21 Perfect Day Trips from Stuttgart Within 2 Hours

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Can I let you in on a little secret about visiting Stuttgart?

I actually don’t really like the city of Stuttgart all that much as a tourist. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there are some ok things to see around Stuttgart and if you are a car lover, I can see the appeal of going to the Mercedes Benz or Porsche Museums buuuuuut, as a city itself, I’d much rather spend my time in other places in Germany (Sorry, Stuttgartians- don’t hate me!) 

BUT, what I DO love about Stuttgart is that it makes the perfect home base!!! There are SO many amazing day trips from Stuttgart that it is the perfect, central location to find good and affordable accommodation for numerous days and then spend several days going to fantastic and charming places NEAR Stuttgart!!! 

In fact, I have personally done this numerous times myself. Whether I am going to the World’s Largest Pumpkin Festival in Ludwigsburg or doing some day trips to the Black Forest, I often have stayed in the city itself and then picked numerous Stuttgart day trips.

So, in this article, I’ve not only compiled some of my Best Day Trips from Stuttgart Germany that I have personally done myself but also have asked some fellow Germany Travel Lovers what some of their favorite places near Stuttgart to visit are! I’ll cover where to go (and why as well as how!), some great options for day trips from Stuttgart by train, as well as some fantastic hotels for all budgets that you can call “home base” for a few days.

Getting Around

By Car

A lot of the suggestions on this list are accessible by the trains in Germany, however, several are best to get to by car. Whether that’s because having a car will allow you to maximize your time and get to multiple places in a day or if it’s because a few places just don’t have good public transportation options even available, a car can be nice in some of these areas. Plus, driving in Germany isn’t nearly as terrifying as many people may believe.

Many people fly into Frankfurt and then fly out of Munich (as they often make their way to Bavaria next) and having a car is really convenient for this. Just know that renting a car from one location and returning it to another can be pricey. However, for being able to maximize your time and see more places in Germany, it could be well worth it. 

Compare Car Rental Prices Here

In this guide, I’ll cover exactly how to do these day trips from Stuttgart by train but for driving, it’s usually pretty self explanatory with a good Navi/ GPS system. 

By Train

You’ll see as you get reading that most of the locations mentioned below can all be accessed by train or public transportation. However, that doesn’t always mean that it is going to be the quickest or most efficient option, so it’s best to read my instructions in each section on how to get to each place by trains. 

Consider the Baden-Württemberg Ticket for Trains

Each region or state of Germany has its own regional train tickets that are a great, affordable option when traveling within that one state. For example, Stuttgart is located in Baden-Württemberg and the majority of the places on this list are located within that German state as well. Therefore, when looking for trains and public transportation options, don’t forget to look into the “Baden-Württemberg” ticket! There are a few things you need to know for it, but it’s still a great option to remember to look into: 

1. The most important thing you need to know is these state specific tickets are for regional tickets and are ONLY to be used for regional trains only. If you see the letters ICE, IC, or EC before a train number, those are high speed trains and you can NOT use the Baden-Württemberg ticket on those trains. You WILL get fined for not having the correct ticket. Regional Trains typically will say RE or RB in front of the number
2. This is a group day pass ticket that you can use for 24 hours on buses, trams, and all regional (only!) trains within the state of Baden-Württemberg. 
3. While the Baden-Württemberg ticket and the Bayern Pass are two different tickets, the concepts and roughly the same rules are the same. If you are confused about what trains you can use, etc I go into a ton of details in my Bayern Pass Guide that you can apply to the Baden-Württemberg ticket as well.

Cost: Starts at 25 Euro for One Person (all day). Each additional passenger (up to 5 people) is 7 Euro extra. IE: 2 People on this ticket would be €32.00

*If you see me say “The BW Ticket” in this article, then I am referring to the Baden-Württemberg Ticket

Buy The Baden-Württemberg Ticket Here

Important: Many of the locations in this article are in Baden-Württemberg, however, there are MUCH faster options by using the ICE/IC (High speed) trains. If time is of the essence, you’ll want to book these trains in advance and then remember that the BW Ticket will not be applicable for those routes. 

Other Articles You May Be Interested In Reading:

• Everything You Need to Know About Driving in Germany Guide
• Ultimate Guide To Trains in Germany 

Best Hotels in Stuttgart

I’ll go into some more detail and give a few more options below, but for a quick glance, here are some of my top recommended hotels in Stuttgart to choose as a “home base” for several days

Hotel	Price	Top Features	Rating
Rioca Stuttgart Posto 4	$	Excellent Reviews, Price, AirCon, Near Porsche Museum	8.9 Book Here
Adina Apartment Hotel Stuttgart	$-$$	Apartment style rooms with amenities of a hotel, next to train station Bfast Included	8.4 Book Here
Motel One Stuttgart-Hauptbahnhof	$-$$	Stylish, Modern, Clean. Next to train station	8.5 Book Here
EmiLu Design Hotel	$$	AirCon, Great location, fitness center, Saunas	8.8Book Here
A&O Hostel	$	Great Prices, Very Clean, Private and Family Rooms available	7.3 Book Here

 

Best Day Trips from Stuttgart in Under 1 Hour

Lichtenstein Castle

• Distance: 61 km 
• Travel time: 1 hour by car 

While a day trip from Stuttgart to Neuschwanstein Castle is honestly way too much in my opinion, there is a fantastic alternative less than an hour away from Stuttgart! The Lichtenstein Castle is often referred to as the “Little Sister of Neuschwanstin” because they hold so many similarities (both in back stories but also in architecture and styles). After all, both are inspired by and look like something Disney himself could have conjured up (Neuschwanstein is actually the inspiration for Cinderella’s Castle). They are both built up high on a cliff over looking the valleys below. They are both, simply put, two beautiful, German Fairytale Castles!!!

One magical fairytale day is to do Lichtenstein Castle from Stuttgart in the morning and then do the impressive Hohenzollern Castle in the afternoon. I give a complete itinerary on how to do both, where to eat, and how to make the most of your day in my Lichtenstein Castle Guide.

Alternatively, you can do Tübingen and Lichtenstein Castle all in one day as well to make for a fantastic day exploring!

Getting There by Train: It is a bit complicated to get to Lichtenstein Castle by Train, but it technically IS possible. The time will vary depending on exactly which trains you catch, but it should be no more than about 1.5hours

1. Start at the Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof and take the train to the Reutlingen HBF (depending on the train and time of day, plan on about 40min-1 hr for the train ride)
2. When you get off the train at Reutlingen, you’ll need to walk about 5 minutes around the corner to the bus stop.  Just follow the signs for the bus.
3. Take either bus 7606 or bus 400 to Honau (Plan on about 30 minutes for the bus ride).  You can either get off at the “Honau, Lichtenstein (Württ)” stop which is at Heerstrasse 34, 72805 Lichtenstein and walk from there or the “Honau Traifelberg, Lichtenstein (Württ)” stop which drops you off at the ski lift and from here, you can start the hike upHike Up to the Castle
4. Hike Up to the Castle 
5. TIP: Know the timetable for the return bus before heading up! Depending on which bus stop you took, the return bus is most likely on the other side of the street. Pop over to that and snap a photo on your phone of the timetable so that you know what time to be back for a bus without having to wait too long.

Written by LeAnna Brown from WanderInGermany

Tübingen

• Distance: 61 km 
• Travel time: 40 minutes by car/ 45 minutes-1.25 hours by train

Ludwigsburg Residential Palace

• Distance: 15 km 
• Travel time: 25 minutes by car/ 30 minutes by train

Ludwigsburg Residential Palace is the biggest palace in Germany, with over 452 rooms and beautiful gardens around the estate. If you love 17th-century European architecture, fairytales, or huge gardens with pretty pavilions, flowers, and birds, then Ludwigsburg Palace is a perfect day trip to take from Stuttgart. Simply take the B27 towards Ludwigsburg and you’ll arrive at Ludwigsburg Palace within 30 minutes!

What makes Ludwigsburg Palace the perfect day trip is that anyone of any age will have the best time there. There are activities, tours, and areas that young kids, teenagers, adults, and seniors can all enjoy!

Inside Ludwigsburg Palace, you’ll find the Fashion Museum, Ceramics Museum, children’s Museum, and the Baroque Gallery. The Fashion Museum showcases clothes from the 18th century up until the present day. You’ll find all kinds of beautiful ceramic pieces in the Ceramic Museum. The children’s gallery (The Kinderreich) gives the kids a chance to dress up as royalty and play different games. If you’re into painting, you can visit the Baroque Gallery which showcases paintings from the Baroque period.

But that’s not all! You can also visit the Palace Theater and take a guided tour of some of the 452 rooms that the palace has to offer.

On the Palace grounds, there are the Ludwigsburg Palace Gardens (Blühendes Barock) and the Fairytale Garden. The Palace Gardens is well known for being the host of the world’s largest pumpkin festival, Kürbisausstellung Ludwigsburg. But throughout the year, you can still admire the stunning French, Medieval and English designs of the Gardens. The Fairytale Garden features over 50 interactive fairytale exhibits, from Rapunzel and Hansel and Gretel to Aladdin and the Magic Lamp. The Fairytale Garden truly brings these fairytales to life and is something you wouldn’t want to miss out on when visiting Ludwigsburg Palace! 

Getting To Ludwigsburg by Train:

It’s pretty easy and quick to get to Ludwigsburg from Stuttgart by train. However, depending on exactly what time you leave will depend on which Sbahn line you take, which will then determine what exact bus you take. Either way, it should only take you about 30 minutes total with about 1 transfer from Sbahn to the Bus. Have the DB Navigator App or Google Maps on your phone if you can and use that to know exactly which line is best for the time of day you are traveling.

1. At the Hauptbahnhof, you can grab the Sbahn line S4 in the direction of Marbach
2. At the Ludwigsburg station, there will be buses. Grab the Bus 426 in the direction of Ludwigsburg E.-Kranz-Str. (3 stops) and get off at the “Blühendes Barock” stop. Another bus is the 424 and you can get off at the “Ludwigsburg Residenzschloss” stop.

Contributed by Abigail from The Novel Sphere

Frankfurt

• Distance: 205 km 
• Travel time: 2.5 hours by car/ minimum 1.5 hours by high speed train

A fantastic destination is a day trip from Stuttgart to Frankfurt. Even though Frankfurt is a big German city, one day is actually enough so that you can spend your time in more charming villages and locations in the country.

Frankfurt is a great city that combines modern and historic elements. For example, you can see a lot of modern skyscrapers in the city. Interestingly, many cities got to choose how to rebuild after the devastation of the bombs of WWII and while many chose to stick to the traditional style architecture of their region, Frankfurt was one of the few German cities to go modern. One of the best things to do in the city is to go to the observation deck of the Main Tower and see the city skyline from above.

If you like museums, Frankfurt is a great place to find several, such as the Goethe House in the city center of Frankfurt. which is an interesting place to visit. This is the childhood home of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Also, there are many other interesting museums in Frankfurt. For example, the Städel Museum has an extensive collection of art. Also, the Museum für Moderne Kunst is very interesting and you can often see modern art exhibitions here.

The Frankfurt Cathedral is another iconic sight that you can visit. This is a historic church that played an important role in the Holy Roman Empire.

You can reach the city of Frankfurt by train in about 1 hour and 40 minutes. This is much quicker compared to when you would be traveling by car as you take a high-speed train to do this day trip

Note: Frankfurt is in the state of Hesse, so the BW Ticket would not be applicable

Getting From Stuttgart to Frankfurt by Train:

The fastest way to get to Frankfurt from Stuttgart by train is to take the high speed ICE train (note that this train is not applicable w/ the regional tickets and you’ll need tobook it ahead of time here). Again, depending on exactly what time you leave, there are numerous ICE/IC trains that can get you quickly to Stuttgart, all taking about 1.5 hours total with no transfers.

• Take the ICE 770 in the direction of Berlin Hbf
• ICE 692 in the direction of Hamburg-Altona
• IC 1296 in the direction ofFrankfurt(Main)Hbf

Contributed by Dymphe from Dymabroad

Ulm

• Distance: 94 km 
• Travel time: A little over 1 hour by car/ 45 minutes by high speed train

Ulm isn’t one of Germany’s most famous cities, but that’s what makes it a nice gem to head to as a Stuttgart day trip! It’s often known as a University town, but one thing that I’ve noticed about “University Towns” in Germany is that this often translates to a great, younger, chill vibe in the city with lots of great culture like fine arts (there are several state of the art theaters in Ulm) and fantastic cafe culture vibes! Of course, it’s also got the quintessential half timbered houses and cobble stone streets that are so alluring in Germany.

Ulm is another one of Germany’s “Medieval Cities” with a great historic Altstadt and the famous Ulm Minster- bringing in the title for the “World’s Largest Church Tower.” And if that isn’t a fun “Bucket List” thing to say you’ve seen, then how about touting that you’ve been to the birthplace of Albert Einstein!?

Getting to Ulm From Stuttgart:

Depending on exactly what train you take, it will take only about 45 minutes-1 hour by train from Stuttgart to Ulm. Most of these quicker routes are not applicable with the BW Ticket so you’ll need to purchase tickets ahead of time here.

• The quickest option is to book the ICE591 Train in the direction of München Hbf: 45 minutes

Written by LeAnna Brown from WanderInGermany

Blautopf in Blaubeuren

• Distance: 83 km 
• Travel time: 1 hour by car/ approximately 2 hours by train

Quite literally, the “Blue Pot” in English, the Blautopf is a magnificent, beautiful, and rare natural beauty. Often with an intense turquoise color, combined with the absolutely picture-perfect image of a half timbered building (Fachwerkhaus) resting beside the lake, this location just screams “TAKE A PHOTO OF ME!” The lake itself is a stunning blue/green because of the limestone in the water but also from the way that the light is refracted. 

Not surprisingly with such an “unnatural” look out in nature, there are plenty of stories and legends that surround the Blautopf. My favorite is the story that supposedly the lake is blue because someone would pour blue ink into it daily! Another story is that the lake has no bottom and it goes on forever. Others say we’ll never know the depth of the water because mermaids steal any measuring mechanisms! Finally, there is the legend that a water nymph was outcasted to the lake because she was terribly boring and would never laugh with her husband and therefore, she could not leave the lake until she had laughed 5 times!

As Instagrammers take over the world (or so it feels sometimes), the more popular the Blautopf is becoming. And with that can often come a lot of crowds. To avoid as many people as possible, use the usual “tricks” of trying to go as early in the morning as possible, during weekdays, and not during public holidays or peak travel seasons. However, also know that on cloudy days, the blue is not going to be very intense anyway, so plan accordingly. 

Getting from Stuttgart to the Blautopf Lake by Train:

There are no public transportation options that get you right to the lake itself, however, if you are up for a gorgeous walk, you can get pretty close and then enjoy an easy hike to the lake

1. First, take the ICE 913 train in the direction of München Hbf
2. Get off at the Ulm Hauptbahnhof
3. In Ulm, take the RE55 train in the direction of Donaueschingen
4. Get off at “Blaubeuren”
5. If you’d like a scenic route, walk about 1 hour along the Blau River to the Blautopf. Or, take the walk through town to the Blautopf which takes about 30 minutes

Written by LeAnna from WanderInGermany

Best Day Trips from Stuttgart in Under 2 Hours

Triberg

• Distance: 130 km 
• Travel time: 1 hour 45 min- 2 hours by car/ 2.5-3 hours by train

While Stuttgart itself isn’t in the German Black Forest, it’s close enough that if you don’t have enough time to do a full Black Forest Road Trip, you can easily pop in for a few good day trips from Stuttgart, one of them being the famous Black Forest town of Triberg.

Triberg is home to several  “Bucket List” items in Germany like The Triberg Waterfall (The “Tallest” Waterfall in Germany) or the World’s Largest Cuckkoo Clock! It also has the “House of 1000 Clocks” Yup, a store that has over 1000 Cuckkoo clocks (many which are chirping, ticking, and working!) However, one day in Triberg is actually plenty to see the main sights, as it’s actually a pretty small village and it’s the perfect taste to what the German Black Forest has to offer. Of course, while in town, don’t forget to get some Black Forest Ham or a  Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest Cherry Cake).

If you are visiting Germany in the summer, which has wonderfully long days (it doesn’t get dark until well after 10:30pm in July!) you could even do a quick stop into Tübingen in the morning and then spend the rest of your day in Triberg to really maximize your time!

Planning a Trip To the Black Forest? You May Be Interested in The Following Articles:

• Ultimate Black Forest Road Trip Itineraries
• When Is the Best Time to Visit the Black Forest
• Things to do in the Black Forest with Kids

Getting from Stuttgart to Triberg By Train:

Like the majority of locations on this list, you’ll find numerous train options depending on exactly what time you leave. However, more than likely, the majority of them will be:

1. First, you’ll want to get to Karlsruhe (multiple ICE/IC trains available)
2. In Karlsruhe, take the RE2 train in the direction of Triberg

Written by LeAnna from WanderInGermany

Baden Baden

• Distance: 100 km 
• Travel time: 1.5 hours- 2 hours by car/1.5 hours by train

If you’ve been around WanderInGermany for a bit, you know I’m nothing short of obsessed with the German Sauna Culture!  Even if the idea of being nude at a spa terrifies you, I promise you, going to a German Spa and Sauna even just once is an experience in and of itself that I swear every tourist needs to experience for themselves. And what better place than one of the best and most famous Spa Towns in Germany: Baden Baden?

There are two main spas in Baden Baden (I suggest going to both for unique experiences at each, as they are quite different from one another….well, minus the nude part!) but even if the spa culture isn’t your thing there are plenty of other Things to Do in Baden Baden like walking the beautiful gardens, seeing the Neu Schloss, or going up to the Hohenbaden Castle and doing a stunning hike overlooking the Black Forest!

You Might Also Be Interested in Reading:

• 2 Days in Baden Baden Itinerary
• Best Spa Hotels in Baden Baden 
• What to Pack for a German Spa

Getting from Stuttgart to Baden Baden by Train:

As always, there are a few different routes that can get you to Baden Baden from Stuttgart. This one is one of the most direct and quickest options:

1. Take a train to the Karlsruhe station. 
2. Transfer in Karlsruhe and get on the ICE71 train in the direction of Basel
3. Ride this train about 15 minutes and get off at the Baden-Baden train station

Written by LeAnna Brown from WanderInGermany

Strasbourg (France)

• Time from Stuttgart: Approximately a little over 2 hours (by train or car) 
• Distance: 107km (66.5 miles)

For a great day trip from Stuttgart head over to Strasbourg, France!

With Strasbourg’s quaint architecture, beautiful churches, and French charm, a trip here is something anyone would enjoy.  Be sure to swing by Cathédrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg, which is quite possibly the largest church in the city.  Stop by Place Kléber, which is a main square, and enjoy the colorful architecture and people-watching in the area. And of course, visit the Historical Museum of the City of Strasbourg if you’d like to learn a little about the history of this lovely city.  

In fact, Strasbourg is considered one of the prettiest towns in France. The Alsace region is known for it’s charming town squares and quintessential half timbered houses making it look like it was plucked right out of a fairytale!

While Strasbourg is wonderful to visit at any time of year, it’s especially magical to visit at Christmas time.  From roughly the last week of November until Christmas Eve, Strasbourg transforms into a Christmas wonderland with decorations and markets all over the city.  Spend some time perusing the markets and looking at what treasures you might find.  (Even if you’re not a shopper you’ll enjoy it!) Try all kinds of warm and delicious foods and drinks that are offered at every market, and get lost exploring the winding streets while admiring the Christmas decorations.  European Christmas markets are an experience not to be missed!

Strasbourg is easily accessible from Stuttgart by car, bus and train.  Public transportation would be most ideal as this eliminates the need to find parking.  

Getting From Stuttgart to Strasbourg by Train:

• The most direct route with no transfers is to take the TGV 9576 in the direction of Paris-Est. This is only 1.5 hours and has no transfers
• There is also the ICE 9574 in the direction of Paris-Est that also has no transfers and is also less than 1.5 hours
• There are more routes that include transfers, check Bahn.com for options

Since you are crossing the border and can’t use the BW ticket, be sure to book your ticket ahead of time here. 

Contributed by Chelsea from Adventures of Chels

Heidelberg

• Distance: 117 km
• Time from Stuttgart: 1-1.5 hours by car/ 45 minutes by high speed train

Heidelberg is a city located in western Germany and can be reached from Stuttgart in under 2 hours, making it an ideal day trip. 

Since most of the attractions in Heidelberg are within close proximity to one another, it is possible to visit all the places to see in Heidelberg in one day or it also makes for a great weekend in Germany getaway as well.

The highlight of Heidelberg is the Heidelberg castle which is located on a small hillock that towers over the city and offers the most magnificent panoramic views of Heidelberg and the river Neckar. Additionally, the world’s largest wine barrel also happens to be located within the castle premises. From the castle, one can walk down towards the old city of Heidelberg which looks like a scene from Beauty and the Beast! The church of the Holy Spirit, the market square, the facade of the Hotel zum Ritter, and Kornmarkt are some of the highlights of the Heidelberg city center. The Karl Theodore Bridge a.k.a the old bridge of Heidelberg is one of the highlights of the city and its glorious gate as well as the history behind it are noteworthy as well. The Neckarwiese garden across this bridge offers a picture-worthy view of the Heidelberg castle. 

Getting From Stuttgart to Heidelberg By Train:

• Depending on what time you leave during the day, there are numerous ICE trains that all have direct routes with no transfers to Heidelberg from Stuttgart by train and only take about 45 minutes

Contributed by Soujanya Rai from The Spicy Journey

Würzburg

• Distance: 150 km
• Time from Stuttgart: Approximately 1.5-2.5 hours by car (pending traffic)/ 2.5-3.5 hours by train

Würzburg is a magnificent-underrated city in Franconia, Bavaria. The city is known for its wine and its baroque and rococo art, and it has been a university city for over 500 years. A day trip to Würzburg will unravel its rich history. The Residenz Palace is the city’s pride, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The largest ceiling mural painting in the world and the most stunning rococo stucco decors make this palace a special visit.

Look out for other building facades in the old town in the Baroque style, such as the Falkenhaus and the Neumünster. In the late afternoon, go to the Alte Mainbrücke, which is the city’s oldest bridge, and take part in the Brückenschoppen. This involves drinking wine on the bridge, while admiring the beauty of the Main River and surrounding vineyards! The city has, of course, much more to offer, and you can pick from a list of things to do in Würzburg. The easiest way to get to Würzburg is by car because the drive is just under 2 hours on the highway. Yet, you can get there too by train within 2 1/2 hours, either with a direct S-Bahn line 5/1 or with a train connection that leads to Frankfurt and then Würzburg.

Getting from Stuttgart to Würzburg by Train:

• The RE 8 In the direction of Würzburg Hauptbahnhof is a direct route with no transfers and only takes about 2.25 hours.

Freiburg im Breisgau

• Distance: 200 km
• Time from Stuttgart: 2.5 hours by car/ Approximately 2 hours by train

I have tons of Day Trips from Freiburg as well if you are looking to make it another “home base” for your time in Germany but if you are short on time, Freiburg is also another good day trip from Stuttgart. Especially in the summertime, it’s got a great, chill vibe, most likely because it’s a university town, so there are plenty of younger kids keeping things lively with plenty of Things to do in Freiburg. 

You can’t miss the Alstadt, which has the towering Munster Cathedral, which is a sight to be seen both inside and out. It’s also a great town to just wander around in for a while, hop over the Bächle (open sewers…but don’t worry, they are just freshwater streams now!!!), or grab a wurst and a beer at any of the many outdoor restaurants. Of course, you need to walk around and find the old town towers (one now has the eyesore of a McDonald’s at the bottom) or get some amazing sunset views by going up the Schlossberg.

Getting from Stuttgart to Freiburg by Train:

As always, there are a few different routes that can get you to Freiburg from Stuttgart. This one is one of the most direct and quickest options:

1. Take a train to the Karlsruhe station. 
2. Transfer in Karlsruhe and get on the ICE71 train in the direction of Basel
3. Ride this train about 1 hour and get off at the Freiburg(Breisgau) Hbf

Written By LeAnna Brown from WanderInGermany

Feldberg

• Distance: 215 km
• Time from Stuttgart: 2.75 hours-3 hours by car/ Approximately 3.75 hours by train

Other Day Trips from Stuttgart to the Black Forest

While I’ve mentioned numerous German Black Forest towns and villages already in this list (Freiburg, Triberg, Baden Baden), there are still a few other great Black Forest Day Trips from Stuttgart that you can look into. All of them are 1.5-2 hours from Stuttgart. Most are detailed in my Day Trips from Freiburg if you’d like further information.

• Offenburg
• Gengenbach
• All Saints Waterfall and Abbey
• Baden Baden
• Freiburg
• Triberg
• Feldberg 
• Todtnau Rodelbahn (Hasenhorn Coaster)
• Schiltach
• Burgbach Wasserfall

Weekend Trips from Stuttgart Germany

If you are like me and you like to Google-around when researching for a trip, chances are you’ve seen some other listicles on the good ol interwebs with a few other suggestions that I don’t have. So what’s the deal!?

Look, here on WIG, I only want to give you the best and most honest information. You know, something like I would tell my own friend if they were planning a trip to visit me in Germany. And I would never in a million years tell my pals to do a day trip from Stuttgart to a place like Munich or Neuschwanstein. You might be saying, “But LeAnna, Google Maps says that Neuschwanstein is only 2.5 hours and you have other options for day trips on your site that are upwards of three hours!”

Yeah, sure, but that is because I still believe that those destinations are worthy of just a day trip. You can not do Munich justice in one day! Period. Let alone planning in travel times to get there and back!! So, here are a few suggestions on places that you might have seen elsewhere but that I would either make as another part of your itinerary or at least weekend trips from Stuttgart (ie minimum 2 days).

Where NOT To Go As a Day Trip from Stuttgart- and WHY

There are actually a TON of really great weekend getaways from Stuttgart Germany. Here are just a few of my personal favorites.

Neuschwanstein: You don’t need more than a day for Neuschwanstein. BUUUUT, did you know about the nearby Linderhof Castle (A complete underrated gem in my opinion!) ? Or Hohenschwangau? What about the Ettal Abbey??? All of those should be considered in your Neuschwanstein day and if you are coming from Stuttgart, it’s going to be near impossible to add any of those on. Or have you ever wondered what it’s like to Paraglide Over A Fairytale Castle? Yeeeah, it’s pretty freaking amazing, but no way could you do that and see the other castles with just one day.

Munich: Munich really shouldn’t just be a one day trip from Stuttgart. You really should have a minimum of 2 days in Munich, if not 3 (you can do an easier day trip to Neuschwanstein from Munich) 

Nuremberg: You can do Nuremberg in 1 Day, but I suggest it being a nice, long, full day. 2 Days is even more ideal.

Rhine River Cruise: Visit the picture perfect towns of Rudesheim, Bacharach, Boppard, and Cochem all while sipping wine down the Rhine and gazing upon castles!! I suggest starting in Rudesheim, which is only about 2.5 hours from Stuttgart!

Trier: This ancient Roman town in Germany is only about 4 hours from Stuttgart and makes for the perfect weekend trip.

Lucerne: Pop on over into Switzerland for the weekend. You can be at this stunning lakeside town at the bottom of the towering Mt Pilatus in about 3 hours from Stuttgart!

FAQs

Is it worth visiting Stuttgart?

Personally, I think there are better towns to explore in Germany that offer more culture, beauty, and better things to do. However, I love Stuttgart as a home base for tons of easy and nearby day trips!

How many days do I need for Stuttgart?

1-2 Days plus 3-4 days for day trips. You can easily visit Stuttgart in one day or even less. However, it’s worth staying in the city itself and staying in the one location for numerous days so that you can reach dozens of nearby day trips easily