Esslingen and Tubingen are within an hour of Stuttgart and each other, offering the perfect small-town day trip. I honestly wasn’t expecting to be so in awe of these two towns. The people are so kind, the architecture is gorgeously medieval, and the community is so wholesome. All the market stores are held with the intention of raising money for their local sports teams and schools. Because of this, the prices are the lowest I’ve seen for mulled wine, waffles, crepes and Bratwursts.
If you’re in need of transport options, have a look here for some affordable ones.
Without further ado, here is my ideal itinerary for an enchanting day trip.
Esslingen
Start in Esslingen in the morning with a wander through the cobblestoned streets and Christmas markets, located in the Basilica and old town.
Check out the Esslingen Castle (Burg Esslingen), Frauenkirche church and brightly coloured buildings at the Marktplatz.
Tubingen
Then head to Tübingen in the afternoon for the colourful buildings at Neckar River, the enchanting Hohentübingen Castle, the historical Burse Building, City Hall Christmas markets and Viking-themed Christmas markets at Weihnachtsmarkt.
We ate lunch at this incredible Italian/German Restaurant called Ristorante Alte Kunst. They had the best pasta and wine lunch deal I’ve ever seen – so affordable that we actually had to confirm with the waiter. They have super cosy upstairs dining; I totally recommend it!
While we were there, we met the loveliest English German family at the SSC Tübingen market stall who gave us waffles and their team scarf – proof of how special the community really is!
Ciao for now,
Jacqui.
