Stuttgart is an interesting city. Very small. They belong to the southwest Germany; Swabian dialect is what they also have, it's like Chinese with many dialects but it's a totally different as in they have totally different words.
I took 5 German lessons in Vancouver, picked up 25 phrases (for shopping, asking questions etc) and it was awesome; nothing better than an Asian dude speaking German.
1) The train head station was pretty, it had the Benz insignia on top. You can go on top of the train station; there's a 360 viewing deck. Free admission.
This is the OLD train station, got too big, so they built a new one. Now the train station is a shopping strip.
2) Stuttgart has rolling hills and has one of the highest concrete TV towers back in the days. You pay 8 Euros to go on top, very very windy, you get to see the rolling hills and 360 view. Not too shabby.
3) There was Springfest, which is similar to Octoberfest; just a smaller version. It was POURING rain and cold and snowing when I was there (it's spring so unpredictable weather). It's similar to PNE + Nightmarket. While it was only 6 degrees, you still see slutty girls in their traditional German clothing. Lots of drinking just like PNE.
4) Their trains are very easy to take, you can just get off the Benz station and go on their tours.
5) Downtown core is similar to Robson shopping street (meh on shopping), they have a water Fountain at Schlossplatz. It's also where their city / parliament is. You won't miss it. Downtown Opera is also there. Across from plaza, there is a place called "the cube" All glass, 1st floor is coffee + drinks, go to the top floor (free), there is a high end restaurant.
There was some youtube celeb and kids were flocking all over.
6) Planetarium has re-opened, it was free for all. Just remember it's all in German. I felt asleep within 30 secs with amazing new chairs as they have just reno-ed the place.
* I met a German girl lining up in front of me, she's coming to Vancouver to visit in Aug. What are the odds.
7) If you drive to the "west Van" part of Stuggart, amazing hillside and no traffic lights with amazing curvy roads. You get to get off your card and take pics of breathtaking views.
8) You will spend the whole day at the museums. Go early, and save the afternoon to eat if you end early.
9) One of their famous dish; ravioli but doesn't have the meat sauce. Same same but different. Had to try it but meh.
10) Stuttgart is famous for their wineries. Do go try, I polished a bottle each night I was there. It's good quality for non-fucken-heavy-taxed Canadian wine. Go crazy. Glass of wine is $6 CDN, bottle for $40 at a wine bar, I drank like a fish cause it was so cheap.
PS:
a) You're NOT going to see japadog / hot dog stands. It's just not their thing even though we think of them as a sausage country.
Swabian sausages are usually severed in a bowl of soup + pretzel. You have to peel the casing of the sausages. (ONLY Swabian type sausages eg// Stuttgart sausages).
b) Stein glasses are NOT COMMON in Germany. It's only certain parts of town. I was there for 10 days North and South and no one owned one.
c) Radler: is their beer + 7 up. Legit and have to try. If their beer doesn't have head (foam) on the top, it's considered wtf and you send it back.
d) Literal translation, meat cheese, but it's similar to meat loaf. VERY VERY good.
e) I lived at my friend's place, very small town, just love the rolling hills. Again, April is unpredictable weather, it should be much much warmer in June.
f) Meat is considered expensive (think meat shop prices in Vancouver but you're shopping in Save on Foods). 2 different slices of steak (US + German), salad greens, and misc breakfast items (ham, cheese, juice). Bill came to $60 EUROs, wtf.
Eg// Food is NOT the same as Vancouver. Went to a Italian restaurant; Caesar salad had a vinaigrette and lettuce, wtf. It was so weird. Just cause they had 2 slices of parmesan cheese, it's not caesar salad.
g) DO NOT carry 500 Euros, no one will be able to give you change, use $100 and $50s.
h) Bathrooms are 50 cents at their downtown mall (eg// pacific center), and you get a receipt. If you eat in the mall, you can use the receipt as cash. *bring change.
i) I went for a drive to the universities, not too worthy. No hot german chicks, just fyi.
j) Stuttgart was destroyed during the war, so everything is rebuilt. You're not going to see old buildings and you're not going to see dirty places (compared to Hamburg). It's common once in a blue moon they dig up old bombs / missiles during house / apartment constructions.
k) Pasties are the bomb. No one buys bread from save on foods. Every bakery is awesome, go and eat eat eat anything. You will realize bread here in US and Cdn is shit. Go enjoy pastries and bread in Euro.
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