Planes, Trains, Football and a New City: A Stuttgart Match Weekend

Last December I went to Barcelona for a match and it really opened my eyes to how you can build a short break around a game. You are not just looking at flight times and a hotel anymore, you are trying to balance kick‑off, sightseeing, local transport and where you want to be in the evenings. It worked so well that I decided to try something similar again, this time in Stuttgart.

Because it was a late decision, the “straightforward” option was not the cheapest. Instead of flying directly to Stuttgart, I flew to Munich and trusted the German rail network to do the rest. Anyone who books late on a regular basis will know that sometimes the slightly longer route is the best value one.

The day started early with a morning flight out of Manchester and a smooth arrival into Munich. Passport control was straightforward and before long I was on the train, heading into the city and then on towards Stuttgart. There were a few timetable changes en route, but with clear information, comfortable trains and even complimentary refreshments, it all felt very manageable and set the tone for an easy, relaxed start to the weekend.

From Stuttgart station it was a quick Uber to the hotel. I had gone for Adagio Stuttgart Neckerpark and it turned out to be a really solid choice. Good space in the room, a decent bathroom, and a location that worked well for what I was there to do. It is roughly a 10 minute walk to the stadium, about 10 minutes in a taxi into central Stuttgart and you have trams and regional trains within an easy walk too. There is also a small local centre, again about 10 minutes away on foot, with restaurants and shops, which meant I did not have to go into the main city centre if I was tired from travelling.

The following morning was where I really got to see Stuttgart properly. I had booked a guided walking tour and it was excellent: very informative, paced to suit the group and full of little details you would never pick up just wandering around on your own. Stuttgart has plenty of history and character and is somewhere I would happily go back to, just to see more. It is also home to Bosch, Mercedes and Porsche, and while there was not time to visit the car museums on this trip, they are firmly on the list for next time.

Breakfast in the main square, then another drink there after the tour, gave time to sit, people‑watch and get a feel for the city. From there it was on to a beer garden that had essentially become a base for Everton fans. A couple of hours of singing the usual home hits and soaking up the atmosphere was a reminder that following your team abroad is as much about the people around you as it is about the match itself.

One of the big advantages of staying at Adagio Stuttgart Neckerpark was how easy it was to get to the stadium. You can see the ground from near the hotel and it is around a 10 minute walk. The build‑up outside was good fun, the seats were decent and everything felt very straightforward to navigate. The football itself did not really live up to the rest of the weekend (a hazard of following Everton), but the whole trip was about the experience and visiting somewhere new, not just the scoreline.

After the final whistle it was a short walk back to the hotel, a quick shower, then back out again into the city centre. I headed to the Markthalle for dinner, tried a couple of local dishes, had a beer and then made my way back to the hotel absolutely shattered. It felt like I had squeezed a lot into a fairly short amount of time without ever feeling completely rushed.

The journey home was much more straightforward than the outbound adventure. Trains from Stuttgart to Munich, an easy change, straight into the airport, Lufthansa flight on time and I was back in Manchester and at the car within about 15 minutes of landing. No drama, which is exactly what you want on a Sunday.

Looking back, it was a classic “planes, trains and automobiles” weekend, but in a good way. It was a reminder of how important routing, timings and hotel location are when you are trying to make a short break work around a fixed kick‑off time. It also reinforced how valuable things like a good walking tour can be when you only have a couple of days in a city and want to come away feeling like you have actually seen something of it.

If you like the idea of combining a live match with a weekend away, whether that is following your own team or just ticking off a stadium and a city you have always wanted to visit, I can help you put it all together. From finding sensible flight and rail options, to choosing a hotel that works for both the ground and the city, to suggesting tours and local spots to fit around match day, it is all about getting the balance right so you come home tired, happy and already talking about where to go next.

Get in touch if you would like to chat about planning your own football‑themed city break.