10 years ago I started a bucket list after being diagnosed with cancer (a story for another time) and one of the top items on my list was to visit Europe! I had never been overseas before and I had always been fascinated with Europe – the history, the buildings, the winter! (living in country Australia, my winter never included snow!). So I bought a ticket, boarded a plane and set off to start ticking my first item off my bucket list – Stuttgart Germany!

Stuttgart is the capital city of the Baden-Württemberg state in South-Western Germany and is the sixth biggest city in Germany (no big deal!). During WW2 almost 60% of the city was destroyed during Allied bombing as it was a major industrial city during this time. 

I arrived in Stuttgart on a beautiful winters morning and I immediately fell in love with the city! First thing I noticed was that the city streets were clean! There was no rubbish to be found anywhere – I later found out that this is because Stuttgartians take good care of their city participate in a Swabian practice of Kehrwoche which roughly translates, so I’m told, to “week of sweeping”. 

I only spent less than 48 hours in Stuttgart, so unfortunately I didn’t get to do everything I wanted to do (I guess that means I just need to go back over!)

Things to do in Stuttgart

1. Christmas markets (in winter)

Christmas markets have been happening each year in Stuttgart for almost 300 years. Ok, so I’m not religious (call me a bit of a pagan), but my appreciation for the Christmas spirit grew exponentially when I visited my first Christmas market in Stuttgart. The lights, the food, the music, the market stalls and, most importantly, the mulled wine! 

2. Mercedes-Benz museum 

For all the car lovers out there, you’re going to enjoy this one. Stuttgart is rumoured to be the birthplace of the first car. A guy named Karl Benz, who lived in Stuttgart, built what is considered to be the very first car in 1886. 

The Mercedes-Benz museum goes through the interesting  history of this brand throughout the 21st century.

3. Wilhelma Zoological-Botanical Garden

I absolutely love zoos, their animals, the conservation and the magical experiences. 

Wilhelma Zoological-Botanical Garden is located on the grounds of a palace and was first designed as a beautiful garden during the reign of Wilhelm I.

4. Schlossplatz

This park was once royal private gardens and a place where parades took place, but these days people come here for open air concerts or for big events. When I visited during winter and the Christmas markets were operating, I found this place to be magical! The christmas lights gave the place a serene, angelic yet mystical vibe. It was so beautiful.

5. Solitude Palace

Get ready for the royal treatment (ok, maybe not really, but one can only dream, right?!). The Solitude Palace has a very interesting history. Built by Carl Eugene, Duke of Württemberg, his humble abode was host to extravagant parties, wild hunts and many operas (the Duke had a thing for opera apparently). Not only that, the owner, Carl, was a bit of a ladies man – rumour has it he had many, many, many (ok you get the idea) mistresses and fathered quite a number of illegitimate children.

6. Birkenkopf

This one is for the military history buffs like me. Birkenkopf is a half-nature-half-man-made hill – it is partly built from the ruins of the WW2 bombings. Stuttgart endured over 50 bombings during WW2, destroying 60% of the city. With so much rubble around the idea was to move what they can to this hill. So the hill itself is actually one the tallest points in Stuttgart anyway, but after the war the rubble from the bombings was piled on top of the hill increasing it’s height!

There is also a memorial remembering all those in Stuttgart who lost their lives during the war. 

There is so much more to do in Stuttgart than what I have shared and it’s very much worthy of adding to any bucket list! 

Much love,

Lara X

Psst. Be sure to follow me on social media.

• Twitter
• Instagram

You might also like…

Latest on the ‘Gram