Stuttgart

Stuttgart is the capital of Baden-Württemberg. It sits in a green valley surrounded by hills, forests and vineyards, some of which reach right into the city. It’s best known as the home of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, and both brands’ museums are must-sees for anyone who loves design or cars. The centre is built around the elegant Schlossplatz, flanked by the New Palace and the busy Königstraße shopping street. Nearby, the Weissenhof Estate showcases Le Corbusier’s modernist houses, which are UNESCO-listed. Add the Wilhelma zoological and botanical gardens, the mineral springs of Bad Cannstatt, and the huge Cannstatter Volksfest every autumn. To eat, try Swabian classics like Maultaschen and Spätzle with a glass of local Trollinger wine.

The gay scene is friendly and relaxed. Its heart is the historic Bohnenviertel and the neighbouring Leonhardsviertel in the old town, where small bars sit along cobbled lanes such as Leonhardstraße and Pfarrstraße. Tom’s Bar is a long-standing men’s bar here that stays busy into the small hours, and the other gay bars are only a few steps away. There are more venues and community spaces scattered across the city centre.

The big event of the year is Stuttgart Pride in July. It’s the largest queer festival in Baden-Württemberg, with two weeks of cultural events leading up to the CSD parade through the city centre. The weekend ends with the CSD-Hocketse, a street festival with music, food and drinks on Marktplatz and Schillerplatz. Germany has had marriage equality since 2017, and Stuttgart is a safe and welcoming city for gay travellers.