Leipzig, a smallish industrial city located just 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 as it’s a youthful, energetic city you’re sure to fall in love with. The city is great 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 simply walk or bike, sign up for one of the short, inexpensive outings with Get Your Guide detailed below.
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.
This post includes some affiliate links. If you make a qualifying purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.
If you have 3 hours in Leipzig ditch your luggage at the railway station and 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.
![3 hours in Leipzig and you'll appreciate all the green space](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Leipzig-185hs870-1.jpg)
![3 hours in Leipzig and you'll see interesting old buildings](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-1.jpg)
![Few run down buildings in the core of Leipzig](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-2-1.jpg)
![Train tracks to the main station in Leipzig](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-3.jpg)
![Walking towards the university](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-4.jpg)
![Over 3 hours in Leipzig there's enough time to check out the Opera House](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-5.jpg)
![3 hours in Leipzig gives you a chance to see the University of Leipzig](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-6.jpg)
![You can feel the buzz and the energy around the University of Leipzig](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-23.jpg)
![Over 3 hours in Leipzig you might run into fantastic street musicians](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-7.jpg)
![Lots of fresh flowers for sale](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-8.jpg)
![Loved the art but don't know the significance of it - perhaps a socialist salute?](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-9.jpg)
![Lots of little parks scattered around Leipzig](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-10.jpg)
![Make time for a visit to a cafe](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-11.jpg)
![Statue of Johann Sebastian Bach outside of the St. Thomas Church](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-12.jpg)
!["Inside The St. Thomas Church - home to the St. Thomas Boys Choir and the Cantors dating back to 1254"](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-103hsrs.jpg)
![The back side of St. Thomas Church](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-13.jpg)
![Everywhere you look you will find someone riding a bike](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-14.jpg)
![Over 3 hours in Leipzig you'll see pigeons](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-24.jpg)
![I needed a tour guide to tell me the meaning of this plaque](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-18.jpg)
![The City - Hochhause, a 36 story skyscraper & the tallest building in Leipzig](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-15.jpg)
![The City-Hochhaus was designed in the shape of an open book by Hermann Henselmann](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-19.jpg)
![Untimely contemporaries by Bernd Göbel](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-20.jpg)
![Richard Wagner - famous composer who I'm told had a nasty habit of skipping out on his rent when he lived in Dresden](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-21.jpg)
![In 3 hours in Leipzig you'll come full circle back to the train station](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-25-1.jpg)
![Liked this poster - though unsure of meaning - perhaps roll up your sleeves and get to work ???](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-16.jpg)
![Over 3 hours in Leipzig check out Micheal Fisher's signature art on the Marriott Hotel](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-28.jpg)
![over 3 hours in Leipzig enjoy a close-up of Micheal Fischer's art](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-26.jpg)
![Raining flower petals](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-27.jpg)
![Lilac lined streets in the vicinity of the zoo](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-17.jpg)
![Colourful entrance near the zoological gardens](https://hikebiketravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Leipzig-Germany-22.jpg)
Further reading about things to do in Europe
Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.