Moving to Stuttgart

Stuttgart is synonymous with cars – major car manufacturers and their suppliers have their headquarters here, surrounded by hundreds of engineering firms. The city attracts specialists from all over Europe, including Poland. Moving to Stuttgart, however, has its own particular features you won't find in other German cities: the centre lies in a basin, the districts climb steep slopes, and the whole city area is covered by a low-emission zone.

From Wrocław to Baden-Württemberg

Stuttgart is about 800 kilometres from Wrocław. We take the A4 to Dresden, then via Chemnitz on the A72 to Hof, the A9 to Nuremberg, the A6 towards Heilbronn and the A81 to Stuttgart. On the stretches around Nuremberg and Heilbronn, lorry traffic can be very heavy, and roadworks on the A6 can make the journey longer. Pure driving time in a van is about eight to nine hours, so we split the move over two days, or set off in the evening after loading and unload in the morning.

An Umweltzone covering all of Stuttgart

Stuttgart's low-emission zone covers the entire city area, not just the centre. Vehicles with a green sticker may enter, and in previous years there were also additional restrictions on older diesels. The rules have changed several times, so before every move to Stuttgart we check the current situation and send a vehicle that meets the requirements. Neighbouring towns, such as Ludwigsburg, have their own zones.

A basin, slopes and steps

Stuttgart is one of the hilliest big cities in Germany. Many houses on the slopes are entered from public stairways (Stäffele) rather than from the street, so there can be dozens of steps between the vehicle and the door. Streets in hillside districts are steep and narrow, with parking on both sides. When quoting, we ask for photos of the approach to the building and a description of where the van can stop – this determines the size of the crew and the unloading time.

Registration and keeping the stairwell clean

Within two weeks of moving in, you have to register at the Bürgerbüro, taking the confirmation from your landlord. Many Swabian apartment buildings also have the Kehrwoche – residents take turns cleaning the stairwell and pavement. After the move, it's worth asking your neighbours about the rota. We leave the stairwell clean after carrying in, so good relations start from day one. The other German formalities are covered on our moving to Germany page.

If your flat in Stuttgart won't be ready for a few weeks, we'll store your belongings in our warehouse in Frankfurt am Main, about two hours' drive from the city.

Moving to Stuttgart – questions