Bach Museum Leipzig

The Bach Museum Leipzig occupies the Baroque Bose House on St. Thomas Churchyard, right across from the church where Johann Sebastian Bach served as cantor for 27 years. Original manuscripts, a historic organ console and interactive media stations bring the composer's life and music to life. Whether you are a classical music fan or simply curious, it is one of the top things to do in Leipzig, and visitors up to age 18 get in free.

Where it is and how to get there

The museum is at Thomaskirchhof 15/16 in the pedestrian old town of Leipzig, Saxony. It is a few minutes' walk from the Markt S-Bahn station and about 15 minutes on foot from Leipzig Hauptbahnhof. Leipzig makes an easy day trip from Berlin (roughly an hour and a quarter by ICE) or Dresden, and Leipzig/Halle Airport has a direct train link to the central station. The Deutschlandticket is valid on local S-Bahn, tram and bus services.

Why it matters

Bach lived and worked in Leipzig from 1723 until his death in 1750, composing much of his greatest church music here. The Bose family, wealthy merchants, were friends of the Bachs and could see the cantor's home from their windows. Today the house is the seat of the Bach-Archiv Leipzig, a leading center of Bach research. The museum opened on March 21, 1985, Bach's 300th birthday, and a renovation completed in 2010 added a climate-controlled treasury and expanded the exhibition to about 450 square meters.

What to see

• Twelve themed rooms on Bach's life, works, family and legacy, with multimedia and hands-on stations.
• The treasury, displaying original manuscripts.
• An organ console from Leipzig's St. John's Church that Bach himself inspected in 1743.
• A 1748 portrait by Elias Gottlob Haussmann, items recovered from Bach's grave and a silver box that belonged to the family.
• A current special exhibition on Jewish life and the Bach family of musicians; from December 4, 2026, a square piano signed by Johann Christian Bach is due to go on display.

In 2025 the museum launched the Virtual Bach Experience, a short augmented-reality concert in the historic summer hall in which a digital Bach plays the harpsichord and talks about his life. It is offered in German and English; check the ticket shop for current dates.

Opening hours and tickets

As of October 2026, the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Mondays. Admission is €14, reduced €9, and free up to age 18. A ticket including the Virtual Bach Experience costs €25. Entry is free on the first Tuesday of every month. An audio guide is included, and you can also download the audio tour in advance. Plan on about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially combined with St. Thomas Church opposite, where Bach is buried. Within a short walk you will also find the Old Town Hall on the Markt, Auerbachs Keller, St. Nicholas Church, where the St. John Passion premiered in 1724, and the Museum of Fine Arts.