Visiting Stuttgart with kids and looking for things to do? Then you’re in luck! Stuttgart has a whole host of great activities for families and children to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for museums or outdoor adventures, the city has you covered. Here’s my guide for all the best things to do in Stuttgart with kids.
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Stuttgart offers an array of activities that are sure to entertain everyone. Visitors can explore museums dedicated to pigs or see real pigs up close and personal. From Sherlock Holmes walking tours to chocolate-making experiences, there’s truly something for everyone here!
Stuttgart with kids: AMAZING things to see and do
What you need to know
- Is Stuttgart worth visiting with kids? Absolutely! Lots of Stuttgart’s main attractions are great to visit with kids giving you lots of options for things to see and do.
- What are some fun things to do in Stuttgart with kids? To name just a few, Stuttgart is filled with great museums and parks as well as a Zoo and planetarium!
StuttCard
If you’re visiting Stuttgart with kids and are looking to visit a lot of museums and attractions the StuttCard is a great money-saving option. It’s a tourist card which offers discounts/free entry and a lot of attractions. Most of the museums I’ve mentioned here are included and you can upgrade for free access to public transport too!
Wilhelma Zoo & Botanical Gardens
If you’re in Stuttgart with kids, Wilhelma Zoo and Botanical Gardens is an absolute must-visit! I’m a huge fan of zoos and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s huge, with plenty of animals to see, but since it’s a combination of zoo and botanical gardens, you’ll also find tropical greenhouses and beautiful wooded areas to explore. The indoor ‘house’ walkthrough enclosures are great – you can even get up close and personal with a sloth!
Nymphaea Zoo
A short 25-minute train ride outside of Stuttgart will take you to Esslingen where you’ll find Nymphea Zoo. While it doesn’t have all the usual ‘exciting’ zoo animals it has a great collection of birds, reptiles, rodents and farm yard animals alongside a great aquarium. It’s a great little place that’s a lot cheaper than a regular zoo, but still offers all the fun of seeing animals!
Swabian Forest Railway
A historic railway taking you through some beautiful scenic spots int he region, a ride on the Swabian Forest Railway is a great family activity if you’re visiting Stuttgart with kids. You’ll travel through forests, by orchids, over viaducts and through numerous beautiful towns and villages. Get off at any of the stops to explore the surrounding areas, there’s plenty to explore! The Baden-Württemberg region is stunning and getting to explore it on a hundred-year-old train is a special experience!
Höhenpark Killesberg – Killesberg Park
Killesberg Park has to be the best park in the city if you’re visiting Stuttgart with kids. It’s packed with a whole host of things to do from a miniature ride on the railway to a small farm yard, outdoor swimming pools, and play parks. A highlight is definitely the 42m high Killesberg Tower which you’re able to climb. It’s a great spot if you want to spend some time outdoors and thanks to its high up location you’re treated to great views over the city too.
Stuttgarter Fernsehturm – Stuttgart TV Tower
Towering over 210m over the city, the Stuttgart TV Tower is an iconic landmark in the city’s skyline. A popular tourist spot, you’re able to head up to the observation deck and restaurant and on a clear day, you can see over the Black Forest and even the Swabian Alps.
Ritter Sport – Chocolate exhibition and workshop
The instantly recognisable square chocolate bars of Ritter Sport are well-known across Germany, I always have to grab a bar or two when I visit! At the Ritter Sport exhibition in Waldenbuch, you can learn the history of the brand and the chocolate-making process. You can even book a workshop and make your own chocolate bars! It’s the perfect spot for chocolate lovers and another one of the best Stuttgart kids experiences!
Ludwigsburg Palace
Just a short 15-minute train ride from Stuttgart takes you to Ludwigsburg, home to the incredible Ludwigsburg Palace. There’s so much to explore here—from seeing the gardens and touring the palace interiors to visiting the aviary, where you’ll spot flamingos, and discovering the enchanting Fairytale Trail. It’s a great visit for all ages, but especially if you’re visiting Stuttgart with kids and are looking for a storybook experience!
Carl-Zeiss Planetarium Stuttgart
If you’re travelling with some budding space explorers you have to check out the Planetarium. Using state-of-the-art technology in its 20-meter dome, it offers spectacular shows that let you explore the wonders of outer space from the comfort of your seat. There’s a variety of shows for all ages and headsets to narrate the show in English are also available.
StandSeilbahn – Funicular Railway
A hidden gem in the city, the historic Standseilbahn has been carrying passengers between Südheimer Platz and Waldfriedhof since 1929. The 4-minute ride takes you up a steep 30% incline to the Forest Cemetery. It’s not only a great piece of Stuttgart’s history but also one of the more unique things to do if you’re visiting Stuttgart with kids.
Visit a museum
Stuttgart is full of great museums covering a whole host of subjects. Whether you’re into the natural world, are a car enthusiast or are just a really big fan of pigs, there’s something fun to explore!
Mercedes Benz Museum
If you’re visiting Stuttgart with kids who are car fans you need to check out the Mercedes Benz Museum! The company was originally founded in Stuttgart with the museum giving a rundown of the brand’s history and a sneak peek into what could be to come in the future. With over 150 cars on display it’s an exciting exhibiton for car enthusiats on any age!
SchweineMuseum – Pig Museum
One of the more unique things to do in Stuttgart with kids is to visit the Pig Museum. Yes, it is a museum dedicated entirely to pigs. You’ll find pretty much any kind of pig-related memorabilia here. There are over 50,000 individual items on display and it’s a great choice if you’re looking for some light-hearted fun!
Landesmuseum Württemberg – Württemberg History Museum
If you’re interested in learning more about the history of Württemberg, the region where Stuttgart is located, the Landesmuseum is a must-visit. Perfect for history lovers, this museum delves into the area’s past through archaeological finds and preserved artefacts. Even better, it’s housed in the Altes Schloss (Old Castle), which adds an authentic historical atmosphere to your visit!
Porsche Museum
Another perfect spot to visit if you’re in Stuttgart with kids who love cars is the Porsche Museum. Like Mercedes Benz, Porsche was also founded in Stuttgart and has a nearly 100-year history in the city. There are just under 100 iconic cars on display making for another great spot for car lovers.
Miniaturwelten Stuttgart – Miniature Worlds
Miniaturwelten is an incredible 1:160 scale model of Stuttgart in its entirety. It features over 400 tiny buildings, 2000 vehicles and 4000 trees. It’s great fun spotting all the little details and makes for an especially great rainy-day activity when visiting Stuttgart with kids!
Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart – State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart
The Natural History Museum in Stuttgart is one of the largest in Germany, packed with fascinating exhibits and interactive experiences. Highlights include the giant whale skeleton in the sea hall, one of the oldest human fossils on display, and spotting different species in the biome dioramas. It’s an incredible museum that offers something for everyone and is easily one of my top recommendations for things to do in Stuttgart with kids!
Walking tours
Walking tours don’t have to just be traipsing round a city listening to a tour guide, they can be a lot of fun! Here are two pretty unique tours that involve puzzle-solving to help you see the city.
Geogames
An outdoor escape room meets geocaching meets city tour, GeoGames is a fantastic way of exploring the city if you’re in Stuttgart with kids! You get a GPS device and some tools and are sent on your way to solve puzzles throughout the city, visit some key landmarks and learn about their history! It’s a great alternative to a regular walking tour and is such a fun way of getting to know the city!
Self-guided Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Game
Another great way to explore the city is this Sherlock Holmes Game. Walk through Stuttgart, solve puzzles, take part in photo challenges and see the city’s key landmarks to solve the murder! It’s a great choice if you’re with family as it’s completely self-guided so you can start and stop whenever you want, there’s no time limit.
Hop on Hop Off Bus
If you want to see the city but don’t want to do so on foot, the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus is perfect for you. There are a couple of different routes depending on which parts of Stuttgart you want to see and audioguides are included so you can learn about what you’re seeing as you go!
Summary
Stuttgart offers an incredible variety of museums, leaving you spoilt for choice. The city is rich in culture and history. The hardest part is deciding where to start!
