Get out into nature, take a deep breath, but without endless driving to the countryside! Due to the special location in the Kessel, Stuttgart not only scores with beautiful hiking trails, the city is also ideal for short walks.
Urban hiking – Stuttgart exploring on foot: 5 panoramic paths nature lovers will enjoy
Whether you want to explore Stuttgart on a walk or just enjoy great views, here are five nature-based city walks between three and seven kilometers.
#1 Full of views: from Killesberg to the Chinese Garden
Walk from one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Stuttgart to a small oasis in the big city. Duration: 45 min
The tour starts at Killesberg (U5 tram stop), Stuttgart’s largest inner-city park.
Through the Grüne Fuge lawn we reach the Weissenhof Tennis Club, where the Mercedes Cup tournament is held every summer. And continue via Parlerstraße to the Bismarck Tower. From here you have a wonderful view of the city center and beyond the edge of the basin to the TV tower.
Panorama trails Stuttgart: Bismarck Tower
The path curves in serpentines from the Bismarck Tower down to Robert-Bosch-Strasse. Turn left until you reach the Ehrenhalden-Staffel, follow this further downhill and turn left again at its end.
Now walk along Schlottstraße with a wonderful view to the Birkenwald pharmacy. A few steps further on, at the intersection, turn right into Birkenwaldstraße – and walk along it in a wide arc to the Chinese Garden.
Stuttgart Chinese Garden Walk
Small but nice: The mini-oasis was once designed for the garden show. From the small rock behind the teahouse, you can take a look at the area around the station.
You can return to Killesberg either by bus No. 44 (Kaisermer stop). Or on foot via Birkenwaldstraße, Feuerbacher (Staffel-)Weg past the Theodor-Heuss-Haus – then it becomes an extended walk.
Route: Killesberg – Am Kochenhof – Parlerstraße – Feuerbacher Weg – Bonatzweg – Bismarckturm – Robert-Bosch-Straße – Ehrenhaldenstaffel – Schlottstraße – Helferichstraße – Birkenwaldstraße – Chinesischer Garten (evtl. zurück mit Bus 44) – Birkenwaldstraße – Parlerstraße – Feuerbacher Weg – Bonatzweg – Killesberg
Dauer: Killesberg – Chinesischer Garten ca. 45 Minuten, ganze Runde 1 ½ Stunden
#2 Idyllic: On the Schimmelhüttenweg from Degerloch to Marienplatz
A leisurely walk from Degerloch down to the south of Stuttgart – right through the Scharrenberg, one of the smallest and steepest vineyards in Württemberg. It gets more sporty when you walk uphill from Marienplatz. Duration: approx. 45 min
Actually, the two and a half kilometers from Degerloch to Marienplatz are completed in less than half an hour. But the view is just too beautiful to walk straight through the Scharrenberg.
Over the vines, which grow in one of the smallest and steepest vineyards in Württemberg, the view sweeps far over Stuttgart. Again and again I stop and pull out the camera, others have made themselves comfortable on the steps of the dry stone walls with a small picnic in the sun.
Romantic Stuttgart walks: on sunny paths through the Scharrenberg mountain
If you like leisurely walks, start at Marienplatz with the rack railroad (Zacke) and then walk down the Schimmelhüttenweg from Degerloch in about 40 minutes.
It is only a few steps from the Haigst Zacke stop to Schimmelhüttenplatz, where the idyllic walk starts: first walk along Alte Weinsteige, then turn right and walk along Lohengrinstraße to the Leonorenstraße viewpoint.
The original wine barrel from 1935 still stands at Schimmelhüttenplatz. Every second Sunday in September, the Degerloch winegrowers serve their wine here – during the annual wine tasting tour through the Scharrenberg.
Wine tasting on the Schimmelhütten Trail
From the Schimmelhütte, which is said to owe its name to the mold that trotted up and down the old trade route, the Schimmelhüttenweg now leads downhill to Liststraße and via the Liststaffel directly back to Marienplatz.
Do you prefer something more athletic? Then start at Marienplatz in the opposite direction uphill, which gets your pulse going. But then you’ll have the beautiful view behind you.
Route: Marienplatz – Zacke bis Haltestelle Haigst – Alte Weinsteige – Lohengrinstraße – Aussichtspunkt Leonorenstraße – Schimmelhüttenplatz – Schimmelhüttenweg – Lisztstraße – Lisztstaffel – Marienplatz
Dauer: Degerloch – Marienplatz ca. 45 Minuten
Route: Marienplatz – Degerloch (Haltestelle Zacke) – Schimmelhüttenplatz – Schimmelhüttenweg – Liststraße – Liststaffel – Marienplatz; Verlängerung: siehe Blaustrümpflerweg (#5)
Duration: Degerloch – Marienplatz approx. 45 minutes
#3 High up: Birch Head aka Monte Scherbelino
A “summit tour” on the highest mountain in Stuttgart, which is easy to do for everyone and rewards with a magnificent view. Duration: approx. 60 min
Mountain climbing in the middle of the city? Well, Stuttgart really does have something to offer. At 511 meters, the Birkenkopf aka Monte Scherbelino marks the highest point in the inner city area of Stuttgart – around 300 meters higher than the Neckar.
The Birkenkopf can’t break any alpine records, but it’s a great place to get a breath of Stuttgart’s mountain air on a walk. Especially since the short mountain tour is short and anything but sweaty. Quickly packed a small summit vesper and you’re ready to go.
City Walk on Stuttgart’s highest mountain
From the Birkenkopf parking lot (or the bus stop across the street), a wide path leads upward in switchbacks. There, a magnificent view of the foothills of the Schönbuch, the Black Forest to the Swabian Alb awaits you – and Stuttgart itself is at your feet. Return the same way.
By the way, the Birch Head is also a romantic place for sunrise or sunset.
Route: Parkplatz am Birkenkopf Rotenwaldstraße/Stuttgart West (oder Bus 92 Haltestelle Birkenkopf ) – Fußweg zum Birkenkopf – selber Weg zurück
Duration: 45 – 60 min
#4 Walk between Lake Bärensee and Solitude
Lake Bärensee in the west of Stuttgart: really beautiful, but unfortunately often packed. How about a walk through the Glemswald – there is plenty of space and there is also another Stuttgart highlight waiting – Solitude Castle. Duration: approx. 60 min
The area around the hunting lodge of the former Duke Carl Eugen von Württemberg is simply ideal for a walk – close to the city in the west of Stuttgart and yet far enough out to be a bit in nature.
Most beautiful walks Stuttgart: in the Glemswald at the hunting lodge Solitude
At Bärensee, simply follow the Bernhardsbach stream to the tree artworks and turn left after Wildparkstraße to Schloss Solitude.
Less frequented is the path that branches off to the left from the Bernhardsbach at the small reservoir. Keep to the right at the next two intersections and then walk along Hirschallee straight toward Schloss Solitude.
From there you can take bus 92 in the direction of Rotebühlplatz back to the city. Alternatively, you can extend the walk to a short hike through the Krummbachtal.
Route: Mahdentalstraße (Parkplätze an der Straße) oder mit Bus 92 bis Haltestelle Schattengrund – Bärenschlössle – Weg parallel zum Bernhardsbach – links in den Krucksweg und gleich wieder rechts in die Bruderhausallee – Großer Stern – Kleiner Stern – Hirschallee – Schloss Solitude
Duration: ca. 60 min
#5 Around the cauldron: Varied on the Heslach blue stocking trail
As a walk or short hike around Heslach: with the funicular to the forest cemetery and then halfway up through the forest and vineyards with magnificent views of Stuttgart.
This one-hour walk combines several of Stuttgart’s most beautiful vantage points – and if you want, you can double the distance and turn it into a short tour on the Blaustrümpflerweg, one of Stuttgart’s most beautiful hiking trails.
With the Heirloom Express to the Forest Cemetery
No matter where you start: First you have to go up. For example, from Südheimer Platz with the “Erbschleicher Express. The old wooden funicular dating from 1929 jogs comfortably up to the forest cemetery. From there, the Blaustrümpflerweg leads almost level for a short distance along the road and then through the forest, past the garrison rifle house at the Dornhalden cemetery. Enjoy the wonderful fresh forest air and the chirping of the birds.
At the end of the forest you have to decide: either take the Schimmelhüttenweg (#2) through the Scharrenberg to Marienplatz or continue walking to the Haigst stop, where you get on the Zacke – the rack railroad is also a great experience.
The Blaustrümpflerweg can do it all: walk & hike, city & nature and quite a view of Stuttgart
If you still feel like walking further, take the Else Himmelheber stairs at Marienplatz and follow Humboldtstraße up to Karlshöhe.
Via the Blaue Weg (blue path) with a view into the basin, you return to Südheimer Platz via the Heslacher Wand.
Route: Südheimer Platz – Seilbahn zum Waldfriedhof – Dornhaldenfriedhof – Leonorenstraße – Marienplatz (über Schimmelhüttenweg oder mit der Zacke ab Haigst) – Karlshöhe – Hasenbergsteige – Blauer Weg – Heslacher Wand – Südheimer Platz
Duration: approx. 60 min from Südheimer Platz to Marienplatz; Blaustrümpflerweg complete approx. 2 hours (7.5 km
You can find some of these walks, along with many other ideas, in my book: Eskapaden in und um Stuttgart, published by DuMont Reiseverlag. Here you can order the Eskapaden bei Amazon.