Gewandhaus zu Leipzig in Leipzig
The Gewandhaus on Augustusplatz is Leipzig's concert hall: the Great Hall seats 1,900, the Mendelssohn Hall 498, the Augustusplatz tram stop is 4 minutes away and your concert ticket doubles as a travel ticket.
Photo credits
The Gewandhaus on Augustusplatz at dusk, lit up behind the Mendebrunnen fountain, with the ceiling painting visible through the glass front: Ichwarsnur · CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answers
- Seats
- Great Hall 1,900 · Mendelssohn Hall 498
- Address
- Augustusplatz 804109 Leipzig
- Nearest stop
- Augustusplatz, 4 min walk
- From Hauptbahnhof
- 10–15 min on foot
- Parking
- Q-Park Augustusplatz, 4 min walk
- Cloakroom
- Free · no coats or backpacks in the hall
- Start
- Usually 19:30 or 20:00
- Public transport
- Ticket valid 3 hrs before and after the concert
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How many seats does the Gewandhaus Leipzig have?
The Gewandhaus Great Hall has 1,900 seats and the Mendelssohn Hall has 498.
- Great Hall
- 1,900 seats
- Mendelssohn Hall
- 498 seats
- Reverberation, Great Hall
- 2.0–2.1 seconds (occupied)
The Great Hall is a concert hall with amphitheatre-style seating and a reverberation time of about 2.0 to 2.1 seconds when occupied. That makes it larger than the Leipzig Opera on the same square (1,426 seats) but far smaller than Arena Leipzig (12,000) or the Red Bull Arena (42,000).
The Gewandhaus gives seats per hall, not for the whole building; what counts is the hall your event takes place in.
| Venue | Type | Seats | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gewandhaus, Great Hall | Concert hall | 1,900 | Wikipedia, Gewandhaus Leipzig |
| Gewandhaus, Mendelssohn Hall | Chamber music hall | 498 | Wikipedia, Gewandhaus Leipzig |
| Leipzig Opera | Opera house | 1,426 | Wikidata (Leipzig Opera) |
| Arena Leipzig | Arena | 12,000 | Wikidata (Arena Leipzig) |
| Red Bull Arena | Stadium | 42,000 | Wikidata (Red Bull Arena) |
Great Hall seating plan: stalls, galleries and circle
In the Great Hall you sit in the stalls (Parkett), on the organ, orchestra or hall galleries (Emporen) or in the circle (Rang) – all areas rise in tiers around the stage.
The stalls lie in front of the stage: Parkett Mitte has 15 rows with 277 seats, Parkett left and right have 13 rows with 135 seats each. Above them the hall gallery (Saalempore) and, furthest out, the circle (Rang) curve around the stalls in a half circle.
The organ gallery (171 seats) sits behind the stage in front of the organ, and the two orchestra galleries (185 seats each) sit to the left and right of the stage. There you sit beside or behind the orchestra – unlike the stalls, where you face the stage head-on. The Gewandhaus names no “best seats”; which suit you depends on the concert.
- Price groups: for the Große Concerte they currently range from €89 to €6; tickets in price group 5 for the Gewandhaus's own events are not sold in the web shop, only at the Gewandhauskasse.
- Seating plans for the Great Hall and the Mendelssohn Hall are available as PDFs on the Gewandhaus ticket page.
- Your ticket is for a specific seat: latecomers have no claim to their seat once the event has started.
Start, finish and tickets: when does a Gewandhaus concert begin?
The big evening concerts usually start at 19:30 or 20:00, on Sundays often already at 11:00; the Gewandhauskasse box office is open until the start of the concert on concert days.
The Gewandhausorchester's Große Concerte start at 19:30 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and at 11:00 on Sundays; chamber music in the Mendelssohn Hall and readings or guest shows by other promoters also start at 15:00, 18:00, 19:00 or 20:00. The Gewandhaus publishes no fixed doors time. Before the Große Concerte there is an introductory talk in the Schumann-Eck 45 minutes before the start.
The Gewandhaus does not publish finish times. As a guide: for performances with one interval, the programme on the Gewandhaus website quotes two to three hours. With a 19:30 start that means finishing between about 21:30 and 22:30.
- Gewandhauskasse
- Mon–Fri 10:00–18:00, Sat 10:00–14:00 and one hour before the concert
- On concert days
- Box office open until the concert starts
- Tickets
- Gewandhauskasse, web shop, call centre +49 341 1270 280, Eventim, Classictix
- Große Concerte prices
- €6 to €89 depending on price group
- E-tickets and print@home tickets work on your phone: show them at the entrance check.
- Regular concert tickets cannot be exchanged or returned. Tickets with a FLEX price (about 10% extra) can be returned up to 3 hours before the start; you can pass any ticket on or offer it at face value on the Gewandhaus ticket exchange.
- Sold out? For the Gewandhaus's own events you can join the waiting list.
- Discounts are available for visitors up to 29, severely disabled guests and Leipzig-Pass holders; Leipzig-Card holders get 10%. Claim them before you buy, as they cannot be applied afterwards.
- For events by other promoters (hired events) the promoter's terms for exchange and discounts apply.
Cloakroom, bags and house rules at the Gewandhaus
The cloakroom at the Gewandhaus is free; coats, jackets, backpacks and larger bags (handbags excepted) may not be taken into the hall.
Umbrellas and walking sticks (walking aids excepted) also go to the cloakroom. With a valid ticket you hand everything to the staff and receive a cloakroom token. Bags and clothing can be checked at the security check.
There is no fixed dress code. Many guests treat a concert at the Gewandhaus as a special occasion and dress accordingly, for example in a suit or evening wear.
If you arrive after the start, you will be let into the hall at a suitable moment with regard to the concert, but you no longer have a claim to the seat you bought. There is no legal right to late admission.
- Cloakroom
- Free with a valid ticket
- Handbags
- Allowed in the hall
- Backpacks, umbrellas, sticks
- Go to the cloakroom
- Lost cloakroom token
- €3.50 fee
- Insurance
- Cloakroom items insured up to €2,500
- Photography
- Prohibited, also for private use
- Smoking
- Prohibited throughout the building
- Pets
- Not allowed, guide dogs excepted
Food and drink at the Gewandhaus: bars, café and restaurant
Before the concert and in the interval, Michaelis serves you at seven bars on three levels, and the Nikisch-Café offers light dishes and finger food.
The bars serve champagne, cocktails and other drinks. The building also houses the restaurant Stadtpfeiffer (Augustusplatz 8, phone +49 (0)341 2 17 89 20) for a meal before or after the concert.
Gewandhaus vouchers can only be redeemed for concert tickets, not in the catering.
- Bars
- Seven bars on three levels
- Food
- Nikisch-Café: light dishes and finger food
- Restaurant
- Stadtpfeiffer in the building
- Vouchers
- Concert tickets only
Accessibility at the Gewandhaus: wheelchair spaces, lifts and hearing loop
The Gewandhaus has wheelchair spaces in the hall galleries reached by lifts, accessible toilets and an induction hearing loop in both halls.
The wheelchair spaces are in the hall galleries on the left and right near doors M/L and E/F, with a companion seat right next to each. At the spaces near doors I and C the companion sits close by but not directly next to you. How many wheelchair spaces there are depends on the event; the Gewandhauskasse can tell you when you buy.
If you use a hearing aid with a telecoil (T-coil), switch it to induction mode. If you come to a concert alone with a guide dog, say so when you buy your ticket and the staff will suggest suitable seats.
- Wheelchair spaces
- Hall galleries, reached by lift
- Companion seat
- Free for the Gewandhaus's own events; show your severe-disability pass marked “B” at entry
- Toilets
- Accessible, Euro key system
- Hearing loop
- Induction, Great Hall and Mendelssohn Hall
- Guide dogs
- Allowed
Guided tours of the Gewandhaus: dates and price
The Gewandhaus offers public tours for individuals and families; they meet in the Mendelssohn-Foyer and a ticket costs €10.
Professional guides from Leipzig erleben GmbH lead the public tours. You can join with a wheelchair, rollator or pushchair. Groups book directly with Leipzig erleben; school classes and nurseries go through the Gewandhausorchester's music education programme. In the main foyer a permanent exhibition shows models of the three Gewandhaus buildings of 1781, 1884 and 1981.
Getting to the Gewandhaus: tram, train and on foot
The Augustusplatz stop is a four-minute walk away; from Hauptbahnhof it is a 10 to 15 minute walk.
The entrance is on the north side of the building, on Augustusplatz. From the east hall of Hauptbahnhof you walk along Goethestraße straight to the Gewandhaus; from the Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz S-Bahn station, tram lines 8, 10, 11, 14 and 16 run to the Augustusplatz stop.
After the concert you can travel on at night from Augustusplatz: the night lines N10 and N17 (tram) and N3, N8 and N9 (bus) stop there.
Public transport ticket
Concert ticket for the Gewandhaus's own events: valid 3 hrs before and after, LVB network and MDV zone 110
Journey planner
LeipzigMOVE app or phone +49 341 19449
By car
From the south A9, exit Leipzig West; from the north A14 towards Dresden, exit Leipzig Mitte; then follow the signs to the Tiefgarage Augustusplatz
Parking at the Gewandhaus: garages, walking times and prices
The closest is the Q-Park Tiefgarage Augustusplatz with 1,244 spaces, a four-minute walk from the Gewandhaus; it is open around the clock.
| Garage | Address | Walking time | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q-Park Augustusplatz | Augustusplatz 15, 04109 Leipzig | 4 min | €2.20 per started hour; evening rate €11 (18:00–24:00, bookable online) |
| Parkhaus Neumarkt (APCOA) | Neumarkt 30, 04109 Leipzig | 7 min | Daytime €2.60 to €3.00 per started hour; from 19:00 €1.50 per started hour |
- The Gewandhaus also recommends the garages Das lebendige Haus (former main post office), Am Neumarkt (former Karstadt), Burgplatz / Petersbogen, Marktgalerie and Hauptbahnhof Promenaden East and West.
- Burgplatz, Petersbogen and Marktgalerie are each about an 11-minute walk away.
- Q-Park offers an online evening rate (18:00 to 24:00) with a guaranteed space for €11.
- Guests with a severe-disability pass have designated spaces in the Tiefgarage Augustusplatz; from there a lift takes you step-free to the Gewandhaus.
- The prices come from the operators and parking portals and may change.
Contact and box office
Reach the Gewandhauskasse on +49 341 1270 280, by email at [email protected] or in person at Augustusplatz 8.
- Address
- Augustusplatz 8, 04109 Leipzig
- Gewandhauskasse
- Mon–Fri 10:00–18:00, Sat 10:00–14:00 and one hour before the concert
- Box office phone
- +49 341 1270 280
- Box office email
- [email protected]
- Switchboard
- +49 341 12700
- Subscription office
- +49 341 1270 270
- Lost property
- Reception, +49 341 1270 211; kept for four weeks
- Gewandhaus shop
- Main foyer, +49 341 1270 396
Official links
About the Gewandhaus zu Leipzig: concert hall on Augustusplatz
The Gewandhaus zu Leipzig at Augustusplatz 8 is the concert hall of the Gewandhausorchester. It opened with a concert on 8 October 1981 and is the city's third Gewandhaus – and the only concert hall newly built in the GDR.
The building has two concert halls: the Great Hall (Großer Saal) with 1,900 seats and its Schuke organ, and the Mendelssohn Hall (Mendelssohn-Saal) with 498 seats, used mostly for chamber music. The main foyer carries the ceiling painting „Gesang vom Leben“ (Song of Life), the largest contemporary ceiling painting in Europe.
Around 800 events of all kinds take place here every year: symphony concerts, organ, choir and chamber music, but also readings, pop, show and film-music concerts by other promoters. Each event page says who the promoter is and where to get tickets.
- Opened
- 8 October 1981
- Design
- Chief architect Rudolf Skoda and team
- Organ
- Schuke, 92 stops, 6,845 pipes
- Motto
- „Res severa verum gaudium“ above the organ
History of the Gewandhaus: three buildings since 1781
The name comes from the first building: the orchestra first played in the cloth merchants' Gewandhaus on 25 November 1781 and has been called the Gewandhausorchester since. The second house on Beethovenstraße opened in December 1884 and was gutted by fire after bomb damage in February 1944.
The third Gewandhaus on Augustusplatz followed the laying of the foundation stone on 8 November 1977; the opening concert took place on 8 October 1981. The small hall was converted into the Mendelssohn Hall in 1997.
- First Gewandhaus
- First concert on 25 November 1781
- Second Gewandhaus
- December 1884 to February 1944
- Third Gewandhaus
- Opened on 8 October 1981
Photos
Photo credits
The Gewandhaus on Augustusplatz at dusk, lit up behind the Mendebrunnen fountain, with the ceiling painting visible through the glass front: Ichwarsnur · CC BY-SA 4.0
The stage of the Great Hall with chairs and music stands set up for the orchestra, the organ above and the tiered seating around it: vxla · CC BY 2.0
The foyer of the Gewandhaus with the large painting „Gesang vom Leben“ behind the tall glass front: Nogo · Public domain
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Frequently asked questions about the Gewandhaus Leipzig
How many seats does the Great Hall at the Gewandhaus Leipzig have?
The Great Hall has 1,900 seats. The Mendelssohn Hall in the same building has 498 seats and is used mainly for chamber music.
Where is the best place to sit at the Gewandhaus?
The Gewandhaus names no best seats. In the stalls you face the stage head-on (Parkett Mitte: 277 seats), the hall gallery and circle rise above in tiers, and the organ and orchestra galleries sit behind and beside the orchestra. Große Concerte price groups range from €6 to €89.
Where can I find the Gewandhaus seating plan?
Seating plans for the Great Hall and the Mendelssohn Hall are on the Gewandhaus ticket page as PDFs; the areas of the Great Hall with seats and rows are also listed in the seating plan section on this page.
What time does a Gewandhaus concert start and finish?
The Große Concerte usually start at 19:30 from Thursday to Saturday and at 11:00 on Sundays; other events often start at 20:00. The Gewandhaus publishes no finish times: at two to three hours with an interval, a concert starting at 19:30 ends roughly between 21:30 and 22:30.
When do the doors open at the Gewandhaus?
The Gewandhaus names no fixed doors time. The box office is open until the concert starts on concert days, and on Saturdays also from one hour before; before the Große Concerte an introductory talk starts in the Schumann-Eck 45 minutes ahead.
Where can I park at the Gewandhaus?
The closest is the Q-Park Tiefgarage Augustusplatz (1,244 spaces, 4 minutes on foot, open around the clock, €2.20 per started hour). Parkhaus Neumarkt is 7 minutes away.
How do I get to the Gewandhaus by tram or train?
Get off at the Augustusplatz stop (trams 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and others, 4 minutes on foot). From Hauptbahnhof it is a 10 to 15 minute walk along Goethestraße, and from the Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz S-Bahn station 8 minutes.
Is a Gewandhaus concert ticket also a public transport ticket?
Yes, concert tickets for the Gewandhaus's own events and subscription passes count as a fare for 3 hours before and after the concert in the Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe network and MDV zone 110.
Is there a dress code at the Gewandhaus?
No, there is no fixed dress code. Many guests dress up for a concert, for example in a suit or evening wear, but you do not have to.
Does the Gewandhaus cloakroom cost anything, and can I bring a backpack?
The cloakroom is free with a valid ticket. Backpacks, coats, jackets, umbrellas and larger bags are not allowed in the hall; handbags are.
Where can I eat and drink before a concert at the Gewandhaus?
Michaelis runs seven bars on three levels before the concert and in the interval, plus the Nikisch-Café with light dishes and finger food. The restaurant Stadtpfeiffer is also in the building.
Is the Gewandhaus wheelchair accessible?
Yes: there are wheelchair spaces in the hall galleries reached by lifts, accessible toilets and an induction hearing loop in both halls. Wheelchair users get a free companion seat at the Gewandhaus's own events.
Are there guided tours of the Gewandhaus?
Yes, public tours for individuals and families start in the Mendelssohn-Foyer and cost €10; groups and school classes book separately.
Where do I get tickets, and is there a box office on the night?
Tickets are available at the Gewandhauskasse (Augustusplatz 8), in the web shop, by phone on +49 341 1270 280 and through Eventim and Classictix. The box office is open until the concert starts on concert days.
What happens if I arrive late for a concert?
After the start you are let into the hall at a suitable moment but no longer have a claim to your seat, and there is no legal right to late admission.
Can I return Gewandhaus tickets?
Regular tickets cannot be exchanged or returned. Only tickets with a FLEX price can be returned up to 3 hours before the start; any ticket can be passed on or offered on the ticket exchange.
Is there a hotel next to the Gewandhaus?
The Radisson Blu hotel stands on the east side of Augustusplatz, where the Gewandhaus is also located.
Sources: Gewandhaus: the building (November 7, 2026) · Wikipedia: Gewandhaus (Leipzig) (November 7, 2026) · Great Hall seating plan: description of the seating areas (November 7, 2026) · Gewandhaus: directions & parking (November 7, 2026) · Q-Park Augustusplatz (November 7, 2026) · Gewandhaus: ticket information (November 7, 2026) · Gewandhaus: terms (cloakroom, admission, recordings) (November 7, 2026) · Michaelis at the Gewandhaus (November 7, 2026) · Gewandhaus: accessibility (November 7, 2026) · Gewandhaus: guided tours (November 7, 2026) · Gewandhaus: contact (November 7, 2026)