November 18, 2022, 4:48 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Especially during the pre-Christmas season, many German cities attract tourists with their dazzling Christmas markets. You can visit a particularly beautiful one in Leipzig–and for other reasons, the trade fair city is worth a trip on cold days.
Leipzig has become “Hypezig”–nowadays, the trade fair city in northern Saxony is considered something like the alternative Berlin. The German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is said to have called the city on the Elster a “Little Paris.” That might be more fitting in the summer. But even in winter, Leipzig is a top travel destination.
All tips and inspiration from this article are also available in the following podcast episode of “In 5 Minuten um die Welt”–narrated by TRAVELBOOK author Sabine Winkler:
3 Things to Do in Leipzig in Winter
Stroll Through Christmas Markets
Anyone in Leipzig between the end of November and December 23 can visit the historic Christmas market. It winds through the city center with about 260 stalls, reaching the market in front of the Old Town Hall. No one visiting the city at this time can miss the Christmas magic.
The Christmas market in Leipzig was first held in 1458. With over 2.5 million visitors, it is now one of the most visited and largest in Germany. In addition to many treats like quarkkeulchen and bratwurst, you can also buy handicrafts from the Ore Mountains. Fortunately, the Christmas market in Leipzig is not as crowded as the world-famous Dresden Striezelmarkt.
Be sure to check out the eight-meter-high Ore Mountain Christmas pyramid at Nikolaikirchhof and the Finnish village at Augustusplatz.
If you prefer something more alternative, you’ll feel right at home in Plagwitz. This district in the west of Leipzig is home to many artists and clubs. During the Christmas season, small Christmas markets with a cozy atmosphere and lots of DIY charm are held at Felsenkeller and Westwerk. It’s similar at Werk 2 in the south of Leipzig.
Also interesting: Leipzig is the top travel destination in Germany
Visit Exhibitions and Churches
When it gets cold and unpleasant in Leipzig during winter, with rain or snow, the Zeitgeschichtliches Forum is an ideal refuge. With free admission, a permanent exhibition informs about the history of the inner-German division. But the Nikolaikirche and Thomaskirche are also worth a visit.
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Try “Leipziger Lerchen”
If you get hungry and spot “Leipziger Lerchen” at a bakery, don’t be shocked. These are not baked songbirds but macaroon tarts made of shortcrust pastry filled with a mixture of marzipan and jam.
In the past, larks were served as a special delicacy in Leipzig and the surrounding area on festive days. However, in 1876, bird hunting was banned to prevent the extinction of the species. A clever baker then came up with the idea of creating a pastry in the form of a pie, decorated with two crossed strips of dough.
Also interesting: Hiking in the Leipzig New Lake District
Travel to Leipzig
The best way to travel to Leipzig from other parts of Germany is by train. This has the advantage of immediately getting to know an important city landmark: Leipzig Central Station. It is the largest terminal station in Europe and one of the busiest in Germany. Alternatively, Leipzig can also be reached by plane (Halle/Leipzig Airport) and, of course, by car. In the city center itself, it’s best to walk or take the tram or S-Bahn.