It bordered the municipalities of Campo Lameiro, Cerdedo, Forcarei, A Lama, Ponte Caldelas and Pontevedra.

Cotobade was divided internally into several administrative divisions that match the name of parishes.

Although the origin of the name 'Cotobade' was considered popularly to be linked to the abbot of the monastery in the vicinity ("couto de abade" meaning 'abbot's land' in Galician), it seems more likely an older link to 'coto' (summit or upper part of a mountain) and probably an old surname Vatis.

The council area was located west of Galicia and east of the province Pontevedra, to which it administratively belonged.

This article about a location in the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain is a stub.