FREE Leipzig City Guide For First Time Visitors

Having spent a significant part of my life living, studying, and regularly revisiting Leipzig, I would love to share my insider tips and a carefully planned 3 day itinerary with you in this free Leipzig city guide.

Leipzig is not only known for its high quality of life but also for its many unique sides worth exploring. This culturally exciting city is packed with heritage sites, distinctive architecture, a thriving coffee culture, and an endless list of outdoor activities.

If that sounds good to you, let’s explore Leipzig together.

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Leipzig City Guide: Travel Insights

You may not be familiar with Leipzig yet, but I can tell you that it should definitely be on your travel bucket list this summer. Imagine: Europe’s largest train station, Europe’s finest art nouveau lido, and Germany’s only city with a traditional coffee culture and the best-preserved Grade II listed architecture. All these superlatives make Leipzig a must-visit destination. 

• Similar population size as Antwerp, Rotterdam, Riga, Wroclaw, Seville, Copenhagen
• Known as a prosperous merchant city shaped by the book fair & publishing industry, as well as cultural centre for music and its reputable university
• Only German city with traditional coffee houses
• Home to the first art nouveau lido in Europe
• Historic buildings are well-preserved with a modernised inner city 
• On Sundays, most businesses are closed except for the central station, some museums and cinemas
• Culturally rich city with international character and many cosmopolitan ties. Well established anglophone community
• High quality of life, outdoor lifestyle such as cycling, green spaces and water sports
• Germany’s youngest city, average age is 41. One third are educated to degree level (most likely studied in Leipzig)
• Still old-skool in places of daily life and cash is preferred. Have small change at the ready for tram tickets
• Has its own football team, the RB Leipzig, sponsored by Red Bull. Despite its sponsor, the RB actually stands for “Rasenball”

Travel to Leipzig: Logistics

Leipzig is a fantastic city to explore year-round, offering a plethora of activities that will keep you engaged through multiple visits. The city is well-connected and easily accessible by public transport. Here are your options:

How Do I Get To Leipzig?

Leipzig is located in East Germany in the county of Saxony. It is easily reachable on public transport. Berlin and Dresden are only a short 80 minutes away. Leipzig also has its own airport and is well connected to the motorway system.

By Air: Leipzig shares an international airport with Halle (LEJ). It serves southern-European connections during the winter but used to have Ryanair services from the UK in the summer, too. From the airport, you can take a train into Leipzig central. The connection runs every 20 minutes. For your one-way ticket, you’ll need to get one that covers zones 110, 162 and 163. The ticket should cost around 4.50€. 

Please Note: One Day tram tickets are quite expensive (10€), but if you do end up using the tram often, make sure to validate those before you enter the service. There are machines on the platform. Simply insert your paper ticket into the machine and it’ll give you a timestamp. One-way tickets are valid for 2h and there’s a fine if you get caught without a validated ticket.

By Train & Car: Leipzig is located in East Germany, in the county of Saxony. If you travel from Berlin, it’ll be a 160 km southwest journey. Fast trains run regularly from Berlin Hauptbahnhof tief (underground platforms) and take roughly 80 minutes. A one-way ticket costs currently around 45€. 

From Dresden, it’s 115km to Leipzig. Trains run frequently as the route is one of Germany’s most popular ones. Tickets cost around 24€. 

Tip: If you decide to visit Leipzig as part of a road trip, the most affordable parking spot is at Hauptbahnhof West. There are two parking houses, East and West, and for some unknown reason, the West-side is much cheaper at a day rate of only 7€. Steal!

Is Leipzig Worth Visiting?

Leipzig is one of those underrated European city breaks, but I’m here to change that. This city is all about enjoying life instead of just grinding away, and there’s no shortage of things to do – especially if you love the outdoors. Trust me, boredom isn’t an option here!

Plus, Leipzig has grown a lot over the past few years and continues to do so. Even though it’s Germany’s eighth-largest city, it still keeps that local, laid-back charm while giving off big-city vibes. It’s safe, clean, and super easy to get around – basically a dream for solo travellers.

Good To Know: The best way to unlock the city is by bike. Cycling is a huge part of the Leipzig lifestyle. Just do it like the locals do. Some hotels offer a bike rental at a small additional cost, usually 15€ per day. Alternatively, you can use Nextbike a bike-sharing network similar to the Boris bikes in London.  

When’s The Best Time to Visit Leipzig?

In short – all year round! The beauty of Leipzig is that no matter when you visit, there’s always something to do. The city is rich in culture, offering plenty to explore. Plus, the locals love the outdoors, so there’s no shortage of activities to enjoy.

Spring is a perfect time to see the Bach Festival. In June the Market Square is transformed into a live venue and attracts thousands of visitors. The music is enchanting especially on a warm spring night. You can also venture out on a bike tour in and around Leipzig. Areas of interest could include the Auwaldstation (alluvial forest station) Lützschena in the North. It’s a tranquil part of the city with many walks, cycling lanes and hiking trails. On another tour you could cycle to Naumburg. The tour on the ecumenical pilgrimage way leads you along the river to the charming towns of Merseburg & Freyburg.

READ MORE: Beautiful Bike Tour on the Ecumenical Pilgrimage Route in Germany

During the summer, you can relax in the many parks, go kayaking in the Karl-Heine Kanal through the prestigious Speicherstadt. Or if you seek adventure, head down to Markkleeberg for climbing, surfing, or white water rafting at the Olympic course. 

If you travel to Leipzig in autumn, I can tell you it’ll be magical. The autumn foliage at Rosenthal will make for a beautiful spectacle. Plus the nearby world-famous Zoo will be decorated all over with pumpkins for the Halloween celebrations.

In winter, my Leipzig city guide can highly recommend the Christmas Markets. There’s also significant snowfall in Leipzig in January adding to a tranquil but enchanting atmosphere. Plus you could even snowboard in Leipzig!

Leipzig City Guide: 3 Day Itinerary

Here are my top recommendations of things to do in Leipzig for a 3 day Leipzig itinerary.

Leipzig City Guide Day 1: Central

Start your day with a classic Leipzig activity: brunch! Then, take some time to explore the historic Old Town. Leipzig is home to a rich architectural heritage, featuring unique sites and a variety of styles. Plus, the city is culturally vibrant, offering non-stop engagement. 

Brunch Culture: Leipzig has a laid-back vibe, and one of the classic things to do here is go for brunch. Brunch used to be all about topped breads, eggs, and cold platters, the German way. But after the pandemic, things changed, and modern cafes started popping up. Endless, for example, takes inspiration from London cafes, with chic interiors and trendy dishes. If you’re after something more local, Franz Morish is a great spot for brunch, too. 

Hauptbahnhof: Welcome to Europe’s largest train station! This iconic Art Nouveau building is a symbol of reconciliation between Prussia and Saxony. As you explore, you’ll notice distinct features in both the west and east halls. The station is a key hub in Leipzig, moving 120,000 passengers every day, and it’s one of the few places that stays open on Sundays. Plus it is a popular filming location e.g. Mr Nobody. 

Did You Know? The historic Old Town is walkable and mostly pedestrianised. For more local recommendations read on 10 Leipzig Activities to make you feel like a Local

Augustusplatz: this is the biggest square and beating heart of the city. This lively square is a major transit hub and hosts large events like the city festival, New Year’s celebrations, and Christmas Markets. The Opera House, Gewandhaus, and the University give the square its iconic look. Be sure to spot the Golden Egg, a popular meeting point for locals. Don’t worry, it’s not a real egg – it’s actually a ‘bell of peace’.

University: The second oldest university of Germany (1409) is Leipzig’s main employer. Over 30,000 students are matriculated at this reputable institution to study Humanics, Medicine and Physics. The university church was recently rebuilt and opened, shaping the face of Augustusplatz. It also has pioneering learning labs and free bicycle garages. Nearby, you’ll find the Moritzbastei, an excavation site with underground vaults that serves as a popular student pub.    

Old Town Hall & Market Square: The Market Square has been the centre of Leipzig since the Holy Roman Empire in the 16th century. It was strategically located at the intersection of Europe’s two busiest trade routes, the Via Regia and Via Imperii, which played a key role in making Leipzig Europe’s most important fair hub. Today, the square is a protected heritage site and home to the stunning Old Town Hall, a Renaissance building famous for its Golden Ratio design. Don’t miss the tower with its fine astronomical clock. Inside, tourists can explore the city museum and check out the arcaded gangway lined with souvenir shops. Bachmann’s Leipzig Laden No. 1 is a top address for an assorted collection of local literature (in English) that can only be found here. 

Good To Know: The City Museum at the Old Town is completely free (and open on Sundays!). The exhibition spans two floors, starting with Leipzig’s origins at the crossroads of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two medieval trade routes. Highlights include the city’s most beautiful historic room and you’ll learn about artists like Richard Wagner, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Goethe, who elevated Leipzig’s reputation as a world city. The second part covers events of modern history such as Leipzig during the war, its growth as a trade fair hub, and the peaceful revolution of 1989.

Notice: Leipzig’s prestigious status as a cosmopolitan city stems from its long history of trade, particularly its renowned book fair. It was once the leading centre for printers and publishers from across Europe. This rich heritage remains tangible today in the many antiquarian bookstores scattered throughout the Old Town.

Department Stores & Courtyards: Many fair buildings and trade houses survived WWII and have become a hallmark of Leipzig’s unique architecture. These grand structures are often interconnected, making it easy for locals to navigate the city through shortcuts, and well, confusing for tourists. Still, getting lost in these historic merchant palaces is part of the charm, as their atriums and courtyards often hide stunning artistic details. Prime examples include Specks Hof, Messehof, Barthel’s Hof, Jägerhof Passage, and Mädler Passage

Avoid: Every city centre has its tourist traps. For me, that’ll be Barefoot Alley (Barfuß Gäßchen) near the Market Square. It’s a small alleyway seamed with typical tourist eateries, serving mostly German cuisine. I’ve avoided it in the past as it is always packed with tourists and walking past, the food didn’t look too appealing for me. Happy for you to check it out and report back!

Mädler Passage: Germany’s oldest passage and one of the most beautiful in Europe, the Mädler Passage was modelled after Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, much like the Black Eagle Palace in Oradea. Anton Mädler, a wealthy entrepreneur from Leipzig, envisioned a grand arcade in the heart of the city. In 1911, he acquired and restored Auerbach’s Keller, the famous restaurant and pub, before constructing the shopping arcade above it in 1912–13. Today, the Passage is home to high-end concept stores and remains a popular tourist hotspot, where visitors can rub the Faustus statue for luck. In December, the Passage is especially magical, featuring a magnificent Christmas tree.

Auerbach’s Keller: “If you came to Leipzig for the fair and didn’t visit Auerbachs Keller, you haven’t truly been to Leipzig.” This fine restaurant, touristy as it may be today, is an absolute must-visit. Auerbachs Keller is one of Leipzig’s oldest sites, originally serving as a pub for merchants during the trade fair. It gained even more fame when Goethe, while studying jura (law) in Leipzig, set a key scene of Faust in this very cellar.

In the play, the devil seduces Dr. Faustus and leads him to Leipzig, where they enter a lively student pub. Here, the devil bewitches a table, making wine flow from it, while Faustus – captivated by the youthful energy and vibrant atmosphere – gradually gives in to the devil’s temptations. Visitors today can see the famous table and even take a symbolic ride on the legendary wine barrel.

I highly recommend a guided tour here (24€ per person) and hear more engaging myths tied to the premise. 

Did You Know? Leipzig is twinned with Birmingham, UK. The façade of the shopping mall Höfe am Brühl is a nod to Selfridges at the Bullring.

Architecture: The city experienced significant development between 1871 and 1919, driven by the vision of creating the dream of a beautiful city. Today, Leipzig has over 15,000 listed heritage sites, with 10,000 dating back to the Gründerzeit era. Each neighbourhood is significantly shaped by Historicism, blending Baroque, Neoclassical, and Art Nouveau elements. A prime example is the Klinger House at Petersstraße 48, the birthplace of renowned sculptor Max Klinger.

Coffee Culture: Leipzig is Germany’s only city with intact traditional coffee houses, offering a Parisian and Viennese charm. In addition to its rich coffee culture, Leipzig is home to two delightful dessert inventions: the Räbchen (marzipan-filled plums with hot custard) and Lark Pie (Lerche). This delicate pastry, made with marzipan and a fruity filling, can be found at Kleinert’s Bakery, located opposite the Höfe am Brühl shopping mall. 

READ MORE: Discover Leipzig Coffee Culture With My Special Walking Tour and see even more interesting Leipzig heritage sites & cafes. 

Leipzig City Guide Day 2: Beyond Central

For today, I recommend renting a bike. This is not only an authentic way to experience Leipzig’s local lifestyle, but it will also allow you to explore beyond the city centre. The following activities are optional, so you can choose the ones that best align with your interests.

Music Trail: Nowhere in the world can you explore music, composers, and artists in such close proximity as in Leipzig. The city is the birthplace of classical music icons like Bach, Wagner, and Mendelssohn. You can follow the self-guided Leipziger Notenspur tour, which takes you to important musical sites. Without museum visits, the trail takes about 2 hours to complete, with stations no more than 250 meters apart. Information plaques and QR codes offer samples and interactive features, while ‘metal’ plates integrated into the ground guide the way. Highlights include: churches where Johann Sebastian Bach’s works were first performed, the House of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, the House of Clara & Robert Schumann, the Grassimuseum (home to the oldest piano in the world) or the Nikolai School attended by opera composer Richard Wagner.

Or go on a bike tour following these points of interest: 

Leipzig Parks: Leipzig’s green space spans a total area of 126 square kilometres (42% of the city), with a massive nature reserve running north to south through the city. You can cycle through Leipzig without passing a single house or street, surrounded only by its lush alluvial forest. Start in the Rosenthal in the north and climb the Wobbly Tower for panoramic city views. Then head south along the Elsterbecken, passing through inner-city parks like Clara-Zetkin and Johanna Park, where you’ll find BBQ areas, cafes, a mini-golf course, and jetties for renting kayaks. Further south, in the Elster-Pleisse Alluvial Forest, you can visit a wildlife park that’s home to moose.

Cospudener & Markkleeberger Lake: Leipzig was once rich in coal, and the former mining pits from the 80s have since been flooded to create artificial lakes. The two most popular lakes are Cospudener See (or ‘Cossi’) and Markkleeberger See. Cossi Lake is a favourite among students and features a great viewing tower (Bistumshöhe). I personally prefer Markkleeberger Lake, which is well-maintained with a beach, a wild water rafting and surfing course, and a small marina. A 2-hour wild water rafting session costs 50€ (be sure to request an English-guided tour when booking).

Battle of the Nations Memorial: Another site not to be missed is Europe’s largest monument, located on the site of the biggest battle in human history – the Battle of Nations. The colossal monument, standing 91 meters tall, resembles a tower and includes a crypt and hall of fame. It offers a small rooftop with panoramic views of the city, though the climb can be challenging. Not all levels are accessible by lift, and the higher floors can only be reached by narrow stairs. The exhibition inside, along with the crypt, is inspiring. Each year, in October around the 14–19, a re-enactment of the battle takes place to commemorate the event.

Leipzig City Guide Day 3: Local Explorations

For today, I have chosen a mixture of local and popular activities. Once again you can choose  the ones that best fit your interests.

Leipzig Zoo: After Schönbrunn Zoo, Leipzig Zoo is rated as the prettiest in Europe. It is a wonderful experience with so much to see and do, not just for kids but for adults too. The zoo is constantly expanding and is very walkable, clean, and ethically designed. Highlights include the koala house, the elephant enclosure modeled after an Asian pagoda, and Gondwana Land. The latter is an indoor botanical garden housed in a dome with exotic plants, animals, and the chance to float through it on a kayak. A visit on a sunny day will easily take around 6 hours. Tickets cost approximately 24€, and it’s just a ten-minute walk from the city centre.

Take a local walk through Leipzig’s most interesting neighbourhoods. It’s also a perfect activity for a Sunday, as most businesses are closed and some places are only open on that day.

Gohlis: neat middle-class area, rich in architecture with some stunning points of interests.

• Historic Lido (Stadtbad). The lido is an art nouveau relict and was known internationally as the prettiest lido in Europe. It had pioneering facilities for its time, such as a Finnish sauna, wave maker and oriental spa landscape. Guided tours are offered on the first Sunday of every month (15€) and you can also visit it for free during the European Heritage Days. 
• Michaelis Church and residential area in Historicism style. Plus there are some pretty doors here.
• Haus Kobes (1903-04) at Mencke Strasse 19, an art nouveau residential house. 
• Charming Gohlis castle which has a cafe, a baroque garden and is usually only open on weekends for cultural and artist events. 
• Schillerhaus, the oldest farm cottage in Leipzig, served as a summer residence for Schiller. He composed Don Carlos and several poems here. 
• Art nouveau residential house at Pölitzstraße 10.
• Paul Möbius center at Georg-Schumann-Straße 124. Möbius created a distinctive art nouveau style in Leipzig and the centre commemorates the architect with a small exhibition and information on local works in the area. I am not too fond of his style, but can appreciate his work. Characteristic for his signature style are tactfully placed decorations in the form of vertical lines and lightly curved gables. See more of his buildings at Roßlauer Straße 10, Stauffenbergstraße 1, Jägerstraße 2 and Eisenacher Straße 17. Fetch a free brochure with the architecture walk from the centre. 

Plagwitz: formerly centre for urban industrialisation and now hipster neighbourhood with lost places and several art centres. The Karl-Heine canal runs through it, too. If you love the urban lifestyle of Berlin, you’ll devour Plagwitz. 

• Rent a kayak and relax on the Karl heine canal. The canal runs through the neighbourhood and you’ll see Leipzig’s most desirable hood of transformed loft houses. These are not only used as homes but for artists and celebrities, too. 
• Lost Places: the area is full of abandoned factories which are used for street art and photography projects. A top address is the old machine Swiderski factory at Zschochersche Straße 78. 
• Kunstkraftwerk & Baumwollspinnerei: art centres located within industrial complexes with cafes and urban art exhibitions. The Baumwollspinnerei was the biggest factory city in continental Europe.
• Oldtimer Museum has an old IL-18 plane on its roof. Both, the museum and the airplane are under monumental protection.
• Vegan food scene and cafe culture 

Leipzig City Guide: International Character

My professor always loved it when we connected our work to Leipzig. You won’t believe how much can be traced back to the city. Whenever I travel these days, I always look out for a connection to Leipzig. It not only proves my professor’s wise words, but also creates a sense of familiarity for me, as I still consider Leipzig my home. 

Here are some of my favourite links from my travels: 

Brisbane: both have been featured in the Marvel movies. Leipzig airport is the final showdown (Captain America: Civil War) & Brisbane’s Eagle Street served as a filming location (Thor: Ragnarok).

Erebor: The Battle of Nations memorial inspired the design of Erebor in The Hobbit. In the extended edition, John Howe reveals the memorials’ compact structure impressed him. The colossal statues and deeply rooted history are all reflected in Erebor’s design.

Vienna: This link took a while to discover, but there are several connections between Vienna and Leipzig. For example, there is a Goethe statue on the Ring boulevard, despite the fact that Goethe never visited Vienna. His time studying in Leipzig was also cut short, as he wasn’t interested in law at all. Additionally, the Secession art hall showcased a magnificent Beethoven statue during the 1902 exhibition. The statue was sculpted by none other than Max Klinger, a Leipzig artist. You can see the Beethoven statue for free in the foyer of MdbK (Museum of Applied Art) in Leipzig.

Paris: Leipzig is often referred to as a ‘mini Paris.’ I can see some grounds for comparison, as certain historic parts of the town bear a resemblance to Parisian chic. The Parisian flair is captured beautifully in places like the Riquet coffee house, which was also built by a French expat. Other examples include the merchant passage Speck’s Hof and the grand arcade Mädler Passage.

Where to Stay in Leipzig?

Leipzig has an array of budget and mid-tier hotels in central. Having stayed in a couple of those over the past 10 years, I have compiled all of my research in this post on hotels in Leipzig.

The Best Hotels in Leipzig

The tourist infrastructure has grown a lot since 2019, thanks to the introduction of a 3€ city tax (per person, per night). As a result, new hotels have popped up, but luckily, hotel rates have stayed fairly reasonable. You can still find great places to stay for under 100€ per night. Below, the hotels are listed from budget to luxury.

Meininger Hotel – clean and modern budget hotel with a mixture of private rooms and shared dorm rooms. Room rates for a single room can be as little as 35€ per night, which is an absolute steal. It is popular and often booked out months in advance. Be quick!

Ibis Budget City – a clean, modern and unfuzzy chain hotel. It is basic but has everything you need. The beds are comfy and I got no complaints.

Intercity Leipzig* – central location and great staff. The rooms are a bit dark which can feel outdated. During your stay, you’ll be given a free travel card. 

Capri by Fraser* – ultra new and very stylish apartment hotel directly in the city. The interior is designed in a geometric style with pastel & gold colouring. It is super stylish and chic. My absolute favourite, plus the rate usually sits at around 60-80€. 

Legere Express*: this brand-new hotel with stylish and modern interior is only a ten minute walk from the centre. I stayed here in April 2025 and am absolutely delighted. Clean, comfy, safe, hassle-free and absolute value for money.

Other mid-priced luxury hotels in Leipzig, which I like to check out in future are competitors Limehome, INNSiDE by Melia, Pentahotel or Vienna House Easy. 

Worst Hotels in Leipzig

Travel24 – clean and basic hotel. It is nothing special. I have not stayed here again as I found the security precautions concerning e.g. the lifts do not require a key card. 

Hyperion –  while this is a new and stylish hotel, its main clientele seems to be families, so it can feel a bit chaotic at times. The room rates are a bit steep, especially considering the rooms don’t come with amenities or safes. On top of that, the staff were rude and even tried to scam me when I was checking out.

Felix Suiten – the complex is huge and also has a restaurant. Unfortunately, there’s only one entrance, so anyone can walk into the building. The rooms were great, but they weren’t serviced daily. The staff were rude throughout my stay, and to top it off, there’s a massive cellular mast in the courtyard.

Good To Know: A Leipzig icon has been the Astoria Hotel by the Central Station. This iconic grand hotel is a true Leipzig Original. Opened in 1915, it ran until 1996. It’s been neglected for quite some time but luckily it found an investor in 2016. Currently, it’s under construction and transformed into a grand luxury business hotel. Unfortunately, there’s been a bit of a dispute going on with the city, historic conservation and its management. So for now, its transformation has stopped again.

FAQs About My Leipzig City Guide

I appreciate this is a comprehensive Leipzig city guide. You may want to skip or skim-read certain sections but I’ve compiled a very quick FAQ section here for you. If you have questions or need help, please get in touch and I’m happy to assist. 

What’s Leipzig Famous For?

Lots of things, but ad hoc I’d say Leipzig is most famous for its fair (in particular books and publishing), Goethe’s Faust, the Battle of Nations and its university. The University of Leipzig (1409) is the second oldest university in Germany spanning more than 600 years of history. It enjoys a high reputation also due to well-known alumni e.g. Goethe or Angela Merkel. Leipzig is also renowned as a centre for classical music and for its high-quality of living.

How Many Days Do You Need In Leipzig?

Leipzig on a first visit can be seen within 3 to 4 days. However, depending on what you’re after you can easily spend an entire week here without getting bored.

Is Leipzig Safe For Solo-Travellers?

Leipzig is very safe for foreigners as well as solo female travellers. The city has a diverse population and many expats live here. The Internationals who settled in Leipzig are from all over the world, including Italians, Asians and there’s an easy-going Anglophone community. Leipziger are friendly and open-minded people, which is due to the city’s dynamic history. It also attracts many foreign entrepreneurs and digital nomads.

Thanks so much for reading my free Leipzig city guide. If you’ve enjoyed this post, you can always support my research and Buy Me a Coffee.

Carolin

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