Motoring aficionados and lovers of quality cars know Stuttgart as the home of Porsche and Mercedes-Benz — and the exceptional museums dedicated to each. At the Mercedes-Benz Museum, visitors can explore the brand’s history dating to 1886, with more than 1,500 exhibits spread over nine levels and separated into themes and eras that delve deep into the research, design, development and production of some of the automobile industry’s most iconic cars. At the Porsche Museum, visitors can get interactive with a multi-touch wall featuring 3,000 images, drawings, posters and ads. There’s also the Porsche in the Mix sound installation, plenty of cars on display and an active workshop for contemporary race preparations.

But Stuttgart has more than cars on offer. In the city center above the Kleiner Schlossplatz, the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart is hard to miss. The stunning glass structure, designed by Berlin architectural firm Hascher and Jehle, houses a core collection built upon a donation from Count Silvio della Valle di Casanova in 1924. It’s also the location of an Otto Dix collection widely considered the most significant in existence. Other museums worthy of including in your city adventure include the Württemberg State Museum, located within a historic palace where the dukes of Württemberg once dwelt. Collections include cultural history, folklore, art history and archaeology. There’s also a children’s museum sure to entertain the younger members of your family, and if you’d like to charm them even more, don’t miss the Wilhelma, a fascinating combination of zoo and Moorish botanical garden created for King Wilhelm I of Württemberg between 1842–1853. Along with a crocodile hall, bear enclosure and collections of rare orchids, the space includes a demonstration farm and café.