Cottbus & Lower Lusatia: Insider Tips from a Local

Tips and Info for Your Vacation in Cottbus and Lower Lusatia

Before we get to our interview, here’s the most important info for planning your trip to Cottbus and Lower Lusatia.

Location

Cottbus is in eastern Germany, in the state of Brandenburg, close to the border with Poland.

It’s Brandenburg’s second-largest city after Potsdam.

From Berlin or Dresden, you can reach Cottbus by car in under two hours.

Prague is about 300 kilometers away.

Our Hotel Recommendations

Here are our hotel picks for Cottbus and Lower Lusatia at every budget:

Travel Guides

Prefer to travel with something in hand? Here are our favorite travel guides for Cottbus and the surrounding area:

Spreewald (with Cottbus): This guide gives you a solid overview of the Spreewald region — covering all the highlights, hotels, restaurants, and cafés, plus a dedicated chapter on Cottbus.

Spreewald (with Cottbus)
52 Small and Large Escapes in Lower Lusatia & Spreewald: Looking for a varied itinerary? This guide is packed with day-trip ideas and multi-day tour suggestions for the Spreewald and Lower Lusatia.

52 Small and Large Escapes in Spreewald and Lower Lusatia

Interview with a Local: The Best Insider Tips for Cottbus and Lower Lusatia

Our Expert

Hi, my name is Florian and I’m a Lusatia native and hobby photographer.

I’m always out with my camera at the ready — not just when traveling, but also trying to capture the most beautiful places in my home region.

I won’t claim to know every last corner of Lusatia, but I can give you a pretty good picture of what there is to experience here.

If you’d like to see photos from my travels and my home region, you’re welcome to follow me on Instagram or visit my blog.

Lusatia in Three Words

New Beginnings | Freedom | Wanderlust

Why Go There?

Lusatia is an incredibly fascinating region that is in a state of constant change.

Historic upheavals, demographic shifts, and a continuously evolving landscape — nature is reclaiming the land piece by piece after decades of open-pit mining, creating new habitats for animals and people alike.

And all of this is just a stone’s throw from Berlin or Dresden.

Travelers often focus on the major cities in the east, but the countryside in between has so much to offer too — above all, a fantastic contrast to the hustle and bustle that comes with sightseeing in Berlin.

So: get out of the city and into a region with (sometimes slightly hidden) charm!

What Makes Lusatia Unique

I could of course mention the Spreewald, which is a fantastic day-trip destination — and we’ll come back to that.

But what’s truly unique are the lying Eiffel Towers of Lusatia: the so-called conveyor bridges, known as F60.

As monuments of industrial heritage deeply rooted in the region — and its past (and still ongoing) lignite mining — they’re both deeply impressive and somewhat ambivalent.

One of these conveyor bridges can actually be visited and walked through. It stands at Bergheider See near Lichterfeld.

There you’ll also find another unique feature of Lusatia: floating houses! There are quite a few of them by now.

At Gräbendorfer See, a diving school has even set up shop in one of these houses. And at Geierswalder See, you can actually spend the night in one of these floating houses. Don’t worry — you won’t get seasick, since they’re securely anchored.

Sights and Activities in Cottbus and Lower Lusatia

Must-Sees

The old conveyor bridges are absolutely worth seeing. But you can see these giants not only in their now-idle state. The mining tourism association excursio offers tours into the active open-pit mine, where you can watch these conveyor bridges (still) in action.

Lignite mining is a hotly debated topic, but the region was profoundly shaped by the energy industry and it remains a core part of its identity.

For a completely different side of Lower Lusatia, the Spreewald offers truly unique nature and scenery — ideally explored by paddling along the waterways in a canoe, so you can take your time and soak it all in.

For those with a taste for princely living, don’t miss Branitz Park with its Palace in Cottbus or the park in Bad Muskau — you can walk in the footsteps of Prince Hermann von Pückler-Muskau and stroll through his stunning landscaped grounds.

On Rainy Days

They say there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing — but on a gray day, a cozy indoor option never hurts either.

For climbing fans, check out the indoor bouldering gym Klunker in Cottbus, which opened in 2020. Definitely worth a visit.

For other active options, there are Jump Houses in Cottbus and Hoyerswerda, or you can head to the Sportpark Cottbus for a game of tennis.

If you’d rather relax, the Burger Spreetherme is a wonderful place to unwind and enjoy the sauna.

Traveling with kids? The Spreewelten-Bad in Lübbenau offers more variety — a real highlight for the little ones are the penguins, whose enclosure is integrated directly into the pool area so you can basically swim alongside them!

With Kids

Around Cottbus, there’s the Erlebnispark Teichland, which offers a great mix for kids: a summer toboggan run, a maze, and all kinds of other entertainment.

When temperatures rise and the lakes warm up to a comfortable swimming temperature, Senftenberger See also has a fun new addition for all ages: a floating water sports park.

Right next door, there are great camping options and vacation homes for families at the Familienpark Senftenberger See — it’s at the top of my list for our next trip.

A piece of history awaits in the village of Dissen, north of Cottbus, where a local history museum and an authentically reconstructed Slavic settlement take you on a journey back to the Middle Ages.

A little further off the beaten path, you’ll find the completely secret world of Turisede, where you could easily spend an entire week with the kids — honestly, it warrants a full vacation on its own.

Lusatia in Winter

Hmm, it depends. Reliable snow isn’t guaranteed here, and the days tend to be gray and overcast. Things are fairly quiet this time of year, and many restaurants — especially around the Lausitzer Seenland — are closed during the winter months.

That said, Lusatia is still a great place to decompress from everyday stress, especially if you’re coming from a big city.

A cozy vacation rental away from all the hustle and bustle does the trick — grab a good book, light the fireplace, and you can easily spend a few days here very contentedly.

But when winter really hits, a trip to the Spreewald is absolutely worth it.

When the many waterways freeze over, you can ice skate where canoes and paddleboats crisscross in summer — or pull the little ones along on a sled.

And even when the waterways aren’t yet frozen but a white winter landscape already blankets the scenery, mulled wine boat rides and the Christmas market in the Spreewald village of Lehde are a wonderful way to linger and relax.

For Relaxation

Aside from the rainy-day options above, here’s our ideal chill-out day in the region:

• rent a rowboat or pedal boat in the morning at Senftenberger Hafen (e.g., from Voigtmarine)
• cruise around Senftenberger See or simply relax in the boat
• take a refreshing dip in the water
• cruise through the canal to Geierswalder See
• enjoy a nice dinner at the lighthouse on Geierswalder See
• cruise back in a relaxed mood at sunset

That’s what a perfect relaxation day in Lower Lusatia looks like. Give it a try!

Best Viewpoint

Lusatia is pretty flat — you could almost see for miles from a molehill.

But for a truly scenic vantage point, head to the Rusty Nail.

This landmark on the Sornoer Canal — officially an observation tower — gives you a great overview of the Lausitzer Seenland.

Best Photo Spot

The Rusty Nail also has a lot to offer architecturally and provides an incredible number of perspectives for photography.

For landscapes, the former military training grounds at Reicherskreuzer Heide are a top pick. In autumn, when the heather is in full bloom, it creates a striking contrast against the black-and-white birch trees.

No longer a secret, but still well worth a photographic detour, is the Rakotz Bridge in Kromlauer Park.

Note: the bridge may not be walked on — it was recently extensively restored, and it would be a shame to ignore that restriction. For photography, the view from the water or the bank is better anyway.

Craziest Activity

At Halbendorfer See there’s a wakeboarding facility where you can really let loose.

Something truly wild you can do in Cottbus — and that I’d otherwise only associate with the mountains: paragliding!

A winch tow facility here lets daring paragliders soar up to 400 meters in the air, with a fantastic panoramic view completely unobstructed by any mountains.

On clear days, you can supposedly see hundreds of kilometers in every direction — all the way to Berlin or the Saxon mountains of Upper Lusatia.

Best Event of the Year

More and more festivals are popping up in Lusatia. The Berlin scene has discovered the unspoiled nature here and puts on some impressive events on various weekends throughout the year.

These hipster festivals (and I mean that in the best way) include the Feel Festival, the Artlake Festival, and Wilde Möhre.

Each one is unique in its own way. Feel and Artlake are especially distinctive because they take place at Bergheider See near the F60, creating a temporary utopia on the recultivated mining spoil heaps where you can lose yourself for several days.

Wilde Möhre is more intimate and family-friendly.

But my personal recommendation here is the Elbenwald Festival.

The well-known shop for nerdy merchandise from popular film, TV, and gaming brands has its roots in Cottbus. Under the motto Homecoming, the first Elbenwald Festival took place in the summer of 2021 right here in Cottbus.

I hope it establishes itself as a permanent fixture in the local festival scene — it offers not just music but also a colorful convention with readings, cosplay, workshops, and more.

Where to Stroll?

There are few large cities in Lusatia. As the only major city, Cottbus has a really attractive historic center with the Sprem shopping strip and plenty of cafés and bars to linger in.

A stroll along the Spree River is also very pleasant.

In Senftenberg, a walk along the city harbor and the waterfront promenade is well worth your time.

Food and Drink in Cottbus and Lower Lusatia

Local Specialty

Regional culinary traditions in Germany often come with a certain old-fashioned flair — and as a Lusatian, I’ll admit I’m not the biggest fan of our local specialties myself.

A classic staple of Lusatian cuisine is jacket potatoes with quark and linseed oil.

If you have a sweet tooth, go for Plinsen with sugar and applesauce — there are lots of variations, including yeast Plinsen, quark Plinsen, and buckwheat Plinsen.

Personally, I think the plain original ones taste best, but everyone should find out for themselves which type of Plinsen person they are.

Favorite Restaurants

The Cottbus restaurant scene has some really great options.

The first thing that comes to mind is the Quartier im Eberthof. The concept is brilliant: five different establishments all sharing one courtyard, working together.

These include the South American Belessa, the Asian Kisu, Sweet Candy (for those with a sweet tooth), plus the cocktail bar El Chico and the cigar lounge Locos.

On a warm summer evening you can mix and match, order whatever you feel like, and enjoy the night to live music in the courtyard.

Personally, I love the Asian fusion cuisine at Kisu — especially the seared tuna steak.

Beyond Cottbus, there’s said to be a real local favorite in the small village of Proschim that I haven’t visited yet myself: Schmeckerlein.

Best Ice Cream

Head to the Cottbus Altmarkt, where Da Capo offers an excellent selection of flavors — and the ice cream sundaes are truly outstanding.

If you prefer a more modern take, try the handmade organic ice cream at Kännchenklein. It’s self-serve, and you can tap your own ice cream at six stations and decorate it with all kinds of colorful toppings.

The flavors change from day to day, and there are even plans to offer unusual, one-of-a-kind flavors on a specific day of the week that you won’t find anywhere else. The perfect spot for adventurous ice cream lovers.

Experiencing Nature in Lusatia

Best Swimming Spots with Kids

The Lausitzer Seenland with its many lakes has plenty of great swimming spots.

Chief among them is Senftenberger See, currently the best-developed lake for swimmers.

At Strand Großkoschen you’ll also find the best spots for families with young children.

If you prefer something quieter, you can find a peaceful spot at one of the other lakes — just check in advance which ones are open for swimming, as some are still in the process of being filled.

Outside the Lausitzer Seenland, Gräbendorfer See and Großsee are also great options for swimming with kids.

Most Beautiful Hike

Wow, that’s actually a tough one — it really depends on what you’re looking for in a hike.

It rarely gets truly hilly, but there are a few gentle slopes here and there. Here are some spots I can recommend:

• the Calauer Schweiz
• guided hikes in the Muskauer Faltenbogen
• the Lieberoser Heide
• the Spreewald and the moorland around Raddusch
• hikes around Felixsee and the Reuthener Moor

Most Beautiful Cycling Route

There’s a seemingly endless network of bike paths stretching across the entire region.

Personally, I love cycling through the Lausitzer Seenland and watching the transformation of the landscape and the slowly filling lakes.

A great starting point is Großräschen. Arriving by train, you can first make a detour to the IBA Terraces, then follow well-maintained bike paths toward Sedlitz and Senftenberg.

From Senftenberger See you can continue to Geierswalder See and ride along the various connecting canals that link the Lusatian lakes to one another.

Where to Stay in Cottbus and Lower Lusatia

Unique Hotel

Since I live here, I honestly don’t know the local hotel scene all that well.

That said, the Spreewaldtherme Hotel offers an idyllic setting that’s ideal for relaxation — and the breakfast buffet is seriously good.

Best Base

Since the interesting places aren’t all clustered in one spot, I recommend staying mobile regardless of where you base yourself.

Whether by car, camper van, train, or bike, always factor in some travel time to reach your destinations.

For those who love exploring a city on foot, Cottbus is the top choice.

For cyclists, orienting yourself toward the Lausitzer Seenland makes more sense.

Campgrounds are also a great option for exploring the region from multiple spots — and for families, the Familienpark at Senftenberger See is a fantastic address.