6 Day Trips from Stuttgart, Germany

While Stuttgart isn’t a city in Germany well-known for tourism, it’s one that many US Americans may be familiar with due to their military affiliations or careers in the automotive industry. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend time in Stuttgart on and off over the past few years. During my stays, I’ve discovered many fantastic castles, libraries, towns, and outdoor sites located close enough to Stuttgart to make a day trip of. While there are many fantastic day trips from Stuttgart, these are some ideas that I have personally visited and can highly recommend.

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Hohenzollern Castle

Drive from Stuttgart: 1 Hour

Hohenzollern Castle is among the top-rated castles in Germany and the most elaborate castle within driving distance from Stuttgart. Fortress walls and domineering turrets stand proudly on a mountaintop. Intricate chandeliers hang from buttressed gold ceilings. Opulent art and antiques illuminate dozens of spacious rooms. For people who like to dream, visiting this 19th-century castle is a fantastic day trip from Stuttgart to let your imagination soar and learn more about German history.

Lichtenstein Castle

Drive from Stuttgart: 1 Hour

Lichtenstein Castle is one of the smaller castles located near Stuttgart, but its precarious perch on a cliff makes for some dramatic views. The tour mandatorily given to enter the castle is relatively short but filled with exciting information about the brooding, mysterious rooms. After the tour, you can take some time to stroll along the forested trails surrounding the castle or grab lunch at one of the cafes nearby.

Wiblingen Abbey

Drive from Stuttgart: 1.5 Hours

This day trip from Stuttgart is a book lover’s dream. The Wiblingen Abbey is a monastery located in the town of Ulm. It contains a brightly lit cathedral and a stunning library. While the church is lovely, the library is the main attraction here. The library is designed in the Rococo style, with whimsical statues, bright colors, and a vast ceiling fresco. It’s impossible not to get swept away into this elaborate space and dream of being able to pour over literature somewhere like this.

Urach Waterfall

Drive from Stuttgart: 1 Hour

For those who want to escape the city life of Stuttgart and spend more time in nature, Urach Waterfall is a fantastic hike to go on. This waterfall hike takes you along a shaded, bubbling creek until you reach the climb next to where the waterfall thunders. The hike is moderate but doable for most ages. Once at the top of the cliff, you can soak in fantastic views and enjoy beer and food at the restaurant on top. Some advice, though, is to bring extra socks because there are parts of the hike where the waterfall gurgles right onto the trail!

Heidelberg

Drive from Stuttgart: 1.5 Hours

Heidelberg is a famed city located close to Stuttgart but offers the quaint charm of a small Bavarian village. There are many restaurants and beer halls, hidden gardens, fantastic shopping, a beautiful Gothic cathedral, a mountainside castle, a scenic river walk, and so much more. While one could easily make this a day trip from Stuttgart to save on expenses, Heidelberg is also a fantastic place to spend an entire weekend.

Discover Heidelberg Tours and Activities

Tübingen

Drive from Stuttgart: 45 Minutes

Tübingen is a picturesque town within driving distance from Stuttgart. Visitors can stroll along the Neckarinsel, and be shaded by grand trees while soaking in the view of the pastel homes that trim the river’s edge. Afterward, they can walk through the city’s cobbled streets to shop and dine in a beer hall or one of the bustling cafes. This town is small and walkable, making an afternoon spent exploring ideal.

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Can’t Leave The City? Discover Things to Do in Stuttgart!

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