There’s something unusual about Leipzig as a tourist destination, and it’s probably something to do with the fact that it’s not the most tourist-oriented place to visit. Tucked away on the southeast border of Germany, it’s conveniently placed for visiting Berlin and Munich, two cities that often rank high on tourists travel lists. Not so Leipzig, a conurbation many people would freely admit to having never heard of. In fact, a large proportion of people who choose to visit do so for specific events – the fact that they’re in Leipzig going unnoticed by some – a shame really, since the city has plenty to offer its temporary residents.
The heart of the city is as vibrant and cosmopolitan as you’ll get, benefitting from pretty cobbled streets in the older part, and newer design as you head into the suburbs. Shops that line the centre take up the ground floor levels of old-fashioned Bavarian-styled buildings, their sloping roofs and ornate facades giving shoppers plenty to admire between visits to designer boutiques and artisan stores. For drivers, getting to the centre means navigating an unusual one-way system, avoiding a complicated tram network and locating the unmarked entrances to multi-storey car parking buildings, but once you’ve abandoned your vehicle the city becomes a great place to explore, with pedestrian malls and avenues, an eclectic array of restaurants and a regular influx of farmers markets to visit.
There are two main shopping centres in Leipzig that are worth a visit. The first is Hofe am Bruhl, a purpose-built shopping mall with the usual glass-walls, escalators and name brand stores. Don’t miss the lower level which has a wonderful selection of food outlets to try. Across the road, however, there’s a shopping centre with a difference – Leipzig Bahnhof – and if you’ve never gone shopping in a railway station before, this is the place to start. Built almost 100 years ago in 1915, the station was heavily bombed by allied forces in the Second World War, losing part of its roof and suffering heavy damage to one of the main entrances. The Germans rebuilt and added two underground floors which are now used as a shopping mall. The shops are varied and unique, with jewellers and travel specialists sharing the marble floor space with speciality butchers and cheese shops, continental chocolate merchants and health food stores. The station is the largest in the world by floor space, and a great place to grab a pizza or a burger overlooking the incoming and outgoing trains on the top level – an ideal way to amuse children.
Leipzig is a great holiday destination for families as well as independent travellers, and whatever the ages of the children you’re travelling with there’s certainly plenty to do. The zoo is an impressive wildlife park in terms of size, spanning several acres of land in the heart of the city, and it’s been a firm family favourite for years. A visit here is an all-day affair – it needs to be – with so many enclosures to visit, purpose built playgrounds to enjoy and a coffee stop every few blocks. It’s also one of the few visitor attractions that caters well for tourists, providing maps written in English and info panels at every turn.
Another popular attraction is the recently built Belantis theme park, located to the south of the city and within easy reach by car. It has the usual rollercoaster rides and flumes but also boasts an Indian reservation complete with teepees, face painting and canoeing on the purpose-built lake. A family ticket costs around 100 Euros for the day but once inside just about everything is free to enjoy. Unusually, the park isn’t geared towards foreign visitors, with all signs, maps and information panels written in German. It’s still worth buying a map though - you can navigate by the pictures and receive a pretty good discount in the cafes and snack locations around the park.
Leipzig is known as the City of Festivals, and there’s usually something happening whatever time of year you choose to visit. The Christmas markets are always popular, with artisan sellers appearing from all corners of Europe to take one of the stands that snakes its way in a long line through the heart of the city. Another popular favourite is the JS Bach festival, a celebration of the life and time of the famous composer, and there are specific celebratory festivals around Valentine’s Day and Carnival time. It’s vibrant, fun and cultural, and part of everyday life for the locals and residents that spend their time here.
If you’re planning a trip to Leipzig, whether it’s for a specific event or because you’ve heard what a great city it is to visit, consider picking up a Leipzig Card from one of the tourist information centres at its heart (you can get them from selected information points in shopping malls and some hotels too). They’re valid for up to three days and provide excellent discounts on some major attractions, restaurants and museums, and since Germany is one of the most expensive countries to visit in Europe, discounts are always very welcome.
Six hundred GB Pounds buy you the following amount of Euros
Established in 2008, Travelfx are solely an internet business providing an alternative to a Bureau de Change with some of the best exchange rates online. The company has been ranked 34th in the 2012 Sunday Times Fast track 100.
Established in 1973 ICE Plc is one of the largest and most respected retail foreign exchange operators in the world with a combined annual group turnover in excess of US.8 billion and with over 300 branches in addition to providing an online service.
Established in 2008 with one mission, to bring the retail foreign exchange business online identifying an opportunity to redefine how people purchase travel money. The team of three partners has over 30 years experience in the retail foreign exchange market.
Established in 1979. Moneycorp also have retail bureaux de change at Gatwick, Stansted, Southend and Southampton airports, and across Central London. They provide next day delivery and can deliver on Saturdays for an additional fee
The post office is one of the most recognised brands for holiday money in the UK. They allow you to order your travel money online and collect it from any Post office branch or have it delivered to your address for free.
Established in 1981, Covent Garden FX is a family-owned and operated Bureau De Change located in the heart of Central London, providing some of the best exchange rates online for branch collection or home delivery.
Established in 1976 the business has grown to become one of the most recognised travel money brands in the UK with over 1,100 branches worldwide. They also provide wholesale services to many banks and supermarkets.
Established in 2007 with three bureau de change branches in London as well as running a postal delivery service in the UK with a focus on reputation, trust, reliability and quality of service.
Established in 2011 by Ben Wakeham, a young travel mad entrepreneur who wanted to simplify the purchase of holiday money and use the internet to allow consumers to gain better exchange rates than long established travel money providers.
Established in 2002, FairFX cut out the middle man and use state of the art technology to execute your orders and deliver holiday money to your door while eliminating the cost of running expensive foreign exchange kiosks.
As a well known British high street retailer, M&S stock one of the widest ranges of currency on the high street (up to 42 currencies) available online, by phone or in store operating as one of the most competitive providers for those needing to purchase last minute from one of their 120 stores nationwide.
Established in 1968 and acquired by RBS in 2000, foreign exchange forms part of the general financial services offered by the bank. You can purchase notes or travellers cheques for collection from your local branch or home delivery.
