Mercedes-Benz Museum
The Mercedes-Benz Museum is worth a few hours, even if you're not big on cars. Spread over nine levels, it walks you through more than 130 years of automotive history—from the first motorised carriage to modern electric prototypes—with around 160 vehicles on display. The building itself is a bit of an architectural talking point, designed like a double helix. Exhibits are well laid out, easy to follow, and occasionally rotate.
Stuttgart State Gallery
The Stuttgart State Gallery (Staatsgalerie Stuttgart) is one of Germany’s leading art museums, showcasing works from the 14th century to the present. Its collection includes approximately 5,500 paintings and sculptures, 250,000 works on paper, and up to 250,000 archival documents from artists' estates. The museum comprises three main buildings: the original 1843 structure, the postmodern extension designed by James Stirling in 1984, and a 2002 addition by architects Wilfrid and Katharina Steib. Stirling’s extension, known as the Neue Staatsgalerie, is celebrated for its innovative design that integrates a public walkway through the museum, blending classical and modern elements. The Staatsgalerie's extensive collection features masterpieces by artists such as Oskar Schlemmer, Henri Matisse, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró.
Stuttgart City Library (City Library at the Mailänder Platz)
Hard to miss and easy to like, the Stuttgart City Library is a massive white cube just a short walk from the main station. Step inside and you're in a vast, white space that feels more like a sci-fi film set than a library. Books line open balconies around a light-filled atrium, everything quiet, clean, and geometric. Head to the rooftop for a surprisingly good city view, or grab a coffee downstairs and just take it all in.
Palace Square
Palace Square (Schlossplatz) is Stuttgart’s central gathering spot, framed by the New Palace and the Königsbau. At its centre stands the Jubilee Column, topped by the goddess Concordia, commemorating King Wilhelm I’s 25th year of rule. Once a military parade ground, the square was opened to the public in the 19th century and now hosts open-air concerts, festivals, and parts of the Christmas market.