A plan for Leipzig

First documented in 1015, and endowed with city and market privileges in 1165, the city of Leipzig has fundamentally shaped the history of Saxony and of Germany. It was founded at the crossing of two ancient trade routes, Via Regia and Via Imperii. Leipzig has always been known as a place of commerce and still has large trade fairgrounds and exhibition halls known as the Leipzig Messe north of the city. Before it became common to dedicate a specific area to trade fairs, they took place in the city. Which is why many of the historical buildings were constructed by merchants, as were Leipzig's unique system of arcades and courtyards.

Other forms of exchange soon followed the trade of goods. The University of Leipzig (Latin: Alma mater lipsiensis) was founded in 1409, which makes it the second-oldest university in Germany. University facilities are scattered throughout the city, and you cannot miss the central campus at Augustusplatz. Leipzig acquired the nickname Klein Paris ("Little Paris") in the 18th century, when it became a centre of a classical literary movement largely led by the German scholar and writer Johann Christoph Gottsched.

The city is also the home of the Nikolaikirche (Church of St. Nicholas) – the starting point of peaceful demonstrations against the East German regime which led to German Reunification. The collapse of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) regime hit Leipzig's economy very heavily (as had communism), but after being on the mend since 1990, it has emerged as one of the success stories of the "New German States".

Traces of Leipzig's history are everywhere: the ring of streets around the city centre marking the former course of the city wall, the city trade houses, abandoned and repurposed industrial buildings in Plagwitz, small town structures in the outskirts where surrounding towns were incorporated during phases of rapid growth, and the battlefields of the Napoleonic wars in the south and southeast of the city.

2 Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus), Markt 1, ☏ +49 341 9651320. Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, Mon closed. Built in 1556 in the Renaissance style and remains one of Germany's largest. The position of the tower follows the ancient ideal of "golden mean". Located on the pretty main square of the city, it is a good orientation point. The Old City Hall was built 1556 by Hieronymus Lotter on basements of two Patrician houses. It is a beautiful Renaissance style building, 90 m long with arcades (1906–09), six gables and a tower. In the 18th century the tower was enlarged and it received a Baroque spire. Until 1904 the Old City Hall was home of the city administration. Then it became home of the city museum. The first floor deals with the history of Leipzig from early times to the 1813 Battle of the Nations - while the second floor continues from industrialisation to the present. Most impressive is the huge Banqueting Hall with Renaissance interior (open fireplaces). Many fine works of medieval religious art: altars, paintings, wood-carved sculptures, etc. Most of them were saved from churches which were deconstructed in Leipzig's surrounding.

Very impressive are the rooms with interior from old Patrician houses. Also interesting: the treasure chamber (steep and narrow staircase!) This Renaissance building was erected in just nine months in 1556–57 under the direction of the architect Hieronymus Lotter. The municipal government moved into the New Town Hall in 1909. If you have a bit of luck you are allowed to visit the cellar of the building. Here you find the chamber of torture and the jail. Leipzig's Renaissance City hall contains a museum of city history which possesses the original of the only confirmed painting of Bach produced in his lifetime. It contains interesting information regarding the public executions that used to take place in the market in front of the city hall. The most famous execution was that of Woyzeck, which was made famous by the Büchner play and the opera of Alban Berg. The interior of the Old City Hall (built in 1556) is far more interesting than the outside view. It is one of the most touristy places in the city. Free. Although you still have to obtain a ticket!. (updated Jun 2026)

If you understand some German, get a copy of the monthly city magazine Kreuzer or use the event calendar on their website to get information on upcoming events. You can buy the Kreuzer for €2.50 in press shops and bookstores throughout the city.

Sightseeing tours

1 Sightseeing tour, Katharinenstaße 8 (starts at Tourist Information, ends on Augustusplatz), ☏ +49 341-71 04-230. Daily 13:30 (in German also 10:30). The tour lasts 2½ hours, comprising a 1-hour guided walk through the city centre and a bus tour of 1½ hours to sights elsewhere. You can also book each part of the tour individually. Buy your ticket at tourist information, where the tour starts. €15.

2 Sightseeing by tram, Kurt-Schumacher Straße (coming from Hauptbahnhof/Westhalle, walk a few steps towards Berliner Straße/Wilhelm-Liebknecht Platz), ☏ +49 341-19449. Saturdays, starting at 11:00 and 14:00; May–September also Sundays 11:00. Every weekend, LVB offers sightseeing tours in a modified tram called "Gläserner Leipziger". Buy your ticket in advance from any of the LVB service offices listed above; it includes a day ticket for zone 110 (Leipzig) of the MDV network. The tour takes about 2 hours. €15 per person.

3 videoSightseeing Leipzig, Lützowstr. 19 (you decide where to meet your guide when you book), ☏ +49 341-902 902 89, kontakt@videosightseeing.de. individual starting time for small groups. In addition to the comments of a live guide in English or other languages, on-screen historic film footage and photographs give you a deeper insight into Leipzig's history and life today. The standard length of the tour is 2 hours. You can also combine it with a walking tour through the historic centre. from €25. (updated Jul 2020)

Concerts

Bachfest Leipzig: 11–21 June 2020. International festival with more than 100 concerts of works by Johann Sebastian Bach and other composers. (date needs updating)

4 Gewandhaus, Augustusplatz, ☏ +49 341 1270 280 (Tickets). Mendelssohn's orchestra still exists, but the concert hall is new. Inside is a huge painting by Sighard Gille, visible through the windows from Augustusplatz.

Specialities

Try specialities of Leipzig:

Lerchen, a sweet dough-wicker filled with marzipan, sold in bakeries.

Quarkkeulchen, served in traditional restaurants as a dessert

Leipziger Allerlei, a vegetable dish

Reformationsbrötchen, a pastry, sold in bakeries in October prior to Reformation Day

Budget

For breakfast or for a snack during the day, turn to one of the many bakery shops you'll find all over the city. Most are open 7 days a week, typically from 06:00 to 18:00 (or from 07:00 to 06:00 on Sundays). €5 buys you a sandwich, a pastry or a piece of cake, and a cup of coffee.

In the city center

1 Zur Pleißenburg, Ratsfreischulstraße 2. (updated May 2022)

2 Wurstmeister, Richard-Wagner-Straße 10A. A Snackbar with German food (updated May 2022)

3 Leos Brasserie, Reichsstraße 20. (updated May 2022)

Around the Südplatz

4 Gaststätte Kollektiv, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 72. A nostalgic German restaurant (updated May 2022)

5 Schnellbuffet Süd, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 139. (updated May 2022)

6 La Strada Pizzaria & Eiscafe, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 56A. (updated May 2022)

7 Olive Tree, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 38. A kebab restaurant. (updated May 2022)

Mid-range

Apels Garten, Kolonnadenstraße 2 (Tram: Gottschedstraße). Saxon cuisine. (updated Sep 2022)

8 Zills Tunnel, Barfußgäßchen 9. Saxon food. Large portions. Outdoor terrace, rustic cellar, or tunnel courtyard. €9–13.

9 Zest, Bornaische Straße 54 (Tram (10 or 11): Pfeffingerstraße), ☏ +49 341 2319126. Wed-Mon 11:00–23:00. Vegetarian/vegan restaurant. Try the strawberry basil smoothie. €10–15.

Tobagi, Riemannstraße 52 (Tram: Hohe Straße). Korean food. (updated Sep 2022)

10 Barthel's Hof, Hainstraße 1. Exotic Saxon dishes. €8–25.

Safran, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße. Indian food. (updated Sep 2022)

Ubuntu, Beuchaer Straße 2, Leipzig, Germany, 04318. (updated Apr 2023)

Splurge

Medici, Nikolaikirchhof 5. Classy Italian restaurant 3–5 course set: €46–62.

11 Stadtpfeiffer, Augustusplatz 8 (inside Gewandhaus), ☏ +49 341 2 17 89 20, info@stadtpfeiffer.de. Tue-Sat from 18:00; closed in July and August. 4 course set: €108.

A local beer specialty is Leipziger Gose, a top-fermented brew, containing salt and coriander, with a characteristic, slightly sour flavour, that originated from Goslar but was immensely popular in Leipzig during past centuries. It has however become rather rare and is only served in a few specialised breweries and pubs nowadays, namely Gosenschenke Ohne Bedenken and Bayerischer Bahnhof (see listings below). Gose can be flavoured with green (woodruff) or red (raspberry) syrup, or mixed with liquor.

Today, most Leipzigers prefer more mainstream Pils beers and if you just order "a beer" you will most probably get a Pils by default. Ur-Krostitzer, for example, is brewed just a few kilometers north of Leipzig and was purportedly favoured by the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus during his stay in the region. Leipzig's Sternburg Export is one of the cheapest among German beer brands (c. 50 cents a bottle in most supermarkets) and is preferred by the young and poor who want to get lit for little money, while only a few enthusiasts actually appreciate its taste.

A local liquor specialty is Leipziger Allasch, a kümmel (caraway-flavoured liquor), and a variety of liquors of Horn's distillery.

You can find a lot of pubs, bars, cafés and restaurants and also some smaller dance clubs along the multicultural

Karl-Liebknecht-Straße ("Karli"). The street starts in the south of the inner city and leads you to Südvorstadt and Connewitz (student and alternative quarters). Many pubs, bars and cafés can also be found on 1 Barfußgässchen. , a narrow lane in the old town.

Cafés

Leipzig has a long and lively coffee house tradition. Although many of the old cafés have disappeared, this tradition lives on. Besides Zum Arabischen Coffee Baum (listed under Museums above) a number of cafés give you a place to relax and have a cup of coffee during the day.

2 Riquet, Schuhmachergäßchen 1 (city centre), ☏ +0341 9 61 00 00. 09:00–20:00. Built in 1908-09. Two copper elephant heads guard the entrance. The interior is put under preservation and has been restored to its original glory in the 1990s. Wide selection of cakes and gateaux. (updated Dec 2018)

Public transport

The primary means of public transport is the tram. LVB operates trams and buses in Leipzig. Most lines run every 10 minutes during the day and at least hourly at night. A single-trip ticket costs €3.80. A bus & tram ticket valid 24 hours costs €9.70. A weekly pass costs €40.40.

The tram network is structured like a star with a circle in the centre. Tram lines generally lead from the outskirts into the city, which they half-circle on the ring, and continue to someplace else in the outskirts. Bus lines provide additional direct connections that often do not touch the centre.

Trains ("S-Bahn") cross the city centre in a north-south direction through the city tunnel, connecting Hauptbahnhof and Bayerischer Bahnhof via underground stations at Markt and at Wilhelm-Leuschner Platz. From both ends of the tunnel, lines branch off in several directions towards Leipzig suburbs like Connewitz, Stötteritz, Thekla, fair area and Miltitzer Allee and beyond. The city tunnel provides fast connections north - south, but is not of great help in the east - west direction.

Tickets

LVB is part of the regional integrated transport network MDV. Tickets to nearby towns and cities (e.g. Halle) are available at LVB ticket offices, vending machines, or via the official app. They are valid for all participating means of transportation. Fare zone 110 covers the entire city. A single-trip ticket includes transfers to other lines, provided you complete your trip within one hour.

Buy tickets from:

Vending machines at many stops and at all train stations (usually accepting coins, bills, and cards).

Vending machines inside the trams and buses (accepting just contactless card payments).

The LeipzigMOVE app.

Every Konsum shop within the city.

One of the LVB service offices or some tobacco and press shops.

Stamp your paper ticket after boarding the first bus or tram on your itinerary, or on the platform when using a train. Week tickets are valid until 04:00 of their 8th validity day.

Leipzig's safety is on par with other major German cities. The basic precautions you would normally take when travelling in Germany will be enough to feel safe. The city center is safe at all times.

As in much of Saxony, there are a lot of far-right extremists in and around Leipzig. But unlike in rural Saxony, they are countered by a strong, active Antifa community, which seldom hesitates to use violence to stop far-right activities. Police reaction to scuffles from both sides can consequently be heavy handed, and they have been attacked by both right- and left-wing political activists.