Stuttgart TV Tower

The Stuttgart TV Tower (Fernsehturm Stuttgart) is a city landmark and a milestone in engineering history: completed in 1956, it was the world's first TV tower built of reinforced concrete with an observation pod, and it became the model for countless towers worldwide. It rises from the wooded Hoher Bopser hill in the Degerloch district, high above the city center, and its open-air viewing platform offers sweeping views over Stuttgart and far beyond.

Where it is and how to get there

The tower sits on the southern edge of Stuttgart's valley basin. From Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, take Stadtbahn (light rail) line U7 (about 11 minutes), U8 or U15 to "Ruhbank (Fernsehturm)" or "Waldau"; the tower is a few minutes' walk away. The Deutschlandticket covers the ride. If you drive, there's free parking right at the tower (Jahnstrasse 120). Stuttgart itself is roughly 1.5 hours from Frankfurt and about 2 hours from Munich by ICE train.

A tower that made history

Plans originally called for a simple 200 m steel lattice mast held by guy wires. Engineer Fritz Leonhardt proposed a slender concrete shaft topped by a visitor pod instead. Construction began in June 1954, and the tower opened on February 5, 1956. It cost about 4 million Deutsche Mark, more than double the estimate, but some 877,000 visitors came in the first year alone, and the tower quickly earned back its costs.

Today it stands about 216.6 m (711 ft) tall, is a listed monument, and is owned by the public broadcaster SWR. It was closed from 2013 to 2016 for fire-safety upgrades.

What you'll experience

• Elevator ride: two elevators climb at 5 m per second, reaching the top in about 36 seconds.
• Viewing platform: the open-air deck sits about 150 m (490 ft) above the ground. On clear days, you can see across the Stuttgart basin to the Swabian Jura, the Black Forest and the Odenwald.
• Children's platform: a smaller deck three meters higher, designed by Leonhardt especially for kids.
• Panorama café: an enclosed café inside the pod.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, according to the operator:

• Hours: daily 10 am to 10 pm; last ascent 30 minutes before closing; closed December 24.
• Admission: adults €12.50, reduced €8 (including children aged 6 to 15 and students), children up to 5 free.
• Family ticket: €35 for one or two parents with their children up to 15.
• Discount: 20% off adult tickets with a Deutschlandticket.

Buy online or at the box office. There are no refunds for poor visibility, so check the webcam first. Guided tours, which include the elevator ticket, run on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Strollers must stay in the foyer, and only assistance dogs are allowed. Access is only partly step-free because the tower base is reached by stairs.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes. It's one of the best things to do in Stuttgart, especially at sunset or on a clear day. Allow about an hour, plus waiting time on weekends.

Nearby

• Schlossplatz: Stuttgart's central square, about 15 minutes away by light rail.
• Forest trails: walking paths lead from the tower through the woods toward the Wangener Höhe and the Dürrbach valley.
• Porsche Museum: the famous car museum in Zuffenhausen, in the north of the city.