Visiting Stuttgart and Munich... any recommendations?

[m32]

My wife and I will be visiting Stuttgart and Munich for our honeymoon and am looking for recommendations on where to stay (area of the city as well as hotels) and where to eat.

If you have any recommendations, please share as I'd love to hear about your personal experience there. Thanks in advance!

Edwin

[Moving Chicane]

If you are a car guy in any way (driver, race watcher, collector, historian, etc.), then I highly recommend the Porsche museum in Stutt.; restaurant inside too.
There is also a BMW museum in Munich to visit.

[GB-man]

Bring me back a 911 please. They seem hard to find.

[bondtoys]

Mercedes Museum is a must. Also try to visit a football (soccer) match and in September the Octoberfest.
The car manufacturers also offer factory tours.

The Zoo (Wilhelma) is also nice to see

[m32]

Originally Posted by Moving Chicane

If you are a car guy in any way (driver, race watcher, collector, historian, etc.), then I highly recommend the Porsche museum in Stutt.; restaurant inside too.
There is also a BMW museum in Munich to visit.

Originally Posted by GB-man

Bring me back a 911 please. They seem hard to find.

Originally Posted by bondtoys

Mercedes Museum is a must. Also try to visit a football (soccer) match and in September the Octoberfest.
The car manufacturers also offer factory tours.

The Zoo (Wilhelma) is also nice to see

Definitely a car guy and have tickets for the Porsche/Mercedes/BMW museum

Edwin

[wesdaniel]

Following.

This year, at Christmas, I'll be flying to Zurich for two nights, then taking a train to Basel to get on a Rhine river cruise ending in Cologne. From there, I will take a train to Nuremberg for three nights, then ending with four nights in Munich.

Curious what suggestions you get!

[SDGT3]

Following as well. We'll be in Germany for the Euro Cup and will have a weekend stop in Stuttgart for a Porsche factory tour. Hoping to get some recommendations on good restaurants in the area. TIA

[m32]

Originally Posted by SDGT3

Following as well. We'll be in Germany for the Euro Cup and will have a weekend stop in Stuttgart for a Porsche factory tour. Hoping to get some recommendations on good restaurants in the area. TIA

Did you already book the Factory tour? Just FYI, they go fast so try to book as soon as possible. Unfortunately, we won't be able to go b/c we booked too late

Edwin

[SDGT3]

Originally Posted by m32

Did you already book the Factory tour? Just FYI, they go fast so try to book as soon as possible. Unfortunately, we won't be able to go b/c we booked too late

Edwin

I called in a favor from a friend who is an exec with Porsche NA and is coordinating the details on a VIP tour.

As an aside, he also highly recommended the Mercedes museum as that has many more historical vehicles for those of us that are car people.

[m32]

Originally Posted by SDGT3

I called in a favor from a friend who is an exec with Porsche NA and is coordinating the details on a VIP tour.

As an aside, he also highly recommended the Mercedes museum as that has many more historical vehicles for those of us that are car people.

awesome! Yeah, based on what I've researched so far, the MB is the best museum.

Check out "V12 Mercedes Suite" at this hotel (V8 Hotel Classic Motorworld) for the full effect

Edwin

[sctodc]

I haven't been back to Munich since 2019, so please take these recommendations with a grain of salt. (I haven't been to Stuttgart since 2004, so won't bother for recommendations there).

In Munich I'd try to stay in Altstadt. Depending on how fancy you want to be, I believe there is a Kapinski on Maximillianstraße and a Mandarin around the corner, but I've never had a bad room in Germany, even as a poor college student. Maximillianstaße also has a lot of high-end boutiques (If you'll forgive the stereotyping there is a Wempe, Richard Mille, Omega, for you; Hermes, Celine, Chanel, Gucci etc. for her).

Sightseeing - outside of the usual suspects (Glockenspiel, Frauenkirche, Marienplatz, Englischer Garten, etc.) I always enjoy walking around Olympiastadion. I prefer Augustinerbrau to Hofbräuhaus for your beer garden experience, but I know others disagree. Make sure you have a dönerkebab - they are better in Germany. Agree on the recommendations for the BMW tour if you can snag it and the soccer match - even if you're not a sports fan it's an experience.

Feel free to shoot me a PM if you have any questions. While I haven't been since 2019, my brother lives in Nuremberg and goes to Munich six or seven times a year and I am happy to bounce questions off of him.

[enjoythemusic]

A lap or two around the 'ring should do nicely. Enjoy the drive

[JasoninDenver]

I have been to Munich 5-6 times over the last 10 years. As it is usually my arrival or departure city, I have nearly always stayed near the Central Hauptbahnhof for late night or early morning train connection convenience. While there are many nice hotels there, the area is a bit gritty, although perfectly safe.

I would actually prefer either the Alstadt, as a previous poster recommended, or something around Marienplatz. There are some very nice places near Viktualien Market as well.

I agree that the Augustiner Beer Hall is a better choice for food and beer but you really should not miss the Hofbrau Haus either. If you are willing to face some difficult realities, the Dachau museum is transformative.

As a side note: we always end up spending a day shopping before we fly out. The last time, my wife had to buy another suitcase.

[GB-man]

Do you guys sprechen sie deutsch or is it easy to move about being an ignorant yank in Germany?

[Easy E]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Do you guys sprechen sie deutsch or is it easy to move about being an ignorant yank in Germany?

I had a brief trip to Germany a few years ago and found that the more urban the area the more prevalent the ability to communicate in English. Restaurant menus mostly German, that got awkward a couple of times.

[SDGT3]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Do you guys sprechen sie deutsch or is it easy to move about being an ignorant yank in Germany?

Besides the basics, Nein. The Germans speak gooder English than we do.

[sctodc]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Do you guys sprechen sie deutsch or is it easy to move about being an ignorant yank in Germany?

I am fluent in German (or at least was before I stopped traveling there frequently due to the pandemic/having a kid), but in major cities you are extremely unlikely to have any issues not speaking German. As the previous poster said, menus can sometimes be a challenge, but the translate feature on modern cell phones is pretty great, and you can always ask the waiter. That said, if you have any dietary needs/restrictions I’d try to learn how to say it in German just to ensure comprehension. (My wife is a vegetarian so I’m a bit sensitive to that when we travel).

[GB-man]

Good to know thanks all. It's kind of a must do trip for me. I better make it happen before life flies by.

[bondtoys]

for food in Munich, try this
https://www.der-pschorr.de/
And you should make a visit to the real Cinderella Castle!

[SearChart]

Stuttgart is great, Porsche and Mercedes are definitely a must, been there a couple of times.

Originally Posted by GB-man

Do you guys sprechen sie deutsch or is it easy to move about being an ignorant yank in Germany?

Fluent, I live 5min from the German border. But you'll easily get around speaking English, only older folks might have some trouble speaking English.