On my recent trip to Germany I spent one week in Leipzig, and I quickly fell in love with this quirky city in Saxony. However, I know that not everybody has that much time to spend in the city, which is why I decided to write a guide to spending one day in Leipzig.
The highlights of Leipzig are spread around the city and this itinerary will require you to use the excellent public transportation system several times. However, by following my guide and going beyond the city center you’ll get a feel for the real Leipzig and you’ll the diversity that makes this one of Germany’s most exciting cities.
You can also shuffle around the order of these activities if you need to schedule a boat tour or walking tour around a specific start time – this is a very flexible Leipzig itinerary!
#1 – The Völkerschlachtdenkmal (Monument to the Battle of the Nations)
From the main train station in Leipzig, hop on board the S1 or S4 train, or Tram #15, to head south of the city center to the monumental Völkerschlachtdenkmal. In English, its name is the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, and for many domestic tourists it is the #1 reason to visit Leipzig.
My photos don’t do justice to the size of this monument – it’s truly monolithic. Built from granite-coated concrete, it is 70 meters wide, 80 meters long and 91 meters tall. It was constructed on top of an artificial hill (intended to make it appear even taller) and faces a reflecting pool bordered by two processional avenues.
The Völkerschlachtdenkmal was built in 1913, one hundred years after the Battle of the Nations. This took place in 1813 (obviously) when almost 500,000 soldiers from Austria, Prussia, Sweden and Russia fought in the four-day Battle of Leipzig against Napoleon, ultimately defeating him and his army.
Admission to the monument starts at €12 for adults, and there are occasional public tours in Germany only for an additional €3. Inside, you’ll find a crypt with stone figures representing the fallen soldiers, several permanent galleries with information about the monument and the battle that it commemorates.
There are also several panoramic viewing platforms included in admission to the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. An elevator takes you to the lower viewing platform, from which the view is quite good, but to reach the top you need to go up an extremely narrow spiral staircase (to call it shoulder-width is generous) for a further ~250 stairs. The monument’s official website recommends skipping the upper platform if you have any mobility limitations, claustrophobia or a fear of heights.
Behind the monument you can also find the Südfriedhof, Leipzig’s beautiful and historic cemetery. If you’re stay in Leipzig for more than one day it’s worth a wander, but with only one day in Leipzig you won’t have time to take it in.
#2 – The Karl-Heine Canal
The #1 highlight of my week in Leipzig was the time I spent along the city’s beautiful canals, and that’s why even with only one day in Leipzig I recommend you add them to your itinerary.
There are three ways to explore the canals in Leipzig: by foot, by boat tour or by canoe.
- Walking – It takes about forty minutes to walk from Karl-Heine Strasse to the end of the Karl-Heine canal and back, along the red walkway shown above. There is a large Konsum supermarket near the entrance where you can grab drinks and snacks to have a picnic en-route.
- Boat Tour – To see more of the waterways, I highly recommend a Leipzig boat tour. The tour takes about seventy minutes and sails past historical buildings along the White Elster River before turning onto the smaller, tree-lined Karl-Heine Kanal. The tour is only in German but there were several English speakers on board and we all enjoyed the tour… just pay attention to the guide because there are a few spots where you have to duck your head under a low bridge!
- Canoe – You can also paddle your own canoe along Leipzig’s rivers and canals. This three-hour canoe tour is run by the same company that do the boat tours, and it’s a beautiful way to spend some time on the water. You don’t have to be an experienced canoeist, but you do need to be able to sustain three hours of paddling.
If you want to explore Leipzig’s canals by boat or canoe, you should take Tram #2 from the Monument to the Battle of the Nations to Westplatz stop. From here, it’s a five-minute walk through the park to the boat launch.
If you want to explore the canals on foot, take Tram #15 back to the city center. At the Augustusplatz stop, switch to Tram #14 westbound towards Plagwitz and get off at the stop called Karl-Heine / Merseburger Strasse. From here, access to the canal walkway (the red path in the top photo above) is one and a half blocks ahead, on your right.
The area around the Karl-Heine canal is home to some of the coolest restaurants in Leipzig. I’m a vegetarian so I was only looking for veggie-friendly restaurants, which you can read more about here.
#3 – Leipzig City Center
From the canals, you can take Tram #14 back to the city center and get off at the Goerdelerring stop. From here, it’s a five-minute walk to the Tourist Information office where you can pick up a map of the historic center.
For me, the late afternoon and early evening was the ideal time to wander through Leipzig’s historic center. With only one day in Leipzig you’ll likely have to choose between visiting a museum and strolling around town, but either way this is the perfect time of day to do so.
The Leipzig Museum of Fine Arts
Just around the corner from the tourist information office you’ll find Leipzig’s Museum of Fine Arts, a world-class museum with works from prominent artists of the last 700 years. Artists on display here include Monet, Degas and Delacroix, plus prominent German artists like Lucas Cranach the Elder and Hans Baldung.
It’s free to visit the permanent galleries, which house the art from the 15th to 19th centuries, or you can purchase a ticket for €16 that also includes admission to the contemporary galleries and any temporary exhibitions.
Madler Passage
Leipzig’s trading history dates back to when Leipzig was an important trading center, sitting at the crossroads of the ancient Via Regia and Via Imperii trading routes. Today, the center of Leipzig is built around two large market squares, but that isn’t the only place where shopping takes place. There are also a number of beautiful historic shopping arcades in Leipzig.
The most iconic shopping arcade in Leipzig is Madler Passage, a beautiful Art Nouveau building inspired by Milan’s Galleria Vittorio II. It was built in 1914 to replace the Renaissance trading house that stood on the site for nearly 500 years. Inside, you can visit upscale boutiques, elegant coffee shops and a very noteworthy restaurant.
Auerbachs Keller
One of the most famous restaurants in the world is located here in Madler Passage. Auerbachs Keller earned notoriety in the year 1832, upon the publication of Goethe’s play “Faust”. In Goethe’s version of the historic German story, Mephistopheles takes Dr. Faust here and bewitches him with the combined powers of alcohol and magic.
If you’d like to dine at Auerbachs Keller you’ll want to make a reservation in advance on the official website. You can also just pop in for a drink at the upstairs bar if you’re short on time.
Market Squares in Leipzig
The center of Leipzig is home to both the larger Markt and the smaller Naschmarkt squares, which are separated by the Old Town Hall. Historically, this was where traders traveling along the Via Regia and Via Imperii would sell their wares, to a backdrop of cultural events, public festivals and the occasional beheading.
During the time of my visit there was a music festival in the Markt square, which made it difficult to take good photos (but easy to hear a lot of polka music!). In the winter, both squares transform into one of Germany’s largest Christmas markets, with more than 300 stalls spreading seasonal cheer.
Hansa Haus
Hansa Haus is another shopping arcade in Leipzig that is worth checking out as you stroll through the historic center. Inside, there’s a recreation of a traditional Chinese singing bowl. Wet your fingertips using the water in the bowl (or your own bottled water…) and run them along the rim of the bowl to create your own persona symphony.
More Things to Do in Leipzig
These things to do in Leipzig would be difficult to squeeze into a one-day itinerary, but they might inspire you to turn that day trip into a long weekend stay!
- Asisi Panometer – Artist Yadegar Asisi creates innovative, immersive 360° panoramas in former gas tanks. Having been to one in Berlin I skipped the exhibit in Leipzig, but its subject (the landscapes of Antarctica) did pique my interest.
- Leipzig Zoo – This blog does not support zoos, but generally speaking Leipzig’s zoo is considered to be one of the better ones. Kids will love Gondwanaland, a habitat the size of two football fields where jungle paths and treetop walking trails showcase almost 200 different tropical animal species.
- Museum of Applied Arts – Germany’s second-oldest decorative arts museum has free permanent galleries showcasing everything from ancient artifacts to Pop Art collectibles. It’s located in the same complex as the local ethnographic museum and a museum of musical instruments.
- Stasi Museum – It’s free to visit the museum that uncovers the history of East Germany’s secret police, although the €4 English audioguide is recommended.
- The Forum of Contemporary History – Or its German name, the Zeitgeschichtliches Forum. This free museum teaches explores the history of Leipzig, and the broader East Germany, from 1945 to today.
- Bach Museum Leipzig – This interactive museum brings the music of Johann Sebastian Bach (who is buried in nearby Thomaskirche) to life.
- Nikolaikirche – Every Monday at 5:00 pm, this church hosts “peace prayers”. This tradition started in 1982, and in 1989 the prayers began to be followed by peaceful protests against the communist government of East Germany. Over time the protests spread to other cities across East Germany and they are considered to be integral to the German reunification that followed.
Getting To and From Leipzig, Germany
Most people will arrive in Leipzig by train, at the city’s large, central rail station (Leipzig Hauptbahnhof). From here, travelers just need to cross the street and they’re already in the historic center.
If you’re flying into the Leipzig-Halle International Airport, you can reach the city center using the S5X S-Bahn train, which departs from a dedicated station under the airport. Other regional and suburban trains also stop at the airport station en route to other destinations in Saxony.
Leipzig has an excellent, reliable public transit network (far superior to nearby Dresden!). Trams, buses and an S-Bahn (commuter rail network, shown in the photo above) connect the city center, the surrounding districts and neighboring towns.
If you have one day in Leipzig you can buy individual tickets as you move around, or simply purchase a one-day travel pass from the vending machines at the tram or S-Bahn stop where you board for your first journey. Make sure you have a valid ticket, as mine was checked multiple times during my visit.
If you have a Deutschlandticket, all of your transportation on Leipzig’s public transportation is free.
Where to Stay in Leipzig
In case you’re thinking of staying more than one day in Leipzig, I recommend either choosing a hotel in the city center or an apartment near the Karl-Heine Canal. Here are some good options:
- Lumiere Boutiquehotel – This central boutique hotel is located in the palatial 17th-century home of a prominent Leipzig banking family, but has been renovated with a chic and modern design. Do not skip the expansive breakfast buffet!
- Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel – There aren’t many luxury hotels in Leipzig, so fortunately this historic hotel beside the Old Town Hall is available for travelers looking for an elegant stay in Leipzig. Hotel guests receive complimentary access to the two-floor wellness facility with two saunas, a steam room and a relaxation lounge.
- Carriage House Loft Apartment – I stayed in this part of the city, west of the city center. This studio apartment is set back in a historic carriage house, meaning you’re just steps away from the popular bars and restaurants along the canal but you won’t hear them at night.
- Cozy Apartment with Balcony – This newly-renovated apartment has a bright living room, a separate bedroom and a balcony where you can drink a coffee in the morning or a local beer as the sun sets.
- Apartment in Lindenau – This apartment is also near the Karl-Heine Canal and can sleep up to six guests between the living room and the separate bedroom.
- Groners Leipzig City Center – This is an excellent affordable option in the historic center, within easy walking distance of the train station and connections to the airport. They offer a mix of private and dorm-style rooms for budget travelers.
Planning a trip to Saxony? These are a few of my regional travel guides that might also interest you:
🥕 The Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Leipzig, Germany
🚂 How to Ride the Narrow-Gauge Railway from Zittau to Oybin
🎨 Kunsthofpassage: Dresden’s Secret Art Passage
🎞️ 15+ Fun Things to Do in Görlitz, Saxony
💎 Terra Mineralia: Europe’s Best Gemstone Museum
🪨 10 Things to Do in Freiberg, Saxony
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