Discover Leipzig Through Bach, Luther & the City’s Landmarks

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Begin your tour at the Leipzig New Town Hall, one of the city’s most impressive architectural landmarks and the seat of Leipzig’s municipal administration since 1905. Built in a grand Historicist style, the building features ornate façades, elegant courtyards, and Germany’s tallest city hall tower rising to nearly 115 meters. Constructed on the site of the former Pleissenburg fortress, the Town Hall reflects Leipzig’s transformation into a major European trade and cultural center during the late 19th century.

   10 min

2. Continue towards the charming Mädler Passage, one of Leipzig’s most elegant shopping arcades. Dating back to the early 20th century, this beautifully restored passage is renowned for its Art Nouveau architecture, glass roofing, and historic atmosphere. Here, visitors can also admire the famous Auerbachs Keller entrance, one of Germany’s oldest wine taverns, immortalized in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Faust.

   10 min

3. Proceed to the vibrant Market Square Leipzig, the historic heart of the city. Surrounded by colorful merchant houses and traditional Saxon architecture, the square has served for centuries as Leipzig’s center of trade and public life. During festivals and seasonal markets, the area comes alive with local culture and regional traditions.

   10 min

4. Your next stop is the magnificent St. Thomas Church, one of the most important Lutheran churches in Germany. Closely associated with the celebrated composer Johann Sebastian Bach, who served here as cantor for nearly three decades, the church remains a major destination for music lovers worldwide. Bach’s remains are buried inside the church, while renowned figures such as Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Richard Wagner also share strong historical connections to this sacred site. Martin Luther preached here in 1539 during the Reformation.

   10 min

5. Just outside the church, you will see the Bach Memorial, a striking bronze statue dedicated to Johann Sebastian Bach. Created by sculptor Carl Seffner and unveiled in 1908, the monument commemorates Leipzig’s enduring connection to one of the greatest composers in musical history. The memorial remains one of the city’s most photographed cultural landmarks.

   10 min

6. Continue through the historic city center to the Naschmarkt Leipzig, a picturesque square featuring the famous statue of Goethe and a lively café atmosphere. Nearby stands the Old Stock Exchange, the oldest Baroque building in Leipzig, reflecting the city’s long-standing importance as an international trading hub.

   10 min

7. You will then arrive at the remarkable St. Nicholas Church, one of Leipzig’s oldest and most historically significant churches. Originally constructed in Romanesque style in 1165, the church later evolved into a Gothic hall church with elegant Baroque additions. Beyond its architectural beauty, St. Nicholas Church played a crucial role in modern German history as the focal point of the peaceful demonstrations that contributed to the fall of the East German regime in 1989.

   10 min

8. Nearby, admire the Nikolaikirchhof and the iconic Peace Column, which commemorates the peaceful revolution movement. The surrounding streets showcase Leipzig’s blend of medieval heritage, classical façades, and modern urban culture.

   10 min

9. Conclude your tour at Leipzig University, one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany, founded in 1409. Over the centuries, the university has educated many distinguished scholars, writers, and philosophers. Its modern campus architecture stands alongside historic academic traditions, symbolizing Leipzig’s enduring reputation as a city of knowledge, culture, and innovation.

   10 min

Cancellation

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Reviews

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Know before you go

How it compares in Leipzig

• Its from-price is 108% above the median of the 28 city tours we list in Leipzig.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 18 of 28.

About Leipzig

Leipzig is a Saxon city of music, trade fairs and coffee houses, where Bach worked and where the peaceful protests of 1989 began.

Leipzig has been a trading city since the Middle Ages, and its fairs gave it arcades, courtyards and merchants' houses. Johann Sebastian Bach was cantor at the Thomaskirche from 1723 until his death, and the Thomanerchor, the boys' choir, has sung there since 1212. The Nikolaikirche was the starting point of the Monday demonstrations of 1989, and the 91-metre Monument to the Battle of the Nations marks the great battle of 1813.

Top-ranked sights in Leipzig: St Nicholas Church (Nikolaikirche), St. Thomas Church (Thomaskirche), Leipzig Zoo (Zoologischer Garten Leipzig).

See all 72 experiences in Leipzig