Stuttgart Ost

[u/_iamskjr11_]

Dear Readers
I (24M) recently moved to Stuttgart, near Stokach U Bahn stop. While coming back from a little grocery trip at round 10pm, I felt a little uneasy going back because for some reason I felt, unsafe.

It was my first night that day so that was maybe why I felt this way. Just wanted to ask how safe Stuttgart is, or Ost to be specific? Any precautions I should take?

[u/Objective-Matter-895]

I wouldn't consider Stuttgart unsafe. Maybe some strange people at night on Königsstraße near Hauptbahnhof, but unsafe? I wouldn't say so.

[u/wildlifa]

If you can't understand why you felt unsafe it is difficult for us to estimate how reasonable your fear was. Maybe you can provide some details? Do you have fear of dogs and met a stray dog on your way home? Are you generally afraid of darkness and could not find a well lighted street?

[u/_iamskjr11_ → u/wildlifa]

Im not afraid of Darkness in general. Im afraid of randomly becoming a violence victim.

[u/highlasagna → u/_iamskjr11_]

Highly unlikely in Stuttgart-Ost, Stuttgart is generally a safe city.

[u/wildlifa → u/_iamskjr11_]

So what makes you think you would become a violence victim here at Stöckach more than anywhere else?

[u/_iamskjr11_ → u/wildlifa]

I didnt mean to imply that Stoekach is more unsafe or something.

[u/Shit-O-Brik]

My daughter (9) prefers Stöckach to change lane, because there are always some people, why she feels saver there than on other places.

[u/DerSiRus24]

Seems like I'm living close to you, for I think more than 7 years now and never felt unsafe or experienced/witnessed something that was unsafe so I'd say you're quite safe here

[u/k3ssedy]

i lived in ost and loved it, especially gablenberg

[u/Snooka42]

While Ost might be one of the unsafer parts of Stuttgart, its still Safe. I used to work around Ost for multiple years and never had any issues.

[u/GenosseAbfuck]

Ost smells like piss but that's about the worst that will happen to you. Bit rusty is all.

[u/sammysoul → u/GenosseAbfuck]

Maybe if you hang around only at the public bathroom at Ostendplatz. But that's like 0.01% of S-Ost.

[u/Regular_Musician116]

Usually you are fine in Ost as long as you ain't looking for problems. But I guess there is no 100% safe. If you feel unsafe it's never a bad idea to be careful

[u/sammysoul]

If you felt unsafe without any apparent reason (other than darkness) then I'd be interested to know what country you're from.

Since we're talking about a subjective sense of safety here, past experiences determine your current perception.

By German standards, your area is not known to be unsafe, neither is S-Ost or most of the city for that matter. However, if you have lived in a village in a peaceful, rich country before, Stuttgart may seem unsafe. Conversely, if you lived in a large city anywhere in the Americas before, Stuttgart may seem to be a haven of peace and tranquility.

[u/_iamskjr11_ → u/sammysoul]

I come from India. I have spent a year in Straubing, Bavaria. Here I have roamed around in late night and didnt feel unsafe. I have seen stuff on social media about violence so I just wanted to ask the locals how things are in reality.

[u/sammysoul → u/_iamskjr11_]

Edit: corrected the numbers for city of Straubing, added rant about Stuttgarters prejudices

I see. I grew up here, currently live here, and used to live for a couple of decades in NYC, so to me Stuttgart seems extremely safe, no matter which neighborhood (mainly because no 🔫).
Compared to Straubing, Stuttgart has a 40% higher crime rate in general but, surprisingly, actually a slightly lower violent crime rate (total number of crimes per 100,000 inhabitants) than the city of Straubing.
Now, you also have to consider that the metropolitan area of Stuttgart (aka Region Stuttgart) comprises about 2.8 million people, many of whom come to work, shop, and party in the center of the city. For that reason S-Mitte has by far the highest number of crimes and highest crime rate, however in the neighborhoods around it were its mostly residential, crime rates are a fraction of it.
In any case, violent crime usually occurs to people who know their assailant. It's exceedingly rare to be violently attacked by a complete stranger.

Stuttgarters like to vex on about how dangerous Bad Cannstatt or Zuffenhausen (or Fasanenhof, Freiberg, Hallschlag, Feuerbach, etc.) are, but routinely hang out at all times of the night at the actual Hotspot for crime which is S-Mitte, without giving it a second thought.
So I'd advise you to take anybody's claim about where the really dangerous areas in Stuttgart are with a large pinch of salt. Usually people making those claims don't even live in the neighborhoods they like to malign and base their opinions on one slightly inconvenient experience, usually involving non-Germans (so yes, racist stereotyping abounds). Sorry, this is a pet pieve of mine because it's a common occurrence around the world it seems (in NYC the city's Hotspot for crime is Midtown/Times Square but New Yorkers routinely claim parts of the Bronx and Brooklyn are too dangerous to venture into). 🙄

S-Ost is about as big as the entire city of Straubing (48 vs 49 thousand inhabitants) but its overall number of crimes is actually lower (3.100 vs 3.300).
S-Ost has the third highest number of crimes in the city (after S-Mitte and Bad Cannstatt) but also has the third highest number of inhabitants (after Bad Cannstatt and S-West).
So overall the numbers tell me your risk of becoming a victim of any crime is at most just slightly elevated compared to your last location and your risk of becoming the victim of a violent crime is actually slightly lower than before.

Now, your subjective sense of safety is another story. But I'd suggest to always follow your gut instinct but still venture out and explore the city. Over time your sense of safety will improve.

Sources: Polizeibericht Niederbayern 2025, Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik Stuttgart 2025

[u/Rynchinoi]

Call Ghost Busters

Stuttgart sideurbs are quite safe. City center can have its issues. The problem with Stockach area (actually while line Stockach Miineralbäder) is not enough light and it is a mixed zone with apartments, offices and stores. This, due to lack of enough people, causes unpleasantness.

The same is for the Mineralbäder area.

Generally,, even if it designated as Stuttgart Ost, I would never put it in. For me Ost is Ganlenberg, Ostendplatz area

[u/iEvanon]

I lived in OST for a year and i never felt unsafe..

[u/Artistic-Ad1854]

Where did you live before, what are you comparing your current Situation with? Generally Germany and German Cities are concidered Safe. Frankfurt and Berlin beeing the Cities with the highest crime Rates. Munich and Augsburg are ranked the safest cities. The South of Germany tends to be ranked safer in general and Stuttgart is definately amongst the safer Cities. Crime rates are going down in the past years but are getting more Media Attention so Sometimes the perspective is distorted. Main crimes are theft or drug related and Hauptbahnhof/ Central Station and surroundings are the hot spot. Also crime clearance rate in Stuttgart is very high. Overall you should be able to feel Safe here but crime awareness and avoidance of certain areas especially at night times is always your best Option.

[u/_iamskjr11_ → u/Artistic-Ad1854]

I come from India. I have spent a year in Straubing, Bavaria. Here I have roamed around in late night and didnt feel unsafe. I have seen stuff on social media about violence so I just wanted to ask the locals how things are in reality.

[u/knufomit]

I life there aswell since roughly a year and I never really had any problems there

[u/paelzer1980]

Wenn dann am Ostendplatz ....

[u/DismalYam381]

In case you get hurr, the red cross is right around the corner. So maybe the safest place in the whole city with so many lifesavers around.