The Strangest Museum in Stuttgart for a Short Weekend Escape
I didn’t plan to visit a museum full of pigs.
But that’s the kind of thing that happens when you leave space for the unexpected — in your schedule, and in your bag.
During a short escape from the office grind, I took a weekend train to Stuttgart. I needed a break. Nothing extreme. Just something different. I packed my expandable backpack for travel, booked a modest hotel near the city center, and followed a friend’s odd but enthusiastic recommendation: “Go see the pig museum.”
🐷 More Than Just a Quirky Stop
Officially called the Schweinemuseum, the Pig Museum is located in a pastel green Art Nouveau building, formerly a slaughterhouse — fitting, if you think about it. But inside? It’s whimsical, surprising, and oddly touching.
Over 50,000 pig-related items are spread across 27 themed rooms, from figurines and physiology models to cartoon characters and lucky charms. Germans have a saying, “Schwein haben,” meaning “to have a pig,” which actually means to have luck. That expression alone set the tone: this place wasn’t a joke — it was joyful.
Each floor brought something new. One moment I was staring at an anatomically accurate pig skeleton, the next, laughing at a room full of pink plush pigs. The museum isn’t big, but it’s immersive. Childlike, without feeling childish.
🎒 A Backpack That Keeps Up with Curiosity
I hadn’t planned to bring back souvenirs — but of course, I ended up with pig-themed postcards, a miniature lucky charm, and a jar of mustard from the museum shop. That’s when I was glad I packed my 20L expandable backpack. I could unzip the base and make room without juggling shopping bags through the U9 metro back to the city.
Sometimes it’s the small things that make a short trip feel like a full reset:
– A weirdly specific museum 🐽
– A sunny walk through a residential neighborhood
– An extra 20 minutes to sit in the attached restaurant and eat slowly
No itinerary. Just space to follow a whim.
📍 Info You’ll Actually Use
· Location: Schlachthofstraße 2a, 70188 Stuttgart
· Getting there: Take the U9 tram from Stuttgart's Königstraße, around 20 minutes
· Opening Hours: Tue–Fri: 10:00–17:00 Sat/Sun/Public Holidays: 11:00–17:00
There’s even a restaurant on the ground floor — no reservations needed.
🎒 Travel Light, Stay Open
I didn’t hike, climb, or tick off any Top 10 list on this trip. But I walked away with something better — a strange little story that still makes me smile when I see the magnet on my fridge.
➡️ If you’re planning your own oddball getaway or just want to travel lighter, check out the expandable backpack I use here. It’s the only one I trust to keep up with both my weekdays and weekends.
👉 Click here for my extend backpack
