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What You Can Do in 3 Hours in Leipzig
Leipzig, a smallish industrial city located 150 km south of Berlin in the former East Germany, isn’t a city I knew anything about until I attended a conference. Now that I’ve been, I highly recommend at least 3 hours in Leipzig (though a couple of days is better) as it’s a youthful, energetic city you’re sure to fall in love with. The city is ideal for walking and biking.
I think you’ll be amazed at how much you can see in even 3 hours in Leipzig. If you don’t want to walk or bike, sign up for one of the short, inexpensive outings with Get Your Guide detailed below.
For more information about the city, visit the Travel Leipzig website.
3 Hours in Leipzig – here’s what you can do
Even though Leipzig is an industrial city, it’s a super livable city. In fact it was rated at one point as the most livable city in all of Germany, and may still hold that title. It’s energetic, youthful, vibrant, colourful, creative and musical. It’s also extremely walkable – and there seem to be as many bikes as there are cars.
Getting around via public transit is also a snap. The food scene is excellent and there’s enough culturally to keep you busy for several days. But chances are you don’t have four or five days, the time I think you need to fully do the city justice. If you chance have 3 hours in Leipzig, perhaps between train connections, I think you can cover a lot of ground and at least get a sense of the city.
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If you have 3 hours in Leipzig head out on foot
What I’ve shown in the photos below are images I caught on a three hour, unhurried walk. Pick up a map from the tourist info booth at the train station and ask anyone in the booth for directions to the central area. Then walk where the wind blows you.
If you have a little more time or you’re keen on a guided tour there are several great options.
Try a 2 hour private walking tour. Or sign up for the bestselling 1.4 hour historical walking tour.
Leipzig has lots of canals so a 3 hour city canoe tour would be a whole lot of fun.





























More reading about things to do in Europe
- 5 Things you Probably Didn’t Know About Leipzig, Germany
- 10 Essential Stops in South Bohemia
- Hiking on Gran Canaria – A One Week Itinerary
- Hiking La Gomera – A One Week Itinerary
- Cycling Andalucia from Grenada to Ronda Over 7 Days
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Really appreciate for your amazing article. Keep going on, good stuff. Thank you for this valuable information.
The statue is called “Der Jahrhundertschritt” (century step). It symbolizes National Socialism (Hitler Salute) and Communism (fist).
Thank you Jens.
Interesting photo walk you took 🙂 About the statute you were wondering… it is the Jahrhundertschritt (century step) by grand GDR artist Wolfgang Mattheuer (1927-2004). It depicts a person torn between a hitler salute and a communist salute. It’s standing directly in fornt of the contemporary history museum.
Also it always surprises me to hear people talking of Leipzig (530.000 people) as a small city (i grew up in a 20.000 people city) but then again if someone comes from a 10 mio metropolis the perspective is certainly different 😉
@Jorg I love to get a feel for a city by walking or cycling it. A bike would have been even better. Thanks for the background behind that interesting piece of artwork.
And you’re right about city size. It all depends on your vantage point. I have lived in several million plus cities so Leipzig seems like a very reasonable size to me.
I have never been to Leipzig but added it to my list now. Looks really interesting. WoW incredible what you can do in 3 hours.
@Freya I was on a mission as I knew I had to back at the hotel by a certain time. I still had time to poke my nose in a few stores and take a lot of photos.
Love all the sculpture and the art work. Looks like a great city to spend a few hours or a few days! Looking forward to hearing about the food!
Hi Leigh,
Wow, you certainly did see a lot of interesting sight in 3 hours! Didn’t know much about Leipzig myself, so I really enjoyed this photo tour of the city. The university looks amazing. I thought it was a church before I read your caption. I love the diversity of architecture that you captured as well as the vibrant art scene. If you see this much in 3 hours, what more if you were there for several days? Where did you go from here? Can’t wait to hear.
@Marisol Last time I was in Germany – other than an airport – Leipzig was behind the Iron Curtain. It was an exceptional place to visit as was Dresden – my next stop.
I have not yet been to Leipzig, but your photos are gorgeous and now I want to go…I’m looking up the drive right now!
@Corinne This area of Germany was very new to me and a complete delight. Leipzig combined with Dresden would make a very good trip.
I never would have guessed that Leipzig was such an interesting city! Love the diverse architecture – particularly the University building and the Opera Hall. Seems like it must be a city with an interesting musical history as well.
@Lisa There are regular concerts and celebrations marking the lives of prominent musicians. And that’s just the start of what’s offered.
That was a fun tour, I love informal tours to just walk and discover a place – it is a very colorful place and I love mixing the old and new into the architecture
@Noel I think I expected more of a dowdiness to the city so I was pleasantly surprised with all the colour.
Looks like a very pretty and lively city. I plan to visit in September. Thanks for the advance look.
@Sophie I’ll have at least another post on the city and will be able to recommend some places to eat as well.
Now that you’ve gotten a bigger picture of the city, next time you have three hours in Leipzig you should try a food tour! The guide can explain the history and culture behind what you’re seeing – like that plaque and the statue – and you’ll also get a delicious idea of some of the city’s most classic flavors!
Also, I can give you a bit of help with that Rosie the Riveter poster – it does say “Roll up your sleeves” (the small text says “Better for Leipzig”) and it’s an ad for the FDP, a political party. Elections for seats in the European Parliament are coming up at the end of May. 🙂
@Francesca Fortunately I did have an opportunity to do an abbreviated food tour one evening. It was part food, part walking tour. I also had an evening at Spinnerei. But I did miss out on some of the culture on my own walking tour.
Thanks for all the great info in your comment Francesca.
I have loved seeing some of your photos on FB but these are even more beautiful photos of Leipzig. I have never heard of it until your visit. What a delightful town full of great architecture and art. Love that university building. The poster is of “Rosie the Riveter”. It was an American wartime propaganda poster also known as “We Can Do It!” but also used to promote feminism.
@Mary I think I’d heard of the city but that was it. I knew nothing about it, even where it was located until I started my research and actually went. It is a fantastic city – and along with Dresden would be a great family destination.
Interesting what the different takes are on the poster in the comments. I loved it for the woman’s bulging muscles.
I absolutely loved this whirl-wind tour of Leipzig and wow, you certainly covered a LOT of ground in three hours! Your photos are exquisite!!
@Jeff I didn’t have much free time in Leipzig so I was trying to use every minute I had to advantage. It’s truly a lovely city to wander around in.
I would go there even if I had just 3 hours! I love visiting small cities in Europe and seeing how the local people live. Leipzig looks like a very nice city.
@Jenna I just gave you a taste of Leipzig and there is more to come. It’s really amazing culturally and the food scene is really starting to happen.