Stuttgart and Nuremberg are two iconic German cities that have been growing as tourist destinations in recent years. Both cities feature incredible architecture and immaculate buildings. You can be sure to experience the rich history of either city during your time there. Here is the ultimate guide to whether you should visit Stuttgart or Nuremberg.
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Stuttgart or Nuremberg Overview
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the 6th largest city in Germany with more than 635,000 residents and a very large metro area of 5.3 million. Stuttgart sits in a fertile valley often referred to as the “Stuttgart Cauldron”. The city has a very old history with traces of people living here in the 7th millennium BC but most of the modern Stuttgart got its roots starting in the 10th century.
During WW2 the city center was leveled by bombing and nearly 60% of the city’s buildings were destroyed. Today, Stuttgart is known for being the headquarters for Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. The area surrounding Stuttgart is one of the highest-producing wine regions in Germany. The city sits on multiple forested hills and features many green spaces throughout the city.
Nuremberg
Nuremberg is the second-largest city in Bavaria with 520,000 residents. For centuries Nuremberg has been known for excelling in the arts, craftsmanship, and manufacturing. To this day it is still a city of learning with many institutions of higher education. The first printing shop in Europe was established here in 1470. The city is most famously known for holding the Nuremberg Trials to prosecute Nazi war criminals following WW2.
Even though 90% of the city was destroyed during WW2, it rebuilt many of its historical districts and is still a popular tourist destination. Nuremberg has a very strong manufacturing presence in Germany, specializing in the manufacturing of electrical equipment, mechanical and optical products, and motor vehicles. Like Munich, Nuremberg is known for loving beer and its many beer gardens.
Day Trips
Stuttgart
Schlossplatz is the largest square in Stuttgart. It features The Neues Schloss Palace which was heavily damaged during the war but has been restored.
Solitude Palace is the old hunting retreat and palace of Charles Eugene, Duke of Württemberg.
The Mercedes Museum covers the history of Mercedes. It attracts nearly a million visitors each year.
The Old Castle of Stuttgart was built in 950. It continues to be a place of worship today.
Stuttgart Christmas Market dates back to 1692 and is the largest in Germany.
Nuremberg
Imperial Castle of Nuremberg sits on a ridge, overlooking the city. It first began construction in 1000 AD.
Frauenkirche Nuremberg is a beautiful brick Gothic-style church that was completed in 1361.
Handwerkerhof Nuremberg is a fortified old town full of craftsman stalls and small homes.
Schöner Brunnen is a 19 meters tall fountain that was built in the 14th century.
Weißgerbergasse is a beautiful street that features the classic decorative timber exteriors.
Food
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is known for its traditional Swabian cuisines. Flädlesuppe, or Swabian pancake soup, is a classic Swabian dish consisting of strips of pancakes mixed with beef and vegetable stock. Maultasche is a ravioli like dish that originated in Swabia. It has an out-layer of pasta and is typically filled with meat, onions, spinach, and spices. Stuttgart is one of the most well-known cities in Germany for making wine, as it is the only city in the country to produce wine within city limits. There are vineyards in the middle of the city, going up the hillsides. There is also a long history of brewing beer in Stuttgart.
Nuremberg
Being the second-largest city in Bavaria, you can expect to find a lot of beer and sausages. Rostbratwürstchen, or The Nuremberg Bratwursts, is one of the city’s specialty sausages. It dates back to 1567 and is protected by the EU which means it can only be produced in Nuremberg. Lebkuchen is a traditional cookie, usually baked around Christmas time. It is very similar to gingerbread. Nuremberg is a city known for loving their beer. The city has many beer gardens scattered throughout it. The Franconia region, now partly in Bavaria, is home to over 300 breweries which gives it the highest density of breweries in the world.
Getting Around
To cover shorter distances within the city, the most efficient way to move about is on the U-Bahn (tram). If you want to explore the outskirts of the city or the neighboring towns, you should take the S-Bahn which specializes in covering longer distances. You can get a public transportation day pass for just 5 Euros is you buy it using the city app, otherwise it will cost 5.20 Euros. You can also explore the city on a bike which will cost 1 Euro per half hour or 15 Euros for the day. Walking the city center is also easy to if you just want to wander around and explore the city center.
The city center is quite walkable so you can spend the whole day wandering about exploring. If you want to see some sights that are on the outskirts of the city, like Kongresshalle or the stadium, you will want to use public transportation. Nuremberg has a large system of buses, trams, and the metro which makes traveling here quite easy. A single ride on public transportation costs 3.20 Euros but one day or weekend passes cost just 8.30 Euros. You can also invest in the Nuremberg Card which gives you access to public transportation and free admission to all museums and attractions in the city.
Nightlife
Stuttgart
With millions of people in the metro area and attracting millions of tourists every year, Stuttgart has a very lively nightlife. There is an excellent selection of things to do to experience the nightlife here. One of the best places to go is area around Theodor-Heuss-Straße which is a street near the center of the city. There bars to fits any person’s vibe but if you want to dance, there are multiple nightclubs you could check out. Pure Club and Schocken are two of the best nightclubs in the city.
Nuremberg
Weißgerbergasse is one of the best streets in the city for nightlife. There are many bars within walking distance which makes it an excellent area to go bar hopping. Mach1 is one of the iconic nightclubs in the city because it has been in the center of the city for over 20 years. Die Bombe and Rossi Schulz are also fairly popular nightclubs to check out. I would recommend sticking to the center of the city where you can walk everywhere and then end the night at Mach1.
Day Trips
Stuttgart
Hohenzollern Castle sits atop a large hill with beautiful vistas. It is less than an hour away from Stuttgart.
The Black Forest is a large densely forested area that is home to many small towns.
Heidelberg is situated on the Neckar River and is home to Germany’s oldest university. Heidelberg University was founded in 1386.
Nuremberg
Bamberg is a small city known for its incredible building and architecture. Much of the city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Regensburg is a city to the southeast of Nuremberg. It sits where the Naab River meets the Danube.
Weltenburg Abbey is Benedictine monastery that was built in 600 AD and was added onto throughout the centuries. It is known for its unique setting.
From Stuttgart, the cities of Frankfurt and Strasbourg are excellent cities to visit if you have a couple of extra days to spare.
From Nuremberg, you could head south a ways and explore Munich if you can afford two or three days.
Overall
Stuttgart and Nuremberg are two beautiful cities in Germany are sometimes overlooked by cities like Munich and Berlin. Both of these cities have incredible history and architecture. Both cities were devastated during WW2 but still have their original charm and their heritage still shines through. If you like to walk through old towns and city centers, you can explore both of the these city’s old towns all day long. If you are trying to decide between Stuttgart or Nuremberg, you have a tough decision to make because both cities are both so beautiful.
