Esslingen today is a very attractive location that’s going places. Companies like Festo and Eberspaecher are part of it, as well as the former Esslingen Engineering works, which is now owned by Daimler-Chrysler.

The University of Applied Sciences enjoys a national reputation and has made the concept of the "Esslingen Engineer" synonymous with excellence.

The town is gearing up for the future, with the Life Science Centre and MediaKomm. The newly-founded Life Science Centre of Esslingen offers a platform to both founders of new businesses and established businesses in the fields of health, environment and nutrition.  Esslingen’s multimedia future is underway with MediaKomm’s triumph in the nationwide multimedia competition between towns. In the meantime, Esslingen has at its disposal a virtual marketplace, complete with businesses, and a virtual town hall. 

The city on the Neckar offers its residents and visitors a wealth of cultural facilities which attract guests from all over the region: examples are the J.F. Schreiber Museum, the Württemberg State Theatre and the City Galleries. Every year, numerous big events take place which are well-known far beyond the boundaries of the former Free City. For example, the Triennial of Photography is the most important exhibition of international contemporary art photography in Germany and has won itself a firm place in the Calendar of Events.   

The "Das Dick" Leisure Complex (see photo) is just one of the places offering a variety of leisure activities, with its eight multiplex cinemas, bistros, restaurants and disco, jazz bar and numerous small venues.

The many local restaurants cater for special culinary treats, indulging guests with both Swabian and international cookery. In addition, the town’s wine-bars and wine-cellars provide ample opportunity to experience proverbial Swabian hospitality over a glass of Esslingen wine in good company. It’s also worth visiting the Kessler Sektkellerei, the oldest champagne cellars in Germany, or enjoying a wine-tasting or a hearty winegrower’s snack.