Sightseeing in Leipzig by Tram and on Foot

October 31, 2026

Sightseeing in Leipzig by tram and on foot

The centre is walkable, and trams cover the rest. This guide groups the main sights by area and says how to reach each one.

Around the Markt

Altes Rathaus. It sits on the Markt and holds the Stadtgeschichtliches Museum. Ask at the door about the ticket price.
Mädlerpassage. The covered arcade is home to Auerbachs Keller, a cellar dated 1525.
Thomaskirche. Johann Sebastian Bach’s grave has been in the chancel since 1950. The church is an active Lutheran place of worship, so be discreet with cameras during services and motets. Choir motets are on Fridays at 18:00 and Saturdays at 15:00 in term time.

Nikolaikirche and the 1989 story

The Nikolaikirche, at Nikolaikirchhof 3, is tied to the Peaceful Revolution of autumn 1989. On 9 October 1989 more than 70,000 people marched in Leipzig, and the protests helped bring about the end of the GDR. The church is open Monday to Friday 11:00 to 18:00, Saturday 11:00 to 16:00 and Sunday 11:30 to 14:30, but it closes during services and events. Prayers for peace take place on Mondays at 17:00 and have done since 1982. Treat them as worship rather than an attraction, and stay quiet. See nikolaikirche.de .

Augustusplatz

The square holds the Oper Leipzig and, separately, the Gewandhaus, the concert hall of the Gewandhausorchester. The City-Hochhaus at number 9 is 142.5 m tall and has a platform on the 31st floor. Admission is EUR 5 for adults, free for children aged 5 and under. Platform hours should be checked before going. Tourist board page .

Völkerschlachtdenkmal

This giant monument to the 1813 Battle of the Nations is not in the centre. It stands in Probstheida, about 4 km south-east, at Straße des 18. Oktober 100.

By tram: line 15 (from the Hauptbahnhof, Augustusplatz or Johannisplatz) and line 2 stop at “Völkerschlachtdenkmal”. Roadworks can alter tram 15, so check the LVB timetable.
By S-Bahn: the S1 and S4 station with the same name is a walk of about 10 minutes.
Cost: about EUR 12 for adults, EUR 10 reduced, free for children.
Climb: 364 steps lead from the crypt level to the 91 m platform. Lifts reach only the 58 m outer walkway. The stairs are narrow and one-way, so skip the top if you have severe vertigo, a heart condition or claustrophobia.

Information: the foundation’s website .

Booking a guide

A guided sightseeing tour of the centre can be compared on GetYourGuide’s Leipzig sightseeing listings .