Porsche Museum and Mercedes Museum - who has done both?

[unclebilly]

I will have a weekend to kill the weekend after next and am considering taking the train from Amsterdam to Stuttgart for the weekend to check out the Porsche and Mercedes museums.

Who has done this?

Is half a day enough for each?

Where should I stay?

Was the train the best way to travel between the museums?

Anything else I can't miss?

[Esel Mann]

Both are fantastic and can be done in a day but a long day. Iirc we walked or took the bus between the two.
The hotel we stayed at was the mercur (sp?).

[mph911]

My fiance and I travelled from Paris to Stuttgart by train and stayed 2 days. It was snowing the whole time and was beautiful.
We did the Porsche museum on the first afternoon and the MB the following morning.
We stayed in the centre of town and caught the train to Porsche and actually walked in the snow to MB and caught the train back.
Enjoy!

[dan79brooklyn]

We did both museums in two days a few years back. Definitely worth doing. I enjoyed both museums but found the variety of the Mercedes exhibitions more entertaining actually.

[Skytrooper]

Trying to do both in a day will be kind of rushing things. If you really are interested in, it would be a shame to have to hurry along to the next museum.
While I am a die-hard Porsche guy...I found the BMW museum in Munich to be the best of the 3.

[unclebilly]

I think I will try to be at Porsche early on Saturday morning and do Mercedes on Sunday then a 6 hrs train ride back to Amsterdam...

[tevake]

I was going to say also that the Mercedes Museum is much broader and has more history to work with. It's got one of the three cars I've seen in museums claiming to be the first car , lots of the early developments as they came along.
The Mercedes Museum is arraigned chronologically from the top spiraling down thru time,
Extremely interesting layout and building design.

The Porsche Museum is also quite the showplace, spectacular building, PLUS IS CHOCKED FULL OF PORSCHE CARS that's hard to beat for the wanderings Pelican. Make sure to check out the workshop that is on the ground floor just off the lobby area, interesting projects going on in there.

Worthwhile to do both. I stayed near the Porsche Museum and went in as soon as they opened to spend some personal time there and had the family join later for their walk thru. This worked well all the way around. If you find yourself there a little early, the sales showroom just across the street is a good place to pass some time.

Have fun! Richard

Ps take your PCA card for nice discount, entry and gift shop

[Rick Lee]

The Porsche Museum, while in a big, fancy bldg, really isn't that big an exhibit. It's been six yrs. since I was there, but I was at the old museum a few times before that, and the new museum has all the same cars and nothing more. It's just a better layout than the old museum. I think I made it through in about 30 min. last time because I quickly realized it was all the same cars as in the old museum. If you want the factory tour and then to check out the giant dealer across the street from the museum, then that's another two hours.

[xbrumossalesman]

Does 1988 count ? It has got to be so different now. But I did get to see row upon row of the 959 and Martina Navratilova's pearl pink slant nose cabriolet that she received for winning the Porsche Cup in tennis that year.

[Balloonmeister]

I've done all three, Porsche, Mercedes and BMW within the past year. I would rank the Mercedes first based on its displays interspersed with historical references and its scope of vehicles presented. The Porsche Museum is beautifully done with a heavy dose on its racing roots. Frankly, I found the BMW a maze of displays and difficult to navigate in any type of sequential fashion. Stay at the Steigenberger Hotel Graf Zeppelin in downtown Stuttgart (across the street from the main train station) and you can take the train to the Porsche and Mercedes Museums and then be in the huge pedestrian area in downtown Stuttgart with its multitude of restaurants and shopping when you return.

[95avblm3]

I did all three: Porsche, Mercedes & BMW 2 years ago... Did them while my wife was at a conference working. I spent a day at all three of them. To me, Mercedes was hands down the best of them. As Rick Lee said above, the Porsche Museum is not all that big... So I did the Porsche factory tour the same day. I think you have to call or email ahead but it was awesome and well worth it.

So my advice is plan a day for each. Maybe you won't spend the whole day there but at least you won't be stressed about missing out on something. Make sure you check which days of the week the museums are closed...

[Rick Lee]

For a factory tour you need to set that up with your local Porsche dealer or you can set it up with the factory directly. I did that and the woman was not real nice, said the German tour was filled up, but got me into an English one. When I got there, the reverse was true and I got put with a German guy and his son there to pick up his new 996 tt cab. BMW will take walk-ins for the factory tour, but they are often filled up well in advance, more so for the English tours. If you're going to Munich, you might as well hit Ruf in Pfaffenhausen along the way. You'll get real personal attention there. They took me for a ride in a customer's car and we got to 330 km/hr on a back country road. It was nuts.

[bleucamaro]

I've done both... with a one year old.

But I split them up into two days. One day we went to the Porsche Museum, and also to the Zentrum dealership (across the street). The Mercedes Museum was done the same day as the Mercedes factory tour. while you could do both in one day, I think you'd be rushing yourself through the Mercedes Museum, which you really don't want to do. Even if you don't do the Mercedes factory tour, go to the factory delivery center (where the tour meets), its worth checking out the cool stuff there too. And while at the Mercedes museum, walk over to their big dealership and check out the cool cars that we don't get over here. If looking for a place to stay in Stuttgart, I had a great stay at the Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin. Train goes right to the Porsche museum.

[tdw28210]

Did both in a day last year. Took a train to Stuttgart from Mainz and back. Long day and honestly the MB museum was probably a little better. Definitely more variety.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Both done in a day,

The Mercedes is more impressive of the two, the tour starts with a horse that was only just invented before the first Mercedes car, they don't shy away from their war involvement which is refreshing to see from a German company.

Make sure you have lunch at the Porsche museum restaurant, food is great and the cars on show are all very special but not as extensive as the Mercedes. They usual have a themed exhibition on with their normal display cars.

[pavegeno]

The e-mail for the Factory tours is: werksfuehrungen@porsche.de

They typically do tours at 10 and 2 and they last two hours. Specify an English tour and PCA membership. Costs about $5 per person (were free last year). Parking is about $5 for the day underground. The city train (The S-Bahn) stops right at the factory.

Here is the info sheet you get when you register. Factory Tour info is at the bottom.

Visitor Information Porsche Museum
Address
Porsche Museum
Porscheplatz
70435 Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany

Opening Hours
Tuesday through Sunday
9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased until 5.00 p.m. Closed Mondays.

Open on all official public holidays.
Except: December 24 to 25, 31 and January 1.

Contact and reservations
Please contact our visitor service if you have any questions or if you would like to make a reservation.
Tel: 0049 (0)711 911 20911 Fax: 0049 (0)711 911 20356
E-Mail: info.museum@porsche.de

Children up to an age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult when visting the exhibition.

Please note, that animals (except guide dogs) are not permitted in the exhibition.
For more information please visit us on The Porsche Museum

No Barriers
All areas of the museum are free of barriers and accessible via ramps or elevators. Wheel chairs and mobile stools are available. Our staff will be happy to respond to special wishes or needs.

Audio Guides
Our electronic Audio Guide is free of charge. You can use it to explore the exhibition at your own pace. It contains sound tracks for motion pictures, information about individual vehicles and much more. The guide is available in following languages: German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Chinese. For children, we offer a special version.

In our exhibition you will meet our explainers. They will answer your special questions concerning the Porsche Museum and its exhibition.

Have a closer look at the museum shop or have a break at our restaurants. From coffeehouse specialties and international snacks to gourmet cuisine, there is something to satisfy every taste.

A ticket is not necessary to visit our shop or restaurants.

Museum Shop
Tuesday through Sunday 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Coffeebar
Tuesday through Sunday 09.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Restaurant Boxenstopp
Tuesday through Sunday 11.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Restaurant Christophorus
Tuesday through Saturday from 11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Closed Mondays.
Access via parking garage or separate entrance outside museum opening hours.
Reservations are appreciated.
Tel: 0049 (0)711 911 25980
E-Mail: restaurant-christophorus@porsche.de

Museum Workshop
Porsche lives out its history – and customers live out Porsche’s history too. To ensure the highest level of care and maintenance for the brand’s historical cars, Porsche has established a special Museum Workshop.
Before you even enter the exhibition, you will pass by the glass partition to the Museum Workshop. There you have the opportunity to watch Porsche’s master mechanics and specialists working on all kinds of classic Porsches. A truly unique experience of transparency offered the world over only in the Porsche Museum.

How to find the Porsche Museum
By car
Take the highway A81 („Stuttgart-Heilbronn“) until the exit „Zuffenhausen“. Continue on B10 towards Stuttgart. Take the first exit towards „Zuffenhausen“ After one kilometer you reach the Porsche Museum, using the first exit of the round-about.
From Stuttgart city center take the B27/ „Heilbronner Straße“ towards „Zuffenhausen“. After appr. 5 kilometers follow “Heilbronner Straße”. Do not turn right to B10. Follow “Ludwigsburger Straße”. At the first traffic lights, turn left into “Frankenstraße”. Keep left. Pass the underbridge and turn right at the next traffic lights to “Schwieber- dinger Straße” for about 1 kilometer until the round- about “Porsche-Platz”. Use the third exit.
By public transport
By train: From main station Stuttgart, take the S- Bahn line S6 towards „Leonberg/ Weil der Stadt“. The Porsche Museum is located next to the station “Neuwirtshaus/ Porscheplatz”.
By bus: Porscheplatz is served by several bus lines: 52, 99, 501-503, 591. The Porsche Museum is located directly at the Porscheplatz. Please ask our staff for departure information.

Distances
Distance to main station about 9 kilometers, estimated driving time appr. 30 minutes. Distance to Stuttgart-Leinfelden Airport about 35 kilometers, appr. 50 minutes by public transport (S-Bahn).

Parking
The Porsche Museum provides parking facilities in the Museum’s parking garage. A parking fee of 4 Euro will be charged. Additional fees apply after 6 hours. Visitors with handicap will find specially marked parking spaces near the elevators.
Parking fee will we charged at the ticket counters or at the restaurant Christophorus.
Please note, that the parking garage has a maximum height of 2,10 meter.
A bus parking facility is available. Please follow the parking guidance system at the Porsche Museum. Because of the distance we recommend you to let your guests get in and get off in front of the Porsche Museum.

Parking fee up to 6 hours. Additional fees apply after 6 hours

Museum Pass
With your Museum Pass you can not only enjoy more than 300 museums, castles and gardens in Germany, France and Switzerland for one year, it also grants access to all permanent and temporary exhibitions within our museums. You are allowed to bring five children (under the age of 18) for free no matter whether they are family or friends. More information under MUSEUM PASS - Museums-PASS-Musées - MuseumsPassMusées

Happy birthday!
Visitors who have their birthday, get free admission. Please present your ID card at the ticket counter.

Bus driver
The Porsche Museum invites bus drivers for a cup of coffee at the coffee bar. Please contact the staff at the ticket counter.
Contact
Tel: 0049 (0)711 911 20911 Fax: 0049 (0)711 911 20356 E-Mail: info.museum@porsche.de

Open museum tours
We offer open guided tours according to availability at 11.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m.. Tickets are available at the ticket counters. We charge 4 Euro per person plus entrance fee. The number of participants is limited to 25. Registrations for the open museum tours can be made at the ticket counter of the Porsche Museum on the day of your visit.

Guided museum tours
Guided tours can be booked in advance for groups up to 25 participants. For the 60 minutes tour we charge 60 Euro plus admission fee. The Porsche Museum provides special group rates for groups of 10 or more.

Guided architectural tours
Experience the Porsche Museum from a different point of view. During a 60 minutes tour we explain the museum’s architectural concept of Delugan Meissl Associated Architects. Join us for a walk around the building and take a look at the exhibition afterwards.
For an architectural guided tour we charge 90 Euro plus admission fee. Groups are limited to 25 participants.

Guided tours for children
Even for our young visitors we offer special guided tours that are suitable for children. They discover the history of the Porsche brand and its car models in an easy way. The tours can be booked for groups up to 10 children plus two accompanying adults. For the 60 minutes tour we charge 60 Euro plus admission fee. Children up to the age of 14 get free admission.
Please contact our visitor service for bookings.
Contact
Tel: 0049 (0)711 911 20911 Fax: 0049 (0)711 911 20356 E-Mail: info.museum@porsche.de

Guided tours outside regular opening hours
Special tours are provided outside of regular opening hours. Enjoy the exhibition in an intimate atmosphere. Our event management is looking forward to your interest.
Contact event management
Tel: 0049 (0)711 911 21911 Fax: 0049 (0)711 911 21356 E-Mail: events.museum@porsche.de

Factory tours Zuffenhausen
Tours through the Porsche plant Zuffenhausen start at the Porsche Museum. Please note, that your registration is required in advance.
Contact factory tours
E-Mail: factorytours@porsche.de
Guided factory tours are offered from Monday to Friday. The price for a factory tour is 6 Euro. Student groups and Porsche Club members receive a reduced price for the guided factory tour of 3 Euro. Participation in the factory tour is possible from the age of 12 years.
You can look forward to a 2 hour guided tour through the sports car factory in Stuttgart- Zuffenhausen. Visitors are therefore asked to wear appropriate shoes. Filming or photographing is not permitted in the Porsche plant.
Factory tours for handicapped people
For further information, please call 0049 (0)711 911 27497.

[Holger]

Planning to visit the museums this summer.
We are staying near Stuttgart on a "ranch" with the kids.
Great input in this thread!

[unclebilly]

Pavegeno (and everyone else) thank you for the information. Looks like the factory tour is out given that I will be there on the weekend.

I plan to do this this coming weekend and will post pictures. I am thinking about leaving Amsterdam very early on Saturday morning, getting to Stuttgart around noon- 1:00. Spending 1/2 day at the Porsche Museum. Staying downtown and doing the Mercedes museum on Sunday. Afterwards, I will take the train back to Amsterdam for work on Monday morning..