🗺️ Leipzig sights: 24 places with opening hours and transport

Leipzig surprises with the density of history per square meter. In one day you can realistically see a Renaissance town hall, Bach's house, and a BMW assembly plant. But without a plan you'll get stuck between tram stops and arrive at a museum ten minutes before closing.

We've put together 24 places worth adding to your itinerary. For each one we give transport, opening hours, and an honest catch. Check prices and schedules before your trip: some museums are closed on Mondays, and a narrow staircase leads to the monument's observation deck.

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💡 In short:

Most sights are concentrated in the center: Market Square, the Old Town Hall, and St. Thomas Church are all close together.
For outlying spots, take trams 2, 12, and 15: they'll get you to the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, the zoo, and the South Cemetery.
Tickets and opening hours: as of 09/2026, verified on the Leipzig tourist office website.

1. Old Town Hall

The Old Town Hall was built in 1556-1557 to a design by Paul Speck, and it's one of the few surviving Renaissance town halls in Germany. The towers stand asymmetrically, and beneath them a through-passage connects Market Square and Naschmarkt. Since 1909 the building has housed the city history museum.

Cost and hours: admission to the permanent exhibition is free, Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 (as of 09/2026, museum's official website).
Getting there: trams 4 and 10 to Augustusplatz.
What you'll see: the original Haussmann portrait of Bach and baroque ballrooms.
The catch: the museum is closed on Mondays, and the Markt gets crowded with tour groups on weekends.

2. New Town Hall

The New Town Hall was built on the site of Pleissenburg fortress, which was dismantled in 1890. Hugo Licht won the 1897 competition, and by 1905 a building with 600 rooms had risen in a Gothic and Art Nouveau spirit. At its center stands a 114.7 m tower as a reminder of the old fortress.

Getting there: trams 2, 8, 9, and 14 to Neues Rathaus.
Good to know: the basement, once a wine cellar, now houses a restaurant, and the galleries host exhibitions (official city portal).
The catch: the building is in active use, the city council meets here, so you won't be allowed into all the halls.

3. Gohlis Palace

Yellow Baroque Gohlis Palace with tower and garden

The palace was commissioned by Councilor Richter, and immediately after construction finished in 1756 it became the center of the city's cultural life. The poet Friedrich Schiller visited here. In 1783 the mansion was handed over to the city on the condition that the ensemble's architecture remain unchanged, and after German reunification it was restored (Leipzig tourist office website).

Cost and hours: visits from 14:00 to 17:30.
Getting there: tram 4 to Stallbaumstraße.
The catch: today it's a venue for concerts and weddings, so it's open to tourists only a few hours a day.

4. Augustusplatz

Augustusplatz in Leipzig with fountain from above

Augustusplatz was named after the first Saxon king, Frederick Augustus I, and the square itself covers 40,000 square meters. It is home to the opera house, the concert hall, and the university, while two fountains set the rhythm for a stroll. One of them, the 18-meter Mende Fountain, was returned to the square in the 1980s (City of Leipzig website).

Until the 18th century, the city's defensive fortifications stood on this site. Frederick Augustus went down in history as a just ruler: he abolished torture, banned the sale of judicial offices, and put the treasury in order. His mistake was supporting Napoleon, and to preserve Saxony, the king ceded the Duchy of Warsaw and part of his lands. The square was heavily damaged during World War II, and when the center was rebuilt, the 13th-century St. Paul's Church was demolished and the Mende Fountain was dismantled. Today the church has been restored, the old fountain is back in place, and an underground parking garage sits beneath the square.

How to get there: trams 4 and 10, Augustusplatz stop.
Who it's for: those who want to cover the opera and the Gewandhaus in one evening.
The catch: the square is large and open, with little shade in summer.

5. Schiller House Museum

Schiller House Museum with gates and fence

The museum opened in 1848 in the oldest surviving farmhouse, built in 1717 in Gohlis. Friedrich Schiller rented an apartment here in 1785 and worked on "Don Carlos" and the ode "To Joy." Today the exhibition displays around 100 original items (official website).

By the late 18th century, city residents began coming to the village of Gohlis for recreation, and farmhouses were converted to accommodate visitors. Schiller rented one such apartment, and in September 1841 an honorary gate and a memorial plaque were installed at the house. The exhibition covers the poet's works, the theater premieres of his plays, and the history of the Leipzig Schiller Society, and after the 1995 restoration the museum reopened in October 1998.

Cost and hours: April to October 10:00-18:00 except Mondays, November to March 10:00-16:00.
How to get there: tram 4 to Menckestraße stop.
The catch: in winter the exhibition closes at 16:00, so you'll only make it before midday.

6. Monument to the Battle of the Nations

Monument to the Battle of the Nations illuminated, reflection in the pond

Europe's most imposing monument was founded in 1863 and built from Bruno Schmitz's design using donations and lottery revenue. The 91-meter monument commemorates the victory of the allied armies over Napoleon in 1813. A staircase and two elevators lead up to the observation deck at a height of 57 meters (official foundation website).

Cost and hours: the ticket also includes the FORUM 1813 museum, November-March 10:00-16:00, April-October until 18:00.
How to get there: trams 2 and 15.
The catch: climbing to the observation deck takes effort, and the elevator does not go all the way to the top.

7. BMW Central Building

The glass BMW plant building was designed so that the architecture would support teamwork: it brings together administration, quality control, and design. Cars have been produced in Leipzig since spring 2005, currently 700-800 vehicles per day. You can visit the plant on a tour by prior arrangement (Leipzig tourism portal).

Hours: tours run Monday to Friday, 08:00-18:00.
Who it's for: those interested in modern manufacturing, not just old squares.
The catch: you can't get inside without booking in advance.

8. St. Nicholas Church

Nikolaikirche was built in 1165, and over the centuries it has accumulated Gothic, Classical, and Renaissance elements. Bach's "St John Passion" was first performed here, and in 1989 participants in the peaceful Monday demonstrations gathered within these walls. Today the parish is Lutheran, and once a week you can listen to organ music (official website).

How to get there: trams 4 and 10 to Augustusplatz stop.
Good to know: Sunday services are held at 09:30, 11:15, and 17:00.
The catch: tourist access is limited during service times.

9. St. Thomas Church

Vaulted ceiling with floral rosettes inside the church

Thomaskirche was built in the 13th century, and for many it is tied to the music of Bach. The great composer served here as cantor of the choir for 27 years. In 1950 his remains were reinterred in this church, and nearby the citizens erected a monument to him. The church is 18 m high and 76 m long, and its 16th-century bell tower rises to 68 m (official website).

Within these walls the works of Mozart were performed, and Martin Luther held a service here that went down in the city's history. The church was heavily damaged in World War II, but Bach's name protected it from demolition during the GDR years. Today the Thomanerchor sings here again, and three organs are in use, including a copy of an 18th-century instrument and a compact digital organ. Step inside before the service: that way you will have time to take in the carved pulpit and the old stained glass without disturbing worshippers.

Who it's for: those who came for Bach and the Thomanerchor boys' choir.
Good to know: the building has three organs in use, and the largest bell is named "Gloriosa".
How to get there: tram 9 to the Thomaskirche stop.
The catch: on rehearsal and concert days, access to the church may be restricted.

10. South Cemetery

South Cemetery chapel ensemble amid greenery

South Cemetery opened in 1886, when the growing city needed a new burial site. It is one of Germany's largest park cemeteries, with landscaped avenues, sculptures and greenery. The neo-Romantic ensemble was modeled on Maria Laach Abbey (official website).

Planning began in 1879, when the city's population grew sharply. The grounds are laid out as a landscape park with separate sections. Many prominent Leipzig residents are buried here, so a walk turns into a lesson in city history.

Good to know: in 1910 a chapel with a bell tower, a crematorium and a columbarium were added here.
Getting there: tram 15 to the Südfriedhof stop.
The catch: it's a quiet place for a walk, not a sight with interactive elements.

11. Bach Museum

Facade of the Bach Museum in Leipzig with sign

The museum occupies a Baroque house from the 18th century next to St. Thomas Church. Bach spent the last 27 years of his life in Leipzig, working as cantor, organist and teacher, so a large part of the exhibition is devoted to his family. Among the relics is part of an organ from the destroyed St. John's Church (official Bach-Archiv website).

Nearby stands St. Thomas School, where Bach lived and taught. In the exhibition you'll see original scores of sacred and secular works, 18th-century instruments and a unique collection of audio recordings. The composer tuned some of the organs himself, and St. John's Church, where the instrument stood, was destroyed in the war. Today the museum operates as part of the Bach Archive, a research center founded in 1950.

Cost and hours: 10:00-18:00, closed Mondays, free admission for children and teens under 18.
Good to know: admission is free on the first Tuesday of every month (Leipzig tourism office).
Getting there: bus 89 to the Thomaskirche stop.
The catch: the museum is small, and the rooms fill up quickly in high season.

12. Mendelssohn House Museum

The eight-room apartment on the second floor of an 1844 building remains the composer's only surviving residence. Mendelssohn moved to Leipzig in 1835, took part in founding the conservatory and died here. The museum holds draft scores and original letters, and in the "effect-orium" you can try your hand at conducting (official website).

Mendelssohn was called the "Mozart of the 19th century"; he performed as a pianist and conductor and taught at the city conservatory. After the composer's death, his music was removed from programs for a long time because of his Jewish roots. The museum's founders managed to recreate the rooms' interiors and buy back original furniture, and 18 years later the space was expanded to include the ground floor. A separate display case is devoted to the Swedish singer Jenny Lind, to whom the composer dedicated scores.

Cost and hours: open daily 10:00-18:00 year-round, children under 18 enter free.
Good to know: every Sunday at 11:00 a concert is held in the music salon.
Getting there: trams 2, 9 and 16 to the Rossplatz stop.
The catch: the Sunday concert draws a large audience, so arrive early.

13. Grassi Museum

Facade of the Grassi Museum with green courtyard

The complex is named after the merchant who bequeathed the city 2 million marks for the construction of cultural buildings. Today it brings together the ethnographic museum, the applied arts collection and the musical instruments museum. The ethnographic collection numbers about 200,000 items, and among the 10,000 instruments are relics 400 years old (official website).

Who it's for: for those tired of town halls who want to see objects from different cultures.
Getting there: trams 4, 7, 12 and 15 to the Johannisplatz stop.
The catch: some exhibits were lost in the war, and in the 1980s the complex was closed due to a heating system failure.

14. Market Square

Panorama of the market square with Christmas market

The market square dates back to the 12th century, when the Slavic settlement was granted free trading rights. At the intersection of the Imperial and Royal roads, autumn and spring fairs buzzed with activity and were known throughout Europe. Today the Markt hosts markets and fairs, and nearby stand the Old Stock Exchange and the Royal House (Leipzig portal).

The square went down in history both as a site of public executions and as an arena for knightly tournaments. In the late 19th century, a huge exhibition hall was built underground, which now operates as a shopping tunnel. Nearby, the house where the philosopher Christian Thomasius was born has been preserved, and the Coffee Tree Museum is open on the site of the city's first coffee house. Start your walk here: from the Markt to St. Thomas Church is a five-minute walk.

Who it's for: those who want to begin exploring the city from its trading heart.
Good to know: almost all walking routes through the center start here.
The catch: during fair days it gets very crowded and noisy.

15. Museum of Fine Arts

Glass building of the Museum of Fine Arts

The core of the collection was assembled by private individuals, and the French painting collection was donated by Hans Peter Bühler and his wife. The first building from 1858, in the Italian Renaissance style, was destroyed in the war, so for 40 years the paintings were exhibited at the Dimitrov Museum. In the early 21st century, the museum moved into a glass cube with terraces and staircases (official website).

The new building was constructed from glass, concrete, wood, and shell limestone, and the collection spans medieval art and works by contemporary artists.

Cost and hours: 10:00-18:00, Wednesdays until 20:00.
Getting there: trams 3, 7, 9, and 15 to the Goerdelerring or Hauptbahnhof stop.
The catch: medieval and modern art sit side by side in the galleries, which can throw off a traditional visitor.

16. Gewandhaus Concert Hall

Facade of the Gewandhaus concert hall and Mende Fountain in the evening

The tradition of the "Great Concerts" in Leipzig began in 1743, when an orchestra of 16 musicians performed. From 1835 to 1847, Mendelssohn led the orchestra, and it was then that its distinctive style took shape. After the war, the ensemble moved into a hall with two auditoriums seating 1,900 and 498 (official website).

Hours: building tours are offered on Saturdays.
Getting there: trams 4 and 10 to the Augustusplatz stop.
The catch: you can't get inside without a concert ticket or a Saturday tour, and tickets for popular programs sell out in advance.

17. Opera House

Facade of the Leipzig Opera with fountain by day

The Leipzig Opera is one of the oldest in Europe, founded in the late 17th century. The previous building on Augustusplatz opened in 1868 in the presence of the royal family of Saxony. It was destroyed in 1943. The new theater, 52 meters tall, seats more than 1,200 (official website).

Construction, finishing, and materials cost over 44 million marks. The building includes a chamber hall for concerts, lectures, and exhibitions, and its technical equipment is considered among the best in Europe. The repertoire places classical productions alongside modern operas, with Wagner's complex operas taking center stage.

Who it's for: those who want to hear Wagner on the stage he called home.
Getting there: trams 4 and 10 to the Augustusplatz stop.
The catch: Wagner tickets sell out long before the date, so plan ahead.

18. Central Station

Aerial panorama of the main train station

The station design was selected through a competition in the early 20th century, with the work of William Lossow and Max Hans Kühne chosen as the winner. Construction began in November 1909, and the station welcomed its first passengers in 1915. The facade is over 300 meters long, and 150,000 passengers pass through here every day (city hall page).

Good to know: the complex houses around 100 shops and kiosks, cafes, and barbershops.
Getting there: this is the city's main hub, served by all S-Bahn lines and most central tram routes.
The catch: during rush hour, platforms and cafes have few free seats.

19. The old coffee house "Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum"

White facade of the coffee house with relief above the entrance

The coffee house claims to be the oldest in Europe, its main rival being only the Parisian café "Le Procope". Coffee is believed to have been prepared and sold here since 1711, and a seat at Schumann's table is even reserved. Today the menu combines French, Arab and Viennese cuisine, and the place is open every day (official website).

Who it's for: for those who want to take a break between the museums of the center.
How to get there: tram 9 to the Thomaskirche stop.
The catch: the name is long and not obvious, the entrance is easy to miss.

20. Auerbach's Cellar

Interior of Auerbach's Cellar with frescoes and chandelier

Auerbachs Keller is one of the oldest restaurants in the world and stands right in the heart of the old town. Wine was traded here as early as the 15th century, and the establishment got its name from its owner Stromer, known as "Doctor Auerbach". The restaurant is divided into four halls of about 40 seats each, so book a table in advance (official website).

Who it's for: for those who want to see the place where Goethe's "Faust" was born.
Hours: the hall is open from 11:30 to 24:00.
How to get there: tram 9 to the Thomaskirche stop.
The catch: groups are always taking photos in front of the bronze Faust and Mephistopheles at the entrance.

21. Mädler Passage shopping arcade

Mädler Passage arcade with glass vault and shop windows

The arcade was built on the order of the entrepreneur Mädler: on January 1, 1911, he bought the plot and ran the construction until 1914. From the very first days, the complex was used as an exhibition hall for wines, porcelain, ceramics and leather. At the end of the 20th century, the building was completely renovated over two years and supplemented with a glass roof and a rotunda (official website).

Good to know: boutiques, a hotel and the Mephisto bar in red and black tones operate here.
How to get there: tram 9 to the Thomaskirche stop.
The catch: this is primarily a shopping center, not a museum, so plan on shopping.

22. The zoo

Tropical greenhouse with dense plants and a path

Leipzig Zoo puts animal welfare and the conservation of rare species at the forefront. The enclosures are built from wood, stone and jute so that the inhabitants feel natural. The main Gondwanaland exhibit occupies a pavilion the size of two football fields and showcases the animal world of the tropics (official website).

Cost and hours: adult ticket 27 € in summer (21.03-31.10) and 23 € in winter (01.11-20.03), November-March 09:00-17:00, April-October until 18:00 (as of 09/2026, official zoo website).
How to get there: tram 12 to the Zoo stop.
The catch: the ticket is expensive, and on weekends there are many families with children at the enclosures.

23. Alte Waage

In 1555, a chamber of weights and measures was built on the market square, where goods were weighed before sale. After the office moved in 1820, the old place was named the "Old Weigh House". Today the three-story building with a basement and attics houses an insurance company, and the facade with currency motifs and a sundial faces the Markt (city directory).

Who it's for: for those who study facades and look for traces of the city's trading history.
How to get there: the building stands right on the market square, next to the Old Town Hall.
The catch: you can't go inside, the building is occupied by offices.

24. City history museum

New building of the Leipzig City History Museum

The History Museum occupies several sites at once: the Old Town Hall, the stock exchange, a modern complex, the Schiller House Museum, and the coffee and sports museums. The collection began to take shape in the second half of the 19th century, and by 1889 residents had already presented the first exhibition. Today the holdings include more than half a million objects, many of which have virtual copies (official website).

Who it's for: for those who want to understand the city as a whole, not just its facades.
How to get there: the main site operates in the Old Town Hall; transport is listed in its section.
The catch: the collection is spread across several buildings, so you can't cover everything in one visit.

Tours and tickets in Leipzig

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⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for Leipzig?

Two days are enough for the center: Market Square, the Old Town Hall, St. Thomas Church, and St. Nicholas Church are all close together. Set aside a third day for the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, the zoo, and the Grassi Museum. If you want to add the Bach Museum, the Mendelssohn House, and the Museum of Fine Arts, plan for four days.

When is the best time to visit Leipzig?

May and September offer mild weather and fewer tourists than July. In winter the Schiller House Museum closes at 4:00 PM, but the markets on Market Square are especially atmospheric. Check market dates in advance: hotels are more expensive on those days, and the Markt gets crowded.

What can you see in Leipzig for free?

The permanent exhibition in the Old Town Hall is free to enter. St. Thomas Church and St. Nicholas Church are open free of charge outside services. A walk around Market Square, Augustusplatz, and along the Mädler Passage costs nothing either. Children under 18 get free admission to the Bach Museum and the Mendelssohn House.

How do you get around Leipzig?

The center is compact and easy to explore on foot. Trams 2, 12, and 15 will take you to the monument, the zoo, and the South Cemetery. A single ticket is valid for tram, bus, and S-Bahn within the zone; buy it from the machine at the stop.

Where can you eat and have coffee in the center?

For coffee, head to the historic coffee house Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum, which has been operating since 1711. For a hearty dinner and the history of Faust, go to Auerbachs Keller, but book a table in advance. Both places are two minutes from St. Thomas Church.

In short: what to book

If you have only one day: choose the Old Town Hall, Market Square, and St. Thomas Church; they are all close together.

If you're traveling with children: plan for the zoo and the "effectorium" at the Mendelssohn House.

If you love music: add the Bach Museum, the Gewandhaus, and the opera.

Book museum tickets and monument viewing platform tickets in advance: Leipzig museum tickets on Tiqets and city tours on GetYourGuide.

What to see in Leipzig: 24 places and how to reach them