Stuttgart: New impulses for the lower Königstrasse after City Dialogue!

Stuttgart: New impulses for the lower Königstrasse after City Dialogue!

Something is happening in Stuttgart. On July 17, 2025, around 30 representatives from administration, business and interest groups met in the town hall to discuss the future of the city center. Torsten von Appen, the new head of economic development, emphasizes the importance of active design and makes it clear: You don't just want to watch, you want to take things into your own hands. The focus was particularly on the lower Königstrasse, which is intended to improve cleanliness and safety through an initiative by the IHK. “This is seen as a strong signal of local connection,” says von Appen.

Mayor Dr. Frank Nopper proudly announces that Stuttgart has won the Vital City Award 2024 for the “most vital city center” among major German cities. This is based on the nationwide study “Vital City Centers” by the Institute for Retail Research (IFH) in Cologne, which highlights the city's attractiveness and retail offering. According to figures, over 21 million people visited Stuttgart city center in 2024, which shows the great appeal of the city.

Stuttgart's lively city center

The numbers are impressive: Stuttgart's vitality score is over 33, making the city number 1 among major German cities with more than 600,000 inhabitants. This award is no coincidence; The pedestrian frequency was precisely recorded using laser measurements and the city center scores points with citizens for its pedestrian-friendliness, its connection to local public transport and an extensive range of events and restaurants. Holger Siegle, City Manager of the City Initiative Stuttgart, sees the partnership between all players as the key to success.

“We want to improve the quality of stay and accessibility of the city center,” Nopper continues. Particular attention is being paid to the redesign of the station forecourt and lower Königstrasse. Green and blue elements are planned to help improve the quality of stay. Collaboration between the various actors is considered necessary to further advance the city center. One of the goals is to develop the lower Königstrasse into an inviting place.

Outlook for the future

The next City Dialogue will take place on November 10th, where experts from urban planning will be invited. This format is held up to twice a year to bring together key players in inner city development. “We want to provide concrete impetus for inner city development through transparent information sharing and early discussions,” explains von Appen.

With all of these measures and initiatives, Stuttgart is well on its way to remaining one of the liveliest and most attractive city centers in Germany. The local actors are committed and show that the city center is a matter of the heart for many. It remains exciting to see how developments will continue to unfold.

For more information about the events and the planned initiatives in Stuttgart, read more at stuttgart.de, die-webzeitung.de and stuggi.tv.