On Sundays all museums etc. are open (not the shops as in whole Germany). Things not to miss in Stuttgart:
- a visit of the tv-tower, beautiful view, if the weather isnt too good go there at dawn
- Mercedes museum, very worth, not only for motor freaks
- Porsche museum, just for fans, not too big
- Art museum, the Staatsgalerie is a great thing, starting from Bruegel up to Pollock
- You have kids with You? dont miss the dinosaurs at the Loewentormuseum
- also the zoo has an international reputation

Some things You dont have to miss, but it depends on when YOu are there:
- a Besen, a typical privat wine restaurant, tell me when You are there and I can tell You which Besen is open
- a soccer match of the local team
- a local festival (wine, markets)
- a river cruise on the Neckar

A few things arround, easy to be reached by public transportation:
- Esslingen, nice old town, on of the biggest not to be distroyed in WW II (have dinnet at the Einhorn or (more expensive) at the SChellenturm
- Schloss Solitude, nice to take a walk trough the woods
- Ludwigsburg, beautiful castle (German Versailles), garden and baroque town
- Marbach, nice little town, birthplace of Friedrich Schiller
- Bietigheim, also a nice little town
- Uhlbach, part of Stuttgart, beautiful in the wine yards, nearby the Rotenberg chappel, have lunch or dinner at the "Hasen"
- Plochingen, nice little town, Hunderwasser-building

ok, thats a lot I think, if You have any special interests, just let me know, pleased to help You
Gar

Thanks to everyone for your insights. Looking forward to the trip. Seems like good timing on my part - many Christmas Markets to explore, as well as sights close enough to Stuttgart that it will make for easy day trips. Thanks again, Kelly