Stuttgart’s Schlossgarten is a long ribbon of parkland running from the city centre towards the Neckar River. Its three connected sections—the Oberer, Mittlerer and Unterer Schlossgarten—offer a change of pace as you move away from the formal setting near the New Palace and into broader lawns and tree-lined paths.
The gardens grew from grounds associated with Württemberg’s rulers, evolving over centuries from courtly gardens into a public landscape. Today, palace views and sculptures sit alongside everyday Stuttgart life: people picnic on the grass, cycle through the park and pause by the Eckensee. The Carl-Zeiss-Planetarium adds another reason to explore the gardens beyond the city-centre end.
For a short visit, start near Schlossplatz and stroll around the Oberer Schlossgarten; for a longer walk, follow the paths towards the Neckar. Hauptbahnhof and Schlossplatz are convenient public transport stops for the central sections. Late spring and summer are lovely for lingering outdoors, while weekday mornings are a quieter choice than sunny weekends. Allow extra time for possible path diversions around the railway construction area near Hauptbahnhof.