Orientation

At the heart of Stuttgart is an enormous pedestrian zone cluttered with upscale establishments that run south from the Hauptbahnhof. Königstrasse and the smaller Calwerstrasse are the main pedestrian thoroughfares, while a number of smaller passages connects a whole network of consumer-type places. For those afraid of traffic, the streets are easily accessible from the Hauptbahnhof via an underground passageway called the Arnulf-Klett Passage, also home to a number of shops. Running parallel to and west of these streets is the bustling Theodor-Heuss-Strasse—the site of Stuttgart’s hippest nightclub district. If clubbing isn’t quite your thing, turn left from the Hauptbahnhof to get to the Schloβgarten, a green expanse lined with some of Stuttgart’s best museums. Further south lies the Schloβplatz, a more urban retreat with fountains and statues dotted with sidewalk cafes. Walk even further south and you’ll reach a more wallet-friendly part of town, with plenty of döner stands and reasonably-priced cafes around the Rotebühlplatz. Nearby, a host of cafes and bars surround the Hans-im-Glück fountain, named after the fabled Brothers Grimm tale.