Leipzig offers a range of ways to shape a trip: music history connected with Bach, places of contemporary history, wildlife observation and outdoor culture. Bach takes center stage at the Bach Museum and St. Thomas Church, while Gondwanaland offers a different focus with its tropical rainforest worlds. Parks and activities along Leipzig’s waterways round out the options. You can plan your time around the subjects that interest you most, rather than trying to fit every possibility into one itinerary.

Culture and city history

The Bach Museum Leipzig is housed in the Bosehaus on Thomaskirchhof. Its interactive, sound-focused exhibition covers 450 square meters. Twelve themed rooms explore Bach’s life and work, his family and the research into his legacy. Alongside the music, the museum focuses on biographical and scholarly perspectives on Bach. The design and exhibits may change; check the latest information before your visit.

St. Thomas Church was built in 1212 as a monastery church and is the final resting place of Johann Sebastian Bach. It was also his place of work for 27 years. Motets are regularly held there on Fridays and Saturdays. As the program may change, it’s a good idea to check the current schedule before your visit. St. Thomas Church also provides pilgrim passports for the Ecumenical Pilgrimage Route, which runs through Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. Availability and fees may change; check both in advance.

St. Nicholas Church is also associated with Leipzig’s Peaceful Revolution of 1989, particularly the peace prayers and Monday demonstrations. The Stasi Museum at the “Runde Ecke” memorial presents the history of the Stasi in the preserved rooms of the former Leipzig district headquarters. The Leipzig Panometer features large-scale, walk-through panoramic art. These three places offer different perspectives: historical events, the history of the State Security Service and art in panoramic format.

The “City Center Walking Tour – Leipzig on Foot” takes you through the historic city center and past major sights. The tour format and app availability may change; check the latest details in advance.

Nature, parks and waterways

Gondwanaland brings together tropical rainforest worlds from Africa, Asia and South America under one roof. It is also home to almost 170 exotic animal species and around 500 plant species; these figures may change. Jungle trails, a treetop path and a jungle river offer different ways to explore the attraction. A boat ride on the jungle river passes through a cave. You can watch giant otters swimming in the stream, although how visible the animals are may vary. As the attraction’s operations may change, check the current offerings before your visit.

Clara Zetkin Park is Leipzig’s largest park and brings together Johannapark, Palmengarten, Volkspark Scheibenholz and Albertpark. In summer, the open-air stage hosts concerts and outdoor films; the seasonal program may change. The park’s music pavilion was built in 1912 for open-air orchestra concerts. This means you can enjoy both a large park and different forms of outdoor culture here.

At Leipzig City Harbour, you can take motorboat trips, join guided canoe and dragon boat tours, rent a canoe or bicycle, and go on combined Bike & Boat trips along Leipzig’s waterways. Options range from guided tours to activities that combine boating and cycling. Which one suits your trip depends on whether you prefer a guided tour or a combination of cycling and time on the water.

Dates and getting around

If you’re traveling to St. Thomas Church, the Leipzig, Thomaskirche stop is a useful reference point: tram line 9 and bus lines 89 and 412 stop there. Public transport routes may change, so check your connection before setting off. It’s also worth checking the latest details for the city center walking tour if you’re planning to use a particular tour format or app.

Two different schedules matter when planning your dates and hotel: motets are regularly held on Fridays and Saturdays, while the open-air stage program takes place in summer. If one of these activities is a deciding factor for your trip, check the current schedule or summer program before planning your stay around it. When looking for a hotel in Leipzig, start by deciding whether Bach and city history, wildlife observation or outdoor activities will be your main focus.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Seehausen, Lausen-Grünau, Wurzen, Geithain, Lossatal, Brandis, Bad Lausick, Neukieritzsch.

Back to the main travel overview: Leipzig District.