Leipzig Central Station

Leipzig Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) is the largest terminal station in Europe by covered floor area and one of Germany's most impressive railway buildings. A sandstone facade 298 meters wide, soaring halls and a three-level shopping mall with more than 140 stores make it a sight in itself, even if you are not catching a train. If you are planning things to do in Leipzig, start here: entering the halls is free, and you can fit a visit around any train trip.

Where it is and how to get there

The station sits at Willy-Brandt-Platz on the edge of Leipzig's old town, and fast trains link it with Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt. Leipzig/Halle Airport connects by the FlughafenExpress train every half hour. The 2013 City Tunnel runs about two kilometers underground to the Bayerischer Bahnhof, with stops at Markt (the central market square) and Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz, so S-Bahn trains drop you in the center within one stop. The Deutschlandticket covers regional and S-Bahn trains here.

A station of superlatives

Architects William Lossow and Max Hans Kühne won the 1906 competition. The station opened on December 4, 1915, with 26 tracks in the hall. Its roofed area covers 83,640 square meters. Air raids in 1943 and 1944 damaged parts of the hall, and reconstruction lasted until 1965. A major conversion between 1994 and 1999 created the "Promenaden" shopping arcades, which opened with the reception building on November 12, 1997, at a cost of about EUR 250 million. Roughly 135,000 travelers and visitors pass through each day.

What to see

• Reception building and east hall: the sandstone facade and the large hall with its clock
• Platform halls: 23 platform tracks under steel arches
• Promenaden: more than 140 shops over three levels
• Platform 24: a museum track with a steam locomotive and a memorial to Leipzig's deported Jews, a metal suitcase unveiled in 2012

Visiting (as of October 2026)

Entry to the halls is free. The Promenaden shops are open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., though individual stores may differ. Information desks are staffed daily from 6 a.m. to midnight. Luggage lockers are available near the S-Bahn entrance. Plan 30 to 60 minutes for a visit. Guided tours of the station roof and historic rooms are offered through local tour operators; check current dates and language options before you go. Elevators provide step-free access, including in the east hall.

Safety and nearby

There is an open drug scene around the station, with theft more common, so keep valuables close in the evening. The Market Square, St. Nicholas Church and the Mädler Passage are all easy to reach from here.