Stuttgart, capital of Baden-Württemberg state, is a prosperous place. This is where the modern motorcar was invented, and some of the main attractions here reflect its proud automotive heritage. But despite the apparent industrial edge, it is also a big city with the friendly heart of a small town. While it may lack the stunning historical architecture of some other central

Public Transport

Stuttgart’s public transport network includes buses and the U-Bahn metro system. There’s also a suburban S-Bahn rail network. Services are operated by the Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund Stuttgart (VVS; tel: (0711) 66060; www.vvs.de). Buy tickets from machines at stations, or from bus drivers where this is not possible. Single journey tickets are available, but day tickets and three-day tickets usually offer visitors better value. The tourist Stuttcard pass includes free public transport.

Climate and best time to visit Stuttgart

As a major business hub, Stuttgart is busy at all times of year. Being situated in southern Germany, winters are milder than many other parts of the country, and the summers are agreeably warm and pleasant. Locals will tell you the city is at really its best in June and July, as rainfall is often higher in August and September. Nevertheless, there are still several big events worth considering in late summer. A wine festival is held from the end of August into early September, and the annual Oktoberfest beer festival takes place later in September. The city’s Christmas markets in December are also very popular.

Telephone/Mobile Telephone

Dialing Code: +49

Telephone

Local and international calls can be made from phone boxes in towns and cities. These usually accept both coins and pre-paid cards (available at post offices and other outlets). In larger cities, you’ll often be able to make international calls from internet cafes too.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good. It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile telephone while driving. If you’re going to be in Germany for a long period of time, consider obtaining a local SIM card.

Key Areas

Stuttgart’s city centre is filled with shops covering all bases in terms of styles and budgets. All the big international brands can be found on or around Königstrasse. This bustling central shopping street is pedestrianised for over one kilometre, starting near from the main station, and has department stores and chic boutiques.

Markets

Stuttgart’s indoor market, the Markthalle, is an attractive Jugenstil building packed with stalls selling quality delicatessen items. You’ll find traditional outdoor markets on both Marktplatz and Schillerplatz every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday – come in the morning as they close early. For second-hand goods and bric-a-brac, try the Saturday morning flea market on Karlsplatz. Several Christmas markets appear in the city during December. The largest is on Schlossplatz.

Handshaking is customary, and it is considered rude to address people by their first name unless invited to do so. Normal courtesies should be observed. Before eating, it is normal to say “guten Appetit” to the other people at the table to which the correct reply is “danke, gleichfalls” (“Thank you, the same to you”). If you’ve been invited to eat at a German house, it is customary to present the hostess with unwrapped flowers (according to tradition, you should always give an uneven number, and it is worth noting that red roses are exclusively a lover’s gift).

In shops and other businesses, courtesy dictates that visitors should utter a greeting such as “guten tag”

Main emergency number: 112

Food & Drink

There’s nothing to mark out German produce as particularly risky to general health (although it has a partly founded reputation for being fatty). Tap water is safe to drink.

Other Risks

Tick-borne encephalitis is present in forested areas of southern Germany; vaccination is advisable. Rabies is present; look out for ‘Tollwut’ signs. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered.

During the summer months, sunburn can be a problem. The southwest generally draws the highest temperatures. The usual precautions apply: use a generous amount of sunscreen and be sensible about how long you spend in direct sunlight. Be aware that a breezy day can sometimes mask high temperatures.

If walking over a long distance in warm weather, it’s advisable to drink – and carry – plenty of water and wear appropriate clothing, including a sun hat. Blisters can be another problem for hikers. These can often occur if new walking shoes are being worn across a long distance. Ideally footwear should be worn in before the trip.

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