Mercedes Benz Museum Stuttgart

The Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart opened its doors in 2006. Visitors are immersed in 125 years of automotive history, which is recounted here from day one. The exhibition, which is unique worldwide, displays 160 vehicles and numerous other exhibits across nine levels and 16,500 square meters of floor space.

The journey through the history of the automobile begins on the top level of the museum. An elevator takes visitors to the beginning of the exhibition and the year 1886. There are two tours through the museum. The main tour winds its way downwards in a spiral. Along the way, visitors pass seven so-called myth rooms. Here, the history of the brand is told chronologically. There is also another tour that leads through five collection rooms. Here, the diversity of the brand is presented. Visitors can easily switch between the two tours and complete both at the same time. They meet again at the steep curve of the Silver Arrows.

Myth and Collection Rooms

The exhibition is divided into Myth and Collection Rooms. Seven Myth Rooms tell the story of Mercedes-Benz in different themes and eras. They are connected by a ramp, which also allows wheelchair users to view the entire exhibition. The chronicle of the company is displayed on the wall along the ramp, while vehicles from the respective era can be seen inside the room. Only the first and last myth rooms are not designed according to this scheme. Each myth room focuses on a central event that represents the era. Examples include the first gasoline-powered tram and the development of the supercharged engine.

Myth Room 1: 1886–1900 The invention of the automobile

Myth Room 2: 1900–1914 The birth of the brand

Myth Room 3: 1914–1945 Diesel and compressor

Myth Room 4: 1945–1960 Form and diversity

Myth Room 5: 1960–1982 Safety and the environment

Myth Room 6: A new beginning – The road to emission-free mobility

Myth Room 7: Silver Arrows – Racing and records

The collection rooms showcase the diversity of the individual models. The themes range from travel with various bus models to the gallery of helpers, which displays various ambulances and police cars. In the “gallery of names”, visitors can view the vehicles of famous personalities, including Princess Diana's car. The exhibition is rounded off by display cases with smaller exhibits such as miniature cars and promotional items.

Collection 1: Travel Gallery

Collection 2: Cargo Gallery

Collection 3: Helpers Gallery

Collection 4: Names Gallery

Collection 5: Heroes Gallery

The museum is an architectural highlight of the Stuttgart region. The building was designed by Dutch architects Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos. The duo created a structure that combines simplicity and complexity: three endless loops encircle the building, repeatedly returning to their starting point. The architects followed the concept of a double helix. The result is a nine-story building without columns or walls.

Visitors are guided spirally along the loops through the levels, thus traversing a timeline through the history of the global corporation. The museum was built on a six-meter-high hill located between the headquarters and the factory facilities, thus serving as a connecting element. Despite the imposing size of the building, it seems to float weightlessly.

Public Transportation:

From Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof (central station), take the S-Bahn (urban railway) line S1 heading for Kirchheim (Teck) to Neckarpark (Mercedes-Benz), then follow the signage.

By car: 

Approaching on the A8 motorway from Karlsruhe: at Stuttgart-Vaihingen motorway intersection, join A831 motorway, then take B14 road signposted "Stuttgart-Zentrum". Continue on B10 / B14 road, then follow the NeckarPark traffic guidance system to Mercedes-Benz Arena / Mercedes-Benz Museum.

Approaching on the A8 motorway from Ulm: take exit Esslingen onto B313 dual carriageway; from here follow B10 in the direction of Stuttgart until exit Stuttgart-Ost, then follow the NeckarPark traffic guidance system to Mercedes-Benz Arena / Mercedes-Benz Museum.

Approaching on the A81 motorway from Heilbronn: take exit Zuffenhausen; from here follow B10 in the direction of Stuttgart-Zentrum, then follow the NeckarPark traffic guidance system towards Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt / Esslingen then towards Mercedes-Benz Arena / Mercedes-Benz Museum.

Parking facilities are available in the museum’s car park or in the P4 multistory car park.

Visitors of the museum with a classic car may park this from Tuesday to Sunday exclusively on the hill in front of the Mercedes-Benz Museum.