Leipzig

Outdoor activities

Cruise along the winding canals of Leipzig and admire the city views from the water on this guided tour. Watch the history of Leipzig unfold as you pass important districts, including Plagwitz and Palmengartenwehr. Begin your tour at the picturesque city harbor of Leipzig with its famous beach bar. Relax on board a motorboat as you embark on a sightseeing tour of Leipzig's historical and modern sights along the waterside. See the villa of the famous publishing Baedeker family who is well-known among travelers around the globe. Continue to the Palmengartenwehr, a vital part of Leipzig's public flood protection facilities. Head to the western territories, enjoy a brief moment of silence, and admire the nature surrounding the area. Admire the architecture of the textile factories of the Buntgarnwerke, a former yarn mill building built in the late 19th century. It is one of the largest Wilhelminian-era industrial sites in Germany. Making your way to the Karl Heine Canals, you will explore one of the most beautiful canals in Leipzig, meandering through the old industrial district of Plagwitz. Karl Heine, a lawyer, entrepreneur, and industrial pioneer played a key role in the urban development of Leipzig’s western areas. See the striking Stelzenhaus at the last stop of the tour before heading back to the harbor where you can enjoy a cold drink at the beach bar. The harbor is perfectly located if you wish to explore further sights of Leipzig after the tour.

Go on the night watchman tour, which is led by the night watchman Bremme®, one of the most popular tours of the old town of Leipzig. This historical figure is now a permanent feature of Leipzig’s nocturnal cityscape. In the late hours, follow the night watchman light his lantern and lead you on a path through secluded places and dark alleys, past the most beautiful sights in Leipzig. Listen as your guide – in historical costume – shares exciting and curious stories from Leipzig’s past. Hear interesting stories about famous celebrities including Goethe, Schiller, and the infamous Mayor Romanus. During the tour, take a look at the Nikolaikirchhof, the Alte Nikolaischule, the old town hall, and the market with the old stock exchange.

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Leipzig Zoo, a sanctuary of biodiversity and natural habitats spread across six thematic adventure worlds. Each world is meticulously designed to mimic the natural environments of continents like Africa, South America, and Asia, providing a home to 850 species, including many rare and endangered animals. Begin your exploration in Gondwanaland, Europe’s largest indoor tropical experience. Navigate the Djungle River Gamanil by boat, and immerse yourself in the lush rainforests of three continents. From the observation deck, take in sweeping views of this vast tropical hall. Continue to the Asian realm, where you can observe the daily rituals of the elephant herd, including their underwater bathing routines. A highlight of your visit will be Pongoland, the world's only great ape facility hosting four different species: chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans under one roof. This unique feature offers an unparalleled view into the lives and behaviors of these fascinating primates. Your adventure concludes in the African savannah, where you can watch majestic lions and zebras in a setting that closely resembles their natural environment. The tour ends at the zoo's main exit, conveniently located to allow further exploration of Leipzig or a comfortable return to your accommodation.

Experience Leipzig aboard a blue and yellow double-decker bus which offers you the best all-round views accompanied by certified tour guides. Immerse yourself in Saxon cosiness as you experience the most beautiful and impressive places in Leipzig throughout an entertaining 1.5-hour city tour. Passing the zoo, which is worth seeing not just for the younger guests, you will continue to the Saxon Rococo architecture of the Gohliser Schlößchen. You'll then travel through the Waldstraßenviertel, one of the largest and best-preserved European Wilhelminian style quarters, before progressing on to the Red Bull Arena. Later, pass the Thomas Church and new town hall before crossing the music district with the Federal Administrative Court. Experience the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Old Fair and the MDR site, as well as the opulence of the Battle of Nations Monument and the Panometer. In addition to the legendary pubs and shopping streets, you will be shown the cultural highlights for music and theater lovers with the Opera and Gewandhaus. Take a deep breath while visiting the Plagwitz climate district, and enjoy the little Venice of Leipzig with its numerous waterways.

On this exciting walking tour, discover facts about Leipzig with live German commentary. Learn why the Central Train Station was made up of two halves, hear the interesting story about the fountains, discover how Greenlanders end up in Leipzig, and find out what is interesting about Shakespeare’s stockings. This tour is ideal for visitors who want to discover the city in an entertaining way. During the tour, see the Opera House, the Gewandhaus concert hall, the university, the Mädler Passage, the Old Town Hall, and St. Thomas Church. Along the way, your tour guide will recount anecdotes and legends from the city’s history.

Discover the unique panorama THE CATHEDRAL OF MONET, painted in an impressionist style, and experience the french city of Rouen during the 19th century. The 32 metres high art work by Berlin based artist Yadegar Asisi shows the pretty historical city centre with its monumental Cathedral of Our lady whose facade, almost completely illuminated by the evening sun, throws its orange-red light back across the forecourt onto the already shaded houses. A multifaceted interplay of extraordinary color nuances, shades and incidence of light pours over the entire scenery. The city's residents, including well-known painters and contemporaries such as Vincent van Gogh, Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet, bustle about in the alleys. A 15-minute day and night light change, accompanied by thematical background sounds and music, allows you to merge with the work of art. With THE CATHEDRAL OF MONET Yadegar Asisi is breaking new ground in his oeuvre: for the first time, a panorama measuring 6 x 2 meters was painted in oil on canvas in the Berlin studio before being digitized in high resolution, printed and finally staged in the Panometer Leipzig as a 360° installation. The large panorama has an almost three-dimensional effect: the canvas structure, brushstrokes and an enlarged application of paint through digitization become the defining structure and take the viewer into a 3,500 square metre oil painting. The basis for the panorama was a famous series of panel paintings by Claude Monet, who painted the cathedral in Rouen in northern France several times under different lighting conditions. Asisi used one of these paintings as a starting point to transfer its lighting mood in all its complexity to the spatial painting. The panoramic experience is complemented by an accompanying exhibition and a final film.

Experience the highlights in Leipzig's Old Town during this unique walking and bus tour. Foll your guide to see sights like Gohlis castle, the former Reich Court, the Old Market, and the Battle of Nations Monument. Meet your guide in the heart of the city at the new Katharinum (Tourist Information). Begin your walking adventure with a stroll through downtown. Go past the famous Nikolai Church, and the Specks Hof Passage mall. Breath in the aroma of fresh food from the small Snack Market. Admire the colors in Old Rathaus market and the elegant Mädler Passage mall. Stroll by the traditional Auerachs Cellar and Barthels Hof restaurants. Marvel at the mix of Gothic and Romanesque architecture at the St. Thomas Church. Hop aboard an airconditioned and spacious bus to see the sights outside the city ring. Head to the Gohlis quarter to see the 18th-century Gohlis castle. Pass by the Schiller House, a modest farm house in which Friedrich Schiller lived in 1785 for several months and worked on "Ode to Joy." Make your way to the Waldstraßen Quarter and past the Red Bull Arena Arrive in the constantly-changing Plagwitz city section, with canals, galleries and lofts. Take in the greenery and villas as you ride thorugh the music district. Cruise by the Federal Administrative Court which is in the building of the former Reich Court. Pass through the lively southern suburb past the popular Panometer to one of the well-known sites in Leipzig, the Battle of Nations Monument. On the way back see the Old Market, the German Square and the Bavarian Train Station. End your tour in Augustusplatz, where our tour ends where you can see the New Concert Hall, the University and the Opera house.

Enjoy a guided walking tour through the city of Leipzig. Explore the famous sights of Leipzig's city center in a short amount of time. See the Augustus Square with the opera house, the famous Gewandhaus concert hall and the Nikolai Church, which was at the center of events around German Reunification in 1989. Walk through the modern Specks Hof arcade to the Naschmarkt Square and the Old Exchange. Directly opposite is the Mädler arcade and a bit further you find the historic restaurant Auerbachs Keller. See the Old Town Hall at the market square, one of the most beautiful renaissance buildings in Germany. Continue your tour and visit the tavern Barthels Hof. Enjoy the atmosphere on the most well-known street in Leipzig ‒ the so-called Barfußgässchen ‒ which is characterized by a variety of restaurants and pubs. The last highlight of this tour is the St. Thomas Church, home to the globally renowned St. Thomas Choir of Leipzig.

Spend 1.5 hours experiencing the haunted side of Leipzig on a guided walking tour. Enter a world of grisly legends, creepy secrets of the past and goose-bump-inducing events. Discover why Leipzig was such an important destination for those who believed in ghosts. Hear about a city bustling with gravediggers who would bury people alive. Your guide will also tell you about the so-called evilest man that ever lived, who, when he visited this beautiful city, left a bad impression on Leipzig that lingers until today. The secrets of the past will be revealed to you and your guide will introduce you to the demons of the night in Leipzig.

Begin your tour at the picturesque city harbor in Leipzig, with its famous beach bar. Relax on a electric motorboat as you embark on a 60-minute sightseeing tour of Leipzig's historical and modern sights along the waterside. Enjoy a cup of mulled wine to keep you warm. See the villa of the famous publishing Baedeker family who is well-known among travelers around the globe. Continue to the Palmengartenwehr, a vital part of Leipzig's public flood protection facilities. Head to the western territories, enjoy a brief moment of silence, and view the nature surrounding the area. Admire the architecture of the textile factories of the Buntgarnwerke, a former yarn mill building built in the late 19th Century. It is one of the largest Wilhelminian-era industrial sites in Germany. Making your way to the Karl Heine Canals, you will explore one of the most beautiful canals in Leipzig, meandering through the old industrial district of Plagwitz. Karl Heine, a lawyer, entrepreneur, and industrial pioneer, played a key role in the urban development of Leipzig’s western areas. The harbor is perfectly located if you wish to explore the sights of Leipzig further after the motorboat tour.