13 Best Things to Do in Leipzig, Germany
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Written by Kyle Kroeger
What are the top things to do in Leipzig, Germany? Is the city worth a visit? Here’s everything you should know about Leipzig attractions.
The city is every art lover’s haven, thanks to its wide range of museums, galleries, and concert halls. From exploring the historical Romanesque churches and cellars from the 16th century to Art Nouveau buildings, there is no shortage of things to do in Leipzig, Germany.
Leipzig got its name from international trade fairs due to its location at the intersection of two key trade routes, Via Regia and Via Imperii. Since the Holy Roman Empire, Leipzig has been an epicenter for trade, music, and publishing. It has never lost its place as a learning, trade, and culture hub.
If you plan to visit this cultural city, don’t worry about where to start or what to do. There is tons of stuff to do in Leipzig, from shopping to touring to enjoying an evening or night out.
Shopping options are plenty, ranging from flea markets, souvenir stores, and luxury boutiques to department stores. Since it is home to famous poets and composers like Felix Mendelssohn and Johann Sebastian Bach, museums that honor these important figures are also compelling top tourist attractions.
Here are some fantastic things to see and interesting things to do in Leipzig, Germany, you should consider.
Things to Do in Leipzig, Germany
1. Tour the Augustusplatz
Address: Augustuspl.Leipzig, Germany
Located at the east end of Leipzig city, Augustusplatz is the largest square in Europe. In this square, you can explore cathedrals and several historical landmarks. Also, this square hosts festivals, concerts, and seasonal markets all year round.
The city’s high-rise building is located at Augustusplatz. This 467-foot-tall city High-Rise (Kroch-Hochhaus) is one of the tallest buildings in Leipzig. On the roof of this magnificent building is an observation platform from which you can catch incredible panoramic views of the city.
When you’re in Augustusplatz, don’t miss visiting the Opera House and Gewandhaus Concert Hall, especially if you’re a fan of classical music.
In these places, you’ll enjoy entertainment and the harmonious performance of the classical. Other notable and must-see buildings in Augustusplatz include Neues Theater, the Museum of Fine Arts, The New Augusteum, Europahaus, and Mendebrunnen.
2. Enjoy the Melodious Performances of the St. Thomas/ Thomaskirche Choir
Address: Thomaskirchhof 18, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
This Gothic and Baroque church dates back to the 12th century. Attending Thomaskirche (St. Thomas Church) should be one of your things to do in Leipzig.
After its massive destruction during WWII, it was meticulously reconstructed before its grand reopening to the public in 2000. Some of the scenic features in St. Thomas Church include:
- Bronze epitaphs of prominent figures
- The marble baptismal font portrays biblical scenes
- A statue of composer Johann Sebastian Bach.
Johann Sebastian Bach was the cantor of this 13th-century church between 1723 and 1750. St. Thomas Church has also been his burial site since 1950. The Johann Sebastian Bach statue is one of the key tourist attractions in St. Thomas Church.
You can stop by on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays to listen to the St. Thomas Church boys choir motet performance. It is among the most prestigious choirs globally and will only cost around €2.
After the Sunday concert, be sure to take a tour of the church’s Baroque tower (built in 1702). Another interesting fact about this church is that the famous Mozart played the organ here in 1789, and Richard Wagner was also baptized there.
3. Explore the Bach-Museum
Address: Thomaskirchhof 15/16, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
Right opposite St. Thomas Church is the Bach Museum. This museum displays Johann Sebastian Bach’s life and works. The treasure room is among the most exciting things in the Bach Museum. Glass cases display the room where Bach kept his handwritten manuscripts.
Because of the high sensitivity and delicacy of the documents, their display is constantly rotated. In other words, they are displayed for a few months and remain hidden for the rest. If you’re lucky, you may find them on display.
The Bach museum also contains musical instruments that Bach played, including the console of an organ, a violone from his orchestra, and a viola d’amore that a close buddy, Johann Christian Hoffmann, designed for him.
There is also a display of Bach’s family tree. Here, you can trace his family members and find out the members that got involved in music: organists, court musicians, instrument makers, and even cantors.
4. Spend an Afternoon at Leipzig Zoo
Address: Pfaffendorfer Str. 29, 04105 Leipzig, Germany
Founded in 1878, Leipzig Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in Germany. The zoo, which spans over 27 hectares, is home to 850 species and more than 5,000 wildlife from Asia, Africa, and South America.
The rarest animal species, such as tapirs, eastern quolls, Chinese Pangolins, Baikal seals, and Siberian tigers, are kept in natural enclosures. The Leipzig Zoo has six themed exhibits, an aviary, an aquarium, and an ape enclosure.
Leipzig Zoological Garden has pioneered new habitat concepts such as the Gondwanaland biome and Pongoland. The Pongoland indoor project houses chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and bonobos.
Here, you’ll enjoy commentary and feeding of the animals in some selected enclosures. Leipzig Zoo entrance fee is around €21 for adults and €13 for kids between 6 and 16 years. You may enjoy reduced rates if you get lucky, for example, if you visit the zoo 3 hours before closing.
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5. Grab a Bite of Leipzig’s Signature Dish, Allerlei
This dish combines sautéed or steamed asparagus, carrots, peas, and morel mushrooms. It is usually served with crayfish and bread dumplings. It’s also believed that this dish was created in Leipzig in the 19th century as a ruse against marauding tax collectors and soldiers.
Only a handful of Leipzig restaurants have prepared this regional dish using traditional methods. But you can be sure to get an original one at Auerbachs Keller.
Opened in 1525, Auerbachs Keller is one of the best and second oldest Leipzig restaurants. It has remained consistent and serves many authentic Saxon dishes and beers.
Downstairs, they have a wine bar with numerous wine cellars that even Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Queen Elizabeth II, and Martin Luther frequented. This wine bar has been in existence since 1438, which makes it the coolest spot to enjoy a drink while immersed in Leipzig’s city’s rich history.
6. Check Out the Ever-Fresh Produce in the Markt
Markt is an old rectangular square center with numerous shops and restaurants. In the winter season, the Christmas market is normally held here. So, if you happen to be in Leipzig around Christmas time, be sure to check it out.
The market square has an Easter market and a weekly produce market at other times of the year. Also, there are occasional weekend markets and concerts in contemporary times.
For instance, during the gothic festival (Wave—Gothic Treffen), the world’s largest gothic festival, medieval-themed stalls are displayed, and sideshows such as jousting are held in the market square.
The Markt architecture appeal is a blend of the old and the new trends. To the east, the Markt neighbors the Old Townhall arcades. The Northern side is the newly rebuilt Alte Waag building, which was Leipzig’s hub of trade fairs for centuries and housed the city scales.
To the southern side are the new conversions and buildings representing silhouettes of Leipzig’s historical buildings.
See Related: Day Trips from Leipzig
7. Visit the Altes Rathaus, Old Town Hall and Old City Hall
Address: Markt 1, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
On your next trip to Germany, including visiting Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), among your top things to do in Leipzig. Founded in 1556, Altes Rathaus is a key example of Renaissance architecture adorned with gables, mullioned windows, and a tower.
This two-story building is the most stunning historical landmark in Leipzig. Its sophisticated ballroom hosts exhibitions, events, and concerts all year long.
In this hall, you can visit the Museum of City History to learn in-depth details of Leipzig’s development history from the medieval era to the present. One of the most striking displays in the museum is the miniature city model from the 19th century.
The Altes Rathaus (Old City Hall) is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. If you visit this place, be sure to check the earliest texts in German, including Sachsenspiegel’s hand-written copy, the custumal of the Holy Roman Empire, and the 13th-century law book.
8. Enjoy the Crazy Night in Leipzig
Leipzig’s nightlife is pretty exciting and entertaining. There are lots of things to do at night. Numerous vibrant pubs are conveniently situated in Leipzig city center, packed with bars, taverns, wine cellars, and even nightclubs. You can go into one of the bars and grab a drink after sightseeing in Leipzig city.
Thanks to the well-planned pedestrian pathways, you can even bar shop and experience the diverse nightlife options. Be sure to try different Leipzig beers like Gose (top-fermented beer) and Schwarzbier (black beer).
9. Visit the Grassi Museum
Address: Johannispl. 5-11, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
The Grassi Museum called ‘Museums in the Grassi,’ is one of the most amazing attractions in Leipzig. It hosts three museums: the Musical Instruments Museum, the Ethnography Museum, and the Applied Arts Museum.
The museum was named after Franz Dominic Grassi, an Italian businessman who lived in Leipzig. Upon his death, Franz had bequeathed more than 2 million marks to Leipzig city, which helped build the ‘Old Grassi Museum’, Mende Fountain, and Gewandhaus.
The ‘Old Grassi Museum’ became too small for the growing number of collections, which prompted the then-director to start the ‘New Grassi Museum’ construction project between 1925 and 1929.
Beautiful pieces date back to the musical instruments museum’s 15th and 20th centuries. On the other hand, the Ethnography Museum boasts over 200,000 exhibits from South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Australia, Oceania, America, Africa, and Europe.
Perhaps the most interesting museum is the Applied Fine Arts Museum. This is a contemporary exhibition space hosting modern artwork by up-and-coming city artists and designers. The Applied Arts Museum also hosts art deco, ranging from glassware and ceramics to furniture.
See Related: Things to Do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
10. Check out Leipzig Hauptbahnhof
Address: Leipzig Hauptbahnhof, Willy-Brandt-Platz, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
Covering 8.3 hectares, Leipzig Hauptbahnhof is the largest train station in the world by floor area. This station is not a typical train station as it has a facade almost 300 meters long.
Leipzig Hauptbahnhof also functions as a museum. Five historic locomotives, including the 1930 aerodynamic DRG Class SVT 137 diesel locomotive and WWII-era DRB Class 52 steam engine, are on track 24.
Around 20 years ago, the station’s concourse was turned into a 3-story shopping mall with high-street shops and boutiques.
See Related: Things to Do in Bonn
11. Marvel at Leipzig’s Panorama in the Panometer
Address: Richard-Lehmann-Straße 114, 04275 Leipzig, Germany
A trip to Leipzig wouldn’t be complete without a tour of the Panometer. Watching the present theme in this unusual museum should be at the top of your list of things to see in Leipzig.
In 1909, an Austrian artist converted a 161-foot-tall and 187-foot-in-diameter gasometer situated in the southern part of Connewitz into a visual panorama.
The Panoramas has been showing different themes since 2003, and it gets updated after 2 or 3 years. Some of the past visual panoramas included stuff like the Amazon, Mount Everest, Ancient Rome, and the Battle of Leipzig. The Titanic panorama remained on display between 2017 and 2019.
The panorama on display from 2019 to the present is Carola’s Garden. When watching the garden’s pictures, it gets so close that you can see pollen sticking to a bee’s legs.
Thematic exhibitions accompany each visual panorama. Until now, the panoramic pictures are around 98 feet high and 344 feet in circumference, and they remain the largest pictures in the world.
See related: Interesting Facts About Germany
12. Go See the Mendelssohn-Haus
Address: Goldschmidtstraße 12, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
The Mendelssohn-Haus should be part of what you see in Leipzig. The Haus is the city’s only preserved 19th-century private apartment. It belonged to composer Felix Mendelssohn, who moved in with his family in 1845 and passed away in 1847. He is still residing in this apartment.
In 1997, on Mendelssohn’s 150th birthday, the apartment was converted into a museum to display his life and work. The museum shows some hand-written documents, original furniture, and watercolors that he composed.
In 2014, the museum was updated with a new and interactive display. The exhibition lets visitors experience what it’s like to conduct an orchestra. The museum’s grounds are maintained as historic gardens. What was previously known as the coach house is now a chamber music venue.
13. St. Nicholas Church and the Miracle of Leipzig Monument
Address: Nikolaikirchhof 3, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
The city of Leipzig has a long history, beginning with St. Nicholas Church in 1475. The church’s interior is white, with fluted columns leading to palm tree sprouts on top of capitals and supporting a high ceiling.
St. Nicholas Church’s bells, rung daily from the south tower, have been cast by John Taylor & Co. of Loughborough and weigh about 14 tons each.
The sanctuary was carved by artist Nel Tydeman in 1770; it contains a magnificent pipe organ built in 1869 and has been refurbished several times since then.
The Monday Demonstrations at St. Nicholas Church, attended by nearly 70,000 people, met with around 800 cops who ordered them to cease fire over one stretch of the street. According to reports, the miracles of the Monday demonstrations had resulted in Germany’s rebirth. About a month later, the Berlin Wall was brought down.
To get to St. Nicholas Church, take the S-Bahn to the “Markt” station and walk for about 5 minutes.
Tours in Leipzig
Looking for a unique way to explore Leipzig? Climb aboard a motorboat for a sightseeing tour of the city's waterways. You'll see some of the city's most iconic sights, including its historic industrial buildings, while learning about its profound history. This is a great way to get a feel for Leipzig's character and see how its past has shaped its present. So come on board and enjoy a relaxing cruise through one of Germany's most vibrant cities.
Leipzig is a beautiful and historic city, and there's no better way to see it than with this Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour! You'll be able to experience all the important sites of Leipzig while listening to informative commentary. Plus, you can hop off at any of the 13 stops along the way and pick up the tour again later. And as an added bonus, you'll also get to participate in a guided walking tour following the bus tour. This is a great way to see everything Leipzig has to offer!
Get to know Innsbruck with a local guide and learn all the best kept secrets of this charming city! With experienced and knowledgeable guides, you'll explore the ins and outs of getting around, where to shop and eat and more on a customized tour. Traveling should be about making friends and learning new things, and with this private Innsbruck tour, you'll get to do both!
FAQ
Why should I visit Leipzig?
Because it’s best known for its music, trade fairs, renaissance architecture, tallest war monuments. and gothic churches, visiting Leipzig is like returning to medieval times.
Is Leipzig a historical place of World War II?
Leipzig is a city that dates back to the 10th century and has seen its share of historical events, including World War II. However, Leipzig was largely spared from the bombing of World War II and, as such, remains a historical city. What’s more, it is considered to be the starting point of the German Revolution.
Who is Martin Luther in Leipzig?
Martin Luther was an Augustinian friar best known for his book, “95 Theses”, which was a work against the Catholic Church and its practices. More than that, Luther is also known for his influence on the Protestant Reformation and the establishment of the Lutheran church. It was in Leipzig, Germany, that Martin Luther preached the “Ninety-Five Theses”.
Where is Leipzig located in Germany?
Leipzig is located in the state of Saxony, in east Germany.