Stuttgart city and football guide
- Stuttgart: the city
- Stuttgart: Mercedes Benz Museum
- Stuttgart: getting there and around
- VfB Stuttgart: a fan's guide
Stuttgart city
If you had to imagine a typical German city, Stuttgart could be the one that pops into your head.
Clean, affluent, dynamic .. possibly a little dull as well.
Well, a weekend in Stuttgart confirmed some of the above - but it managed to shrug off the accusation of being a bit dull and in my very humble opinion is certainly worth 48 hours of your time.
Tucked away towards the south west corner of vast Deutschland, it's a dynamic city that grew out of the vineyards that still to this day produce some of the few German red wines on offer.
The vino may have fuelled Stuttgart's birth but it's a different type of fuel that powered the city's economic success over the past century - and it's in the tanks of two car manufacturers that are based there, Mercedes Benz and Porsche.
Each one has its own dedicated museum - the biggest of which is the Mercedes Benz Museum, all of 400 yards from the Mercedes Benz Arena.
If you have a ticket to a match, it's definitely worth popping along to the museum earlier on - see the review below.
The city centre is based around one long street, Konigstrasse - a mile long pedestrian running straight down from the Hauptbahnhof. It's a mix of everything. It's the main shopping drag with all the big name stores but there's a liberal sprinkling of cafe bars and restaurants to part with your money.
In the middle is Schlossplatz, the real heart of Stuttgart. With a grand shopping centre, Konigsbau, on one side and a park on the other - cue hundreds of sun worshippers lazing around on a decent summer's day. There's also some of the poshest cafes in town with prices to match.
Running to the left of Konigstrasse is the city's lung, the Schlossgarten. It actually extends for another mile or so north of the railway station. Its proximity to the centre means it's a popular place for the locals, and tourists, particularly at weekends.
It was all built by King Wilhelm II a couple of centuries ago, as was the palace that makes up one impressive side of the Schlossplatz.
Chill out central: The Schlossgarten.
Further down from the Hauptbahnhof to the left is the oldest part of town, now filled with mainly exclusive shops, whilst a few more yards down on the right hand side you'll find another busy restaurant street, Calwer Strasse, where Italian is the food of choice.
Stuttgart's built in a valley, the hills and winefields easily visible from the middle Also perched up high is the Stuttgart TV tower - the first concrete tower of its kind in the world, don't you know, and now it's a tourist attraction affording views across the city. It's possibly advisable to use the beer garden at its base after you're made the ascent.
If you want a free view of the city, and don't have time to head out to the TV tower, then go to the Hauptbahnhof and you can clamber up the tower there.
Stuttgart on a sunny weekend has enough to keep you occupied - even if that includes a good chunk of time lounging on or near the Konigstrasse. It's a place that's still growing. How many cities do you know host a monthly building site tour, as Stuttgart does, to see the current construction projects?
For winter, make sure your visit is in December. German Christmas markets are known the world over and Stuttgart claims to be one of the best, with stalls spread all over the city centre.
Mercedes Benz Museum
Munich has BMW, Wolfsburg has Vokswagen, Ingolstadt (if you didn't know) has Audi. Stuttgart has two - Mercedes Benz and Porsche.
Stuggart's most cutting edge attraction is surely the Mercedes Benz
Museum, based in a futuristic building across the city river in Neckar
Park, close to the football arena. 
It's a state of the art experience that should be a firm fixture on any trip to Stuttgart. Inside you're given a free audio guide before a lift glides you up to the top floor. Check out the film reel on the wall that follows you up.
It starts at the beginning, from when Mr Daimler and Mr Benz first began thinking of inventing new cars.
And where does the Mercedes name come? That's courtesy of the daughter of one Mr Janulik (check) who bought and raced the Benz cars. He named the car after his daughter - and the brand became so well known it stuck.
Ramps curve you from one floor to the next, in chronological order. Info on the company is mingled with bits on the motor industry in general as well as the major events of the 20th Century.
It fully acknowledges the company's less than laudable role in wartime when its manufacturing was turned over to the war effort. But it also stresses its response post war and its long commitment to workers' rights.
The vehicles are the highlight of course, all the way down to the Formula One machines of the 21st Century. There's more detailed info on things under the bonnet to keep any petrol head happy.
The extensive shop below ground should come as no surprise - nor should the prices of some of the goods inside. At 8 euros, 4 for children, the museum's a must.
Mercedes Benz Museum: Open Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays 9am to 6pm, closed Monday. Last entry 5pm. Take S-Bahn S1 from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof to Gottlieb-Dailmer Stadion, then follow the signs - it's a ten minute walk. Alternatively take the U-Bahn to Stadion and walk past the Mercedes Benz Arena - the museum is five minutes along on the right.
As one of Germany's biggest financial hubs it'll come as no staggering surprise that Stuttgart has a busy and well appointed airport.
There's a regular S-Bahn train link to the Hauptbahnhof (main station) on lines S2 or S3. It takes 27 minutes to do the direct run and operates from early morning to the early hours every ten to 30 minutes. Before reaching Hauptbahnhof it stops at Stadtmitte, with many hotels in this vicinity.
A new speedy line from Paris to Stuttgart has pulled the city within reach of England by train.
The journey from St Pancras via the French capital sees you pull in at Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof in seven hours, with round trips starting from £142 return.
Slightly oddly this modern and key European city is technically the end of the line. Stuttgart is a terminus, meaning all trains have to pull in to the Hauptbahnhof and the driver swap end to drive back out.
Apparently there are plans to make it a through station, going underneath central Stuttgart. 'What we need for the 21st Century,' proclaim the city chiefs. 'Waste of money' say a lot of others, apparently.
The main concourse of the station is small although there is one food hall, but there's more to be found below the station with scores of places to eat and drink.
Once you're in the city Stuttgart has the expected fine system of U-Bahn underground, S-Bahn overground plus buses. The centre is easily navigable on foot but many hotels are a good distance from the main station, and the stadium, indoor Porsche Arena and other attractions are too so the chances are you'll need to try out the public transport at some point.
Click here to download a map of the network. Remember the football ground is still marked Neckar Park Stadion, rather than the Mercedes Benz Arena.
Three day public transport tickets come in at 10.30 euros each in 2009 and that includes the link to the airport. There's also the Stuttgart Plus three day ticket that costs 20 euros with the usual discounts for museums, tours etc. One day group tickets, covering five people cost 9.70 euros.
If you do want a quick wizz of the city attractions there are bus sightseeing tours taking in the key sights, including a jaunt up the TV tower, every afternoon at 1.30pm (Friday to Sunday only in winter).
That costs 17 euros and takes two and a half hours, From April to October there's a short walking tour round the park and palace at 11am daily, lasting 90 minutes and costing seven euros. English is provided where required.
More details can be had from tourist info in the Terminal 3 arrivals at the airport, and also at the top of Konigstrasse, first on the left after leaving the Hauptbahnhof. Or click here.