Summer in Leipzig 
and the region

When temperatures rise, the days are at their longest, and the sky above the Leipzig Region is smiling, it is finally summer! With it begins the most vibrant time of the year.

The parks shine in lush green and invite you to relaxed barbecues and easygoing picnics. Along the trendy streets, one outdoor seating area lines up next to the other, because Leipzig loves and lives its café and beer garden culture. In the sunshine, the city is wonderful to explore by bike or on the waterways. The Leipziger Neuseenland attracts visitors with fine sandy beaches that provide refreshing cool-downs on hot days. Whether a beach day, family outing, or wellness weekend – in the region, your summer holiday becomes a memorable experience. Wildlife and animal parks, mini-golf courses, and museums provide varied experiences for young and old.

Enjoy the summer in Leipzig and the surrounding region in all its facets and have an unforgettable time!

Concerts, city festivals, open-air cinemas, markets and festivals transform Leipzig and the surrounding region into one big stage during the summer months.

One of the most important international music festivals is the Leipzig Bachfest. Every summer, more than 150 events feature performers from around the world, the Gewandhaus Orchestra and the St. Thomas Boys Choir at the original venues of the Thomaskantor. Another musical highlight is the open-air concert series Klassik airleben. When the Gewandhaus Orchestra performs at the end of the season in the Rosental, it’s time to spread out your picnic blanket, enjoy your favorite snacks and experience classical music in a special atmosphere. 

With more than 250,000 visitors, the Leipzig City Festival is also one of the highlights of the event calendar. Around 150 hours of live programming on several stages provide top-class entertainment in the city center. The Leipzig Water Festival offers three days full of hands-on activities, information, fun and entertainment on and around Leipzig’s waterways.

You can enjoy a true festival atmosphere right by the water at the Highfield Festival in August. Each year, it brings the biggest names in indie, rock, pop and hip-hop to Lake Störmthal near Großpösna. Culture in an extraordinary setting also awaits you at the lake stage at the Biedermeier Beach on Lake Schladitz, featuring musicals, concerts and show formats—perfect for warm summer evenings. The Kleine Gartenschau in Oschatz invites you to enjoy a colorful program all about gardens, plants and sustainability, with free admission.

Where could you enjoy the warm summer weather better than relaxing in one of Leipzig's many parks? Whether it's Johannapark, Clara-Zetkin-Park or the idyllic Rosental – as soon as the scent of sunscreen mixes with the smell of barbecues, your next favourite spot in the green is not far away. Sun worshippers, sports enthusiasts, families and groups of friends meet here for picnics, games of frisbee or simply to unwind in the shade under the trees. Many green spaces are just a few minutes from the city centre and can easily be reached on foot or by bike.

For a real beach feeling, you don’t have to head to the sea in summer, because numerous lakes and waterways are waiting for you in the Leipzig Region. From the city centre, you can reach many swimming lakes in less than 30 minutes by bike. 

Whether you want to dig your feet into the sand on the north shore of Cospudener See, glide across Schladitzer See on a stand-up paddleboard, experience an adrenaline rush on the standing wave at Kanupark Markkleeberg, or enjoy concerts at the Hafentheater Hain – the Leipzig New Lakeland offers refreshment, culture and adventure all at once. 

But it’s not only the lakes just outside Leipzig that promise fun in the water. The many forest and nature pools as well as the outdoor pools in Leipzig and the surrounding region are also perfect for hot days. If you’re looking for spa and wellness, you’ll find it at places such as the Sauna im See, the Heide Spa Bad Düben and the RIFF Bad Lausick. Here, you can treat yourselves and enjoy a relaxing break.

The warm summer weather is the perfect invitation to leave your four walls behind and discover the Leipzig region. The varied landscape offers ideal conditions for both an active day trip and a sporty summer holiday.

Grab your bike and explore one of the numerous cycling paths through Leipzig and the surrounding area. They lead through green meadows, along idyllic rivers, and to impressive castles and palaces. From tours around the lakes of the Leipzig Neuseenland to longer routes through the Northern Saxony Mill Region, everyone will find the right route here. Perfect for all who want to combine exercise in nature with cultural discoveries!

Do you prefer exploring on foot? Then get out and go hiking! Whether it’s walks by crystal-clear lakes or paths through historic small towns – the region is full of little escapes. A special highlight is the augmented reality tours offered by Natur-Abenteuer-Leipzig. These interactive outings for up to six people combine experiencing nature with the fascinating history of the city of Leipzig.

Summer in Leipzig and the surrounding region gets you moving!

The summer holidays are the perfect opportunity to make the most of your free time and experience the Leipzig Region together with your family. When school is on break and the days are long and sunny, countless experiences for all ages await you around the city.

How about a day of swimming at one of the many lakes in the Leipzig New Lakeland? It offers refreshment and a holiday feeling without a long journey. In the parks, you can enjoy a relaxed picnic, while little adventures await you on Leipzig’s waterways during a boat tour. The Zoo Leipzig promises a colourful time with its unique Gondwanaland and the new bird worlds Loriversum and Amazonia. At Jump House Leipzig and in the Erlebniswelt ArkaZien with its diverse climbing and play areas, action and movement take centre stage, while the region’s castles and palaces provide variety during the school break. Sweet experiences await you at Karls Erlebnis-Dorf in Döbeln. And when films flicker across the screen under the starry sky in the evening, a visit to the open-air cinema is the perfect way to end a wonderful holiday day.

Do you want to escape the rain or take a break from the summer heat? Then Leipzig and the surrounding region with their diverse range of museums and galleries are just right for you. Here, art and culture enthusiasts will truly get their money's worth. Even in summer, it’s worth immersing yourselves in this inspiring world!

The exhibitions range from German contemporary history and musical culture to contemporary art, inviting you to make new discoveries again and again. In addition to the permanent exhibitions, many museums and galleries regularly offer changing special exhibitions and interactive formats that provide new perspectives.

A special new offer is a trip on the “Kulturzug Torgau”. Guests who take the S-Bahn at 10:16 a.m. from Leipzig on the first weekend of the month are greeted by a city guide right on the platform in Torgau and accompanied into the Old Town. If you like, you can then join a short guided tour of the castle, one of the many museums, or an exhibition.