Car Hire in Leipzig

About Leipzig

Leipzig is a city in Germany, more precisely, in Saxon. It is the most populous city in this state and used to be the second most populous city in the former GDR. The city is located in the southern part of the North German Plain. Leipzig was founded at the mouth of the White Elster River and, together with Halle, is part of the Leipzig-Halle polycentric metropolitan area.

The name Leipzig was first mentioned in the 11th century by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg in his chronicles. Of course, people lived in this area many years before that, so this city and the whole region have a very long and rich past. It was an important trading town since the Holy Roman Empire. This is mainly due to its location at the crossroads of the Via Regia and the Via Imperii, two important mediaeval trade routes. In addition to its importance as a trading centre, Leipzig has always been an important cultural city. After World War II, this importance slowly declined, but today Leipzig is still a very important urban centre in Germany. For example, Leipzig is one of the two seats of the German National Library as well as the seat of the Federal Administrative Court. The city has also received many recognitions on a national and also European level. Leipzig was named a "Sufficiency" city, Germany's "Boomtown" in 2020 by the Globalisation and World Cities Research Network and European City of the Year in 2019 by the Academy of Urbanism. In 2013, it was named the most livable city in Germany.

Of course, there have been some ups and downs in the past, especially after the reunification of Germany, when Leipzig experienced a massive economic crash and took several years to overcome these difficulties.

Today, there are many interesting cultural, historical and religious sites here in and around the city. When you come to Leipzig, you need to be well prepared, because there are really many different attractions that you should visit, and you need to make a good plan to see as much as possible. Besides, there are some very good restaurants and bars all over the city, where you can satisfy all your gastronomic needs and get to know German cuisine or nightlife at its best.

Basic info and car hire in Leipzig

• Location: State of Saxon, Germany
• Population: 597,493
• Official language: German
• Currency: Euro
• Weather: Leipzig has an oceanic climate  
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Most roads in Leipzig are in good condition.
• Car hire in Leipzig:  The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Leipzig is at the Leipzig Halle Airport. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks before your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Leipzig!

 Driving in Leipzig

If you are going on a road trip through Germany, you should make a stop in Leipzig and spend a few days there, because there is a lot to see and do here. Renting a car is undoubtedly the best option if you want to properly explore the city and its surroundings. Leipzig is also very well connected to other parts of the country, so you can easily plan your road trip when you come to Leipzig. The roads are in good condition, and the signalling is clear, so all you have to do is follow the rules and pay attention to the traffic signs.

Probably the best way to explore the city is to park your car in one of the many parking lots in the city and then explore Leipzig on foot or in combination with public transportation because Leipzig also has a very well-developed streetcar system. There is also the park-and-ride system, so you have many options here.

Since Leipzig, and the whole region, has a strong industry, the so-called environmental zones were introduced to maintain a healthy environment for the people who live here. An environmental zone in Germany is a zone where motorised vehicles are only allowed to enter with an environmental badge. In German, these zones are called Umweltzone, which is an environmental zone. As of 2021, there are 58 environmental zones in Germany, covering more than 70 cities. The obligation to possess the environmental badge applies to both German and foreign cars (M1), motor homes (M1), heavy caravans (M1), minibuses (M2), buses (M3), vans (N1), transporters (N2), trucks (N2) and heavy commercial vehicles (N3).

Vehicle registration and city government sell stickers. Local garages and vehicle inspection centres such as TUeV and DEKRA are also authorised to sell stickers. If you buy them directly from municipal offices, they cost €5. Online, they can cost more. And if they need to be shipped abroad, that can sometimes be a bit more expensive. The city of Berlin sells stickers online (in English or German) for 6 €. TUeV-SUeD offers stickers for 15 € in German, Česky, Français, English, Italiano, Polski, and Tuerkçe. TUeV-NORD sells stickers for 9,90 € if the vehicle is registered in Germany, and for 17,50 € if the vehicle is not registered in Germany.

Buy the stickers only on the official websites of the city or TUV. Other websites are often much more expensive if you can get a valid sticker.

• Age limits: The minimum age to drive a car in Germany is 18. The minimum age to rent a car in Germany is 21 years old. However, some suppliers allow young drivers from 18 years of age to rent a car from them. A young driver fee can apply for drivers under 25 years of age. This information is visible in the search engine Orbit Car Hire.
• International Driving Permit: You are required by law to carry your Drivers Licence when driving. An International Driving Permit is required in addition to a National Driving License if the National Driving License you or any of the Additional Drivers hold is not identifiable as a Driving License, e.g., it is in a non-Latin alphabet (e.g. Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese). It can also depend on the country or car rental company you are renting with. If you have found a car on our website, you can press the rental terms link from the supplier for more information about driving license requirements. You will need to provide a copy of your driver's license when applying for the license. If you are mailing your application in, a copy of the license's front and back should be included. You also must present two passport photos to get an international driver's license in Germany.  This is all you need to obtain an international license for driving in Germany. 
• Additional papers:  A credit card in the main driver's name needs to be presented. A security deposit may be required while renting a car, so the credit card must have sufficient funds. You can find details about the security deposit listed while booking the vehicle and on your voucher. It is essential to have a valid driving license with the name of the main driver as well as additional drivers when it applies.Identification(passport or ID), and valid proof of insurance. When you pick up your rental car, you must have your voucher. At Orbit Car Hire, you can buy additional coverage to travel throughout Germany without worry. 
• Additional requirements:  It is a legal requirement that vehicles have certain safety gear, such as orange vests, caution triangles, and a first aid kit. Verify with your car rental where these are located in your car. You also need to check that you have other light bulbs (they are usually already in the car and are provided by the car rental company).Glasses (in case you need glasses, you must always have a spare pair in the car),
• Children in the car:  Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seatbelt. If a passenger is found without one, the driver is held responsible with a high fine. In Germany, it is illegal to travel in a car with a child under 3 years old not strapped into an approved child safety seat. Children under twelve (and under 150cm) must have a booster or restraint system and be seated in the back. Ask when booking for a suitable system to be included when you collect your hire car.
• Driving side of the road: Right Hand
• Lights: You must turn your lights on whenever you can't see at least 1000 feet ahead. Use your low-beam headlights whenever it is raining. 
• General speed limits: When driving in towns, the speed limit is automatically 50 km/h unless stated otherwise. When driving out of towns, the speed limit is automatically 100 km/h unless otherwise stated. NOTE: There will not always be a speed limit sign! Therefore, you need to know that as soon as you enter a village or “built-up” area, that automatically means the speed limit is 50km/h! 65% of the highways in Germany (Autobahn) have no speed limit.

Popular day trips from Leipzig

Dresden, Weimar, Freiberg, Meissen, Colditz Castle, Erfurt, Wörlitzer Park, Moritzburg Castle, Burg Stolpen, Seiffen...

What to see in Leipzig

Leipzig has a lot to offer for every kind of tourist and traveller. There are so many different cultural, historical, heritage and even natural attractions in Leipzig and the surrounding area that you need to make a good plan before coming here. If you are taking a road trip through Germany, this is undoubtedly the city where you should stop and spend a few days. Leipzig is also ideal for starting your road trip and exploring this fantastic country.

When visiting Leipzig, visit the Old Town Hall and the Market Square. The Old Town Hall was built in the 16th century, and for the past 100 years, this important and impressive building has housed a museum of the city's history. Besides the museum, part of the building is also used for cultural and other public events. In front of the Old Town Hall is a market square where a farmers' market is held every Tuesday and Thursday. This is also the place where you can visit the Christmas market, Easter market, wine festival, etc.

The city is also very rich in museums and galleries. There are many interesting museums here. Some of them are The City History Museum, The Sports Museum, The Coffee Museum Museum Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum, The Schiller House in Leipzig-Gohlis, The Museum of Fine Arts, The National History Museum, The Gallery of Contemporary Art, The Bach Museum, The Schumann House, The Mendelssohn House, The Egyptological Museum, The Museum of Antiquities, The GRASSI Museum...

Besides museums, there are many other interesting places to see and visit in Leipzig. Leipzig Zoo, for example, is one of the most modern zoos in Europe and ranks first in Germany and second in Europe.

Other places to visit here in Leipzig: St. Thomas Church, Augustusplatz, Monument to the Battle of Nations, Leipzig Music Trail, Mädler-Passage...

Drive your rental car beyond Leipzig

Germany, or the Federal Republic of Germany as the country's official name, is located in Central Europe and is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia. Germany borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands to the west. The country's capital and largest city is Berlin, and Germany's financial centre in Frankfurt. In many ways, Germany is undoubtedly one of the world's strongest and most developed countries. It is the country with the largest economy in Europe and the fourth-largest economy globally. It is a world leader in several industrial, scientific and technological fields and is the third-largest exporter and importer of goods.

But of course, Germany is not just an industrial and financial giant. It is a country with many opportunities in many different fields. From arts, education, tourism, sports, etc. Germany has a long and turbulent past with all kinds of events, and among these events, there are some that Germans are not very proud of, such as the World War. There are many monuments, museums and places that commemorate these events and send a warning to the world that this kind of event should never happen again.

Germany consists of 16 states (Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Bremen, Brandenburg, Berlin, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria), and each of them has something different to offer and is worth visiting. The country lies between the Baltic and North Seas in the north and the Alps in the south. So there is much to see and do here, from the south to the north. One of the great advantages of this country is the fact that the road infrastructure here is well-developed and among the best in Europe. It is an ideal country for a road trip. You should probably make more than one road trip through Germany if you want to explore it properly, but you can be sure that you will have a great time no matter which part of the country you wish to explore. You can opt for the bigger cities in Germany, as there are a large number of cities in this country and there are countless interesting things to see and do in most cities. Also, many festivals take place throughout the year. So you need to research well and make a good plan before coming here because you need to be well organized to see and do as many things as possible.

In Germany, there are also many great options for those who prefer a more active vacation. For those who love the mountains, there are many great mountain trails and routes you can explore on your own or with a guided group. In the Alps, you can also do many other activities, from climbing to mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, skating on the many great lakes, etc.

If you are not interested in the mountains, you can always visit the lakes and rivers or even try rafting or kayaking. The countryside in Germany is also beautiful and worth experiencing. You can also drive around and visit romantic little villages where you can learn more about German culture and traditions, meet the locals and try local specialities. If you decide to explore the German countryside, you can also be prepared to see some amazing castles. Some of them are abandoned, and only ruins remind us that the castle was here in the past. However, some castles are still alive and are being renovated to house museums, galleries, etc. and are spectacular tourist attractions. An interesting fact about Germany is that it has the third largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Besides castles, there are fascinating churches and other majestic architecture all over the country that will take your breath away.

For technology freaks and lovers of the automotive industry, there are some of the most famous brands from this country whose factories and museums you can visit, e.g. BMW, Mercedez, and Audi.

The country is also famous for its gastronomy, and it is important to highlight two traditional German flagships in this field. The beer is undoubtedly one, with the Oktoberfest, one of the most famous festivals in the world, where record-breaking amounts of beer are sold every year, and then, of course, the sausage, as it is called. If you are in Germany, you should try the sausage and the beer. This is German tradition and pride.

Where to eat, drink, and party in Leipzig

Like many German cities, Leipzig can seduce you with its gastronomy. There are many different restaurants and bars all over the city. You can enjoy traditional German cuisine or order something more modern from Germany. There are also restaurants where you can eat menus from all over the world. So the offer is huge and it is up to you what kind of cuisine you prefer.

Some typical dishes for this city are Gose, Leipziger Allerlei, Leipziger Lerche, and Leipziger Allasch.

Best restaurant in Leipzig

Ratskeller

Drogerie

ZIHNO Kitchen & Bar

C'est la vie

Gaststaette Kollektiv

Bayerischer Bahnhof