How far can you get with €25 in Südvorstadt? Short answer: Further than you think. Long answer: We took an afternoon, strolled down the KarLi, let ourselves drift and consistently listened to our gut feeling. In the end, we had a photo strip in our pockets, sticky fingers from the ice, wind in our faces from the Fockeberg and... a budget left over. Here is our tour to copy.

We start at Vielfach at Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 66, a store where you "just pop in" and then suddenly find yourself lost forever among cards, prints, ceramics, jewelry and Leipzig trinkets. Much is local, some international, all lovingly curated. It's exactly this mix that makes gift ideas so easy. We opt for a pretty little notebook. It keeps the budget soft and we already have something in our hands.

Just a few hundred meters further on, you face a real test of character: the photo booth at the Volkshaus. Go in, turn on the light, four clicks, a strip - and that special mixture of "I can't do anything with my hands" and "Why did I laugh like a cartoon villain in the third picture?". The strip is typically priced at around 3 euros. A great souvenir, can be spotted 24/7 and the perfect proof that you were really there.

Before you head uphill, think about stocking up on provisions: The range at Riemannstraße 1 is the pragmatic answer to "snacks + drink, but at a fair price please". Many products come onto the conveyor belt as best-before bargains, saving you money and resources. We grab a cold drink and a snack. Just the kind of food that makes the hill easier afterwards. Good to know: Open from 7 a.m. on weekdays, until 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Now for the mini-hike: Fockeberg. A post-war mountain of rubble, today one of the city's most rewarding vantage points. At the top there's the full Leipzig panorama, below the alluvial forest, in between an asphalted ascent path of approx. 850 meters - more of a walk than a hike, but with a high luck-per-sweat-drop factor. To put it in perspective: the hill itself rises about 40-45 meters above the surrounding area, the official altitude is 153.3 m above sea level - feels like "far away from the hustle and bustle, close to the city". And best of all: it costs exactly 0 euros.

Down from the mountain, over to dessert: ice cream distillery. Homemade ice cream, often with exciting varieties ranging from classics to "with a twist". You'll soon realize why there's regularly a good-humoured queue here. Opening hours change seasonally, so it's best to check online shortly beforehand. We roughly calculate a scoop at around 2 euros, varying slightly depending on the variety and cup size. Tastes like summer, fits the budget.

And how tight is it now with the 25 euros? Surprisingly relaxed. If you stick to a ticket or a small goodie at Vielfach, take the photo booth with you, get a snack + cold drink at Im Angebot, enjoy the Fockeberg for free and plan an ice cream at the end, you'll be comfortably under the mark. We ended up spending €22.50. Of course, it depends on your choice. But the most expensive item of the afternoon is the view, and luckily that remains priceless (in the best sense). Prices can fluctuate seasonally; when things get critical, the simplest rule of saving money helps: first look, then treat yourself.
And 25 euros is not only a nice budget for an afternoon in the southern suburbs, but also the starting credit that young people get with the GiroFlex account from Sparkasse Leipzig. The account makes it easy to pay for snacks, vending machine strips and ice cream scoops contactlessly - and anyone under the age of 26 also gets a few practical benefits.

This is the most important information about the account:

  • egal, ob Kind, Schüler, Studi oder Azubi – das Jugendkonto ist kostenlos und passt sich deinen Bedürfnissen an
  • 2 Sparkassen-Cards zur Bargeldauszahlung am Geldautomaten und Bezahlen im Handel (inkl. Wunsch-PIN)
  • vergünstigte  Kartenprodukte (Kredit- und Debitkarte) von Mastercard und Visa Card mit attraktiven Leistungen zubuchbar
  • 25€ Startguthaben 
  • regionaler Partner in Leipzig und Umgebung

(You can find all details, conditions and any promotional terms and conditions directly at Sparkasse Leipzig).

ALL INFORMATION ABOUT THE GIROFLEX ACCOUNT OF SPARKASSE LEIPZIG CAN BE FOUND HERE

If you're retracing the tour, feel free to be flexible with the order: ice first, then mountain? That's okay too. The main thing is that you give the southern suburb an afternoon to show itself off - between beautiful little things, analog photos, inexpensive snacks, far-reaching views and a ball that makes everything go round. With 25 euros, it's pretty easy. And the feeling of having taken a short vacation in your own city is free on top.

This content has been machine translated.