Cottbus

Travel Guide
Cottbus featuring a lake or waterhole, landscape views and forest scenes
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.

Novum Hotel Seegraben Cottbus
Novum Hotel Seegraben Cottbus
Am Seegraben 8, Cottbus, BB
The price is €69 per night from 29 Mar to 30 Mar
€69
per night
29 Mar - 30 Mar
Stay at this hotel in Cottbus. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and onsite parking. Popular attractions Cottbus Zoo and Cottbus City Museum are located nearby. Discover ...
7.8/10 Good! (208 reviews)
"Very good"

Reviewed on 16 Apr 2023

Novum Hotel Seegraben Cottbus
Lindner Hotel Cottbus
Lindner Hotel Cottbus
4 out of 5
Berliner Platz / Karl-Marx-Straße 68, Cottbus, BB
Fully refundable
The price is €90 per night from 31 Mar to 1 Apr
€90
per night
31 Mar - 1 Apr
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Cottbus. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and room service. Popular attractions Stadthalle Cottbus and Lindenpforte ...
8/10 Very Good! (318 reviews)
"Modern business hotel with a generous breakfast buffet, underground parking and a short walk to the old town Cottbus. Short drive to nearby Puekler Park estate."

Reviewed on 14 Jun 2023

Lindner Hotel Cottbus
Radisson Blu Hotel, Cottbus
Radisson Blu Hotel, Cottbus
4 out of 5
Vetschauer Str. 12, Cottbus, BB
The price is €76 per night from 21 Apr to 22 Apr
€76
per night
21 Apr - 22 Apr
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Cottbus. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Cottbus City Museum and Cottbus State Theatre ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (402 reviews)
"It would be nice if ice was available for guests. And more electrical plugs near the beds for CPAP machines, phones, watches, etc."

Reviewed on 11 Sep 2023

Radisson Blu 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.
6 cottages ideal for family gatherings near the Spreewald.
6 cottages ideal for family gatherings near the Spreewald.
Lübbenau/Spreewald
Stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Lübbenau/Spreewald. Enjoy WiFi, a sauna, and onsite parking. Popular attractions Spreewelten Bad and Haus für Mensch ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (41 reviews)
Cute cottage
"Very cute but got 24 mosquito bites in 1 night. Lots of activity on property."

Reviewed on 19 Aug 2018

6 cottages ideal for family gatherings near the Spreewald.
Bungalow near the lake
Bungalow near the lake
Schwielochsee
Stay at this vacation home in Schwielochsee. Enjoy onsite parking, a garden, and fenced yards. Popular attractions Badestrand Jessern and Badestelle Mochow are ...
8/10 Very Good! (23 reviews)
Mini - Idyll
"Wir waren über Silvester da, um dem Berliner Horror mit unseren Hunden zu entfliehen. Das Häuschen ist sehr geschmackvoll eingerichtet, sehr gemütlich und es fehlt an absolut nichts. Auch im Winter war es gemütlich warm. Das Grundstück ist eingezäunt und auch die Hunde haben sich sehr wohlgefühlt. ..."

Reviewed on 23 Jan 2024

Bungalow near the lake
Attractive semi-detached house in a good location to the Spreewald
Attractive semi-detached house in a good location to the Spreewald
Vetschau/Spreewald
Stay at this vacation home in Vetschau/Spreewald. Enjoy WiFi, onsite parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Wendish-German double church and Slavic Fort ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (27 reviews)
Es war perfekt
"Die supersaubere und mit viel Liebe und Geschmack praktisch eingerichtete Wohnung hat uns sehr gut gefallen. Besonders schön war, dass das Grundstück in sich abgeschlossen ist und unsere Hündin mit der Hündin der Vermieter, die gleich gegenüber in Sichtweite in ihrem Haus wohnen, eine Spielpartner ..."

Reviewed on 3 Jan 2024

Attractive semi-detached house in a good location to the Spreewald
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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