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- Destinations
- Europe
- Germany
- Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Situated amongst the rolling hills of Germany's premiere
wine-growing region, Stuttgart is capital of the state of
Baden-Wurttemberg in southwestern Germany. Dotted with beautiful
historical buildings, impressive parks and fantastic art museums,
this modern city is a good stopover for its undulating wine
estates, annual beer festival, mineral spa culture and acclaimed
ballet, opera and philharmonic companies.
Charming olde worlde quarters like the Bohnenviertel (Bean
District) with its sidewalk cafés and cobbled streets, meet the
modern pedestrianised precincts of contemporary Stuttgart, boasting
the latest in European mode such as Königstrasse, one of the
longest shopping areas in Germany. A big city with a small-town
atmosphere, visitors will find the bustling art nouveau Market Hall
transports them to former countrified years. Nowadays, this is
where organic fruit and vegetables, aromatic cheeses and fresh fish
from the North Sea can be found. However, a must for any visitor to
this city is a trip to one of Stuttgart's reputed mineral baths, be
it the modern and luxurious Mineralbad Cannstatt or the Mineral
Bath Berg, exuding a wistful fifties charm.
View the city from atop the Fernsehturm (Television Tower), a
712ft (217m) tower with an observation deck and restaurant at the
pinnacle where on a clear day, you can see the Black Forest; head
to Schlossplatz, a famous landmark and meeting place for locals and
visitors, its green lawns littered with youths soaking up the
summer sunshine or find your own sanctuary in the dappled shade of
the 'Green U' park, a five mile (8km) natural haven in the city
centre.
These features all come as a surprise to the first time visitor
to Stuttgart, who usually associate the city with its reputation as
the 'cradle of the automobile'. The motorbike and four-wheel car
were invented in Stuttgart and one of its most famous attractions
is the enormous Mercedes-Benz Museum, with 160 immaculate vehicles
on permanent display, including their new luxury models, racing
cars and reputed antiques. If that doesn't whet your appetite, head
across town to the Porsche Museum.
Information & Facts
Climate
Stuttgart's position at the centre of the European continent
plays a major role in its summer and winter temperature extremes.
Summers are warm with an an average temperature of 70°F (20°C), the
hottest days falling in July and August. Winters last from December
to March, the coldest month being January, with snow lasting for
several days.
Getting Around
Most attractions and places of interest in Stuttgart are centred
in the inner city, therefore getting around on foot is easy. The
public transport system is good; trains include the Stadtbahn
(U-bahn) and the S-Bahn (good for getting to the suburbs). Guests
can use tickets across transportation modes from buses and trains,
to trams. For tourists, all day tickets (Einzel Tages Tickets) are
more cost effective. If staying longer, the special three-day
ticket (3-Tage-Ticket) is a good alternative. Taxis can be
expensive but if sharing and/or looking for transport late at
night, they are a more convenient option.
Language
German is the official language. English is also widely
spoken and understood.
Money
The unit of currency is the Euro (EUR), divided into 100 cents.
ATMs and exchange bureaux are widely available. The major credit
cards are becoming more widely accepted in many large shops, hotels
and restaurants, although Germans themselves prefer to carry cash.
Travellers cheques are best cashed at exchange bureaux, as banks
often won't change them. The quickest and most convenient way to
change money is to obtain cash from one of the ATM machines that
are ubiquitous features on all German streets. Banks are closed on
weekends, but exchange bureaux at airports and main railway
stations are open daily from 6am to 10pm.
Time
GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the last
Sunday in October).