Leipzig is distinguished by its attractive pedestrianized city center and its wide range of housing, including apartments, detached and semi-detached houses, and even converted industrial lofts by the riverside. You’ll easily find just the right spot to make Leipzig your new home. Rents are very reasonable (far, far cheaper than in cities like Munich, Berlin, and Frankfurt), and a number of large residential developments close to the city center are currently under construction. In addition to excellent shopping both downtown and in suburban malls, Leipzig has outstanding amenities such as kindergartens, schools, medical facilities, and an excellent public transport system with one of the biggest tram networks in Europe. In fact, Leipzig has been described as Germany’s most liveable city! In a survey conducted by the IFH Cologne Institute of Retail Research among 58,000 visitors to 121 city centers, Leipzig easily came out on top.

Known for its creative spirit, Leipzig is home to both high culture and a lively fringe scene, contributing to the general high quality of life. A string of world-famous composers are closely associated with the city: Wagner was born here, Clara and Robert Schumann lived here, Mendelssohn himself founded the local music college, and the great Johann Sebastian Bach spent 27 years in charge of the choir at St Thomas’s Church. These days, Leipzig’s musical life is busier and more varied than ever before thanks to world-famous venues such as the Gewandhaus concert hall and Leipzig Opera House. There are also several theaters and live comedy clubs – although you’ll need a pretty good knowledge of German to keep up! And there’s also a thriving art scene thanks to the presence of the HGB Academy of Visual Art, the Museum of Fine Arts completed in 2004, and the celebrated Spinnerei art complex featuring several private galleries in a repurposed cotton mill.

As well as the more famous sights and hospitality venues, there’s plenty to experience off the beaten track in Leipzig. Visit fascinating districts like Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse and Karl-Heine-Strasse with their mix of captivating boutiques, intriguing art galleries, and cafés and bars galore. Hire a canoe for some unusual views of Leipzig from the canals. Don’t miss Leipzig Zoo, which has undergone a staggering redevelopment program over the past twenty years with new additions such as the Pongoland ape enclosure and Gondwanaland, the world’s second-largest indoor rainforest. If you’re looking for some woodland air, explore the huge swathe of forestland cutting across Leipzig. And make sure you check out some of the sandy lakeside beaches for a spot of swimming, paddleboarding, or windsurfing. (We bet you weren’t expecting much of a beach life when you first heard about Leipzig!)

With 1,900 eateries in and around the city center ranging from simple bars and beer gardens to gourmet establishments serving Saxon and international cuisine, there’s something to make everyone feel at home! For a special occasion, dive into the time-honored atmosphere of Auerbachs Keller, Leipzig’s best-known restaurant – or go to Barthels Hof to sample the very same menu enjoyed by Johann Sebastian Bach after he’d inspected and approved a brand-new church organ installed nearby. For a sensational view of the city, dine out at the top of the tower on Augustusplatz. Bayerischer Bahnhof is a restaurant inside the world’s oldest surviving railway terminus serving excellent Saxon and international cuisine. Other popular areas for an evening out include the bistros, bars, and cafés just off the marketplace, in Connewitz in south Leipzig, and in the districts of Plagwitz and Schleussig in the west of the city.