Car hire Stuttgart

You’d expect Stuttgart to have a good road network – this city is home to some major motor manufacturers after all – and it is a relatively straightforward place to navigate. Driving within the city and getting out into the nearby countryside is generally common-sense, with plenty of signs to help guide you.

There are plenty of large car parks in the city centre which are close to the main attractions and sights. Elsewhere, on-street parking can be hard to come by, so it’s best to use meters. If you’re staying outside the city or arriving here from elsewhere, you also have the option of various park-and-ride locations.

Driving is on the right side of the road, with overtaking on the left. On motorways (called ‘autobahns’) the left-hand lane is not for idling in, but only for overtaking. There’s a popular myth that German autobahns have no upper speed limit – this isn’t true. The vast majority have a top speed of 130km/h, though there are occasional sections where people can drive as fast as they feel safe and comfortable doing. These parts are marked by five diagonal black lines on a white circular sign. Ensure you always check signs for the route that you are on, as limits can vary.

The city is shaped with a brace of autobahns – the A8 which runs from the south-west edge of the city and heads east towards Munich, and the A81 which runs up the city’s western side and leads north to Würzburg. Venture out of Stuttgart, and you’ll find some beautiful scenery, with the famous Black Forest around two hour’s drive away.

Stuttgart makes its blending of the contemporary and the classic look entirely natural, rather than a precarious balancing act.

The sleekness of the Porsches and other cars that line the streets only serve to emphasise how well the city has preserved its older buildings. Whether you’re here for an urban adventure or heading to the nearby Black Forest, Stuttgart has rich seams to mine.

The car is the star

Stuttgart is a hub of automotive excellence, and you can explore the history and modern-day output of arguably the country’s most famous brand right here. The Mercedez-Benz museum offers a unique look into the brand’s rich history and story inside its permanent exhibition.

Here you can peruse more than 150 vehicles from across the years, truly bringing this experience to life. Not only that, but there’s a steady calendar of events held at the museum, from shows to concerts. It’s well worth checking what’s on in advance.

The Porsche Museum is even more arresting visually: an angular modernist building thoroughly in keeping with the design-led ethos of the company. Here you’ll find around 80 sleek, iconic cars on display, and plenty of exhibitions. Those with a real passion for Porsche should book ahead – you can combine a factory tour with your museum visit.

Super Schloss

‘Schloss’ is a German term meaning palace or manor house. And there are so many places in Stuttgart boasting this title that it can be almost overwhelming at first – as well as being a testament to its rich history.

Situated on the city’s edge, but well worth the detour as it may just be the grandest building in all of Stuttgart, the Schloss Solitude was constructed in 1763 for the Duke Karl Eugen, and is a combined hunting lodge and summer residence, decorated in an extravagant style.

Venture inside to find frescoes and rococo detailing illuminated by chandeliers. The White Hall is the real showstopper, and the gardens offer a lovely afternoon stroll too.

Schlossplatz is the dramatically-scaled square in the city’s centre, known for its fountains and baroque palace called the Neues Schloss – Duke Eugen’s attempt to emulate the grandeur of Versailles. The Schlossgarten, meanwhile, is perhaps the best park in the city, with several distinct sections. Within its huge boundaries you’ll find a traditional beer garden, a zoo and the Staatstheater, home to performing arts in Stuttgart.

Forward-thinking style

The modern architecture that dots the landscape in Stuttgart tells two stories. One is about the locals’ love of looking to the future. The other is about the sheer scale of damage caused here, with many buildings lost forever during the air raids of World War Two.

The locals have rebuilt the city in style over the decades and centuries. Take the Staatsgalerie for example, which is the premier art museum in Stuttgart. The inside fascinates with its riches – here you can spot works from the likes of Rembrandt, Picasso, Matisse and Dali – while the outside will grab your attention too.

Meanwhile, the space age glass cube of the Kunstmuseum also dazzles – a gleaming beacon of modern art that aims to highlight works from local artists and those elsewhere in Germany, with an international reputation.

This is a city that promises so much, and that’s before you’ve explored beyond its boundaries. With car hire in Stuttgart, you can experience it all.