Things to Do in Stuttgart in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Stuttgart
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Christmas market season kicks off late November - Stuttgart has one of Germany's oldest and most authentic markets, running from late November through December 23rd. You'll catch the opening days when locals actually shop there, before the tour buses arrive in December. The Marktplatz transforms into 280+ wooden stalls selling handcrafted ornaments, mulled wine for €3.50-4.50, and roasted almonds that'll warm your hands.
- Museum weather is perfect - with temps hovering around 3-9°C (37-48°F) and occasional drizzle, November is genuinely ideal for Stuttgart's world-class museums. The Mercedes-Benz and Porsche Museums are climate-controlled and rarely crowded midweek in November. You can actually photograph the cars without someone's head in your shot, and the audio guides don't cut out from too many simultaneous users.
- Wine taverns hit their stride - November is when Besenwirtschaften (traditional wine taverns) are in full swing serving new wine and hearty Swabian food. These temporary taverns, marked by a broom hung outside, operate on rotating schedules and November has the highest concentration open. Expect Zwiebelkuchen (onion tart) with Federweißer (partially fermented wine) for €8-12, and you'll need reservations on weekends.
- Accommodation pricing drops 30-40% compared to summer and trade fair months - Stuttgart's hotel prices are notoriously volatile due to major trade fairs, but November (outside the few fair dates) sees rates plummet. Four-star hotels in Mitte that cost €180-220 in September go for €110-140 in early to mid-November. Book after November 10th when the automotive trade shows wrap up.
Considerations
- Daylight is genuinely limited - sunrise around 7:30am, sunset by 4:45pm by late November. If you're doing the hillside vineyards or Schlossplatz, you've got maybe 9 hours of usable daylight, and it's often overcast which makes everything feel grayer. This matters more in Stuttgart than flatter cities because the valley location means the surrounding hills block light even earlier.
- The Nebel (fog) situation is real - Stuttgart sits in a basin, and November brings persistent fog that can last all day. Locals call it Novembergrau (November gray) for good reason. Some years you'll get 15+ consecutive foggy days where visibility drops below 1 km (0.6 miles) and the city feels claustrophobic. The TV tower and vineyards become pointless visits when you can't see 50 m (164 ft) ahead.
- Public transport strikes tend to cluster in November - unions typically schedule strikes (Warnstreiks) in autumn before year-end negotiations. In recent years, November has seen 2-4 strike days affecting S-Bahn, U-Bahn, and buses. While taxis and bike-shares work as backup, it'll cost you €15-25 for trips that normally cost €2.90 on the VVS network.
Best Activities in November
Swabian Wine Tavern Crawls in Stuttgart Wine Country
November is peak season for Besenwirtschaften, the temporary wine taverns that pop up in residential neighborhoods and hillside villages. The new wine (Suser or Federweißer) is ready, and locals pack these family-run operations serving homemade Maultaschen, Zwiebelkuchen, and house wines for €3.50-5 per glass. The cool weather makes the walk between taverns in Uhlbach, Rotenberg, and Untertürkheim actually pleasant - you're hiking 2-3 km (1.2-1.9 miles) between stops through vineyard paths. These operate on rotating schedules published in Lift magazine, and most only accept cash. Worth noting that many close by 10pm, so this is an early evening activity starting around 5pm.
Mercedes-Benz and Porsche Museum Deep Dives
November's gray weather makes this the ideal time for Stuttgart's automotive museums, and you'll actually have space to move. The Mercedes-Benz Museum in Bad Cannstatt takes 2.5-3 hours minimum if you're reading displays, and the Porsche Museum in Zuffenhausen needs 90 minutes. Both are climate-controlled at 20°C (68°F) year-round. November weekdays see 40-50% fewer visitors than summer, meaning you can photograph the 1936 Silver Arrow without waiting. The audio guides are excellent and available in 8 languages. The Porsche Museum café has surprisingly decent Swabian food if you need lunch.
Markthalle Food Market Sessions
The Markthalle is Stuttgart's 1914 Jugendstil market hall, and November is when locals do serious food shopping for holiday prep. The ground floor has 33 vendors selling everything from Turkish börek to Swabian Spätzle to fresh Maultaschen. Upstairs, the Galerie level has lunch counters serving hot food for €8-14. The Markthalle is genuinely warm (important in November), opens at 7am weekdays, and the Thursday afternoon crowd is peak local energy. This is where you try Gaisburger Marsch (beef stew with Spätzle) or Linsen mit Spätzle (lentils with egg noodles) from vendors who've been there 20+ years.
TV Tower and Surrounding Forest Walks
The Fernsehturm (TV Tower) on clear November days offers 40 km (25 mile) views across the Swabian Alps, though you're gambling on fog. When visibility is good, the 150 m (492 ft) observation deck is spectacular, and November's bare trees actually improve sightlines. The surrounding Degerloch forest has 5-8 km (3.1-5 miles) of marked trails through beech and oak woods that locals use for Sunday walks. The forest floor in November is covered in leaves, and you'll see families collecting chestnuts. Dress for 3-5°C (37-41°F) in the forest, which feels colder than the city due to wind.
Ludwigsburg Palace and Baroque Christmas Market
Ludwigsburg Palace, 20 minutes north of Stuttgart, is Germany's largest Baroque palace and genuinely impressive in November when tour groups thin out. The palace has 452 rooms (you'll see about 40 on the tour), and the gardens are dormant but architecturally interesting even without flowers. Late November brings the Baroque Christmas Market in the palace courtyard - smaller and more refined than Stuttgart's main market, with 180 vendors and a focus on handcrafted goods. The market runs late November through December 22nd, and opening weekend is locals-only energy before it gets touristy.
Staatstheater Opera and Ballet Performances
The Staatstheater Stuttgart is one of Europe's leading opera houses, and November is peak season with near-nightly performances. The ballet company under Tamas Detrich is world-class, and November typically features both classical and contemporary programs. The opera house itself is 1960s Brutalist architecture (you'll love it or hate it), but the acoustics are exceptional. Tickets range wildly from €12 nosebleed seats to €120 orchestra, and the November schedule tends toward accessible crowd-pleasers rather than avant-garde experiments. Dress code is surprisingly casual - jeans are fine in upper levels.
November Events & Festivals
Stuttgart Christmas Market Opening
One of Germany's largest and oldest Christmas markets, typically opening the last week of November and running through December 23rd. The Marktplatz transforms into 280+ wooden stalls selling handcrafted ornaments, nativity scenes, and traditional foods. The opening days in late November are when locals actually shop here before tourist crowds hit in December. Expect Glühwein for €3.50-4.50 per mug (plus €3 deposit), roasted almonds, Lebkuchen, and the distinctive Swabian Weihnachtsgebäck (Christmas cookies). The market sprawls across Marktplatz, Schillerplatz, and Karlsplatz with different themes in each area.
Ludwigsburg Baroque Christmas Market Opening
The Baroque Christmas Market at Ludwigsburg Palace opens late November, offering a more refined alternative to Stuttgart's main market. Set in the palace courtyard with 180 vendors, it focuses on artisan crafts, handmade toys, and traditional Swabian specialties. The Baroque architecture provides a theatrical backdrop, and opening weekend draws locals from across the region. Evening visits are particularly atmospheric with the palace illuminated. Admission typically €2-3 depending on day and time.