Top places to visit for art and culture in Leipzig

Leipzig has had a centuries-old love affair with art and culture, and in recent times, that relationship has been revitalised. Thanks in part to an abundance of studio spaces and low rents, artists and other creatives continue to flock to Saxony’s most populous city, contributing to the bustling Leipzig art scene and helping the city to earn its nicknames of “Hype-zig” and “the new Berlin.”

The city has become a cultural hotspot for people from around the world. If you’re one of those culture vultures, you won’t want to miss out on exploring the incredible art galleries, architecture, and street art when staying at Capri by Fraser Leipzig.

Leipzig art galleries you can’t miss

Here is our pick of unmissable Leipzig art galleries to include on your itinerary when staying in this vibrant, exciting city.

1. Gallery for Contemporary Art (Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst)

• See works created by German and international artists after 1945·      
• Rosemary Trockel and Carsten Nikolai are among the artists whose works are showcased regularly·      
• Entrance fee: 6€/4€ for a single ticket, 9€/5€ for a combined ticket. Free admission on Wednesdays·      
• The Gallery for Contemporary Art is family-friendly and easily accessible

2. Spinnerei (AKA Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei)

• Visit this 19th-century former cotton mill and be dazzled by what has become the centre of contemporary art in Leipzig·      
• More than 120 artists work at Spinnerei, which boasts 14 different galleries·      
• See work by artists such as Aika Furukawa, Anamaria Avram, Andrew Schiller, and Bertram Kober·      
• In addition to artwork, you will find dance, theatre, performance, crafts, workshops, and a small cinema·       
• Entrance fee: Free·      
• Spinnerei is suitable for individuals and families. Wheelchair users may find it difficult to access some parts of the facility

3. ARTAe Gallery and Art Education (ARTAe Galerie und Kunstvermittlung)

• ARTAe is a private Leipzig art gallery with a focus on contemporary paintings and op-art·      
• The gallery has exhibited works by artists such as Udo Klenner, Michiel Frielink, Claudia Hauptmann·      
• Upcoming exhibitions include works by Caroline Kober, Erik Seidel, Constanze Zorn, and Ricarda Hoop·      
• Entrance fee: Free·      
• Although the exhibitions are not age-restricted, this gallery is more suitable for adults and teenagers. The gallery is accessible for people with mobility issues.

4. Leipzig Museum of Fine Arts (Museum der Bildenden Künste Leipzig)

• Explore several centuries of art, from mediaeval paintings and sculptures to contemporary art·      
• Among the artwork in the museum’s collection are works by Frans Hals, Lucas Cranach, Caspar David Friedrich, Andreas Achenbach, Max Klinger, Neo Rauch, Matthias Weischer, and Christiane Baumgartner·      
• At the time of writing, the museum is showcasing the work of Mexican artist Olga Costa·      
• Entrance fee: Usually 10 €, but the museum currently has a reduced entrance fee of 4 €. Free admission for children under 18 years of age. Free admission on the first Wednesday of the month·      
• The Museum of Fine Arts is family- and child-friendly and easily accessible
  

Soak up the arts outdoor

The invigorating Leipzig art scene isn’t limited to the city’s finest galleries and art museums. Admire these great examples of architecture and street art when visiting Leipzig:


1. The Rundling (AKA Nibelungenring)

• Designed in the style of German New Objectivity modernist architecture by Hubert Ritter and built in 1929-1939, the Rundling is a housing estate of three concentric rings of circular housing blocks·      
• The estate is beloved by residents and a must-see for fans of architecture.       
• There is no entrance fee and the estate is easily accessible, but take note that the buildings are private residences.

2. Monument to the Battle of the Nations

• The 91-metre-high Monument to the Battle of the Nations is a fine example of Wilhelmine public architecture·      
• Constructed in 1913, the monument commemorates the centenary of Napoleon Bonaparte’s defeat by the allied armies of Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Sweden·      
• Enjoy spectacular views of Leipzig from the monument’s viewing platform·      
• Entrance fee: €6 adults, €4 kids, €11 family ticket·      
• The monument is suitable for families but not for those with mobility issues

3. Blek Le Rat’s Madonna and Child graffito

• Created in 1991 and rediscovered and restored in 2012, the Madonna and Child is a stencilled graffiti artwork by Xavier Prou AKA Blek Le Rat·      
• The work at Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 7 is a designated public monument and is protected by a sheet of glass·      
• The work is family-friendly and easily accessible

4. The White Lady (Weisse Dame) advert

•  The White Lady is a 1930s advert for German detergent Persil painted on the side of a housing block facing the Karl-Heine Canal in Plagwitz·      
• Views of the White Lady are easily accessible·      
• See the advert at Zschochersche Strasse 54/56

5. Mural of the Peaceful Revolution

• The Mural of the Peaceful Revolution is a football-pitch-sized mural painted by Leipzig artist Michael Fischer in the city centre·      
• The mural commemorates the 20th anniversary of Germany’s “peaceful revolution” which was part of the 1989 revolutions which paved the way for the reunification of Germany·      
• See the mural between Richard-Wagner-Strasse and Brühl
  

Where to stay in Leipzig

Capri by Fraser Leipzig is the perfect base for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the Leipzig art scene. Our comfortable rooms and suites come with fully equipped kitchenettes, a variety of amenities and comforts, and convenient proximity to the galleries, museums, and artworks mentioned above. Book your stay with us and enjoy a cultural break in Leipzig.