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Getting to know Stuttgart’s rich history, strong regional identity and vibrant contemporary cultural scene in just two days is a tall order, but here’s my guide to getting to the heart of the city in just 48 hours. My first piece of advice is: don’t waste time on transport. When you’re on a tight schedule, you don’t want to queue for taxis at the airport or try to make sense of the local public transport. Instead, book one of Shuttle Direct’s Stuttgart transfers online before you leave home, and a driver will meet you at the airport to take you directly to your hotel. With our services, you can get on with exploring this historic city as quickly as possible. The good news is that many of the historic sights in Stuttgart are bunched together in the centre. My advice would be to spend the first day walking around the heart of the city and taking in the beautiful architecture, dating back to the fourteenth century. That way, you can save your second day for visiting the many museums, galleries and shops that Stuttgart has to offer. Day One Start your day off by rubbing shoulders with the locals at a popular breakfast spot, Hüftengold. Specialising in local delicacies, such as pretzels and Bircher muesli, this café also serves some of the best coffee in the city. After a good breakfast, you’ll be ready to explore. Take a walk around the centre and you’ll discover both the fourteenth-century Old Palace and the eighteenth-century New Palace. The Old Palace was built as a fortress in the 1300s, and then became a royal residence. In the eighteenth century, the rulers decided that they wanted something more representative of France’s Palace of Versailles, and so created a grander ‘New Palace’ (Neues Schloss). Both palaces in Stuttgart are worth a visit. There are plenty of places to have lunch in and around Palace Square, a popular meeting spot for locals and visitors alike. In the afternoon, take a stroll around the Markthalle, a stunning Art Nouveau building that houses a large indoor food market, selling a delicious array of exotic and local foods. Be sure to explore the upstairs area, where there are a variety of exclusive arts and crafts and home accessory shops. Culture is very much at the heart of this city, so why not book a ticket at the Stuttgart Opera to see a ballet performance or an opera in the evening? Day Two Make your second day about learning more about the cultural identity of the city. If you didn’t go in yesterday, check out the museum at the Old Palace for a fascinating insight into Stuttgart’s local history. Car enthusiasts will certainly want to check out the Porsche or Mercedes-Benz museums (or maybe both, if you really love your cars). You’ll have to take a taxi to get to the Porsche Museum, which is situated in the nearby town of Zuffenhausen, but it’s well worth the effort. Designed by Delugan Meissl, the building is elegant and modern, providing plenty of space to explore the history and future of this iconic car brand. The Mercedes-Benz Museum is set in the heart of Stuttgart in a vast 16,500sqm space, in which visitors are guided through its dramatic 130-year history. After all that history, you will want to stop for a good lunch. In my experience, some of the city’s best restaurants are located around the Hans im Glück fountain. Following lunch, stop by the Museum of Art, an ultra-modern glass cube that houses some of the city’s most important works. It’s a perfect way to end your second day. How to Get There Flights from the UK depart from Manchester, Birmingham and London, and are offered by airlines such as British Airways, German Wings and easyJet. Think ahead and arrange one of Shuttle Direct’s Stuttgart transfers to pick you up from the airport and take you directly to the city. With our Stuttgart transfers, you won’t waste time trying to arrange transport at the airport. Just book online on our easy-to-use website, and a driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals lounge when you land. Author Plate Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for the most affordable Stuttgart transfers, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.
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