Bring the family to Killesberg Hill Park early in your stay to plan your itinerary for the rest of the Killesberg neighborhood and Stuttgart. The park’s main highlight is the 140-foot-tall (42-meter) Killesbergturm observation tower. Climb its open spiral staircase for a continuous 360-degree view as you wrap around the center. Look for gardens below and green forests beyond the city. Although the tower appears transparent, it is sturdily built of steel and concrete. Be prepared for the gentle swaying motion architects built into the design.
On the ground, visit the gardens, amphitheater, fountains, playgrounds, petting zoo, swimming pool, narrow-gauge Killesberg Railway and numerous restaurants in the park. Check the schedule at the Theater in der Badewanne (Theater in the Bathtub) for the next puppet show, a fun experience even for children who don’t understand German. From April to October, visit Eliszi’s Jahrmarktstheater, which features a carousel and horse swing for the kids as well as concerts and dance events for the whole family.
Try typical German food and drink. A food truck offers treats from sausages to waffles and the biergarten has sit-down service. Lichterfest, the Stuttgart Festival of Lights, brings music fireworks, live performances, games, a light show and culinary treats annually in July.
Near the park, explore the Weissenhof Museum im Haus Le Corbusier and the surrounding estatefor architecture that is quite different from the expected fairy-tale castles of Germany. This museum celebrates cubism, with the very boxy designs of Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe and Pierre Jeanneret.
Follow the crisscrossing paths of the Grüne Fuge, or Green Fugue, near the Weissenhof complex. South of Weissenhof, enjoy views with a picnic next to the Bismarck Tower, a sturdy block structure honoring the German statesman Otto von Bismarck.
Drive north from Stuttgart or ride the train from the Haubtbahnhof to reach Killesberg in 10 minutes. Stay into the evening to observe the unique tower lit up against a night sky.
