Carry-On Only for Stuttgart: STR Airport, Eurowings, and Packing Tips

Stuttgart is an underrated carry-on only destination. The capital of Baden-Württemberg combines world-class automotive museums, hillside vineyards growing within city limits, excellent modern architecture, and a standard of living that shows in the quality of its restaurants and shops. For visitors flying through Eurowings — Stuttgart's dominant carrier — the bag policy requires some planning. The packing priorities are smart casual clothing and good walking shoes.

Stuttgart Airport (STR): The Eurowings Hub

Stuttgart Airport is a mid-sized German regional hub located about 13 km south of the city centre. It is compact and efficient by German airport standards — not a complex mega-hub like Frankfurt, but a fully functional airport with adequate retail and food options.

The S-Bahn S2 and S3 run directly from beneath the terminal to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof in around 30 minutes. This is one of the better airport-to-city rail connections in Germany. Trains run from early morning to well after midnight.

Eurowings is the home carrier at STR and operates the majority of domestic and European routes from the airport. Condor serves leisure long-haul routes (Canary Islands, Caribbean, North America). Ryanair and easyJet handle budget European connections. British Airways connects Stuttgart to London Heathrow. Lufthansa connects to its Frankfurt and Munich hubs. Turkish Airlines serves Istanbul, opening onward connections to its extensive network.

Airline Bag Policies at STR

Eurowings (BASIC: 40 × 30 × 10 cm free; SMART and above: cabin bag 55 × 40 × 23 cm, 10 kg): Eurowings' BASIC fare is genuinely restrictive — the free allowance is underseat only. If you want overhead locker access on Eurowings, you need the SMART fare or a paid upgrade. Compare the cost of the SMART fare against the BASIC fare plus a bag add-on at booking.

Ryanair (10 kg with priority, 40 × 20 × 25 cm without): Standard Ryanair rules apply. Priority boarding is required for a full-size cabin bag in the overhead locker.

easyJet (56 × 45 × 25 cm, requires add-on or higher fare): Same policy as at all easyJet airports. Budget for the cabin bag fee at booking for the lowest overall cost.

Lufthansa (8 kg, 55 × 40 × 23 cm, included on most fares): Lufthansa includes a cabin bag on Economy Light and above. This is a comfortable allowance for short trips.

What to Pack for Stuttgart

Smart casual clothing: Stuttgart is the capital of one of Germany's wealthiest states. It is not as fashion-forward as Düsseldorf or as formally dressed as Frankfurt, but it is a city where effort in appearance is noticed and appreciated. The city's restaurant scene — particularly around the Bohnenviertel (Bean Quarter) and the Calwer Strasse area — suits smart casual. Dark jeans or chinos and a clean shirt or blouse cover most evenings out.

Comfortable walking shoes: Stuttgart is famously hilly. The city sits in a basin surrounded by vine-covered slopes, and walking between neighbourhoods involves more climbing than flat European cities. The Weinsteige (wine terraces) paths above the city offer spectacular views but require proper walking shoes. Even central Stuttgart requires comfortable footwear for a full day of sightseeing.

Light layers: Stuttgart benefits from a sheltered microclimate produced by the surrounding hills. Winters are mild relative to the rest of Germany (1–4°C average), and summers are warm (24–28°C average), with the hillside vine cultivation reflecting the city's relatively benign climate. A mid-layer for evenings in shoulder seasons and a light rain layer handles most conditions.

The Automotive Museums

Stuttgart's two automotive museums are among the best in the world and are the primary reason many visitors come to the city. Both require half a day minimum.

Mercedes-Benz Museum: Located in Bad Cannstatt, about 5 km northeast of the centre (S-Bahn S1 to Neckarpark). The building — a double-helix tower by UN Studio — is itself remarkable. The collection spans the complete history of the automobile from Gottlieb Daimler's first engines to current Formula 1 cars. Around 160 vehicles are displayed. Entry costs around €12 for adults.

Porsche Museum: Located in Zuffenhausen, north of the city centre (S-Bahn S6 to Neuwirtshaus). The white floating cube building by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects is as striking as the cars inside. The collection covers the full history of Porsche from the 356 to current production, plus racing cars across multiple eras. Entry is similarly priced to the Mercedes museum.

Both museums are reachable by S-Bahn on day tickets. Combining both in a single day is possible but tiring — each museum deserves three to four hours.

Other Stuttgart Highlights

Staatsgalerie: James Stirling's postmodern extension to the Staatsgalerie (State Gallery) is one of the most discussed pieces of 1980s architecture in Europe. The collection inside is strong in Impressionism, German Expressionism, and contemporary art. The building is free to walk around; the gallery has a standard admission charge.

Markthalle: Stuttgart's Art Nouveau indoor market hall, built in 1914, houses stalls selling regional produce, wines, flowers, and Swabian specialities. Open Monday to Saturday.

Stuttgart Vineyards: Walking the hillside vineyard paths above the city — particularly around Württemberg and Uhlbach — gives views across the city and the Neckar valley. The Stuttgart Wine Village (Weindorf) in summer fills the city centre with wine stalls and regional food.

Currency is Euro. Card payments are accepted widely in Stuttgart.