Commercial and office specialisations in Cities: Skylines work through districts: paint a district over your zones, pick a specialisation in the district panel and let the buildings change over time. Commercial options include leisure and tourism; offices can become an IT cluster. Check land value, education and pollution to see what each district needs.
Commercial and office specialisations decide what kind of businesses grow in a Cities: Skylines district — from nightlife strips to quiet tech campuses. This tutorial shows how to set them up.
Step by step
- Paint the districts (0:19) over your commercial and office zones.
- Add the specialisations (0:59) in the district panel.
- Run the game (2:42) and let the buildings change over.
- Check the pollution levels (6:50) and the info views to see how the districts behave.
Commercial options
| Specialisation | Expansion | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| None (low/high density) | Base game | Everyday shops near homes |
| Leisure | After Dark | Nightlife and entertainment |
| Tourism | After Dark | Hotels near attractions — see hotels |
| Organic and local produce | Green Cities | Green, low-impact neighbourhoods |
Office options
Regular offices need educated workers. The IT cluster (Green Cities) creates a high-tech business district with similar needs.
Balancing tips
- Proximity: shops close to homes, offices close to transit.
- Noise: leisure districts are loud at night — keep them away from quiet residential streets.
- Education: offices need educated workers; hotels and shops need some less-educated ones.
Video chapters
- 0:00Intro
- 0:19Painting the districts
- 0:59Adding commercial and office specialisations
- 2:42Running the game
- 6:50Checking the pollution levels
- 9:50Outro
Clicking a chapter starts the video above at that point.
Related videos
FAQ
How do I specialise a commercial district in Cities: Skylines?
Paint a district over the commercial zones, open the district panel and choose a specialisation. The buildings switch over as they grow and rebuild.
Which specialisations need DLC?
Leisure and tourism come with After Dark; organic and local produce shops and IT cluster offices come with Green Cities.
Why are my offices struggling?
Offices need educated workers and good access. Check the education levels of the people living nearby and the traffic into the district.
