Congresses, conventions, conferences, meetings: all these events serve to present and discuss issues and information. Personal interaction is a vital aspect – and one that’s hard to replace. Supporting programmes of leisure activities are the perfect way to round off your event schedule, to liven it up or to help participants network in a relaxed setting.
And organisers are spoilt for choice: from sailing tours and whitewater rafting, to an unforgettable aural experience in the Gewandhaus or even a city stroll at night, Leipzig has lots of ways to make any event a real experience that many will remember for a long time. Introducing some of the highlights:
1. Guided city tours
Explore “Leipzig at Night”, city strolls and tower tours
Historic buildings, high towers and places steeped in history: a city stroll is the best way to discover Leipzig’s beauty and unique architecture. Certified guides lead visitors through Leipzig’s city centre and reveal all about the famous sights such as St Thomas’ and St Nicholas’ Church, the Old Town Hall, the Mädler-Passage with Auerbachs Keller, and Leipzig Opera and the Gewandhaus. The perfect complement is a guided tour of the tower of St Thomas’ Church. At a height of 50 metres, visitors can enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of Leipzig. An expert guide will share interesting facts about the paintings of a Saxon foot gunner from the time of the Battle of the Nations, and also show the tower’s living quarters as well as the bells of this historic building. As the day draws to a close, the light and mood also change. Night begins to fall, and a distinctive aura descends on Leipzig’s sights: cabaret theatres and pubs fill up as night owls set out. During the Leipzig at Night city stroll, visitors can listen to stories whose subjects shy away from the light of day and tread paths that otherwise lie hidden.
Leipzig also has something special for quiz fans who love to guess: the interactive Guess Quest Tour “Valued Leipzig” leads groups through the old town, where a variety of questions will put your knowledge to the test.
2. City of Music
Discover and experience magical sounds
Leipzig enjoys a legendary international reputation as a city of music. Many important composers and big names such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Edvard Grieg, Gustav Mahler, and Clara and Robert Schumann lived and worked in Leipzig. Which is why Leipzig has such a rich music scene. The best way to discover the city’s musical side is on the Leipzig Music Trail. Like strips of ribbon, curved pieces of steel set into the ground mark the 5.3-kilometre tour that leads visitors to the places where important musicians worked and lived. Musical treats, audio samples and information about the musical cultural heritage create a fascinating blend of musical experience and city exploration. We particularly recommend rounding off your tour of Leipzig with guided tours of the organ in St Nicholas’ Church and of the Bach Museum or Mendelssohn House. For music lovers, of course, the name Johann Sebastian Bach in particular is synonymous with the city of Leipzig. The remarkable composer lived and worked in the city for 27 years. The fact that his enchanting compositions can still be heard everywhere today is not least thanks to Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. The former music director of the Gewandhaus made a significant contribution to the rediscovery of Bach and the subsequent “Bach renaissance”. Visitors to the Mendelssohn House, the only surviving home of the composer, can explore his life and learn more about what he achieved in Leipzig.
The crowning glory of any musical expedition through Leipzig is a concert at the Gewandhaus. Besides Europe’s largest contemporary ceiling painting, guests here can enjoy the internationally acclaimed Gewandhaus Orchestra and stunning world-class acoustics.
3. Canoeing, boat tours and more
Out and about on Leipzig’s waterways
A little sightseeing by boat after your event? Or why not rent a surfboard, sailboat, stand-up paddleboard or canoe? It’s all so easy in and around Leipzig. Thanks to its numerous canals, waterways and lakes just outside the city, Leipzig offers perfect conditions for water sports of all kinds – or for a leisurely boat trip to accompany your event. A canoe or rowing boat is a great way to glide along the waterways at your own pace, listen to the lapping of the water and disconnect from the hustle and bustle. In Leipzig’s surrounding countryside, you also have the opportunity to go sailing, surfing, or keep your balance while stand-up paddleboarding – perfect for team building of the active variety. Our tip: you can even go whitewater rafting at the canoe park on Lake Markkleeberg. During the summer months, boat tours are particularly popular in Leipzig. From the water, you are guaranteed completely new perspectives of the city. It’s useful to know that boats are also available for hire for private tours. Floating along the White Elster and the Karl Heine Canal, visitors can marvel at Leipzig’s multifaceted urban landscape and architecture and learn exciting details about the city, especially the districts of Plagwitz and Schleußig, from the boat guide.
