Car hire Stuttgart Airport

The airport is less than 15km from the city of Stuttgart, and a mere 20-minute drive north along the B27, depending on traffic. That same route carries you through the city centre, onto Ludwigsburg and further.

The city is a vibrant one, so roads can become busier at peak times. However, if you plan your driving to avoid commuting hours, it can become a pleasure to navigate.

If you’re just skirting the city, the A8 runs to the south of it, linking up on the western side of Stuttgart with A81 to form a semi ring-road. The 8 runs west to Karlsruhe and east to Augsburg and Munich. The 81 runs south to the border with Switzerland and north to Würzburg. For the financial centre of Frankfurt, a couple of hours to the north, first take the A8, then the A5.

Parking in Stuttgart is plentiful but is mostly confined to meters and car parks – free on-street parking is rare in the centre. If you’re staying on the outskirts, however, here are numerous park-and-ride schemes in operation. 

Driving in Germany is on the right-hand side of the road, with overtaking on the left. Speed limits in the city and other built-up areas are typically 50km/h. Outside of towns, limits vary by road type and location – rising up to a maximum of 130km/h on the country’s famous autobahns. You may encounter stretches on these marked by a white circular sign with black diagonal lines – this indicates an area without a top limit, though drivers are encouraged to be mindful of the conditions. Always ensure you check the signs for the route that you are on.

Stuttgart’s speciality lies in the seamless juggling of the past and present – encapsulated by the Porsche and Mercedes-Benz motoring companies, which celebrate their heritage in museums while working on cars fit for the future.

The neighbourhoods here are stuffed with old palaces and grand parks alongside bold, modern additions. Just outside the city meanwhil, lies the spectacular German countryside – all enchanting forests and picture-perfect villages.

Jump in your hire car, and discover all this area has to offer.

The soul of Stuttgart

Stuttgart is a place packed with palaces – from grand follies to more refined homes built for nobility in centuries past.

The churches too have a grace – especially St. John’s Church on Feuersee (or ‘Fire Lake’). This Gothic structure would exude stateliness anywhere, but its effect is enhanced by its prime position next to the water, with its exterior reflected below. In winter, the lake often freezes, and skaters can be spotted braving the cold.

Like many European cities, the squares are the heart and soul of Stuttgart, whether it’s the sprawling Schlossplatz, overseen by the Jubilee Column, or the poet-inspired Schillerplatz.

If you’re in the mood for shopping, you’re only moments away from Konigstrasse. This pedestrianised avenue stretches for more than 1km and is home to some of the best shops in the city – explore the side streets such as Calwer Strasse for independent boutiques and one-off treasures.

The castle of dreams

There are few regions of Germany as picturesque as Baden-Württemberg. It’s seemingly made for photographs, with its dense woods, old bridges spanning gurgling rivers and castles rising from the treetops.

Hohenzollern Castle, south of the city, is a fairy-tale delight, seemingly fitting an artist’s impression of a what a romantic castle should look like.It’s still a royal residence – Prince of Prussia, Georg Friedrich, may be at home when you visit – and has been since the 15^thcentury, when Prussian kings dwelled here. The castle as you see it now was completed in 1867, after being grandly added to over its long history, and guided tours will whisk you through the gilded rooms and the famed Blue Salon. On a sunny day, the views of the valley below are sensational – best enjoyed in the garden with some traditional local food.

A hymn to Heidelberg

For somewhere even more breath-taking than Hohenzollern Castle, Heidelberg is less than two hours’ drive away – and could snatch the crown of Germany’s best-looking town.

Sat serenely on the Neckar river, with a baroque old town and a rugged ruin of a castle, it ticks every box. Head here, and you’ll be following in the footsteps of famous writers Mark Twain and Goethe. That literary heritage has never wavered – this is a former UNESCO City of Literature, home to numerous bookshops.

Visit the Schloss, and you’ll find that this once imposing Renaissance castle offers spectacular views from the hilltop. The university here, meanwhile, is the oldest in Germany and has helped shape the town – many of the best buildings were constructed for it. The students of Heidelberg have been eating at Café Knosel since the 1800s – feel free to join them.

With car hire at Stuttgart Airport you can explore all of this and more. Book online now and start planning your adventure.