Hotel in Stuttgart near Christmas markets

Stuttgart's pretty compact; nothing's too far from where they hold the Kriskindlemarkt. It's been too long since I stayed in the city to make a specific recommendation, but they have an Aloft, and I've had very good success with them.

The Christmas Market at Stuttgart is spread out across several blocks.

We stayed twice at the City Hotel at the recommendation of someone who lived there. It is very near the Charlottenplatz U-Bahn Station. You go through the underground station and come up at the Neues Schloss (new castle) and at beginning of one of the tentacles of the Christmas Market. The ice rink, kids train, and several booths are right there, as well as the Scandinavian Salmon Teepee and antiques market.

Rooms are not large at the City Hotel but the breakfast is good and in an attractive breakfast room. We liked the atmosphere and staff but it is not fancy.

http://www.cityhotel-stuttgart.de/www.cityhotel-stuttgart.de/index4beb.html?lang=en_&selItem=aufenthalt

It's both budget and corporate (so it may be stricken from your list), but I love Motel One. Spotless, hip, great breakfast. I stayed at the Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof location last year during Christmas market time, and it was great. Easy access to the Stuttgart market; easy access to the Hbf to get to the Esslingen and Ludwigsburg markets. Rooms are small, but it's actually kind of cool to see how Germans do a budget business hotel (and how astoundingly better it is than any US chain).

Don't miss Esslingen. The town and its markets (Christmas, Medieval) are awesome.

Consider a private tour of Stuttgart and/or Esslingen with Sarah from Stuttgart Steps. A friend and I did both with her. Very good tours at an excellent price.

Stuttgart's City Library (Stadtbibliothek) is quite architecturally interesting, both inside and out, and has a nice rooftop terrace that offers views over the city.

Dilgelay is a bit of a walk from the Hbf but offers an excellent Döner.

Enjoy your trip!

Central Stuttgart was pretty well razed to the ground during WWII, so it's unlikely that you'll find any "quaint" hotels there. You might do better staying in the Cannstatt area where a bit more survived.

Thanks for all your answers. Now have a good place to start, and am delighted to know Sarah is doing walking tours! Don't have to have anything quaint or fancy, but since we will be four friends splitting rooms, it doesn't have to be really cheap. (Biggest advantage of traveling WITHOUT husbands.) Since Germany was my home for a few years, I just want something nice so I can show my friends Germany's best.

If I understand your last post correctly you think that the four of you can go in one hotel room.
In German hotels you usually don't pay per room but per person. There are hardly any hotel rooms with two large beds (like in the US)
that can accomodate four persons. So in your case you need two double rooms.
An excellent hotel in Stuttgart with very good ratings is the Kronenhotel in a quiet side street (cul de sac), which is in walking distance of the main station and the Christmas market. They offer a breakfast buffet that is praised by all their guests. It's included in the price of the room. https://www.kronenhotel-stuttgart.de

Oh, LOL no, demag, we are 4 friends splitting TWO rooms, which still makes a hotel room half the price of traveling with your husband! And thanks for the hotel recommendation. On an entirely different subject since you live in Stuttgart, do you know of a dog boarding facility outside Stuttgart that's near a river and owned by a gentleman who is a prince? I can't remember his name, but I boarded my dog with him occasionally when we lived in Bonn. It was a wonderful place. Just wanted to look him up to see if he's still around. Looking forward to seeing Stuttgart at Christmas! Thanks for your help.

Ruth, I'm afraid your question concerning the dog boarding facility is too general. Was it near Bonn? Was it near Stuttgart?
The German word for it is 'Hundepension'. You might google this word, but if you don't know where it was you won't have a chance of finding it. There are hundreds, if not thousands of 'Hundepensionen' in Germany.

Thank you, demag. I had forgotten the word "Hundepensionen." Found it! The Tierschlosshotel in Unterriexingen, north of Stuttgart. What an amazing place.

Hi Ruth!

Stuttgart is not a great hotel city. The grand old hotel is the Graf Zepplin, across from the train station, but it is pricey.

I would also consider looking into an apartment, as it might be your best bet for something more charming and at a fairer price. if you're worried about the ethics of AirB&B, please know that Stuttgart's housing was horrifying expensive well before that caught on!

I like the Archotel small chain and they have what appears to be a very nice, somewhat distinct hotel just north of the Hauptbahnhof, about a 15-20 minute downhill walk to where the Christmas market is, but it's also on the U-Bahn line and that would get you to the market in just 2 stops.

Another option would be to stay in a town nearby that has a great Christmas market and travel into Stuttgart for theirs. Esslingen is an obvious choice, it's a 10 minute ride on the regional train or 15 minutes on the S-Bahn between the two.

Thanks, Sarah. We are in Stuttgart for only 2 nights, and I made reservations at the City Hotel, which seems very convenient to the Christmas markets. I often do apartments, but not for this short a stay. Planning to go to Esslingen for sure, and hope to do a Stuttgart walk with you. Will be in touch.

There are two big Chrrstmas markets in Stuttgart:

http://www.traumhafteweihnachten.de/weihnachtsmarkt/weihnachtsmarkt-stuttgart/
http://www.traumhafteweihnachten.de/weihnachtsmarkt/weihnachtsmarkt-stuttgart-moehringen/

and a lot of small ones. My favorite is "Weihnachtsmarkt Stuttgart-Möhringen".