Not just for tourists, the 19 Euro 3-day train pass is a
good deal for residents as well. Here’s what worked and didn’t to get to know the area
better: When you start to use the 3-day paper train pass, you have to get it
stamped in one of the small yellow/orange boxes in the train station or on a
bus before using it. This validates it, and avoids fines for not having a train
or bus pass.
For everyone, the train app works great! You can use the SSB
app to find out what times the trains run, and also to buy one way/day tickets
separate from the 3-day pass. For example, if you are coming into Stuttgart
from the suburbs, you can type your train station into the app and find out
when trains are scheduled for the day you plan to travel. That is helpful, just
as discovering return times from Stuttgart. Why stand around in a train station
for 20 minutes if you can time your arrival for less waiting?
The TV tower (Fernsehturm) yields fantastic views over
Stuttgart and the surrounding area. It is a 5-10 minute walk from the train
stop to the tower, with small marked signs featuring a person walking, similar
to the icon on a crosswalk light. There is a restaurant at the bottom of the
tower, and an indoor café at the top of the tower. Two thumbs up.
The Landesmuseum is in an old palace (Altes Schloss) right
in downtown, 1 block from Königstrasse. It is an easy walk from several train stations, including Charlottenplatz, Rathaus, Schlossplatz, Stadtmitte, and Hauptbahnhof). This comprehensive museum has something
for everyone who is interested in learning more about the greater Stuttgart
area. From paintings to historic artifacts to pretty things, there is
interesting information in English and also for children. There are lockers in
the lobby for backpacks, and you get your coin back when you retrieve your
belongings. Even had the admission not been free on the day I showed up, I
would have gladly paid to see the exhibits and highly recommend it.
The city library gets great reviews on TripAdvisor, but the
website did not alert visitors to a religious holiday closure. I knew that
there are several religious holiday closures that are less familiar to
Americans (even if churchgoers are familiar with those holidays), and I took
the time to check websites for closures. New Year’s day is an obvious closure
all around, but please know that the library will be closed on much lesser
known (to Americans) holidays. Thumbs down because the website did not specify
closure- it was probably completely obvious to locals!
The art museum (Staatsgalerie) was open on the same holiday,
and their website did include many details about holiday hours. This
comprehensive museum of paintings, sculpture, and modern art was very good, but
I miss the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Musee d’Orsay in Paris. The
restaurant served tasty food and salty but good asparagus soup (in season). One
thumbs up for the website details and one thumbs up for the diverse array of
artwork. I lucked out with another free admission so cost didn’t influence my
votes on either museum. Please note that there is construction near the museum and train station. It is a do-able walk from Charlottenplatz.
I didn’t take photos of the main shopping streets in
Stuttgart. I usually get off the train at Stadtmitte and walk from there. There
are all sorts of clothing shops, ranging from department stores to specialty
places (bathrobes, PJ’s, underwear, and bathing suits only!). You’ll also find
the usual assortment of city stores such as My Muesli, Lush, shoe stores, cell
phone stores, and jewelry stores, along with book shops and a couple of malls.
There is a Vapiano on a side street closer to the main train station, and a
simple yet peaceful cathedral. Ice cream, cafes, and all other types of foods
and supplies are available. I didn’t take a photo inside the Markthalle near
the town hall (Rathaus), but it is worth a visit for cheeses, meats, and
delicacies of every sort. Stay tuned for more tourist spots!
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