Cottbus Market of a Thousand Stars

What the Cottbus Market of a Thousand Stars is

The Weihnachtsmarkt der 1000 Sterne is the Christmas market of Cottbus, the second-largest city in Brandenburg and the cultural centre of Lusatia. It is a classic German market with wooden stalls, lights, mulled wine and seasonal food, set in the city centre. It is a regional market rather than a major tourist draw, which is part of its appeal: you meet people from the surrounding area, not just visitors.

For 2027 our data lists the market from Monday 22 November to Thursday 23 December, about a month of opening.

Dates in 2027 and how they are derived

The dates for 2027 have not been published. The window comes from last year's pattern: the market opens on the Monday after Totensonntag and ends on 23 December. Totensonntag in 2027 is 21 November, so Monday 22 November is the expected opening, and 23 December is a Thursday.

Please treat the dates as an estimate. The exact opening hours, the programme and any days on which stalls are closed are decided locally. Check the Brandenburg tourism calendar and the city's own announcements before you commit to a fixed itinerary.

Character of the city and what to do

Cottbus lies in the south of Brandenburg, near the Lower Sorbian region, where the Sorbian (Wendish) minority maintains its language and customs. The market takes place in the centre, and a walk around the old town gives you the Spremberger Turm, a medieval tower, and the Altmarkt area.

Cultural stops include the Staatstheater Cottbus, an Art Nouveau theatre building, and the Branitz Park, the landscape park created by Prince Pückler, with its unusual pyramids. In winter the park is quieter and suits a calm walk. Combine a daytime visit to the park with an evening at the market.

Food and drink

You will find the usual Christmas market offer, from mulled wine and roasted almonds to sausages and sweet pastries. Lusatian cuisine adds pickled gherkins from the nearby Spreewald, potato dishes and linseed oil with quark. If you want a full meal, restaurants in the city centre offer regional dishes; book in the evenings of the weeks before Christmas.

Getting there and where to stay

Cottbus is on the regional rail line from Berlin, a journey of roughly one and a half hours, and has long-distance connections as well. The station is a short tram or bus ride from the centre. Driving is possible via the A15, though parking in the centre fills up on weekends in December.

Hotels in the city are modest in size and price compared with Berlin, so a day trip from the capital or a single overnight stay works well. Book ahead for Friday and Saturday nights.

Planning around public holidays and bridge days in 2027

No Brandenburg public holiday falls inside the market's window in 2027. Christmas Day, 25 December, is a Saturday and 26 December a Sunday, so the holidays give no extra weekday. Reformation Day on 31 October, a Sunday, is long past. The Buß- und Bettag on Wednesday 17 November is not a holiday in Brandenburg.

The market ends on Thursday 23 December, and Friday 24 December is Christmas Eve, a normal working day by law. A Friday evening visit costs no vacation day if you travel after work, a Saturday visit none at all. If you want to see the market on its last day, Thursday 23 December, you need one vacation day, and taking Friday 24 December as well would give you a four-day stretch up to Sunday 26 December for two days. Many employers release staff on 24 December, so ask first.

Tips and who it suits

The market suits couples, families and anyone who enjoys a small-city Christmas atmosphere with less crowding than Berlin. Wear warm shoes, bring cash for small stalls and check the organiser's calendar before travelling, since the 2027 dates are not yet confirmed.