Weekend in Leipzig

Lutheran church where Johann Sebastian Bach worked as cantor from 1723 to 1750. His remains are buried beneath the altar. Entry is free; guided tours cost €5. Organ concerts happen

Tip: Attend a Friday Eveningsong service at 18:00 – the choir (founded by Bach) sings motets for free, and the acoustics are superb. No booking needed, but arrive 20 minutes early for a good pew.

The church where Bach worked as cantor, with his grave beneath the altar. The interior is plain but the acoustics are superb—free organ recitals and motets happen most weeks.

Tip: Come for the 18:00 Friday or Saturday motet (free) and hear the boys' choir sing where Bach did; arrive 20 mins early for a pew.

A small interactive museum next to the Thomaskirche, exploring Bach's life in Leipzig. Normally €10 entry but free every first Saturday of the month (10:00–17:00).

Tip: Head to the sound lab on the top floor—you can 'conduct' the orchestra in a short Bach movement. Free day gets busy; go right at open.

Lutheran church where J.S. Bach worked as cantor and is buried. Plain Gothic interior, impressive Bach statue outside.

Tip: Free organ recitals most Saturdays at noon. Check the noticeboard by the entrance for the schedule.

Where Bach worked as cantor. A working Lutheran church with his grave inside. The building is simple but historically powerful. Free to enter.

Tip: Attend a Friday or Saturday evening motet by the St. Thomas Choir – free to listen. Arrive 20 minutes early for a seat. The church acoustics are excellent.

The only preserved residence of composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. Original rooms, instruments, and personal effects. Small but fascinating for music lovers.

Tip: Visits are free on the first Wednesday of each month. Check the website for current temporary exhibitions.

A sprawling, tree-lined park with ponds, meadows, and walking paths. Popular for picnics, jogging, and rowing boats. No entrance fee—just public space done well.

Tip: Bring your own snacks. The park café is overpriced. Great spot for a cheap afternoon away from the city bustle.

Leipzig's art museum in a striking glass cube. Free entry on Wednesdays (though special exhibitions may cost extra). Collection spans medieval to contemporary German art.

Tip: Wednesday free entry is popular – go just after opening at 10:00 for quieter galleries. The rooftop café has decent coffee for €3 and a view over the city rooftops.

Former Stasi district headquarters preserved exactly as it was in 1989. Original offices, surveillance equipment, and spy tools. Strong smell of old paper and dust.

Tip: Visit the basement archive room – they'll let you look up your own name in the Stasi files if you're German. For non-Germans, ask the guide to show you the hidden listening devices.

Leipzig's main square, historically the site of peaceful protests in 1989. Features the massive University building (Paulinum) and the city skyline. Paved area entirely free.

Tip: Come here at dusk to see the city lights reflect in the small pond. Grab a takeaway coffee from Rösterei near the theatre – cheaper than the tourist cafes on the square.