The city is rightfully proud of its greenery. The "Green U" is a five-mile stretch of parkland that runs from the Schlossgärten to the Killesberg. This network of parks is connected by a series of bridges and paths. There are also several vineyards. Most are planted along the Neckar, but there are also a few directly in the city centre. The Viticulture Museum in Uhlbach traces the city’s wine-making history back to Roman times. Alternatively, take a stroll along the nearby wine trail that takes in hillside sites, idyllic spots and interesting viewpoints.

Another of the city’s natural attractions is its mineral sources and springs. In fact, it has the largest mineral water deposits in Europe after Budapest. The most popular mineral spa is the Leuze, which comes complete with sauna. Others include the Berg and Cannstatt mineral baths. Don’t forget to forget your swimming costume.

There are a lot of beautiful buildings scattered around the city too. Don’t miss the most ancient of them all, the Old Palace. Even the New Palace on the Konigstrasse shopping mile dates back to the 18th century. The restored Wilhelma gardens on the outskirts of the city can be easily reached by car.

The city has two museums dedicated to each of its four-wheel babies. The Mercedes-Benz Museum presents the history of the company in the wider context of automotive history. Even the architecture of the building is splendid in itself. The new Porsche Museum opened in 2009. The exhibition is housed in a futuristic, monolithic building that appears to virtually float.

As across most of Germany, there is a huge Christmas market in December. September to October sees the Volksfest fun fair on the Cannstatter Wasen. It’s the second largest fun fair in the world and dares to combine beer tents and rollercoasters. If wine is more your thing, head over to the 10-day wine festival at the beginning of September called Weindorf. In the spring, the Cannstatter Wasen makes way for the Frühlingsfest. This is the largest spring festival in Europe and offers a variety of fairground attractions.
 

The plateau of the low-lying Swabian Alb is easy to reach with your car rental. There are a variety of designated routes through this expansive UNESCO geological park, each dedicated to the different attractions on offer. These range from caves and castles, cultural legends and personalities, to art history.

An hour’s drive to the southwest will take you into the Black Forest. The traditional town of Calw is a good place to make your entrance. From there, carry on to the outdoor museum of old Black Forest farmhouses near Hausach. The scenic Schwarzwald High Road runs between Freudenstadt and Baden-Baden and takes a wonderful route through some quaint little towns, offering good vistas of the surrounding terrain along the way.

The Neckar valley is beautiful too, even though it’s not as well-known as the Rhine or the Danube. It starts in the Black Forest near the village of Villingen-Schwenningen, and eventually ends up joining the Rhine at Mannheim. You’ll find magnificent castles, terraced vineyards, small medieval towns, churches and beautiful green mountains. Another scenic drive is the Romantic Road. It starts in Würzburg and follows the old Roman route that weaves through the historic towns and cities on the way to southern Bavaria and Neuschwanstein Castle. You could always pick it up at Augsburg, or even Nördlingen, which is just over an hour and a half by car.

There are also a few old university towns nearby. Tübingen is just 19 miles to the south, Heidelberg, 50 miles northwest and Freiburg is a little further, 75 miles southwest.
 

We’ve unlocked Germany’s driving rules and regulations for your journey to help keep you safe and avoid the unexpected. Familiarise yourself with our comprehensive guide.

- What is Stuttgart known for?

Stuttgart is known for having the world’s first TV tower, being a centre of the automotive industry, having a thriving contemporary art scene and being home to one of Europe’s most biodiverse zoos.

- Is Stuttgart in Bavaria?

Stuttgart is the capital of the Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany.

- Is Stuttgart worth visiting?

From the Mercedes-Benz Museum and Porsche Museum to the eye-popping Stuttgart Library to the oom-pah-pah of Frühlingsfest to the city’s dazzling Christmas market, there are plenty of sights that will capture your interest.

- How expensive is Stuttgart?

Stuttgart is considered to be more affordable than other cities in Germany.