There are many things to do in Stuttgart, however for the best vacation be sure to visit during one of the many seasonal festivals. Weihnachtsmarkt is a large Christmas market that takes place during December and is hugely popular with both locals and tourists. Cannstatter Wasen is a general fun fair that takes place in early September that features from roller coasters and beer tents. In many ways this fair is similar to Oktoberfest but with smaller crowds and a more family-friendly atmosphere during the day. The Stuttgart summer festival is popular for its music, drinks, and food. Another hugely popular festival is the fantasy film Fest that usually takes place in late July or the first part of August. This festival is huge among film aficionados for its showings out of truly unusual films in the horror, science fiction, suspense, and animation categories.

Stuttgart shopping is fairly bland and unexciting especially for tourists who have experienced shopping and other cities that focused heavily on the shopping experience. International tourists however will be pleased to know that for approximately 6 US dollars they can purchase a value-added tax forms which are good for reducing the price of nearly any item by 19%. Purchasing these forms can be a good strategy for non-EU members, although since they cost money to buy it only makes sense to use them on high price purchases. Visitors looking for more interesting shopping experience should consider going to the Stuttgart trade fairs that take place during different times of the year. These trade fairs can feature anything from multimedia products, to art pieces, to games, and even models.

Car parking is an interesting affair in Stuttgart. There are only certain designated areas where cars are allowed to park and it costs roughly three dollars per hour. Additionally visitors should know that many parking structures close at night leaving your car stranded inside if you have not already removed it from the premises. Car hire in Stuttgart is a fairly straightforward process and international travelers who have rented cars and other countries will not face any problems. Visitors should note that the public transportation system in Stuttgart is not as good as in many other cities, and taxis are prohibitively expensive.

Finding a Stuttgart hotel can be slightly difficult only for its lack of options. There are distinct from budget choices in the form of hostels, and distinct luxury choices in the form of overpriced luxury hotels; unfortunately there are not that many midrange choices therefore looking ahead is your best bet for securing a low rate and a guaranteed room. Stuttgart restaurants mainly offer regional style cuisine however once visitors break away from the traditional restaurant they will find many other international flavors available. For instance Turkish food is quite popular in food stands that can be found throughout the city, North American fast food chains are also quite popular in Stuttgart.