Overview
When you think about visiting Germany, the first cities popping in your mind are Berlin, Frankfurt, or Munich but not Leipzig. We were just like you but after we went there, this beautiful city surprised us. Even though the months we spent there, the city was in lockdown because of Covid, it still has very interesting free attractions to see.
Leipzig is one of the most important cities in East Germany.
It is quite a large city, very well organized and a fantastic location to spend some days. It is an artistic city therefore Leipzig holds unique events in Germany and even Europe. The East City has the second oldest university in Germany, Leipzig University. It offers a huge variety of student programs and with its affordable cost of living, Leipzig is a perfect student city.
This beautiful city has a lot of free attractions to explore regardless of what you want to do.
For museum lovers or other public buildings, the city of Leipzig has listed on its website museums with entry-free days or free entry. So if you want to stick to a budget, plan your itinerary during this time. Except for the attractions mentioned on the city website, below you will find a list of the best suggestions to make Leipzig a fantastic trip to East Germany.
Leipzig Central Station (Leipzig Hauptbahnhof )
Leipzig Central Station is the largest railway in Europe by floor area. It has 19 train platforms and serves as a large shopping mall too. In the XIX century, the central station was part of the first big German railway line Leipzig-Dresden. This great infrastructure railway has a monument at the park near Leipzig Hbf which is located almost at the center of the city. Music is a very important element of the city and you hear it all the time at the train station. Pretty unique though! Even if you do not need to take a train there, it is totally worth taking a stop.
Monument to the Battle of the Nations (Völkerschlachtdenkmal)
Monument to the Battle of the Nations (Völkerschlachtdenkmal) represents the battle against French Army. It is the largest monument in Europe. Its height is 91m and its total area (including the surrounding areas) is 85 000 m2.
The Monument to the Battle of the Nations (Völkerschlachtdenkmal) is one of the top attractions in Leipzig, Germany.
It is astonishing from the outside. In front of it lays a rectangular pond and walk paths to reach the monument. His structure has stamped concrete and blocks of granite porphyry. It has a huge base and above it rises a dome with a smaller diameter. Heroes’ designs are in front and at the top of it. Really interesting monument.
Unfortunately, we could not visit it from inside because of corona restrictions but it should not be missed. The tickets are sold at the one-store object, at the right of the monument. Take your time and enjoy it.
Historical market square Leipzig (Marktplatz Leipzig)
The beautiful market square of Leipzig is one of the top sights to visit in the city. It has charming medieval buildings around it, which were completely reconstructed after WWII. The Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) is the most significant building of the square. City markets and the lovely Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt) take place there. It is always a gorgeous experience visiting Christmas Markets in Germany.
In the area are a lot of cafes and restaurants to spend some rest time during the trip. If you are interested to do shopping around the market square area, there are some good possibilities.
The New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus)
The New Town Hall is a huge building in the central district of Leipzig. It has a very unique architecture and it is worth a visit. Its tower offers beautiful views of the city. Leipzig Tower Hall is the highest of its kind in Germany. It reaches a high of 114.7 m.
Clara-Zetkin Park
Clara Zetkin Park is one of the biggest parks in the city. The park is not far away from the New Town Hall and has plenty of spaces for sports. It is a perfect choice for an afternoon with friends or family.
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig is the second (Heidelberg University is the first) oldest university in Germany. It is a big university and has many buildings throughout the city. The main building is in the city center. It is newly renovated and has a modern glass facade. Its alumni has very known figures such as Nietzsche, Goethe, Wagner, Angela Merkel, etc.
St. Thomas Church (Thomaskirche)
St. Thomas Church (Thomaskirche) is a Lutheran church in Leipzig, Germany. It has a Gothic style and very beautiful interior. The famous composer Bach has worked there and it has a statue outside the church. Other than Bach, other famous composers have worked there, like Wagner and Bartholdy.
St Michael’s Church (Michaeliskirche)
St Michael’s Church (Michaeliskirche) is a Protestant church and is located on the north side of Leipzig. It was built in 1901 and is a relatively new church compared with the other churches in the city. In front of it, is a large square and at really good weather, you can take great pictures.
Mädler-Passage
Mädler-Passage is a shopping mall in the city center of Leipzig. It has fine architecture and is interesting to visit. Mädler-Passage is very beautiful, especially during Christmas time. There are a lot of shops where you can find beautiful gifts for loved ones.
Lake Kulkwitzer (Kulkwitzer See)
Leipzig has many lakes on the South and West sides of it, offering a good opportunity for relaxing time and sunbathing. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to visit them all. We went to Lake Kulkwitzer, located west of Leipzig and we found it quite beautiful. After the first visit, it became our favorite place in Leipzig and we went there many times to relax. It is 9 km from the city center and it is perfect for a ride on a bike. Weekends are quite busy there when the weather is good.
Lake Kulkwitzer offers a wide range of activities for its visitors.
Lake Kulkwitzer has a path around its perimeter. You can either walk, run, or bike. At the entrance, on the northeast side of it, is a restaurant in the form of a ship. It remains open only during summer times though. The Germans could not leave such a beautiful lake without a campsite and the cabins are available for booking. For more entertainment, the lake offers different water sports activities. For us, the lake should not be missed in Leipzig.
Fockenberg
Fockenberg is a hill in southern Leipzig with a height of 60m at the top. When you visit it for the first time it seems like a normal hill but has a very interesting origin of formation. During WWII Leipzig was demolished extensively and the city rubbles were transformed into this beautiful hill.
Fockenberg has two paths from the city, leading to the top of it. The hike is easy level of difficulty so can be made by almost anyone. At the top of the hill is a square and it offers quite a view of the city. At the square, you can rest, take photos or even make a picnic.
