Leipzig: The Small City with a Lot of Heart

After what was hopefully a good night's sleep at the Hotel Domizil, it’s time to go and explore the captivating town that is Erfurt. This place is like going back in time, as it’s steeped in history, and there is no better way to experience that than to go to Erfurt’s most famous landmark, it’s cathedral. The Erfurt Cathedral, also known as St. Mary’s Cathedral was remarkably founded in AD 742, and has the largest surviving medieval-era bell in the world, the Maria Gloriosa. It includes amazing medieval artifacts including a figure of the Virgin Mary from 1160 and a mid-13-century tomb of a famous Count and his two wives. There is a lovely café at the site where you can get a coffee and English language tours can also be booked.
Open Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
For more information please visit: dom-erfurt.de

At this point, it’s time to say a fond farewell to Erfurt and to travel to the next destination, the mesmerising city of Leipzig. Enjoy another idyllic two-hour journey, once again taking in the gorgeous German countryside. One of the best places to admire said countryside is the wonderful lake of Klosterteich. Take a short detour and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The lake is a popular place to go fishing so if that takes your fancy, this is also an option.

Now that you've arrived in Leipzig it's time to get some lunch. The Ratskeller der Stadt is a great option, not just for its delicious local food but also for its great ambience. We highly recommend sitting outside so you can take in the majestic central square, Augustusplatz, and it's incredible architecture while you eat.
ratskeller-leipzig.de

Leipzig boasts of one of the oldest and best zoos in Germany. If you like nature, then you’ll be blown away by the 850 different species of animals from all four corners of the globe in this 27-hectare establishment. Wonder at the species of Chinese Pangolins, Baikal seals and the mesmerising Siberian tigers. The zoo is €21 for adults or €13 for children.
Open Hours: Monday - Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
For more information please visit the official: zoo-leipzig.de

It’s dinner time now, and luckily you are in the right place! The restaurant Auerbachs Keller is right in the square and it has a number of delicious local dishes to try. The signature Leipzig dish is the Allerlei, a mouth-watering mix of asparagus, carrots, peas and mushrooms served with crayfish or dumplings. Very few restaurants make this dish in Leipzig and even fewer do it well. Most locals of the city will tell you that Auerbachs Keller is the best of that small group to try this meal, and we fully concur. This restaurant is also steeped in history, with a wine bar that has been visited by Queen Elizabeth II, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Martin Luther himself.
Open Hours: Monday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM
For more information please visit the official: auerbachs-keller-leipzig.de

This hotel is our top pick for staying in Leipzig. Critically acclaimed and luxurious, the Hotel Fregehaus is tucked away in the central square Augustusplatz so it is within walking distance to many of Leipzig's best sites (including the Auerbachs Keller restaurant). It has a gorgeous 18th century courtyard and rooms that are both majestic and comfortable.