Train to Stuttgart - connections, tickets and itinerary

• Documents: Germany is in the Schengen area – an identity card is sufficient, a passport is not required.

• Currency: euro (EUR) – payment cards are widely accepted, and cash is handy at markets and smaller establishments.

• Local transport: there is an extensive network of U-Bahn, S-Bahn and buses – a single ticket costs a few euros and a day ticket a little more.

• How long to go for: a weekend (2-3 days) is enough for the main attractions, and a week allows you to visit Tübingen or the Black Forest.

• Practical tip: Stuttgart lies in a valley surrounded by hills, so you can reach the vineyards, TV tower and viewpoints by public transport or on foot uphill.

The best choice is spring (April–May) or early autumn (September), when daytime temperatures are 15–22°C and tourist numbers are moderate.

Spring (March–May)

• The palace gardens at Schlossplatz and Killesberg Park are in bloom from April – a good time for walks in the hills.

• The Stuttgarter Frühlingsfest runs from late April to May.

• Temperatures are around 8°C in March and up to 22°C in May – a light jacket is usually sufficient.

Summer (June–August)

• On the hottest days it reaches 28–30°C, so it is worth planning visits to the automotive museums and galleries for the middle of the day.

• At the end of August the Stuttgarter Weindorf begins – a festival of local wines at Schillerplatz and Marktplatz.

• Accommodation prices are higher than at other times of year, so it is worth booking in advance.

Autumn (September–November)

• The Cannstatter Volksfest takes place in September and October – it is one of the largest folk festivals in Germany.

• In autumn the grape harvest is underway on the hills around Stuttgart, and you can taste young wine in the local Besenwirtschaften.

• In September temperatures are 18–22°C and there are fewer crowds than in summer.

Winter (December–February)

• The Stuttgarter Weihnachtsmarkt is one of the largest and oldest Christmas markets in Germany.

• Temperatures are 0–6°C and the days are short, so it is worth planning more time for museums and galleries.

• Outside December, tourist traffic is low and accommodation prices are among the lowest of the year.

From Poland you will travel to Stuttgart with one change, usually in Frankfurt am Main or Mannheim. On the foreign leg you travel on Deutsche Bahn ICE trains.

From Wrocław to Stuttgart

• From Wrocław you travel approximately 7–8 hours with one change in Frankfurt am Main or Mannheim.

• On the Polish section you take a PKP Intercity train, and after the change a Deutsche Bahn ICE train to Stuttgart.

• You can leave in the morning and arrive in the afternoon.

From Poznań to Stuttgart

• From Poznań you will travel in about 8–9 hours with a change in Frankfurt am Main.

• The shortest routes go via Frankfurt am Main, where you change trains only once.

• Leaving in the morning allows you to reach Stuttgart in the afternoon.

From Kraków to Stuttgart

• The route from Kraków takes around 9–10 hours with one change on the international leg.

• You travel via Frankfurt am Main or via Vienna and Munich.

• In both options you change trains once.

From Warsaw to Stuttgart

• From Warsaw you will travel to Stuttgart in around 10–11 hours with one change in Frankfurt am Main or Mannheim.

• You can leave early in the morning and arrive in the evening.

• Overnight options with morning arrival are also available.

• On the Polish section you travel by PKP Intercity train, and after the change by Deutsche Bahn ICE train.

Seat reservations are compulsory on the international section. You can buy your ticket on Europodróże without registering – you receive it by email and SMS, and 30 minutes before departure an SMS reminder arrives with a link to your ticket. The earlier you buy, the better the price and the greater the choice of seats. For PKP Intercity tickets, refunds are possible up to 20 minutes before departure and exchanges up to 30 minutes before departure – see the refund and exchange policy for details.

You can get around Stuttgart city centre on foot and by public transport, and reach further attractions in just a few minutes. Schlossplatz, the Old Palace and the Stiftskirche can all be reached on foot from the station.

If you make several journeys a day, a day ticket will be more convenient than buying individual tickets. A single ticket costs a few euros.

The Fernsehturm TV tower and Killesberg Park lie outside the city centre, so you can get there by public transport in a matter of minutes. The Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Porsche Museum also require a short trip.

Stuttgart lies in a valley, and some of the attractions – vineyards, viewpoints and the Degerloch district – are on the surrounding hills. Some are served by the historic funicular and cog railway, the Standseilbahn and Zahnradbahn, which are attractions in their own right. The Zahnradbahn is one of the last urban cog railways of its type in Germany.

Taxis operate at the station and are useful when you have luggage or are travelling late at night. For a city break, you get around the centre on foot and by public transport.

Where to stay:

• City centre (around Schlossplatz) – closest to the main attractions, higher accommodation prices, good choice of hotels and apartments

• Bohnenviertel – more local character, restaurants and wine bars nearby, a few minutes' walk from the centre

• Hauptbahnhof area – conveniently accessible by public transport, wide choice of hotels across different price ranges

Mercedes-Benz Museum

The history of motoring from the world's first car to contemporary models. More than 160 vehicles on display. The visit takes 2–3 hours. Entrance is paid. Accessible by public transport from the city centre.

Porsche Museum

Smaller than the Mercedes-Benz Museum, but equally impressive. More than 80 vehicles on display, from classic racing models to prototypes. The visit takes 1.5–2 hours. Entrance is paid. Accessible by public transport from the centre.

Schlossplatz and the palaces

Stuttgart's central square with the New Palace (18th century) and the Old Palace (14th century, now a regional museum). Entry to the square is free, while the museum in the Old Palace is paid. A walk around the square and palace gardens takes 30–45 minutes.

State Gallery (Staatsgalerie Stuttgart)

Here you will see works by Picasso, Kandinsky, Dalí and Rembrandt. The building, designed by James Stirling, is itself an example of postmodern architecture. The visit takes 1.5–2 hours. Entrance is paid – it is worth checking free admission days before you go.

TV Tower (Fernsehturm)

The world's first television tower, built in 1956. The viewing platform is at a height of 150 metres. The visit takes 45–60 minutes. Entrance is paid. Accessible by public transport from the centre in a few minutes.

Stiftskirche collegiate church

A 13th-century church in the centre, on Schillerplatz. Entrance is free. The visit takes 30–45 minutes. Inside you will see the Renaissance tombs of the Dukes of Württemberg.

One-day plan

Start at Schlossplatz and the Old Palace – the heart of the city. From here, a few minutes' walk will take you to the Stiftskirche and Schillerplatz. On the way, stop at the Market Hall (Markthalle) for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the State Gallery. In the evening, head to the Bohnenviertel, where you will find local restaurants and wine bars serving Swabian cuisine.

Weekend plan (2–3 days)

Day 1: You can arrange your first day in the same way as the one-day plan.

Day 2: Choose one of the automotive museums – the Mercedes-Benz Museum if you are interested in the full history of motoring, or the Porsche Museum if you prefer sports and racing cars. After the museum, head to the Fernsehturm, ideally towards evening.

Day 3: It is worth venturing outside the city. Tübingen is about an hour away by train – a university town with a colourful old town on the River Neckar. An alternative is the Black Forest (Schwarzwald), also accessible by train.

What to eat

Maultaschen - large dumplings stuffed with minced meat and spinach, served in broth or fried in butter.

Spätzle - egg dumplings, often with cheese (Käsespätzle) or as an accompaniment to meat dishes.

Trollinger - a local red wine from the Württemberg region, well worth trying at the winery in the hills surrounding the town.

Riesling - a white wine from the Württemberg region. Seasonal Besenwirtschaften - wine bars run by winemakers, serving their own wine and simple dishes - open in autumn.

Where to eat:

• Markthalle Stuttgart - a historic hall from 1914 on Dorotheenstraße; buy fresh produce, local cheeses, cured meats, bread and olives here. A good place for breakfast or lunch. The hall operates on weekdays and Saturdays.

• Bohnenviertel - a neighbourhood just outside the centre with a more local character than the Schlossplatz area; you'll find restaurants, wine bars and cafes here.

• Königstraße - the main shopping street with chain shops and department stores from the train station to Schlossplatz.

You will pay a few tens of zloty for lunch in a restaurant. Lunch in the Market Hall or a bistro costs a dozen zloty.

Souvenirs

• Local wine - a bottle of wine from the Württemberg region, e.g. Trollinger or Riesling

• Car gadgets - souvenirs from the museum shops of Mercedes and Porsche

The price of a train ticket from Poland depends on the date of purchase and class. The earlier you buy your ticket, the lower the price – you will see current prices when checking connections.

Stuttgart is comparable in price to Frankfurt or Munich. You can eat at the Market Hall and in establishments in the Bohnenviertel for a modest sum.