New in Cottbus: City Office 19 Districts and Daily Life in Lusatia
Cottbus Guide
Arriving in Cottbus, the Largest City in Lusatia
The first few weeks
Cottbus, Chóśebuz in Sorbian, is the most populous city in Brandenburg after Potsdam and the largest city in Lusatia; around 95,000 people live here. The city lies not far from the Spreewald and is considered the political and cultural centre of the Sorbs in Lower Lusatia; the districts also bear Sorbian names. Cottbus is a centre of services, science and administration, with the State Theatre, an Olympic training centre and the campus of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. With the coal phase-out, the region is changing noticeably.
The former opencast mine is becoming the Cottbuser Ostsee, by area the largest artificial lake in Germany. In January 2024, Deutsche Bahn opened an ICE maintenance depot, and in the same year the Lusatia Medical University – Carl Thiem was founded. For its size, the city has many parks, above all Prince Pückler's Branitz Park. We come from Berlin-Moabit and handle your move to Lusatia; the route and process are described on the page Moving Berlin – Cottbus.
Enquire About a Move to Cottbus
Fixed price after a survey, liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB)
Whether a home removal to the city centre or to a house on the outskirts – after a survey, we calculate your move to Cottbus at a fixed price. Wilhelminian-era streets in the Spremberger Vorstadt, apartment blocks in Schmellwitz or Sachsendorf: we clarify the parking restriction and lift in advance. At around 132 km from Berlin, the route remains manageable. For your belongings we accept liability under the HGB; storage or furniture assembly appear as separate items in the quote. Call us on 01625978461.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
What We Handle – and What Is Up to You in Cottbus
Transport from Berlin, paperwork on your side
We have no branch in Lusatia; instead, we come by lorry from Berlin-Moabit, around 132 km via the A13 and A15 – about two hours including a break. We ask about the floor, lift and access in advance, and we plan the parking restriction according to the city's deadlines. For your belongings we accept liability under the HGB (§ 451e: €620 per m³), and additional insurance is available. Registration, waste bags and the bulky waste appointment are up to you; we set the delivery day so that it fits.
Packing Service
Storage
Student moves
Furniture Transport
Six Steps After Moving In to Cottbus
What comes up after the move to Cottbus, in a sensible order – from the city office to bulky waste. Please check appointments and fees in advance on cottbus.de, because the city office works mainly by appointment and it often gets crowded on Tuesdays without one.
Register within two weeks
Confirmation from the landlord
Re-register your car
Waste Bags and Calendar
Bulky Waste via ALBA
Ask About Nursery Early
One Room for Cottbus? Shared Load
For smaller amounts to Cottbus, for example as a student or commuter, a shared load may be a good fit: your household goods travel with other consignments to Lusatia. When you enquire, we tell you whether a trip is currently planned; liability under the HGB applies here too.
What
Newcomers to Cottbus Should Know
A move to Cottbus raises practical questions: which district suits me, when can I get an appointment at the city office, and where do I get waste bags? In this guide you will find answers on registration, districts, work and study at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, as well as on bulky waste and nursery places. If you continue to work in Berlin, plan your route to the station at the same time. We handle moving day itself from Berlin – with packing, transport and assembly, and storage on request.
Choosing a district
Planning moving day
Businesses and special cases
Frequently Asked Questions from New Residents in Cottbus
19 Districts – Where Newcomers Live in Cottbus
Cottbus is divided into 19 districts, which also bear Sorbian names – for example Mitte (Srjejź), Schmellwitz (Chmjelow) and Sandow (Žandow). Around the city centre lie Wilhelminian-era quarters such as the Spremberger Vorstadt, with short distances to the State Theatre, plus larger residential areas such as Schmellwitz and Sachsendorf-Madlow. On the outskirts lies Branitz with Prince Pückler's park, and in the north the city reaches the Spree meadows near Sielow.
The Cottbuser Ostsee is being created near Merzdorf on a former opencast mine; the city can tell you what is being built around the lake. We deliberately do not quote specific rents here – compare offers from housing companies and cooperatives and, before committing, also look at the staircase and surroundings. Which district suits you depends on your commute, school and budget. Especially in Wilhelminian-era buildings without a lift, it is worth checking the width of the stairs and the carrying routes – this saves time on moving day.
Working, Studying and Leisure in Cottbus
Cottbus is a university city: BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg has its campus here, and in 2024 the Lusatia Medical University – Carl Thiem was added. With the coal phase-out, the city is focusing on new projects such as Deutsche Bahn's ICE maintenance depot (since January 2024) and the Lausitz Park in Groß Gaglow; administration, services and the State Theatre are also employers. As one of Brandenburg's four regional centres, Cottbus brings together many of the region's authorities and institutions.
For leisure, there are Branitz Park, Eliaspark and the 55-hectare Spreeauenpark, laid out for the 1995 Federal Garden Show – the first in the new federal states. The Spreewald is close by, and the Cottbuser Ostsee is growing. Football fans can drop in on FC Energie Cottbus, who were promoted back to the 2. Bundesliga in 2026. Further destinations can be found under long-distance moves.
How Much Does a Move to Cottbus Cost?
Whether small or large – our moving prices are fairly calculated. A 1-room flat moves from €369, a 2-room flat from €584. For 3 rooms costs start from €909, for 4 rooms from €1,309. For a house or villa, you always receive an individual quote after a survey. We charge long-distance moves from €3.85/km. Feel free to use our free survey to clarify all the details.
What the price depends on
In every move, volume and distance (from €3.85/km) play the biggest role. But the floor, lift and a parking restriction zone also have an effect. For more flexibility, we offer furniture assembly and shared loads.
Services for Your Move to Lusatia
For your move to Cottbus, you can book these services individually or together.
- Home removal: Individually planned, professionally carried out. Home removal
- Company relocation: Minimal downtime for your business. Company relocation
- House clearance: We create order where you need it. House clearance
- Furniture transport: Reliable transport, even for single items. Furniture transport
- Move with assembly: A complete package including furniture assembly. Move with assembly
- Shared load: The smart solution for smaller transports. Shared load
From Berlin to Lusatia – and Back
We plan moves from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21), without other branches. Cottbus is around 132 km away via the A13 and A15, about two hours by lorry. Places with their own page can be found in the locations overview.
Registration in Cottbus: City Office, Appointment and Deadline
Under § 17 of the Federal Registration Act, you must register within two weeks of moving in. In Cottbus, this is handled by the city office in the Technical Town Hall, Karl-Marx-Straße 67, 03044 Cottbus. According to the city, registrations, deregistrations and changes of address are processed there, as well as identity cards and passports.
The city office works mainly by appointment. You can book these online at tv.cottbus.de, via the contact form or by email to [email protected]. The hotline 0355 612-3333 is available on Mondays from 8.30 am to 1 pm, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8.30 am to 12 noon and 1 to 6 pm, and on Fridays from 8.30 am to 12 noon. Visits without an appointment are possible on Tuesdays from 1 to 6 pm; the city points out that long waiting times are to be expected then and the ticket machine may be closed. Arrive five minutes before your appointment, and cancel appointments you no longer need.
The landlord confirmation is mandatory under § 19 of the Federal Registration Act. It states the name and address of the landlord, the move-in date, the address of the flat and the names of the persons required to register. The city does not list on the page which other documents the city office requires; if in doubt, ask in advance. According to the city, registration certificates and information from the population register can be requested online. What the deadline looks like in practice is explained in our article on re-registering after a move. Information as of: October 2026.
Daily Life in Cottbus: Waste, Bulky Waste and Structural Change
The city of Cottbus provides the 2026 waste calendar as a PDF and as a digital calendar in which collection dates can be looked up by street and house number. According to the city, approved waste bags cost 5.55 euros each and are available at Berliner Straße 6 (room 118) and at the recycling centres. You can get the printed brochure at both town halls and all recycling centres; the fees are listed in the 2026 waste calendar. Questions about waste management are answered by the waste management office at [email protected].
Bulky waste, scrap metal and electrical and electronic appliances are collected by ALBA Cottbus GmbH (phone 0355 7508-700). The city does not state deadlines and fees for bulky waste on the page we checked, so ask ALBA directly. According to the city, kerbside collection of old electrical appliances is free of charge, possible twice a year and must be arranged by phone. General tips are offered in our article Disposing of bulky waste properly.
If you move to Cottbus for a new job, you will find a city in transition. As structural change projects, the city names the Lusatia Medical University – Carl Thiem, Deutsche Bahn's maintenance depot, the Cottbuser Ostsee, the Lausitz Science Park and Fraunhofer IEG. Read more about the neighbourhoods and the moving process in the moving guide for Cottbus.
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