Top 17 Things To Do In Leipzig, Germany

1. Tour the city on a Trabi car

The iconic Trabi car is a major attraction in the city of Leipzig, and going for a tour aboard this legendary car is an experience not to be missed. It is not just the history of the car, but also the comfortable and effortless means they provide for exploring the city that makes them such a darling to many tourists. During the tour, in addition to learning more about the car, you will also go past some of the city’s most beautiful sights, including the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, Gohlis Palace, the zoo, St. Thomas Church, and Gewandhaus among others.

2. Enjoy scavenger hunting in Leipzig city center

A great way to explore the city is to go on a scavenger hunt to learn and discover exciting information and sample some of the top attractions within the city center. With this hunt, you will be solving riddles and looking for clues, always moving from one site to another as you attempt to get the solutions. The directions will be clear and you will find it extremely fulfilling to explore the entire city center on foot, encountering attractions such as Auerbach’s Keller, the Moritzbastei, and the opera among others.

3. Go on a haunted guided tour

If you are inquisitive enough, or you love paranormal activities, then you have every reason to go on this tour. It is nearly two hours of a tour of the haunted side of Leipzig. With the goose-bump-inducing events and the creepy secrets of the city’s past, it will be apparent to you why Leipzig is a top destination for travelers who believe in ghosts. It is also during this tour that you will learn about the evilest man who ever lived on earth; when he visited Leipzig and the kind of impression he left behind that still lingers up to date.

4. Learn about Leipzig's musical heritage

Leipzig may be known for commerce and trade, but you will be surprised to learn that it is one of the few musical capitals in Europe. The city has very strong connections to great musicians such as Schumann, Mendelssohn, Bach and Wagner among others. With this trip, you will walk the Leipzig Musical Trail that will take you through the city’s music history, musical museums, the opera, the Gewandhaus and St. Thomas Church. This is an exciting tour if you have a double passion for history and music.

5. Explore the gigantic Leipzig Panometer

The Leipzig Panometer, also known as Asisi Panometer, is a fusion of a panorama and a gasometer that is no longer in use. It is an unusual concept of artist Yadegar Asisi whose ingenuity to use paper and pencil, combined with modern computing, has given rise to baffling monumental scenes from history and nature. The works you find on the Panometer keep on changing every two to three years, with the past themes featuring the Amazon, Titanic, Mount Everest, Ancient Rome and the Battle of Leipzig among others.

Leipzig Panometer

Address: Richard-Lehmann-Straße 114, 04275 Leipzig, Germany

Website: Leipzig Panometer

Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)

6. Learn about German history at Zeitgeschichtliches Forum

Zeitgeschichtliches Forum is a museum dedicated to the reunification of East Germany since 1949. The museum has permanent exhibition documents, including personal accounts, and propaganda posters that document all the aspects of life under the SED regime. You will also find football jerseys used by GDR national team, photographs, consumer products, medals, communication equipment and archived documents that tell the stories of the civil courage it took to bring an end to the famous Berlin Wall.

Zeitgeschichtliches Forum

Address: Grimmaische Str. 6, 04109 Leipzig, Germany

Website: Zeitgeschichtliches Forum

Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 9am - 6pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 6pm (closed on Mon)

7. Marvel at the history and architecture of St. Nicholas Church

St. Nicholas Church will always be remembered for the role it played during the famous Monday Demonstrations. It is a gothic and baroque church that was the venue of the very initial peaceful anti-government campaigns in 1989. The church supported the protesters and it held peace prayers every Monday from 1982, and it was on this wave that protesters rode to finally bring political changes to East Germany. In history, the church has been around for more than 250 years and is also where the famous Bach wrote many of his compositions.

St. Nicholas Church

Address: Nikolaikirchhof 3, 04109 Leipzig, Germany

Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)

8. Admire fine art at Museum der Bildenden Kunste

Museum der Bildenden Kunste is a bold glass cube located right at the center of the city. It is a fine-arts museum that was reopened in 2004 after the building it previously occupied was wiped out during the war. Its exhibitions include arts from medieval times to date, including masterpieces by legends such as Frans Hals, and Lucas Cranach. The museum also houses the Stages of Life - a painting by the famous Casper David Friedrich which is considered as one of the masterworks of the German Romantic movement.

Museum der Bildenden Kunste

Address: Katharinenstraße 10, 04109 Leipzig, Germany

Opening hours: Wed: 12pm - 8pm; Thu - Sun: 10am - 6pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 12 USD

9. Tour the magnificent Volkerschlachtdenkmal

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The Volkerschlachdenkmal is a war monument erected in 1913 and at 91 meters (299 feet) tall, it remains among the tallest war monuments in the continent of Europe. The monument reminds us of the story of the Battle of Leipzig, and the ensuing defeat of Napolean by a coalition of armies from Austria, Sweden, Russia, and Prussia. Nearly 600,000 troops took part in the battle, making it the largest in pre-World War I.

Volkerschlachdenkmal

Address: Str. Of 18 October 100, 04299 Leipzig, Germany

Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)

10. Discover the life and work of Johann Sebastian Bach at Bach-Museum

Bach-Museum is right opposite St. Thomas Church, and it contains incredible collections that will give you a glimpse into the life of Johann Sebastian Bach. You will find a treasure room with handwritten music manuscripts by Bach, musical instruments such as a violin, and the console of an organ. You will also see his family tree, including the number of his family members who were also involved in music.

Johann Sebastian Bach at Bach-Museum

Address: Thomaskirchhof 15/16, 04109, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany

Website: Johann Sebastian Bach at Bach-Museum

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 6pm (closed on Mon)

11. Catch a choir performance at St. Thomas Church

St. Thomas Church has a lot of history and cultural significance in the region. It has been Bach’s burial place since the 1950s, and it is also home to the famous St. Thomas Choir – one of the most prestigious choirs in the world up to date. Catch a concert on Sunday, then tour the Baroque Tower whose construction was completed in 1702. If you visit on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, you will be entertained by the melodious tunes of the choir, and you can also sing along in the corridors.

St. Thomas Church

Address: Thomaskirchhof 18, 04109 Leipzig, Germany

Opening hours: 9am - 6pm (daily)

12. Go shopping in the Market Square

Irrespective of the time of your visit, there will always be an activity taking place at the Markt – the Market Square. Visit this place to sample a variety of experiences including shopping in the medieval-themed stalls and watching sideshows such as jousting by street performers.

Markt

Address: Markt, 04109 Leipzig, Germany

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

13. Discover more about the SED regime at Museum der Runden Ecke

Museum der Runden Ecke used to be the headquarters of Stasi, and two days after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Monday demonstrators occupied this building. This was a demonstration of how a Peaceful Revolution led to the fall of the SED government. Most of the building’s interior is still intact as it was before the fall of the wall. Exhibits inside include items that tell the story and the methods used by the state security services during the reign of the Stasi.

Museum der Runden Ecke

Address: Dittrichring 24, 04109 Leipzig, Germany

Website: Museum der Runden Ecke

Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)

14. Experience a thrilling motorboat sightseeing cruise

Leipzig has a network of canals that carry on the story of its industrial heritage and its rich history. With the canal sightseeing cruise, you will explore the major canals, including the most beautiful canal in the city – Karl Heine Canals. The cruise will also see you meander your way through the old industrial district, the striking Stelzenhaus, the famous Baedeker Villa and the western territories, while you enjoy brief moments of silence to soak in the beautiful nature around the canals.

15. Visit the fascinating Carolas Garden

At Carolas Gardens, Artist Yadegar Asisi is on a mission to create a microscopic panorama, which, by 2019, was regarded as the world’s largest 360-degree panorama. You will learn about the biodiversity of a typical domestic garden in addition to experiencing an authentic transition of day and night inside the panorama. These are just but a few of the highlights of the tour, and it is something you should not miss.

16. Take a comedy tours through the old town

You will tour Leipzig’s Old Town aboard a comfortable bus while you enjoy comedy shows. The jokes are numerous, the stories are funny, with lots of unusual activities during the trip. Another feature of this innovative comedy experience is the beautiful sights you will uncover as you snake your way through the old town.

Rich history and culture await you in Leipzig

Though overshadowed by some of the top tourist cities in Germany, Leipzig also has its charms worth checking out. It is a city of incredible history and culture. Use the recommendations of things to do in Leipzig, Germany, discussed above to guide your tour.