Leipzig Attractions

Leipzig, L. E. or Hypezig. Many trendy names have been given to Leipzig since reunification. From L.E. as a nod to L.A. on the California West Coast or Hypezig as the new Berlin praised to the skies.

After reading, you will know:

I love the city for its many bridges, canals, and lakes. No wonder the city is often referred to as the "Water City." Thanks to this, there are a huge number of excursion destinations and recreational opportunities. You can also explore Leipzig wonderfully from the water during your city trip.

Leipzig's Auwald stretches from the northwest to the south of the city. You can explore the green lung of the city by bike.

It doesn't always have to be a long-distance trip. A bit of time, a train ticket, and good footwear are more than enough for a discovery tour.

That's why I will tell you which attractions you should see on your first visit to Leipzig. There are also more Leipzig tips for a short trip on a weekend.

Have fun discovering and planning your next escape from everyday life.

I love the city for its many bridges, canals, and lakes. No wonder the city is often referred to as the "Water City." Thanks to this, there are a huge number of excursion destinations and recreational opportunities. You can also explore Leipzig wonderfully from the water during your city trip.

Leipzig's Auwald stretches from the northwest to the south of the city. You can explore the green lung of the city by bike.

It doesn't always have to be a long-distance trip. A bit of time, a train ticket, and good footwear are more than enough for a discovery tour.

That's why I will tell you which attractions you should see on your first visit to Leipzig. There are also more Leipzig tips for a short trip on a weekend.

Have fun discovering and planning your next escape from everyday life.

The historical center naturally attracts the most tourists. If you have little time, explore downtown Leipzig without stress!

You can't miss the historic old town (and you shouldn't). It's manageable, but plan a day to explore the center.

Countless passages, great architecture, and a few nice shops are waiting for you to explore. Of course, there are also some notable places in Leipzig's old town. The core is enclosed by the so-called "Ring." You can easily explore the center on foot from the main train station to the north.

Where to start? Begin your city tour at the main train station.

⚠️ Important info if you are cycling: In the city center, you must dismount and push your bike between 11 AM - 8 PM! Inspections are frequent, so dismount!

Leipzig Central Station is repeatedly voted the most beautiful train station in Germany. Once you're there, you quickly realize why.

It also frequently serves as a backdrop for TV dramas.

On the east side, you can admire historic trains. A memorial has also been erected here to commemorate the deportation trains that left from here during World War II.

The entrances, the former waiting halls, and the cross platform are also very much worth seeing.

After that, head to the Old Town Hall at the market square. For several hundred years, this has been the center of the city of Leipzig. The Renaissance building, built in 1556, is not only one of the most popular attractions in Leipzig, but also one of the most impressive buildings in Germany.

A tower with a baroque crown is asymmetrically arranged above the main entrance. Above it is a covered balcony from which public 'proclamations' are often announced, with trumpeters in historical attire frequently participating.

Inside the town hall, there is a museum that displays many exhibits and pictures from Leipzig's city history, ranging from medieval art to works related to the 'peaceful revolution' of 1989.

A large weekly market takes place on the market square every Tuesday and Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. In winter, there is a traditional Christmas market, while many music festivals such as the Classic Open or the City Festival take place in the square throughout the year.

Tip from a local: Nearby is the historic Adler Apotheke. The young Theodor Fontane began his training here. The building is really worth seeing and has stood here on Hainstraße for over 300 years. The interior has remained unchanged since 1908/09. Here you will find information about the history.

Before heading to the Mädler-Passage, you should take a look at the Old Stock Exchange on the Naschmarkt. I find the Old Stock Exchange one of the most beautiful buildings in Leipzig.

The building is now used as a museum. In front of it, there are many pubs and restaurants.

Opposite the Old Town Hall or next to the Old Stock Exchange, you will find the entrance to the imposing Mädler-Passage. This charming old shopping arcade stretches through the old town.

The passage leads to other passages such as the Königshof Passage and Messehof Passage. These covered alleys, which once connected the merchants' buildings, offer protected shopping fun. Ideal in the rain or winter.

In some places, the passages open into covered courtyards. Behind the town hall, directly opposite the Mädler-Passage, you will find the Naschmarkt, which was laid out in 1556. A small, quiet, and picturesque square. On the north side is the Old Stock Exchange, a building from the early Baroque around 1678.

In the southwest of the Leipzig market, you will find the St. Thomas Church, the birthplace of the world-renowned Thomanerchor (St. Thomas Boys Choir). The traditional choir was founded in the same year the church was built in 1212. You surely know the Leipzig band

Die Prinzen?

The majority of them were once in this choir.

Originally, St. Thomas was an Augustinian monastery. Later, the church underwent several renovations. In the 15th century, it took the shape of a hall church in the late Gothic style, a popular architectural style in Upper Saxony.

During renovations between 1872 and 1889, the west front was redesigned. Martin Luther preached here to the congregation in 1539, and the church choir became an institution of Protestant sacred music.

From 1723 to 1750, Johann Sebastian Bach was the choir director of St. Thomas Church. In front of the church building, a sculpture of Bach commemorates his years as choir director here.

Tip: The green space between St. Thomas Church and the market square is popular for chilling on the grass. Take a break!

From St. Thomas Church heading south, you come to the "New Town Hall" at Burgplatz. For many, this building is the most beautiful in Leipzig. It was built in 1905 on the site of the former Pleißenburg.

With around 600 rooms, the town hall is one of the largest town hall buildings in Germany.

Climb the tower during a guided tour and enjoy the view.

St. Nicholas Church (Nikolaikirche) was built in the 12th century. The largest church in the city was one of the most important sites during the Peaceful Revolution in the autumn of 1989. An outdoor monument commemorates the Monday demonstrations in the former GDR. At times, more than 250,000 people participated in these demonstrations against the GDR regime.

The interior is painted white, with fluted columns forming a capital that appears to be made of palm fronds supporting the ceiling. Various symphonies by Johann Sebastian Bach were performed in Nikolaikirche, where he also served as music director.

On Augustusplatz, there are two of the most important cultural and musical places in the city: the Leipzig Opera and Gewandhaus concert hall.

If you love operas, you should get a ticket. From the Magic Flute to West Side Story and Rigoletto, true classics of opera and ballet have been performed here.

Another noteworthy building belongs to Leipzig University: the facade of the Neues Augusteum and Paulinum is meant to remind you of the Pauliner church, which stood on this exact site until its demolition for political reasons in 1968.

For more tips and viewpoints nearby, jump to the chapter: The Most Beautiful Views!

If you have the desire and time, you should visit the Grassi Museum. It was founded in 1895 and moved to its current location at Johannisplatz in 1929. The building houses three excellent museums. Exhibits of ethnography, applied decorative arts from Leipzig, and collections of historical musical instruments are displayed here. This exhibition showcases instruments of all kinds from the Middle Ages to the modern 20th century.

One of the most significant monuments in Germany is the impressive Monument to the Battle of Nations. The most imposing war memorial in Europe was completed in 1913 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the defeat of French Emperor Napoleon at the great Battle of Nations in 1813. Over 600,000 soldiers fought on this battlefield.

It was one of the largest battles in Europe. Napoleon's armies were destroyed and Napoleon was pushed back to France. The more than 12-meter-high statues surround the memorial and its interior chambers. From the observation tower at 91 meters high, there are spectacular views of Leipzig.

Attached to the monument is a museum about the Battle of Nations, the FORUM 1813. The museum displays many exhibits of military equipment and the lives of soldiers at the time.

The Völkerschlachtdenkmal with the museum is just a short tram ride from the city center. It is one of the most popular and significant attractions in Leipzig.

The Panometer is also one of the tourist attractions worth seeing in Leipzig. When you enter the exhibition, a magnificent visual panorama is revealed to you, housed in a former gasometer.

There are always changing thematic exhibitions. The concept was developed by the famous Austrian artist Yadegar Asisi.

The gasometer has an internal diameter of 57 meters and a height of 49 meters. Today, these images from the exhibition are said to be the largest in the world.

This over 10-hectare site was once an important center for trade focused on processing and handling cotton. Even before World War I, a complex industrial landscape grew here, encompassing more than 20 factories, residential buildings, educational institutions, and park landscapes.

In the past 20 years, the Leipzig Cotton Mill has become a cultural hotspot with art galleries, large exhibition spaces, and art studios. About 100 artists, including fashion designers, printers, potters, sculptors, and porcelain manufacturers have settled here. Within the extensive area, visitors will also find cafes, a cozy restaurant, and a film club.

The Kunstkraftwerk is a masterful digital art center in Leipzig. Here, you experience digital art from a variety of perspectives. Enjoy multimedia exhibitions and impressive digital works like you've never seen or heard before.

Explore Sebastian Bach visually and audibly from different angles. Discover the "Kraftwerk" on a guided tour and let the history unfold.

Plagwitz, once a neglected district of Leipzig, has experienced a boom in popularity in recent years, developing into a hipster hotspot. The area is popular with students and young people, featuring bars and vegan cafes. Almost everywhere you look, you'll find vibrant street art.

The Felsenkeller, for example, is especially recommended as a great place for a beer on a sunny afternoon. Karl-Heine-Straße and Zschochesche Straße are the main thoroughfares that will give you many great impressions.

You have the best view in Leipzig from the observation platform of the City Hochhaus. The building is located at the edge of the old town and has an observation platform on the 31st floor.

The view over the city is breathtaking. The best part: no obstructive glass or wire fences. Perfect for taking photos.

At the observation platform, there is a small shop selling snacks and drinks. A few floors below, there is also a restaurant where you can grab a bite to eat. From here too, you'll have an impressive panoramic view.

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