Leipzig was once known mainly for its trade fairs and musical heritage, but over the years it has arguably developed into central Germany’s main cultural hotspot. Stefanie and I have lived here for quite a while now and still regularly come across new cafés, museums or little shops that we hadn’t noticed before.
We also noticed that the city has become a lot more popular with international visitors over the past few years, and that’s reflected in the number of places to stay. There’s everything from themed boutique hotels in historic buildings and budget-friendly hostels to stylish apartment hotels (if you’re planning a longer visit).
I’ve put together some of the best-rated options below. Most of them are either in or within easy walking distance of Leipzig’s historic centre, so they’re convenient bases for exploring the city.
This post contains affiliate links and I might earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more info click here.
The Top Places to Stay in Leipzig
Unique and Unusual Places to Stay at
The Bach-themed Townhouse Leipzig
If you’re interested in Leipzig’s musical history, this is probably the most fitting place to stay. The hotel sits right next to St. Thomas Church, where Baroque-era composerJohann Sebastian Bach worked for almost three decades, and only a few steps from the Bach Museum.
The building itself dates back to the Renaissance, and the rooms are decorated with a few references to Bach, including paintings of sheet music. The location is perfect for exploring the old town.
Book Hotel Leipzig
This is one of the more unusual hotels in Leipzig. As the name suggests, everything here revolves around books. Shelves filled with second-hand books line the lobby and hallways, and many of the rooms continue the literary theme with more books or book-themed decorative touches.
I’m a big reader and I’ve been in the lobby a few times to swap books (which is encouraged). If you’re a book nerd like me, this one might be worth a look.
Galerie Hotel Leipziger Hof
Located in an elegant late-19th-century building a little east of the city centre, this hotel doubles as a small art gallery. Much of the artwork comes from the famous Leipzig School of modern painting which became especially influential from the 1960s to 1980s.
Lots of paintings are displayed throughout both the rooms and public areas of the hotel. It’s about a twenty-minute walk from the station and the historic centre, which is still perfectly manageable.
Cool Affordable Hostels
Wombat’s City Hostel
This is one of Leipzig’s longest-established hostels (although it used to be called Hostel Sleepy Lion) and it’s still one of the most popular budget options in the city. It’s located close to Leipzig Zoo and only a short walk from the old town.
The atmosphere is relaxed rather than party-focused, and you can choose to stay in a dormitory or a private room.
Five Elements Hostel
If staying right in the middle of the action is your priority, Five Elements is hard to beat. It’s located just off Barfußgässchen, which is one of Leipzig’s busiest pedestrian streets, which is surrounded by restaurants, cafés and bars.
Once again, there are both dorm beds and private rooms available depending on your budget (and willingness to endure snoring dormmates;).
Oskars Absteige
Although it’s technically located in the Zentrum-Süd district, Oskars is still only about five minutes on foot from the edge of the old town. This is our favourite part of Leipzig (maybe because we live here).
Zentrum-Süd also has a slightly more local feel than the centre, with lots of independent cafés and restaurants nearby. The hostel itself also has a restaurant and beer garden, which is probably nice after a day of sightseeing.
Cozy Mid-Range Hotels and Apartment Hotels
Motel One Nikolaikirche
We’ve stayed in Motel One hotels in several German cities over the years and have generally found them to offer good value. Leipzig has three central branches, which are all close to Augustusplatz and Nikolaikirche, the city’s most famous church.
The rooms are modern and reasonably priced considering the location. It’s the go-to place to book for external guests of our university department and they’re always happy with their stay.
Groners Leipzig City Centre
GRONERS combines stylish hotel rooms with hostel facilities, which makes it a good option if you’re looking for something in between. It’s located directly opposite Leipzig’s excellent Museum of Fine Arts (MDBK) and only a short walk from most of the city’s main sights.
They also have dormitories available, in case you’re on a tighter budget.
Abito Suites
Should you plan on staying in Leipzig for more than just a weekend, Abito Suites is worth considering. The rooms are larger than standard hotel rooms and include small kitchenettes, which makes them practical if you prefer self-catering once in a while.
Breakfast is included, and the location near Augustusplatz makes it easy to reach both the old town and the main station on foot.
Luxury Hotels
Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel Handelshof
The Grandhotel Handelshof occupies one of Leipzig’s grandest historic buildings on the Market Square and is probably the city’s best-known luxury hotel.
The rooms are large and modern, and there’s also a spa and wellness area inside the building. If you’re looking for somewhere special while staying right in the heart of the old town, this would be one of the best choices.
Pentahotel
Pentahotel is located a little east of the historic centre and the building has a much more contemporary feel. The rooms are spacious and modern, and the public areas have plenty of unusual design details, like an illuminated stag head in the breakfast room.
There’s also a pool, spa and fitness area, as well as billiard and foosball tables and a dartboard in the common areas.
Map of Leipzig
This map includes all the places listed above and some important must-see sights in the city.
What to Do in Leipzig
Once you’ve sorted out where to stay, there’s more than enough sights to fill a couple of days. Leipzig has an interesting mix of medieval churches, elegant shopping arcades, museums, music history and reminders of both the Napoleonic Wars and the former GDR.
If it’s your first visit, I’d recommend starting with my One-Day Leipzig Itinerary, which covers many of the historic centre’s main sights and the impressive Monument to the Battle of the Nations.
From Leipzig, you can also take a daytrip to Colditz Castle, which used to be a POW camp in WWII or to the Albrechtsburg Castle in Meißen, which is the birthplace of Meissen Porcelain.