10 Reasons to Travel to Leipzig

Leipzig is not only the music capital of Germany but also one of the most significant cities of music anywhere in Europe. Many important composers, such as Johann Sebastian Bach and Robert Schumann lived and worked in Leipzig. Richard Wagner was born here and began his musical education in Leipzig. The Leipzig Music Trail, which leads past all the composers' residences and workplaces, goes right through the city centre. We also warmly recommend that music fans visit the Leipzig Opera. The building is not only visually an absolute eye-catcher but also offers a varied and diverse programme. The Gewandhaus on the opposite side of the square is an equally breathtaking building and the home of the Gewandhausorchester. And when talking about music in Leipzig, the St. Thomas Boys Choir must certainly be mentioned! As one of the oldest choirs in the world, it is also famous because it used to be conducted by Bach himself. It performs in Leipzig several times a week. For an experience that will leave you with goosebumps, be sure to hear the choir sing in St. Thomas Church.

Known as the Trade Fair City, Leipzig is the venue for a large number of trade fairs focusing on every topic imaginable. Leipzig offers a total of five exhibition halls with over 111,000 m² indoor and 70,000 m² outdoor exhibition space. The city is also home to the Congress Center Leipzig, one of the most modern venues in Europe for congresses and meetings. These impressive statistics are accompanied by steadily increasing visitor interest in projects such as the Leipzig Book Fair.

If Leipzig is famous for one thing, it's the city's beautiful buildings. Countless architectural masterpieces rise up into the Leipzig sky. A noteworthy example is the Monument to the Battle of the Nations. It is one of Europe's largest monuments at 91 metres high and covering an area of four hectares. It is also worth taking a look at the New City Hall with its 114-metre tower, making it the tallest city hall tower anywhere in Germany. The churches of the city are also an impressive sight. Any visit to Leipzig should at least include brief visits to St. Thomas Church and St. Nicholas Church. Anyone who is prepared to climb the steps of either of the church towers is guaranteed to be rewarded with a beautiful view over the city.

Take note, art lovers! In case you didn't already know, Leipzig is among Germany's art meccas. Whether you want to follow the traces of the art scene in the Spinnerei, the Kunstkraftwerk or the Tapetenwerk or prefer to visit the old masters in the Museum of Fine Arts, the city offers many opportunities and supports a multitude of projects with targeted funding for the arts.

On your next visit, we suggest you stop by the GRASSI museums. At the GRASSI Museum of Applied Arts, the Leipzig Museum of Ethnography and the GRASSI Museum for Musical Instruments, you can gain insights into all kinds of topics. Our tip: consider a visit to the permanent exhibitions, where admission has been completely free of charge since 1 January 2024.

Do you enjoy music and want to find out more about why Leipzig is known as theCity of Music? Then we warmly recommend visiting the Leipzig Mendelssohn House and the Schumann House.

The Leipzig Mendelssohn House celebrates the works and creations of the famous musician Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy during his time in Leipzig with displays on all three floors. Among other things, you can see a recreation of his former residence. If you are lucky, you will also have a chance to enjoy one of the wonderful live concerts. Check out the event calendar in advance to ensure you don't miss anything.

Then there is the Schumann House, which welcomes you into the rooms of the famous musical couple, Robert and Clara Schumann. With the motto "Welcome to the Schumanns' Home", a sound room with a sound installation and an audio guide will lead you through the house and the exhibition. The Schumann House also regularly hosts concerts for music enthusiasts and anyone else who is interested. It's well worth taking a look at the event calendar.

Sleeping the night away? Not in Leipzig! Just as in every other large city, the nightlife plays an important role here too. Young people in particular appreciate the many clubs, bars and events. The pubs of the Drallewatsch pub district, also called "barefoot alley" (Barfußgässchen)as well as Gottschedstrasse and Karl Liebknecht Strasse, lovingly known as Karli are especially popular. Later, locals often head to theMoritzbastei, one of the largest student clubs in Germany. An evening spent there after work can easily last into the early hours of the morning.