Day Trip from Berlin to Cottbus: What to do in Cottbus in One Day

Cottbus is a little under the radar if you don’t live nearby, but this town is a great option for a day trip from Berlin. In this post I’ll tell you why you might want to take a day trip to Cottbus from Berlin, how to get from Berlin to Cottbus, and what to do in Cottbus in one day.

Taking a day trip to Cottbus will give you a glimpse at a different side of Germany. Most of the country is not like Berlin, so it’s helpful to travel around to other towns and cities for another perspective.

Why should you take a day trip from Berlin to Cottbus

Berlin is fantastic, but if you have several days, it might be nice to see someplace different. Cottbus is a small city in Brandenburg with a charming old town, and it’s not too far from Berlin.

There’s plenty to do in Cottbus to fill your day, and though you could spend longer, I felt like one day in Cottbus was plenty of time to see the highlights.

While exploring Cottbus, you can see several churches, including one that’s actually now a synagogue. There are a few old towers, and you can climb one of them for views of Cottbus.

The city has culture, history, and art museums, plus an excellent theater. It’s also a great city for admiring architecture and wandering through parks.

You can also check out the palace and the giant park it sits within. And there are pyramids in the park…what? Yes, it’s true.

This charming town won’t disappoint if you choose to take a day trip from Berlin to Cottbus.

Most of the sights are in the Old Town, so it’s easy to explore on foot. Cottbus does have trams and buses, so if you’re going a little farther, you do have a transport option.

>>Looking for someplace even smaller with more nature to explore? Consider a day trip to the Spreewald from Berlin.

How to get from Berlin to Cottbus by train

Getting around in Germany is pretty simple using Deutsche Bahn, and getting from Berlin to Cottbus for your day trip is no exception.

Cottbus is about 130km (just over 80 miles) from the center of Berlin. To get from Berlin to Cottbus by train, it only takes about an hour and 15 minutes, though that is from the Ostkreuz train station.

Normally the RE2 train runs through Berlin, stopping at several stations including Berlin Central station, Friedrichstr., Alexanderplatz, and Ostkreuz. However, when I visited Cottbus, and still as I write this, the RE2 begins its journey from Berlin Lichtenberg and stops at Ostkreuz before leaving the city.

If this is still the case when you take your day trip to Cottbus, you’ll need to make your way to Lichtenberg or Ostkreuz to catch the RE2. Either station is easy to reach, but decide which one makes more sense depending on where you’re staying in Berlin.

From Berlin Lichtenberg to Cottbus, the RE2 train takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. It runs once an hour, so plan accordingly.

A normal ticket costs 15.50 euros one way, but it might be a better deal to buy a Berlin-Brandenburg ticket. This ticket is 33 euros, it’s valid for 24 hours, and up to 5 people can travel on one ticket.

>>Check prices and train schedules on the Deutsche Bahn website.

I also looked at Flixbus options since the bus can be a great option for Berlin budget travelers. However, all options for Berlin to Cottbus by bus left in the wee hours of the morning, around 3:30am.

Flixbus is worth looking into in case their options change in the future, and they’re great for other routes.

How to get from Cottbus Hbf to the Old Town

You’re likely to do most of your sightseeing in the Old Town, and luckily it’s not far from the train station. If you’d like to walk it’s an easy 1.2km (less than a mile) journey to the southwest edge of the old town.

Or you can hop on tram 1 or 4 for a few stops, and get out at the Stadtpromenade stop. If you are traveling on a Berlin-Brandenburg ticket, this covers local trams and buses in Cottbus.

Tram 2 also leaves from the main train station, and you can get out at the Altmarkt stop to start your day trip to Cottbus.

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Things to do in Cottbus in One Day

Cottbus makes for a fun addition to your Berlin itinerary, and you’ll get the chance to explore a smaller city in Germany. There are plenty of things to do in Cottbus on a day trip from Berlin.

Here’s what to do in Cottbus so you can choose which activities interest you.

Cottbus Old Town

Start your day in the Old Town. It’s mostly pedestrian, and you’ll enjoy meandering through the cobbled streets and soaking up the history.

You’ll find several churches, lots of shops and restaurants, colorful buildings, and overall, a charming atmosphere.

Spremberger Tower

In the southwest corner of the Old Town is the Spremberger Tower. This tower dates back to the 13th or 14th century, and it’s a great place for views of Cottbus from above.

The entrance is cheap – just 2 euros when I was there – and there are 131 stairs to climb to reach the viewing platform. Unfortunately there is no elevator.

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Brandenburgisches Apothekenmuseum

Visiting the Pharmacy Museum of Brandenburg is another interesting thing to do in Cottbus. This pharmacy is more than 400 years old, and you can see all kinds of interesting things that were once used for treating ailments, even up through the days of East Germany.

Tours are only offered in German.

Museum of Modern Art

For art enthusiasts, the Museum of Modern Art in Cottbus may interest you. Here you’ll find an impressive collection of contemporary art, and the museum is located in a former diesel engine power station.

Puschkinpark

On the north end of the Cottbus Old Town, you’ll find Puschkinpark, and long and pretty park. Go for a walk here, and at the southwestern end of the park, you’ll find the old city walls.

Münzturm and Old City Walls

The Coin Tower, where money was once minted, stands among the city’s old medieval walls. Both are pretty cool to see since they’ve survived many centuries.

Goethepark

Cottbus is not short on parks. Take a stroll through Goethe Park near the Museum of Modern Art on the edge of the old town.

Altmarkt

The Altmarkt is the Old Town’s main square, and it’s rather large. Take a few minutes to admire the beauty of the buildings that frame the square, and if you’re hungry, stop for a meal.

Stadtmuseum Cottbus

For history buffs wondering what to do in Cottbus, consider the Stadtmuseum Cottbus. This is where you can learn about the history of the city, including the city’s Medieval Sorbian culture, different industries that were once important here, and natural history of the area.

Wilhelmsmuehle

A historical landmark in Cottbus, this building dates back to the 1830s and has served as several different types of mills. The mill shut down in 1941, and since then has been used for a variety of purposes, such as apartments, a youth center, and a kindergarten.

Old hydroelectric power station

The architecture along is reason enough to stop by the old hydroelectric power station. It’s located right next door to Wilhelmsmuehle.

Schloßturm

The Schloßturm, or Castle Tower, stands where the city’s castle once was, and it’s another impressive sight to see in Cottbus. It was closed when I visited, but it was still interesting to see and take a few pictures.

Staatstheater Cottbus

You might not have time to see a performance if you’re on a day trip from Berlin to Cottbus, but the Staatstheater is still worth seeing. The impressive building dates back to the early 1900s and is considered the greatest achievement by Bernhard Sehring, the architect.

Wendish (Sorb) Museum

This region of Germany has a significant population of Wends and Sorbs, which is a Slavic group, and it’s actually why you’ll see some bilingual signs in Cottbus. At this museum, you can learn about their history and culture, although the signs are only in German and the Sorbian language.

Church of St. Nikolai

The Church of St. Nikolai sits at Oberkirchplatz, and it’s a striking brick church. Though it was built in a Gothic style, the church had to be rebuilt because a fire.

Schlosskirche Synagogue

How about a synagogue that’s in a former church? Check out the Schlosskirche Synagogue in the middle of the Old Town. It was given to the Jewish community several years ago.

Tierpark Cottbus

For those of you traveling from Berlin to Cottbus with kids, the zoo might be a good choice. It opened in the 1950s and has a wide variety of animals, including flamingos, elephants, lemurs, penguins, and much more.

Schloss Branitz

This baroque palace had been around for quite some time before it was rebuilt by Prince Pückler beginning in 1846. Today it is a museum where you can learn about the eclectic prince and how he lived.

The palace is a bit too far from the old town to walk, so you’ll need to take bus 10. The bus only runs once or twice an hour, so check the schedule and plan accordingly.

Branitzer Park

Branitzer Palace sits in a large park by the same name, and after checking out the palace, it’s worth going for a stroll. If you took the bus to the palace, you can get the bus back to the center of town on the other side of the park so you don’t have to backtrack.

Two odd attractions in the park are the Wasserpyramide and the Landpyramide. These are pyramids, one in a lake and one on the ground, and Prince Pückler and his wife are buried in the Water Pyramid.

Berlin Travel Resources

I want you to have the best trip to Berlin, and hopefully this information for how to take a Berlin to Cottbus day trip is helpful. But there are lots more tips on the site!