Will be staying in Stuttgart last week of April. Plan a side trip to Rome, so really only have 4 days in Germany total. Have thought one day for Stuttgart, one day for Heidelburg, and then for the other 2 days have way too many options. Have thought about Ulm, Tubingen, and Esslingen (need to pick one for one day) and then on the last day have thought about visiting Hohenzollern or Sigmaringen or Teck or Lichtenstein. Any ideas of which towns/castles you would pick. Are any better than the others. Also for the castles, what combinations are possible to fill one day and reasonable to do given travel time between them? Thanks to all!!

I like Ulm. Been there twice, and stayed at Ulmer Spatz. The first trip was better, staying on a Tuesday night (market on Wednesday morning on the main Munster square).

Best wishes,

Rex

You did not say if you had a car.

ROTHENBURG is not that bad of a drive from Stuttgart. We did day trips there in the 70s from Stuttgart before the autobahns. Unique town and fun to visit.

The castles at Sigmarigen, Lichtenstein and Hohenzollern are also day trips that we did while living in Stuttgart. There is also a very famous castle in Ludwigsburg, a northern suburb of Stuttgart that is fun to visit.

Hi!

If it's picturesque smaller towns and villages you are after then here are some, all within an hour's drive of Stuttgart:

North and North-east: Markgroeningen, Vaihingen on the Enz, Bietigheim, Besigheim, Lauffen, Brackenheim

West and South-West: Weil der Stadt, Herrenberg, Horb (now well into the Black Forest whcih you may be tempted to explore further)

South and South-East: Nürtingen, Neufen, Dettingen, Bad Urach, Blaubeuren

East: Schorndorf and the little pocket of land justsouth of Schwäbisch Gmünd: four or five castles and some abbeys, some of them in ruins.

Harzer

Check out this page:
http://www.tompgalvin.com/places/de/...ckar_river.htm

It describes lots and lots of towns and areas around Stuttgart (Bad Wimpfen, for example).

butterflygirl- Welcome to the land of
--ingens! I think that Ulm is definitely worth a full day excursion from Stuttgart. The Munster is a definite must see and worth the climb to the top. The old section is very nice as is a stroll along the Danube and the old town walls. Another great full day excursion would be to head south to Tubingen (a charming University town) then to Hechingen and Schloss Hohenzollern - a truly magnificent castle perched high on a hill - a fantastic sight as you approach. Then head toward Reutlingen and south to Schloss Lichtenstein - a charming smaller castle perched on a crag off a larger mountain accessible only by a small drawbridge. Enjoy your stay in Germany!

We found alot to do in Stuttgart. The Staatsgalerie alone is worth alot of time. We didn't even get to the other museums on the central schlossgarten. I suggest hanging around a little while in Stuttgart.

Years ago I took a train ride from Stuttgart to Sigmaringen. One of the most picturesque rides I have ever made.

thanks to all for the info! Most helpful!