Cottbus

Travel Guide

Photo provided by German National Tourist Board
Photo provided by German National Tourist Board
Photo provided by German National Tourist Board
Photo "Cottbus" by Denis Kurkov (CC BY) / Cropped from original
Photo "Cottbus" by Sane (page does not exist) (CC BY-SA) / Cropped from original

A university city on the banks of the River Spree, close to the Polish border, Cottbus is a little-known delight.

Close to the German border with Poland, the university city of Cottbus in the state of Brandenburg once made its name as a regional center for wool manufacturing. Today it serves as a major railway junction. This is a fitting role for a settlement that emerged originally as an intersection across two major trade routes: east-west from Silesia to Central Germany and north-south from Dresden to Frankfurt.

The town center today is renowned for the colorful facades of its quaint streets. You can very easily wander the old town and view local landmarks such as the Spremberg Tower, a 13th-century tower that was once part of the city’s walls and remains home to the civic emblem of the city.

To the west of the city center, take a trip to Schillerplatz, once a cattle market, but now the site of a remarkable art nouveau building that houses Cottbus’s foremost theater. You can also take in a show at the Cottbus Staatstheater, designed by Berlin architect Bernhard Sehring and opened in 1908. It has plays of all kinds, but has a particular reputation as a bastion for lively socially relevant dramas.

For those interested in the history of Cottbus, and of the Sorbian minority whose heritage is closely linked to it, take in the Wendisches Museum and Lodka cultural center.

Among the region’s major attractions are its acres of green space. Outside the city gates a green belt of parkland has emerged, making it the perfect spot for a stroll. Walk through the Spreeauenpark, the City Zoo, and the renowned Branitz Landscape Park, created by Prince Hermann von Pückler-Muskau. The site is strongly inspired by English design, with a serpentine lake as the centerpiece of a series of waterways and a light iron kiosk and several garden spaces.

Further attractions can found outside the city center. Venture nine miles (fifteen kilometers) from Cottbus to find yourself in Spree Forest, a protected UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1991. The shady spot is dotted with small waterways and old farmhouses, which makes it an enchanting place to spend a day.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Cottbus
Radisson Blu Hotel, Cottbus
Vetschauer Str. 12, Cottbus, BB
$94 nightly
The price is $100 total per night from Jul 13 to Jul 14
$100 total
Jul 13 - Jul 14
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this spa hotel in Cottbus. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and 2 restaurants. Popular attractions Cottbus City Museum and Cottbus State Theatre ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (494 reviews)
"In general vary good"

Reviewed on May 16, 2025

Radisson Blu Hotel, Cottbus
Best Western Plus Parkhotel & Spa Cottbus
Best Western Plus Parkhotel & Spa Cottbus
Liebermannstr. 27, Cottbus, Germany
$112 nightly
The price is $120 total per night from Jul 27 to Jul 28
$120 total
Jul 27 - Jul 28
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this spa hotel in Cottbus. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Branitz Park and Stadion der Freundschaft ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (120 reviews)
"Restaurant was terrible and there was no drinking water available in the hotel"

Reviewed on Jun 22, 2025

Best Western Plus Parkhotel & Spa Cottbus
Sorat Hotel Cottbus
Sorat Hotel Cottbus
4.5 out of 5
Schlosskirchplatz 2, Cottbus, BB
$117 nightly
The price is $126 total per night from Aug 6 to Aug 7
$126 total
Aug 6 - Aug 7
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Cottbus. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Popular attractions Spremberger Tower and Brandenburgisches ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (292 reviews)
"Absolutely brilliant customer service: helped us find a taxi at late notice to drive us into Poland when our train was cancelled at late notice"

Reviewed on Mar 8, 2025

Sorat Hotel Cottbus
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Garden house in the cucumber district of Lübbenau
Garden house in the cucumber district of Lübbenau
Lübbenau/Spreewald
Stay at this vacation home in Lübbenau/Spreewald. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and patios. Popular attractions Haus für Mensch und Natur and Spreewelten Bad are ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (58 reviews)
Süsse kleine Wohnung
"Wir hatten eine schöne und erholsame Woche in Lübbenau auch dank unserer Unterkunft. Wir wurden freundlich empfangen und rum geführt. Wenn man das Grundstück betritt,stehst man erstmal in einer grünen Oase.Es gibt die Möglichkeiten im Garten zu grillen oder sich auf dem Dach der Unterkunft zu sonnen. ..."

Reviewed on May 31, 2025

Garden house in the cucumber district of Lübbenau
6 cottages ideal for family gatherings near the Spreewald.
6 cottages ideal for family gatherings near the Spreewald.
Lübbenau/Spreewald
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Lübbenau/Spreewald. Enjoy a sauna, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Spreewelten Bad ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (51 reviews)
Cute cottage
"Very cute but got 24 mosquito bites in 1 night. Lots of activity on property."

Reviewed on Aug 19, 2018

6 cottages ideal for family gatherings near the Spreewald.
Enjoy silence in the house Stork's Nest right on the water
Enjoy silence in the house Stork's Nest right on the water
Lübbenau OT Leipe
Stay at this cottage in Lübbenau/Spreewald. Enjoy cable/satellite TV service, an in-room coffeemaker, and in-room fireplaces. Popular attractions Freilandmuseum ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (33 reviews)
Super erholsam
"Kleines süßes Häuschen direkt am Fließ gelegen."

Reviewed on May 13, 2025

Enjoy silence in the house Stork's Nest right on the water
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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