18 Best Things to Do and See in Leipzig
Exploring Leipzig on foot is one of the best ways to feel the city’s atmosphere, connect its landmark places and discover its neighbourhoods at a more natural pace.
In this guide, you will find the attractions not to miss when planning a walking route in Leipzig, with simple reference points.
To go further, you can also enjoy a private guided tour in Leipzig. It is a smoother way to connect places, understand details you might miss on your own and enjoy a more human, personal discovery adapted to your trip.
1. Marktplatz Leipzig
Marktplatz Leipzig is a historic central square where you can discover one of the city’s lively hearts. Surrounded by notable buildings and elegant facades, it offers a great glimpse into Leipzig’s urban architecture. Depending on the season, the square hosts markets, events, and local activity that add to its lively atmosphere. It is also a pleasant place to stroll, watch daily life, and enjoy the city center ambiance. Its location makes it a convenient starting point for exploring Leipzig’s other landmarks.
2. Belantis Amusement Park
Belantis Amusement Park is a major amusement park south of Leipzig, Germany, offering a fun day out for the whole family. Discover roller coasters, thrill rides, gentler attractions and themed areas designed to create varied experiences throughout your visit. The park combines leisure, immersive scenery and activities for all ages, making it a popular choice for a full day of relaxation and entertainment near Leipzig.
3. St. Nicholas Church of Leipzig
St. Nicholas Church in Leipzig is one of the city’s most iconic religious buildings. Located in the historic center, this Protestant church attracts visitors for both its architecture and peaceful atmosphere. Inside, you’ll find a vast, bright space, remarkable decorative details and a place still alive with worship and concerts. A visit also offers a better understanding of Leipzig’s spiritual and cultural heritage, where religious tradition meets the city’s modern history.
4. St. Thomas Church of Leipzig
St. Thomas Church in Leipzig is one of the city’s most remarkable religious buildings, set in the historic center. This Protestant church attracts visitors interested in its architecture, as well as those seeking a peaceful spiritual atmosphere. Inside, you’ll find a spacious, bright interior, well-preserved heritage features and a setting shaped by Leipzig’s long musical and religious history. Close to the main sights in the city center, it is a must-see for anyone wanting to understand Leipzig’s cultural heritage.
5. Mädler Passage
The Mädler Passage, in the heart of Leipzig, is an elegant covered shopping arcade that attracts visitors for both its boutiques and its historic atmosphere. As you stroll through its passages, you’ll discover refined façades, beautifully maintained shop windows, and several places to go shopping, enjoy a coffee, or have a meal. The site also stands out for its preserved urban architecture, making it a pleasant stop for a leisurely walk sheltered from the weather. It is an iconic passage where heritage, local life, and a lively atmosphere come together.
6. Kunstkraftwerk
The Kunstkraftwerk in Leipzig is an art center housed in a former industrial power plant, where raw architecture provides the setting for contemporary and immersive exhibitions. Visitors often discover digital installations, monumental projections, light, sound, and visual experiences that transform the spaces into sensory journeys. The venue also hosts temporary art projects that blend contemporary creativity with spectacular staging, making it an original visit for art lovers as well as for curious travelers looking for a different outing in Leipzig.
7. Museum of Fine Arts Leipzig
The Museum of Fine Arts Leipzig offers a rich overview of art, with collections ranging from painting and sculpture to drawing and other visual arts. Located in the heart of Leipzig, it lets visitors discover works from different periods and styles in a setting designed for contemplation and discovery. Visitors appreciate both the diversity of the exhibits and the quality of the presentation, making it a must-see stop for museum and art gallery lovers in Germany.
8. Leipzig Opera
Leipzig Opera is one of the city’s leading cultural venues, offering a program devoted to opera, ballet, and lyrical music. Located in the heart of Leipzig, its elegant building attracts visitors for both its performances and its architecture. Inside, you’ll find the atmosphere of a traditional opera house, with an auditorium designed for listening and for showcasing live productions. It is a must-visit for music and performing arts lovers.
9. Leipzig University Botanical Garden
Leipzig University Botanical Garden is a peaceful stop to discover a wide variety of plants in a refined university setting. Explore themed areas, outdoor beds, greenhouses, and collections featuring both local and exotic species. It is a great place to see rare plants, learn about plant classification, and enjoy a quiet walk in the heart of Leipzig. A visit valued for both its scientific interest and its landscaped charm.
10. Grassi Museum of Applied Arts
The Grassi Museum of Applied Arts in Leipzig is a must-see for discovering decorative arts and design in many forms. Its collections include ceramics, glass, textiles, furniture, jewelry and contemporary creations from different periods and cultures. The visit showcases the evolution of techniques, styles and uses through carefully curated displays. In an elegant setting, the museum offers an artistic and cultural experience, ideal for visitors interested in applied arts and the history of everyday objects.
11. Leipzig Natural History Museum
Leipzig Natural History Museum invites visitors to explore collections dedicated to zoology, botany, geology, and the natural sciences. Discover specimens and objects that reflect the diversity of life and museum conservation methods. The museum offers a structured look at nature through collections used for both research and education. In Leipzig’s cultural landscape, it stands out for its scientific and documentary focus.
12. Aquarium Zoo Leipzig
Aquarium Zoo Leipzig is located within Leipzig Zoo on Pfaffendorfer Strasse, an easy-to-reach setting near the city center. The site complements the areas dedicated to land animals with a focus on aquatic habitats and the species that live there. Visitors can enjoy the diversity of the zoo through animal observation, themed routes and a showcase of biodiversity. This part of the park adds another dimension to the visit, offering a different view of wildlife and of Leipzig Zoo’s layout.
13. Grassi Museum of Ethnology in Leipzig
The Grassi Museum of Ethnology in Leipzig offers a journey through world cultures via objects, customs, and forms of expression preserved in its collections. The museum combines ethnography and archaeology, giving visitors insight into both human diversity and the historical dimension of artifacts. Located on Johannisplatz in a heritage complex in Leipzig, it is also a historic site and educational institution, where the presentation of collections supports research and knowledge sharing.
14. Da Capo – Event Hall and Oldtimermuseum
Da Capo – Event Hall and Oldtimermuseum offers a unique mix of automotive history and contemporary cultural use in Leipzig. Vintage vehicles are displayed in a space designed not only as a museum, but also for events, concerts and receptions. This dual identity gives the site a distinctive atmosphere, combining mechanical heritage, local history and today’s cultural life in a district shaped by urban regeneration.
15. Citizens Committee Leipzig e.V.
Citizens Committee Leipzig e.V. offers a museum visit focused on civic memory and Leipzig’s recent history. It is ideal for travelers who want to understand how citizen initiatives shaped public life and the city’s transformation. The museum combines documentary content with a strong local context, closely linked to Leipzig city center. A visit helps place the objects, stories, and displays within a broader urban and political history, while staying rooted at Dittrichring.
16. Leipzig Tram Museum
Leipzig Tram Museum offers a look into the history of the tram in a city where this transport mode played an important role. Visitors can see preserved vehicles, signage, and technical parts that tell the story of the network’s evolution. The museum also gives insight into the work behind tram operation and maintenance, in a setting tied to Leipzig’s transport heritage. It is a place of urban memory focused on everyday mobility and preserved railway know-how.
17. Gallery for Contemporary Art
The Gallery for Contemporary Art is a Leipzig museum dedicated to contemporary art, located on Karl-Tauchnitz-Straße. Visitors discover temporary exhibitions featuring painting, installation, video and other contemporary practices. The venue stands out for its focus on social issues, recent visual languages and diverse artistic approaches. It offers a clear view of contemporary creation in one of Leipzig’s major cultural settings.
18. Gleis 24 – Historic Locomotives
Gleis 24 – historische Lokomotiven is a railway museum in Leipzig focused on the memory of historic locomotives. Discover preserved machines that witness the history of rail transport, with a close look at their design, mechanics, and place in railway heritage. It is ideal for travelers interested in technical heritage and the world of trains, near the center of Leipzig.
Antony M
During my travels, I looked for guides who spoke my language. This search turned out to be long and tedious. That is why I created MYTOGU (My Tourist Guide): a matching site between tourists and professional tourist guides.
