Stuttgart (Germany Baden-Wurttemberg)

Stuttgart is a Neckar River/Rhine River cruise port and the largest city in Germany's Baden-Wurttemberg state (Urban district). By population (around 630,000, metro over 5,3 million) the city is ranked Germany's 6th largest (after Berlin, Hamburg, Munchen, Koln, Frankfurt) and 4th largest metro area (after Rhine-Ruhr, Rhine-Main, Berlin-Brandenburg). The state's second-largest by population is Karlsruhe. Stuttgart is just a 1-hour river travel distance from Schwarzwald (Black Forest region).

The city is planned unusually for Germany, spreading across hills (some with vineyards), valleys (alongside Neckar River) and nature parks. Stuttgart's economy is based on high-tech and automotive industries (having the headquarters of Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Bosch, Mahle, Celesio, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Sika), Stuttgart Trade Fair (expo complex next to Stuttgart Airport), electronics, engineering, science, research and development (R&D), education (institutes, universities, colleges), financial services (Stuttgart Stock Exchange is Germany's 2nd largest - after Frankfurt).

Wine and beer production are another major economic contributor. The city is Germany's only one with vineyards located within the urban area / districts Rotenberg, Uhlbach, Untertürkheim). By vine area, Stuttgart is ranked Germany's 4th largest winegrowing region, Wine-themed is the annual festival Weindorf.

Most river cruise ships in Stuttgart dock in Bad Cannstatt (Kannstadt) - an outer stadtbezirke (district) which is also the city's oldest and most populous.