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
Country code:+49

Mobile telephony and Internet
Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-EU state do not benefit from the new arrangement.

Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all passwords, credit card details and banking credentials entered. Use of a VPN app or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended.

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 in Germany, 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” (or “grüß Gott” in Bavaria) before saying what it is that they want; to leave without saying “auf Wiedersehen” or “tschüss” can also cause offence.

Main emergency number: 112

Food & Drink

There’s nothing to mark out German products as particularly risky to general health (although it has a partly founded reputation for being high in fat). 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 has 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 over a long distance. Ideally, footwear should be worn in before the trip.

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