Stuttgart may have a high-octane energy when it comes to its car history, but it’s also one of Southwest Germany’s best kept secrets and is a travel destination you want on your radar.
Sometimes when you travel, you book a hotel as more of an afterthought. Somewhere to drop off your bags and catch some sleep. But at the V8 Hotel, the adventure kicks off the moment you drive up.
Located a few miles outside of Stuttgart in nearby Böblingen, this themed hotel wishes you sweet car dreams in just about the best way — a very real car. You can choose specific themes when you make the booking, selecting from rooms that feature beds crafted from vintage car bodies including Mercedes-Benzes, Jaguars and more.
Photo courtesy of V8 Hotel
The commitment to the theme is absolute: right down to the car-shaped soaps, specialized car pens, custom artwork, and license plates used as room numbers.
This high-octane aesthetic flows through every shared space. Fuel up for the day at the breakfast buffet, indulging in pretzels and a bread bar that’s also fashioned from a car body (or technically, the body of a truck). There’s also a staggering assortment of fresh fruit, lox, eggs, fresh honey, veggies, cheese, and so much more while enjoying the view.
The hotel’s basically its own car museum as well, seamlessly integrated into Motorworld, a free-to-access living museum filled with rare supercars, glass-walled private collections, and active restoration workshops.
It’ll be hard to peel yourself away from the hotel — but head out you must because Stuttgart is waiting. And it’s a city that deserves to be put on the map of your next German adventure.
First stop — whether it’s your literal first stop or just top of the list when creating your plans for the trip — has to be the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Possibly the world’s leading car museum, this is an incredible museum for anyone who has even the slightest interest in the history of the automobile. Which is to say, it’s a museum that is really for everyone.
Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Museum
A visit here is a visceral journey through time. You begin at the very birth of the brand, viewing the pioneering vehicles of the late 19th century before spiraling through the decades. From flashy, high-society 1920s silhouettes to the sleek, iconic curves of the 1950s, and even specialized cars like the Popemobile.
You can easily spend hours here, soaking it all in, so visit Bertha’s Restaurant for a bite and choose from a selection of burgers, salads and regional Swabian dishes.
But Stuttgart isn’t just about cars, it’s also a city with a rich, complex, and resilient history. The city center tells a story of royal grandeur with late Baroque masterpieces. At its heart lies Schlossplatz, a sprawling square anchored by the towering Jubilee Column and its goddess Concordia, who looks down upon the ornate fountains. When the weather is warm, people are out, about, and having a marvelous time in the square. If the weather’s cooler, they’re probably still having a lovely time, wandering shops not too far away.
For an excellent meal, and an authentic experience, check out Weinstube Zur Kiste. The menu has several Swabian specialties, all of which you’ll likely want to try. Order up anything that comes with a side of their potato salad. The restaurant is housed in a historic building, with has a neighborhood feel to it, along with stellar dishes like Maultachen which is a kind of Swabian ravioli that you can order with pork or without, along with delicious desserts like apple strudel.
You can also stop by the Markthalle for an assortment of bites and other tempting treats — everything from Swabian specialities to macarons, chocolates, dates, and more. Such a market has been a part of the fabric of Stuttgart for centuries but the one that stands today for over 100 years. Built in 1914, the Markthalle is a beating heart of the city.
A short walk over, the New Synagogue is also an important part of the fabric of the city. Rebuilt in 1952, it stands on the site of the original Great Synagogue that once thrived here before it was destroyed during the Kristellnacht pogrom. The New Synagogue was the first newly built Jewish temple in Germany after the Holocaust and is a significant spiritual landmark to get to see.
The skyline is also punctuated by steeples of historic churches, and one notable non-steeple of a church. The Church of St. John’s tower was intentionally left incomplete after the church’s post-war restoration, and serves as a sort of unique war memorial.
When looking for a change of perspective — or wanting to pay homage to some TV history — check out the Stuttgart TV Tower, aka the Fernsehturn Stuttgart. Standing over 710 feet tall (over twice the height of the Statue of Liberty), it was the world’s first telecommunications tower constructed from reinforced concrete. From the observation deck, you can soak up views of the Swabian Alps and the Black Forest.
Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Museum
The Royal Burial Chapel on the Württenberg Hill will give you incredible views of the city below as well — not to mention the vineyards. Sometimes called the ‘Swabian Taj Mahal,’ the chapel was built by Wilhelm I, tearing down his ancestral castle to build the mausoleum after his wife Katharina died suddenly at the age of 30. The original castle was erected in the 11th century by the founders of the state of Wurtenberg.
Just a few steps down the hill (or a taxi ride over), you can visit the kind of museum that will have you asking for seconds — a museum of wine, aka the Museum of Viniculture (Weinbaumuseum). You can tell friends that you came for the culture, to solemnly honor 2,000 years of wine-growing history in the region. Or you can go for the drinks. Or both. Who’s judging? Because there’s an on-site Vinothek to round out the visit with a tasting.
Of course, you can also enjoy wine from the region closer to town on days when you’re seeing the sights. TA OS Weinbar has a large selection of wines, which you can pair with lunch and dinner with local bites like pancake soup and beef tartare.
