Stuttgart - hotel for home base

Posted by cdawson77 on 08/05/25 02:45 PM

Hello. We are sending 4-5 nights in Stuttgart in December with the plan to see the Christmas market and museums there for a day/two and day trips to Esslingen, Ludwigsburg, Heidelberg, and likely Tubingen or another town. Can anyone share recommendations for hotels that would be convenient for catching the trains? I would like to stay closer to the market, but it seems to make more sense to stay closer to the trains since we will be using them most days.

Also, would welcome any restaurant recommendations in those areas or just in general tips for traveling in the area. This will be our first time in that region, and I have not traveled in Germany in many, many years, so I am rusty navigating the train system. Thanks in advance.

Edit to say we will not have a car and will rely solely on trains. Thanks

Posted by Russ

Paradise

08/05/25 03:28 PM

7587 posts

I am rusty navigating the train system.

Not sure what happens prior to or after Stuttgart stay as far as transport goes. But you will likely save $ on train travel by using the very convenient Deutschland Ticket and riding regional trains only for those outings.

https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-germany.htm#Deutschlandticket

Look for train journeys using this month-long pass by clicking on Deutschland-Ticket connections only at the German Railways search page:

https://int.bahn.de/en/

I would look at staying in Ludwigsburg - the Marktplatz and the station are not far apart there. Direct trains to Stuttgart, Esslingen and Tubingen leave Ludwigsburg every half hour or so.

Posted by geovagriffith

08/05/25 03:55 PM

9144 posts

Don't pick Stuttgart if you plan to drive a car. The Germans call Stuttgart Stau city. A stau is when traffic freezes up and the highway becomes a parking lot.
My fiancé lived in Stuttgart for several months and I lived in Augsburg and found the traffic to be terrible there. This was in the late 80s, but I suspect it is still the case.

If you take the train, that shouldn't be a problem if you get a hotel near the train station.

Posted by KGC

Alsenborn, Germany

08/05/25 04:23 PM

2180 posts

Stuttgart is one of the worst cities to drive in due to major road construction and excessive use of cameras for speeding. And parking sucks. And personally I would not stay near the train station. Stay close to one of the stops instead. I can't comment on hotels, it's too close to home for me.

Posted by Bigtyke

Greeley, co, usa

08/05/25 04:59 PM

2809 posts

Marcopolko over on the tripadvisor germany forum always recommends the City Hotel

Posted by jkh

Northwest Arkansas

08/06/25 12:35 PM

966 posts

There is a Steigenberger right across the street from the Hbf. Also some Hotel Ones nearby.

Carl's Bauhaus has good food and good beer.