Leipzig is a growing town, with a similarly expanding array of festivals and events that make it a hub for Germany’s alternative culture. From Indie music festivals to the world’s largest Goth celebration, Leipzig’s Baroque architecture buzzes with a significantly less traditional crowd. That said, Leipzig residents are very proud of their cultural roots, and Bach and Mendelssohn are enshrined at every cafe and street corner. Thanks to these two composers, classical music is big here, with church performances offering musically inclined travelers world-class concerts for free. Architecturally, Leipzig is stunning. Its ornate facades and cobblestone streets, often completely devoted to pedestrian traffic, inspired Goethe to call this town a “little Paris.” In warm weather, you can enjoy the scenery under restaurant umbrellas that cover many of the smaller streets. And, of course, there’s more to German history than the evolution of the modern brew. Try educating yourself about DDR history in one of Leipzig’s many museums that chronicle German’s era as part of the Socialist east, from the propaganda to the secret police.

Oh wait! We just re-read that last sentence and realized we were dangerously close to discounting the importance of German beer. Bring in a keg, we have some atonement to do! Leipzig’s university, Leipzig Universität, should help us with that; it attracts young people from all over Germany to enjoy an education in a city with a low cost of living, and student-filled bars and clubs all week long. So wash down all that culture and history with some inexpensive brews. It’s good for the digestion.