Leipzig Walking Tour: St. Thomas Church & Auerbach's Keller

St. Thomas Church and the passages where Goethe walked

A 2-hour 15-minute guided walking tour of Leipzig's city center, visiting St. Thomas Church (where Bach led the choir), St. Nicholas Church, and the historic passages and market halls. Your guide covers the city's musical heritage, university history, medieval walls, the Peaceful Revolution, and the sites tied to Goethe's Faust. All attractions are free to enter. The tour is wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. St. Thomas Church15m
2. St Nicholas Church15m

Leipzig city center walking tour

• Introduction to the city
• History of music and concert hall
• History of Leipzig University
• City walls and medieval times
• History of the city hall
• Johan Sebastian Bach and St. Thomas Church
• History of building and markets
• Visit the unique Passage in Leipzig
• Story about Goethe and Faust
• See Goethe statue and old stock exchange
• Chocolate and tea house visit
• Trading hall with beautiful passage
• Peaceful revolution and St Nicholas Church history

The experience

The tour starts with an introduction to Leipzig itself, then moves through the city's layers: the music history and concert halls, the university's role, the medieval fortifications, and the New Town Hall. St. Thomas Church anchors the middle section. Your guide explains Bach's time there and the choir he directed. From there you walk to St. Nicholas Church, where the guide discusses the Peaceful Revolution and the church's place in it.

Between the two churches, you pass through Leipzig's unique passages and trading halls, stopping at the Goethe statue and the old stock exchange. The route includes a chocolate and tea house, and your guide weaves in the story of Goethe's Faust, which was set partly in the city. The passages themselves, covered arcades connecting streets, are the kind of detail that makes Leipzig distinct from other German city centers.

Your guide speaks English and leads the whole group together. The pace is steady but manageable. The route is flat and wheelchair accessible, and strollers are welcome. Since all the sites you visit charge no entry fee, what you pay covers only the guide's time and knowledge. The tour ends back in the city center, with public transport nearby if you need it.

What’s included

• Guide commentary in English.
• access to St. Thomas Church, St. Nicholas Church, the historic passages, the trading hall, and the Goethe statue.
• all entry fees to attractions visited.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Tuesday and ThursdayDeparts at 11:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Free Walking Tour Leipzig

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a single morning or afternoon to see Leipzig's core landmarks and understand how music, literature, and politics shaped the city. The 2-hour 15-minute length fits between other plans, and the wheelchair accessibility means anyone can join, regardless of mobility.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What did Bach do at St. Thomas Church?

St. Thomas Church is where Johann Sebastian Bach led the choir for the last 27 years of his life. Your guide explains his role there and the church's significance in Leipzig's musical history.

Is this tour suitable for someone using a wheelchair?

Yes. The entire route is wheelchair accessible, all surfaces are level, and the meeting point is convenient. Strollers are also welcome if you're traveling with small children.

What is included in the price?

The guide's commentary and access to all the sites you visit, St. Thomas Church, St. Nicholas Church, the passages, the market halls, and the Goethe statue. Entry to every attraction is free. You're paying for the guide alone.

How long is the walking tour?

The tour runs 2 hours and 15 minutes. It covers the city center on foot, so wear comfortable shoes, though the pace is steady and the route is flat.

What is Auerbach's Keller and why does the guide mention it?

Auerbach's Keller is a historic wine restaurant in a cellar beneath the old trading hall. Goethe set a scene from Faust there, and your guide tells the story of how the play connects to Leipzig and this particular place.