11 good reasons for a trip to Leipzig / Leipzig Travel Tips

Leipzig is still something of an insider tip for many foreign holidaymakers. But the city in Saxony is still underestimated by German tourists. Here are eleven good reasons to visit Leipzig.

1. The nightlife!

Whether Leipzig is the better Berlin, as is often claimed, remains to be seen. But the fact is: the city, which is barely more than an hour’s train ride from Berlin, has long been considered the cool little sister of the capital. Although it’s the spontaneous, not entirely legal parties that make the headlines again and again, you don’t have to be an insider to have fun. In the southern suburbs, for example, there is one bar after the next.

2. They are heroes!

It was the people of Leipzig who, with their Monday demonstrations in 1989, forced the collapse of the system. They were even awarded the German National Prize for this. At the end of last year there was a big celebration: when the world-shattering events celebrated their 25th anniversary! Away from the commemoration days, you can walk through the city of heroes in the footsteps of recent history and definitely visit the Nikolaikirche and the museum in the round corner.

3. The city attracts the weirdest birds

The goths of the country always meet at Pentecost for the Wave Gotic Meeting in Leipzig. Dress code: black-white-shrill. Before that, in March for the book fair, manga fans from all over Germany flock to the exhibition halls – albeit less to read than to mingle with like-minded people in the costumes of their fantasy heroes. And then it gets colorful.

4. Oases everywhere!

What Central Park is to New Yorkers is Clara Park to Leipzig, or more precisely: Clara Zetkin Park. Because it is not only just as centrally located, but is also relatively large. It is best to head for the Sachsenbrücke, because this is where young people gather. There is music, street food and if you don’t have your own beer with you, you might even get one for free – from the nice guys behind the railing. If the bridge is too busy for you, you are guaranteed to find a quiet place to have a picnic and relax in the park.

5. Everyone can find their island here

And sometimes new ones are created, like here in the Störmthaler See. Vineta is the name of the artificial island, which is intended to commemorate the place that fell victim to opencast mining at this point and shows a replica of the village church. Incidentally, the open-cast mining holes have now been flooded, and the new lakes are gradually being opened up to bathers. Incidentally, Lake Cospuden, the lake closest to the city center, is celebrating its 15th birthday this year.

6. There are even mountains!

Well, at least one, the Fockeberg. The Stadtberg in the southern suburbs of Leipzig is a classic rubble dump that was created from rubble after the end of the Second World War and offers a very special view of Leipzig’s city center. Families come to the Fockeberg for a picnic. Night owls enjoy a glass of wine or a beer there. The Fockeberg is also the venue for a soap box race – the “Prix de Tacot”.

7. The sun!

Leipzig recorded 1779.9 hours of sunshine last year – and that is more than other large cities can boast of. Munich, for example, counted only 1673.8, Berlin 1651.1 or Cologne/Bonn 1543.1. Even Dresden had less, totaling 1758.2. And the nice thing: There are numerous places in Leipzig where you can enjoy the sun (see above).

8. Here, what belongs together grows together

The harbor in the Lindenau district of Leipzig has a very morbid charm and tells a piece of industrial history. The storage and warehouse buildings were used until the 1990s, since then they have fallen into disrepair. The special feature: it could not be reached by water, so it had never been used as a port. Only at the beginning of this year was a water connection to the Karl Heine Canal flooded. From the summer, the port should also be accessible by boat. But if you still want to experience the dilapidated charm of this forgotten place, you have to hurry: A marina is to be built there in the next few years.

9. Neo Smoke!

He is the most successful visual artist in the country – and lives, of course, in Leipzig. He doesn’t even want to leave, why should he? Incidentally, he has his studio in the cotton mill in Leipzig. And even if you don’t run into the artist there: a walk across the former factory site is always worthwhile. It is best to sleep right there: in the extremely spacious and cool furnished rooms of the Pension Meisterzimmer.

10. The people of Leipzig are helpful and hospitable

They are predominantly cheerful and rarely moody, and the people of Leipzig are known for their helpfulness and hospitality. So if you think of Leipzig as the former “Tatort” inspectors Saalfeld and Keppler, who were actually a bit grumpy, you’re wrong: Don’t let that lure you down the wrong track – and let yourself be infected by the joie de vivre of the people of Leipzig!

11. More than a thousand years of Leipzig!

Leipzig is mentioned all the time. And not only in the national, but increasingly also in the international press. There is talk of the boom, of the upswing, of the New Leipzig School and above all of the fact that Leipzig is actually much cooler than Berlin, the secret party capital, an Eldorado for young people. Incidentally, Leipzig was first mentioned more than 1000 years ago, in the chronicle of Bishop Thietmar. And this anniversary was celebrated in 2015.