Leipzig

May–September for mild weather and music festivals (including the summer Bach Festival); winter is grey and cold like the rest of eastern Germany, but the December Christmas markets make up for the mood.

• St. Thomas Church (Thomaskirche), where Bach worked and is buried
• The Bach Museum and archive next to the church
• St. Nicholas Church (Nikolaikirche) — starting point of the 1989 peaceful Monday demonstrations
• The Battle of the Nations Monument (Völkerschlachtdenkmal) — Europe's largest monument (91m tall, 500 steps to the top)
• Augustusplatz and the old town around the historic market square

Staying near the historic core (around Augustusplatz or the old market) is practical for walking to every sight; rates are noticeably gentler than Munich or Frankfurt.

Don't expect a halal scene the size of Germany's western cities — if that matters to you, check with the mosque ahead of time or plan meals around halal butchers rather than upscale restaurants. Outside the historic core, old socialist-era architecture appears — don't be put off, it's an authentic part of the city's character.

2-3 days

Suggested plan:

1. Day 1: St. Thomas Church and the Bach Museum, then the old market and old town
2. Day 2: St. Nicholas Church and the Battle of the Nations Monument
3. Day 3 (optional): Augustusplatz and more relaxed shopping/exploring time