Many people are still put off East German destinations, remembering tales of communism and the Cold War. Unfortunately, people are missing out because of this. To me, it’s the very nature of the East German past that makes Leipzig a fascinating destination. It also makes it a cheap one as prices in the East are still lower than in the West.
Visitors keen to discover the history would do well to have a good working knowledge of the German language. There are many museums dedicated to this period of history, the most notable being the Zeitgeschichtliches Forum on the Grimmaische Strasse covering the entire period of 1945 to 1990 as well as temporary exhibitions on specific topics. However, all of the displays are in German and the English guides translate only the most basic information. The museums are, on the whole, free, and always well maintained and informative. The Stasi Museum on the ring is based in the old Stasi headquarters which further adds to the experience.
Although history is Leipzig’s main attraction, there are plenty of attractions for other visitors too, although these are mainly cultural, centring on musical performance or art galleries. The Zoo is an enjoyable day out but being in a city centre location it is limited in space and this is reflected in the animals that don’t look particularly happy. There’s even a lake and a beach although these are not too easily accessible by public transport.
Leipzig is a shopper’s paradise. The town centre is easily accessible and predominantly pedestranised. You won’t find British chain stores (although if you’re there for many length of time the British Store is worth a visit for imports of traditional British products, albeit at a price), but you will find all manner of European stores with low prices to match. The train station also boasts a three story shopping mall and there are many out of town malls easily accessible by the tram.
You’ll also find all manner of restaurants and prices are very reasonable. In the evenings most restaurants and cafes become bars and the majority have outside seating with oil lamps and long opening hours. Cocktails are very popular and at about €5 they are also affordable. There are also a number of different nightclubs although these are primarily student focussed as the city is home to several institutions of higher education. In shops and restaurants English is widely understood.
Getting around is easy, the actual city centre is quite compact and can be navigated easily on foot. For longer distances, many use bicycles, but the tram is equally popular. Day and week tickets are available as well as single journey tickets and are good value for money. The tram links the city centre with anything further out and is always clean and punctual. You are expected to buy a ticket before boarding as opposed to on the tram and spot checks are common. The train station also offers easy connections to towns and cities further afield.
In all, Leipzig is a good city break destination primarily for groups of adults with an interest in culture and history but it doesn’t really meet the needs of families looking to get away from it all. German is recommended but not essential. Flights are available with AirBerlin or Ryanair from London Stansted but transfer form Berlin’s more accessible airports is also relatively simple.
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May 29th, 2006
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