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Stuttgart as a base for Christmas markets (4 nights)

I am researching options for a Christmas market trip in 2025. Last year we went to Cologne and Strasbourg. Loved the markets in Cologne, but missed the half-timbered buildings. We’ve spent lots of time along the Rhine and in Rothenburg and Munich. Looking for a different base for 4 nights. We would be traveling from or to Vienna for 4 more nights. We might stop in Nuremberg for a few hours on the way.

I’m considering Stuttgart for its large markets, along with close proximity to Esslingen, Heidelberg and Tubingen (for the chocolate festival). These towns seem to be full of charm.

We travel relatively slowly, especially in winter. We like to be out in the cold for a couple hours including lunch at the markets, take a break at the hotel, go out for a couple hours, eat in restaurants for dinner, then go back to markets for the atmosphere after dark. On our last trip, we just visited markets, no other sightseeing, since we had previously visited the areas. So we’re not looking to fill our days with lots of museums or churches. But we do love walking through old towns and appreciating the architecture.

I’d love thought on Stuttgart as a base, as well as how the markets compare to Cologne's.

Posted by
1530 posts

We are basing in Stuttgart for a few nights on our trip this December. We plan on doing a day trip to Bad Wimpfen, but beware that the Christmas market there is only open on weekends. If I had one more night there we might have tried to make it to the Christmas Market at Hohenzollern Castle. We've been to Germany numerous times, but haven't been to Stuttgart yet so can't help you out on a comparison. We do also plan on making it to the Esslingen market.

Posted by
8248 posts

We lived in Augsburg and loved its Christmas market. Never did another, but I understood that Nuremberg had the best (not sure about that now). I suspect that Munich has an excellent market.

I did stay in Stuttgart when doing my Army Reserve duty at Patch Barracks a few times. Stuttgart is terrible for traffic and while it has public transport, it is an S Bahn, not a U Bahn. I never felt that getting around was easy considering the size of the city.
Stuttgart was not an especially charming city compared to Heidelberg and Tubingen or for that matter Augsburg, Munich or Nuremberg.

Posted by
680 posts

we do love walking through old towns and appreciating the architecture

As much as I do like Stuttgart, this isn't how I would descricribe it. If this is the hub from which to day-trip, then by all means use Stuttgart.

Posted by
1528 posts

We really liked the Stuttgart Christmas Market, our favorite large town market. Stuttgart is a nice town, though not a major tourist destination. The Christmas Market is spread though the town center.

I will second the recommendation for a visit to nearby Esslingen am Neckar. There is a "Middle Ages" market that is fairly unique. The town is very attractive as well.

We also like nearby Ludwigsburg, though we have not been there for the Baroque Market at the palace.

Posted by
54 posts

We used Esslingen as a base, then took the train to Stuttgart and Ludwigsburg. The medieval market in Esslingen is more fun in the evening, as are the lit up golden angels in Ludwigsburg. Ludwigsburg was one of my favorites. Nuremberg was huge and had the best shopping, and you need more than a few hours. We spent two full days just at the markets in Nuremberg.

Posted by
9221 posts

I really liked the Stuttgart Christmas market and it is one of my favorite large city markets. Esslingen is unique and special and I would recommend it to anyone.
If you like the half-timbered towns, maybe staying in Esslingen would be a better fit for you? It isn't far from Stuttgart, so transportation to the other cities shouldn't be difficult.

Posted by
1488 posts

Let me give you an option; stay in Heidelberg, or, even better, Neustadt on the Winestrasse. Either of these is much more walkable than Stuttgart, and you'd have the markets in both, plus Mannheim (okay). Speyer (good), Bad Kreuznach (good), Mainz (very good), Saarbrucken (good), Trier (very good), and a couple dozen smaller ones all within an easy train ride. You could even do Stuttgart and Esslingen.

Posted by
346 posts

Tubingen is awesome! We really love it. It does have a ton of charm. If you can avoid it, try not go on the last day of the festival. That was the day we picked (my chocolate loving father's birthday) and it was PACKED. I felt like a salmon trying to swim upstream - you could barely move. We did not stay long because of that. I think going mid-week would be a much better experience.