What to See in Leipzig: The 17 Best Attractions and Things to Do

Leipzig is a fairy-tale town that often goes unnoticed compared to more famous cities like Berlin, Cologne, or Munich. Elegant and rich in culture, Leipzig offers numerous attractions, such as monuments, university campuses, and large parks. The city is also connected not only to some illustrious personalities but also to certain literary legends: the tavern where Mephistopheles took Faust for a beer with the students is Auerbachs Keller in Leipzig.

City of music, fairs, and Christmas markets, let's explore together the 15 things to see in Leipzig: the best attractions and things to do!

Augustusplatz is the main square of the city. It is located in the historic center and various interesting buildings face it, including the majestic Oper Leipzig, the city's opera house, the University of Leipzig, the City-Hochhaus, the tallest skyscraper in the city, and Gewandhaus, the concert hall home to the Gewandhaus orchestra.

Regardless of the time you have to visit the city, we recommend starting with a visit to the square, if only to enjoy the architecture from the outside or participate in the various concerts, festivals, and events that take place here throughout the year, including the famous Christmas markets.

The square is the heart of Leipzig's historic center. Easily reachable on foot from anywhere, from St. Nicholas Church (400 m, 5 min) or from Marktplatz (700 m, 9 min). Reference bus and tram stop Augustusplatz (numerous lines) - Get Directions

Suggested visit time: 30 min

As already mentioned, the City-Hochhaus, the tallest skyscraper in Leipzig, is located in the square. This impressive building is also open for internal visits. On the 29th floor, there is a beautiful panoramic terrace where you can enjoy views over the entire city! There is also a romantic restaurant where you can enjoy an unforgettable dinner or lunch!

Leipzig is also known for its prestigious university, Universität Leipzig, the second oldest in Germany, founded in 1409. The oldest is the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg in Baden-Württemberg, founded in 1386. Its distinctive architecture will immediately capture your gaze as soon as you step into Augustusplatz.

You can enter and see it from the inside, of course without interfering with the lessons and activities of students and professors. At the entrance, you can see the Bronze der Universitätskirche St. Pauli, the small bronze reconstruction of the old university church, and the Leibnizdenkmal, the statue dedicated to Goethe.

Opposite the Naschmarkt, you can cross the Mädlerpassage, a truly distinctive shopping arcade, one of the oldest and most unique trading spots in the city. Rich in shops, cafes, and elegant restaurants, it extends for about 140 meters in length, featuring a beautiful glass ceiling adorned with various bronze sculptures.

Located within the Mädlerpassage, Auerbachs Keller is one of the most famous restaurants in all of Germany. Founded in 1525, it is cozy, and the cuisine is delicious, with all the traditional dishes of the region, although the venue is quite touristy due to its notoriety!

Its fame comes from the fact that here Goethe set a scene from Faust - Part I, where Mephistopheles and Faust revel and exit riding a barrel. Inside the restaurant, you can observe this scene carved on a tree trunk in the Goethezimmer: it is said that the writer himself used to come here when seeking inspiration for his works.

The Nikolaikirche, or St. Nicholas Church, is one of the most important churches in Leipzig. This religious building, of Protestant faith, dates back to the 12th century and is dedicated to St. Nicholas, the protector of merchants.

It is located right in the city center, just a few steps from the old Marktplatz and Augustusplatz, in an area where the Via Regia intersected, the path that ran from Santiago de Compostela to Moscow, as well as the Via Imperii, which came from Rome to Stettin on the Baltic Sea. Originally, it was built in Gothic and Romanesque styles, later it was reconstructed in Neoclassical style.

Behind the old Town Hall of Leipzig and Marktplatz lies Naschmarkt, a quiet little square dating back to 1556. Here you can admire the Goethedenkmal, the monument dedicated to Goethe, and the Alte Handelsbörse, the old stock exchange of the city. It is a magnificent Baroque building that dates back to 1668, hosting various public events inside.

Still in the heart of the historic center. Easily reachable on foot from Marktplatz (130 m, 2 min) and from Augustusplatz (600 m, 7 min) - Get Directions

Suggested visit time: 30 min

The Museum der bildenden Künste is one of the main museums in the city and is the museum of fine arts. Inside, you can admire paintings, sculptures, and works by artists from the Middle Ages to the present day. The museum is also worth visiting for the building it is housed in, which will certainly capture your attention: it is a gigantic cube-shaped glass museum.

Inside, there are permanent collections of fine arts that span several centuries, starting from the Middle Ages. There are also numerous temporary exhibitions addressing themes of everyday life and current issues, such as the role of women, the world divided between reality and social media, or Zero Waste, for a sustainable life. You can find all the upcoming exhibitions on the official website.

Marktplatz is the other important square in the historic center, alongside Augustusplatz. It is the ancient market square and even today, as it once was, it is a real meeting place for locals and tourists! From here, many walking tours of the city depart, which are highly recommended for a first approach.

In Marktplatz is the Old Town Hall, in German Altes Rathaus. Built between 1556 and 1557 by architects Paul Speck and Paul Widermann to replace the Gothic-style palace from 1554, it has undergone several renovations over the years. The current building presents an impressive facade with original announcement balconies and the musicians' balcony. Today, it houses an elegant ballroom where events, exhibitions, and concerts are held.

A few steps from Marktplatz is another important church in Leipzig, the Thomaskirche, or St. Thomas Church, home to the famous choir of the same name. Built in 1212 as a church of an Augustinian house, it has been modified several times and acquired its current appearance of a late Gothic Saxon church in the 15th century.

But the church is known not only for its choir: the Thomaskirche is indeed linked to important figures from the past! Martin Luther preached in this church in 1539, while the famous composer and musician Johann Sebastian Bach was the director of its choir from 1723 to 1750. His remains are preserved here.

The history of Leipzig is inevitably linked to the figure of Johann Sebastian Bach, a German composer and musician considered one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time! He was the 16th Thomaskantor, or artistic director of the Thomanerchor in Leipzig from 1723 until his death, and his remains are housed in the nearby St. Thomas Church.

For this reason, we recommend visiting the Bach Museum Leipzig, a museum entirely dedicated to the composer. Here, through interactive exhibitions and technology, you can deepen your knowledge of his history and incredible works! The museum also hosts several temporary exhibitions.

In Augustusplatz, in the heart of the historic center, lies the Gewandhaus, the magnificent building that houses the famous Gewandhaus Orchestra. Built in 1981, the concert hall is adorned with numerous paintings by modern artists and is renowned for its excellent acoustics.

The orchestra enjoys not only worldwide but also international fame! It has an extensive annual calendar, with concerts in Leipzig and traveling to various cities around the world. If you have the opportunity, we recommend attending a concert at Gewandhaus, where many organ concerts are also held! All the info can be found on the official website.

The Museen im GRASSI is one of the most important museum complexes in the city! It is already worth visiting for its architectural complex: the buildings were constructed in Art Deco style and date from 1925 to 1929. The name comes from the merchant and patron Franz Dominic Grassi. It is also an ideal place to relax, thanks to its wonderful internal gardens and the nearby park Alten Johannisfriedhof.

Inside, it hosts three internationally renowned museums: the Applied Arts Museum, the second oldest in all of Germany; the Etnological Museum, with one of the largest ethnographic collections in the country; and finally, the Musical Instruments Museum, which houses 9,000 objects, making it the largest in Germany and the second largest in Europe!

The Botanischer Garten der Universität Leipzig, or the Botanical Garden of the city, is located at the scientific campus of the university, southeast of the historic center. Opened in 1877 as a medicinal plant garden, it has actually been in existence since 1542.

Despite being devastated during World War II, it was recovered in the following years and today spans about nine acres, housing over 7,000 plant species from Eastern Europe, North and South America, and Asia. One of the most beautiful areas of the garden is undoubtedly the large greenhouse with tropical and sub-tropical plants from around the world.

For a true dive into modern European history, we recommend heading just outside the center of Leipzig, where the Völkerschlachtdenkmal, or the Monument to the Battle of Nations, stands. This imposing monument celebrates the battle that proved decisive in the liberation war against Napoleon, which took place in the fields around Leipzig in 1813.

Inaugurated in 1913, the building has the FORUM 1813 museum where some testimonies about the battle can be observed. It is a 91-meter tall building with a characteristic tower-like shape. It features a staircase of 364 steps that leads to the top terrace, but you can also reach it by elevator.

Just a short distance from the historic center, thus easily reachable by foot, is the Leipzig Zoo, located within the nature reserve Leipziger Auwald. It is an ideal destination to visit, especially with children. There are various activities designed for them, such as themed play areas, a boat ride in the jungle at Gondwanaland, or a tour of the Kiwara village.

As for the zoo, it is divided into different thematic areas and houses 850 animal species. The habitats have been meticulously recreated, and the zoo is continuously engaged in conservation and protection programs.

Clara-Zetkin Park is located in the southwestern part of the city and is Leipzig's large green area. It extends over 125 acres and is rich in trees, ponds, paths, and benches. It is also a perfect attraction to visit with children, as there are various play areas dedicated to them!

We recommend taking a few hours to immerse yourself in this beautiful green oasis, walk along the paths, relax in the shade of the trees, or enjoy a drink in one of the small cafes present. But above all, there is a small attraction within the park that is very loved by tourists: the Glücksbaum, or the tree of wishes! Write your wish on a piece of paper and hang it among the branches of the tree along with others and it will come true!

Easily reachable on foot from the historic center and Marktplatz (2 km, 25 min). By public transport, from Marktplatz bus line 89 (Markt-Mozartstr, 15 min), from Augustusplatz tram line 1 or 32 (Augustuspl-Marschnerstr., 20 min) - Get Directions

Suggested visit time: 1.5 hours

Among the museums to visit, there is also the natural history museum Naturkundemuseum Leipzig ($2.00), ideal to visit with children, and the Egyptian museum Egyptian Museum ($5.00), run by the university. Antique lovers can visit the Antikenmuseum der Universität Leipzig ($3.00), alternatively, you will also find the Sächsisches Psychiatriemuseum ($2.00), focused on psychiatry and psychology. Finally, for history enthusiasts, in the city center, one can find the Zeitgeschichtliches Forum Leipzig (free).

Moreover, if you are traveling with children, it is good to know that the city is rich in green areas: in addition to those mentioned, you can find Palmengarten, Oberer Park, Unterer Park, and Schiller Park, all near the historic center and easily reachable on foot!

Finally, within a radius of less than 60 km from the city, you can visit beautiful castles, such as Hubertusburg Castle ($7.00) and Colditz Castle ($9.00). For a day in nature, less than 10 km away, you will find the localities of Markkleeberg and Cospuden, along with the nearby amusement park of Belantis ($25.90).

To reach Leipzig by plane, there are no direct flights, you need to stop in Munich or Frankfurt, or land in Berlin and take the fast train ICE that takes you to Leipzig in an hour (compare flights to Berlin).

For a first approach, especially if you don't speak German well, opt for a guided walking tour of the city to get familiar and identify landmarks.

For accommodation, look for places in the center, where you can also find affordable prices (compare accommodations on Booking). Alternatively, the modern neighborhoods of Plagwitz and Südvorstadt to the southeast and south of the center are good options.

In the evening, if you're looking for nightlife, head to Barfußgäßchen, the main street of fun, full of bars, taverns, and even clubs.

The city is very safe and family-friendly, with plenty of activities for them: the zoo, the botanical garden, and the large city parks! Additionally, several museums offer family tickets.