© www.pkfotografie.com, Philipp Kirschner

Travel to Leipzig

Travel planning and tips

Are you planning a journey to Leipzig or its surrounding region and still looking for the best way to get from A to B? Here, you can find all the important information you need to plan your journey as well as useful tips on how to get to Leipzig's sights and travel around the local area in a cheap and environmentally friendly way. 

Transport mode

By train to Leipzig

Leipzig Central Station

Arriving in Europe's best station

© www.pkfotografie.com, Philipp Kirschner

Located right in the city centre, Leipzig Central Station is the ideal place to start your tour of the city. From there, you can easily and conveniently travel to all districts of Leipzig on the "Bimmel", as the tram is called by the locals. 

But before you leave, take a couple of minutes in Europe's largest terminus station to have a look at this monument which is now over 100 years old. We think you will agree that there are few stations as beautiful as this one. This was even officially confirmed in 2021. Leipzig Central Station is the best station in the whole of Europe

Furthermore, Leipzig Central Station is much more than a travel hub. It is also the number one shopping destination in Leipzig. In more than 140 shops at the Promenaden Shopping Centre, you can find everything you are looking for as well as everything you didn't know you needed.

Tip: Learn more about this impressive building on a guided tour of Leipzig Central Station. You can find about this and other guided tours here: Tours and Experiences.

City Tunnel Leipzig

The fastest direct connection to the city centre

The City Tunnel connectsLeipzig Central Station and therefore also Leipzig's city centre with the station at "Bayerischer Bahnhof" via a roughly two-kilometre-long underground link. 

There are two other stops in between: Leipzig's "Marktplatz" (market square), the heart of Leipzig, and Wilhelm-Leuschner Platz. Both stations are perfect places to start your discovery tour of Leipzig. 

The City Tunnel has transformed Leipzig Central Station from a pure terminus into a combined terminus and transit station, which connects the city with the surrounding region.

Tip: The City Tunnel is the perfect route if you want to travel quickly from A to B or when it is raining. However, to really experience Leipzig, we recommend you take a walk or select a combined tour.

Travelling by car to Leipzig

Arriving by car

Arriving safely from all directions

© www.pkfotografie.com, Philipp Kirschner

Leipzig has traditionally always been a traffic crossroads. As a trade fair and trading hub, Leipzig originated at the crossroads of two military and trade routes and today plays a more important role than ever in connecting transport routes from all directions.

Thanks to its position next to the A9, A14 and A38 motorways, Leipzig is ideally connected to the national motorway network. The city centre can be reached via the following exits.

  • Coming from Berlin and Magdeburg via the A14, take the Leipzig-Mitte exit
  • From Dresden via the A14, turn off at the Leipzig-Ost exit
  • Driving in from Munich and Erfurt via the A38, take the Leipzig-Südwest exit

Tip: You can use the Live Travel News to get current information about parking spaces, diversions and mobility stations on your smartphone.

Low Emission Zone

A green sticker for a greener Leipzig

The majority of Leipzig's city area belongs to the low emission zone. Here, only vehicles with a green sticker (emissions category 4) can use public roads.

The creation of a low emission zone helps to improve air quality by reducing not only emissions but also exposure to particulate matter. This system has already been in place since 2012 to protect the health of those living here.

Tip: So you can be sure where the low emission zone begins and ends, please pay attention to the relevant traffic signs. 

Out and about in an electric car

German model city for electric mobility

With BMW and Porsche in town, Leipzig has long been an industrial location for electric mobility. However, this is not enough to satisfy the citizens of Leipzig. They want to be the city with the best e-mobility in Germany. Today, numerous initiatives and projects already ensure that Leipzig is a veritable paradise for electric cars and e-bikes.

Alongside a comprehensive network of charging stations, you can also charge your electricity in a very innovative way in Leipzig using an LED lantern. Furthermore, there are plans for bicycle highways out to Leipzig's surrounding area and the parking facilities in town are becoming ever better for electric cars. 

We have compiled an overview of the charging stations as well as other useful information for you here. 

 

charging stations are currently available in Leipzig.

per year, all charging stations are open 24/7 for you.

Electricity from renewable resources.

Travelling by campervan to Leipzig and its surrounding region.

Paradise for Campers

Wake up and go to sleep happy

For nature lovers, camping in Leipzig and its surrounding region is an unforgettable experience full of amazingly enjoyable and relaxing moments. Recharge your batteries in harmony with nature, slow down and relax.

Here, every camper will find a personal paradise whether travelling by caravan, mobile home or with a tent and whether looking for somewhere cosy or comfortable, a small space or a large park. Far away from the noise, chaos and stress of daily life but still close to the city, numerous camping and campervan spaces are available. In Leipzig and its surrounding region, you can experience the freedom of camping in a way that is simultaneously relaxing and exciting.  

 

 

By coach to Leipzig

Comfortable and cheap

Travelling by coach

Today, coaches connect many of Germany's important cities. You can also enjoy relaxed and low-budget travel to Leipzig this way.

The new, modern coach station is located at the eastern end of Leipzig Central Station and is therefore perfectly connected to the city centre. Some coaches serve the Leipzig Trade Fair and Leipzig/Halle airport. The easiest way to book coach tickets is online from the appropriate company. 

Tip: Many companies offer cheaper tickets the earlier you book. Therefore, it is worth planning ahead and comparing prices.

Travelling to Leipzig by plane

Ready for take-off

Travelling by plane

Leipzig/Halle airport is located at Schkeuditzer Kreuz (A9, A14), 18 km from Leipzig and 23 km from Halle. 

The airport offers direct flights to the major German cities of Frankfurt am Main, Düsseldorf and Munich as well as to the international cities of Vienna, Paris, Dubrovnik, Tivat, Lamezia Terme, Palma de Mallorca, Antalya, Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Madeira, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura. Many other destinations in Europe and worldwide can be reached via the German hubs at Frankfurt am Main, Munich and Berlin Brandenburg Airports. Thanks to the fast Intercity Express (ICE) connection from Berlin to Leipzig, it only takes 1 hour and 14 minutes to get here.

Once you have landed in Leipzig, the tram takes you to the city centre in 12 mins, or to Leipzig's "Messegelände" (Exhibition Centre) in 6 mins.

Redbull Arena – Arrival and Departure

Relaxed travel to the stadium

The Red Bull Arena is located very close to the city centre. On the one hand, this is a great advantage. However, on the other hand, when the Red Bulls' matches sell out, there are not enough parking spaces in the close vicinity.

To ensure you arrive relaxed and in good time for the kick-off to cheer on your team, we recommend that you use public transport.

The Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH (municipal public transportation services) are well-prepared for the crowds of visitors and run extra services.

Always mobile in Leipzig

Tips on mobility and traffic

Using the buses and trams

Discovering Leipzig

Leipzig's dense network of transport companies with short waiting times not only keeps Leipzig moving but makes you mobile too. Using the LeipzigMOVE mobility app, you can also book bikes and carsharing as well as taxis. The app will always show you where the next bus or tram stop is and let you pay for tickets online as well as offering 10 hours free of charge to explore the city on a Nextbike.

You can contact the Leipzig transport companies for personal advice here: 
Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe Service Centre
Markgrafenstrasse 2, 04109 Leipzig
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 8 am–8 pm
Saturday: 8 am–4 pm

Mobility Centre at Leipzig Central Station
Willy-Brandt-Platz, 04109 Leipzig
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 8 am–8 pm Saturday: 8 am–4 pm

  • One app. All services. All you need to be mobile in Leipzig and its surrounding area is the LeipzigMOVE App.

  • LeipzigMOVE brings together all mobility services in the city: Buses, trams, bike sharing, carsharing and taxis.

  • You can enjoy additional benefits if you use the LEIPZIG Welcome Cards.

  • You can make great savings with the LEIPZIG CARD and LEIPZIG REGIO CARD. 

Parking in Leipzig

© www.pkfotografie.com, Philipp Kirschner

Parking in the city

Leipzig is growing – as is the number of car parks, luckily.

To find a place to park on a street in the city centre is a real stroke of luck. Finding a place to park in a central car park, however, requires a little less luck.

There are several car parks in the centre of Leipzig which are linked to the parking information system.

Tip: You can find an overview of all car parks in Leipzig's City Centre and those close to the centre on the theme map and in the transport information system. 

Furthermore, there are six Park & Ride car parks in total in Leipzig. They are spread across the city, located on important access routes and directly connected to Leipzig's well-developed transport network. Four of them are located in the West of Leipzig, one in the North, and another car park in the South East.

The best part: all Park & Ride car parks are open 24/7 and free.

  • To ensure you arrive at the stadium relaxed and on time for kick-off, it is advisable to use the Park & Ride options in combination with the buses and trams. 

  • Leipzig's transport companies add additional services when matches are on.

Cycling in Leipzig and its surrounding region

Out and about by bicycle

From the centre of town out into the countryside

Leipzig is the City of Short Distances and is waiting to be explored! A bicycle is the perfect choice. You can go on a bicycle trip through the Leipzig Floodplain Forest for example – the largest contiguous forest in Europe. Or go for a spin along the waterside. In "Little Venice", there are any amount of cycle paths along the waterways where the rivers Pleisse, Parthe and White Elster flow right through the city.

You can also start right in the city centre if you would like to spend a day cycling around the Leipzig region. Grab a bike and hop onto a tram that will take you to the outskirts of Leipzig. Here, ­numerous bike­trails through the Leipzig New Lake District and the Saxon landscape with its castles and heaths are waiting to welcome you. Explore the countryside along the Mulde and Elbe bike trails, tour along trails through the Saxon Obstland (fruit country) or discover the former lignite mining areas in the New Lake District.

Tip: In Leipzig, no one needs to bring their own bicycle. You can just use one of the many bicycle­ rental services in Leipzig and its surrounding region. 

Carsharing and ride pooling

Sustainable car mobility

Protects the environment and your wallet

Carsharing involves travelling by car together with other people. It is cheaper and also good for the environment. As a customer of a provider, simply register by filling in your contact details on a website or an app. Once this is done, you can book any vehicle at any time. 

To make sure travel is cost-efficient and saves energy, ride pooling involves several people with the same destination sharing a vehicle instead of each person travelling alone by car. Therefore, ride pooling is comparable to car pooling. However, it is managed by an algorithm so that you just hop in and get out at your destination as you would in a taxi. One of the largest providers in this sector who also operates in Leipzig is CleverShuttle and all their cars are electric.

Tip: With LeipzigMOVE, you can use carsharing and other mobility services in just one app.

 

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