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ODDZIAŁY I BIURA SPRZEDAŻY LOGOSTOUR

PROFESJONALNA OBSŁUGA POPARTA WIELOLETNIM DOŚWIADCZENIEM

Pracownicy naszych placówek w całej Polsce z chęcią odpowiedzą na wszelkie pytania dotyczące oferty oraz pomogą dopasować ją do indywidualnych oczekiwań każdego klienta.

BIURO TURYSTYKI ZNP LOGOSTOUR SP. Z O .O. BIURO ZARZĄDU

00-379 Warszawa ul. Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie 31/33

tel. 22 397 52 00 - dział sprzedaży tel. 22 397 52 05 - dział agencyjny tel. 22 397 52 19 - sekretariat

[email protected]

BIURA I ODDZIAŁY SPRZEDAŻY

Oddział Lubelski

20-033 Lublin ul. Akademicka 4

tel. 81 533 00 77 fax 81 533 85 92

[email protected]

Oddział Łódzki

90-434 Łódź ul. Piotrkowska 137/139

tel. kom. 515 127 879

[email protected]

Oddział Nowosądecki

33-300 Nowy Sącz ul. Długosza 61

tel. 18 443 58 50 tel. kom. 501 222 733 tel./fax 18 443 84 90

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Oddział Olsztyński

10-515 Olsztyn ul. Pułaskiego 2/1a

tel. kom. 697 020 667 fax 89 527 50 03

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Oddział Rzeszowski

35-002 Rzeszów ul. Kopernika 10

tel. 17 852 04 29 tel. kom. 602 634 781 fax 17 852 28 85

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Oddział Warszawski

tel. 22 397 52 00 fax 22 826 21 12

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Oddział Wrocławski

50-384 Wrocław Plac Grunwaldzki 12-14

tel. 71 321 74 54 tel. kom. 667 465 217 fax 71 322 98 22

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Biuro sprzedaży w Gdańsku

80-747 Gdańsk ul. Toruńska 15

tel./fax 58 301 05 13 tel. kom. 697 020 358

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Biuro sprzedaży w Katowicach

40-009 Katowice ul. Warszawska 3

tel. kom. 510 281 723 fax 32 253 67 26

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Biuro sprzedaży w Krakowie

31-128 Kraków ul. Karmelicka 32

tel. 12 633 12 57 , 12 634 57 09 tel. kom. 501 594 874

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Biuro Turystyki ZNP LogosTour Licencja Grażyna Ostapiuk

61-818 Poznań ul. Taczaka 2

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The Ultimate Lodz Travel Guide (Poland)- What to See, Do, Eat, and More

Introduction: our supersized łódź travel guide, article summary, overview of łódź and reasons to go.

Łódź (pronounced “Woodge”) is Poland’s third largest city located in the center of the country. With a population of around 680,000, Łódź has transformed from a gritty post-industrial hub into an up-and-coming travel destination.

The city is filled with architectural gems from its 19th century boom years as a textile and manufacturing powerhouse. Many of these old factories and buildings are being reinvented into cultural centers, restaurants, nightlife spots, and more. Łódź has one of the best preserved city centers in Poland with 785 historic monuments to admire.

Beyond the architecture, Łódź impresses visitors with its vibrant art scene, museums,  eclectic dining , thriving nightlife, and many green spaces to explore. It provides a more laidback urban experience compared to busier Kraków or Warsaw .

Brief history and cultural background of Łódź

Łódź began as a small medieval settlement that was granted city rights in 1423. For centuries it remained a small agricultural town.

This changed in the 1800s when Łódź became a major center for textile manufacturing and was nicknamed the “Promised Land”. Wealthy industrialists built factories and mansions, leading to rapid population growth.

In the late 19th century, Łódź had populations of Poles, Germans, Jews, and Russians. After Poland’s independence in 1918, it continued as an industrial hub.

During WWII, Łódź suffered heavily under Nazi occupation. The Jewish population was forced into the infamous Łódź ghetto.

In the post-war communist era, Łódź saw decline. After 1989, the city has sought to rebuild and renew itself. Its urban authenticity and culture have made Łódź an increasingly popular travel destination.

Why Łódź should be on your travel bucket list

• Fascinating industrial history and architecture – factories, mansions, palaces
• Vibrant arts, music, and club scene
• Great museums like the  Museum of Cinematography  and  Central Museum of Textiles
• Delicious cuisine mixing Jewish, Polish, and international influences
• Lively festivals year-round like Light Move Festival and Łódź Design Festival
• Easy access as a transport hub in central Poland

Getting to Łódź

Airports and transportation options.

The quickest way to reach Łódź is by flying into  Łódź Władysław Reymont Airport , located just 6 km from the city center. The airport has connections within Poland and to several European cities.

Many travelers also fly into Warsaw Chopin Airport, which has far more international connections. You can take the train directly from Warsaw Chopin to Łódź, which takes about 90 minutes.

If you’re traveling from other parts of Poland, Łódź is easily reached by domestic flights, train, or bus. The city has train connections to all major Polish cities.

International and domestic flight connections

The following airlines offer direct flights to Łódź Airport:

Domestic:   LOT Polish Airlines  (from Warsaw)

International:   Ryanair  (from London, Dublin),  Wizz Air  (from Oslo, Dortmund, Tel Aviv)

From Warsaw Chopin Airport, you can find flights to Łódź on  LOT ,  Wizz Air , and  Enter Air .

Train and bus services

As a major transport hub, Łódź is well connected by both train and bus.

The city has three train stations:

• Łódź Fabryczna  – centrally located with connections to Warsaw, Kraków, Poznań, Wrocław
• Łódź Kaliska  – provides trains to Warsaw and other cities
• Łódź Żabieniec  – regional station

Popular bus operators include  PolskiBus  and  FlixBus  with routes to Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Poznań, and more.

Best Time to Visit Łódź

Weather and climate overview.

Łódź has a temperate climate with warm summers and cold winters. June to August are the hottest months with temperatures around 68-77°F (20-25°C). The coldest months are December to February with average temperatures of 30-34°F (-1 to 1°C).

Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-November) offer mild weather that’s ideal for comfortable sightseeing. Summers can get quite hot. Winters are cold with snowfall.

Seasonal attractions and events

Łódź hosts great events year-round. Some highlights include:

• April  – Light Move Festival
• June  – International Comics Festival
• July  – Łódź of Four Cultures Festival
• August  – International Festival of Photography
• September  – Design Festival, Off Cinema Festival
• December  – Winter Light Festival

For events like Light Move Festival, visiting when the installations and events are happening makes them more worthwhile. Otherwise, Łódź offers cultural activities and things to do throughout the year.

Peak and off-peak travel periods

June through August is considered peak season with higher prices and more crowds. For pleasant weather with fewer tourists, May, September and early October are ideal times to visit.

November to March is off-peak season. Attractions stay open but student travelers and backpackers mostly visit during this time.

Top Attractions in Łódź

Piotrkowska street – the famous street of łódź.

Piotrkowska Street  is Łódź’s bustling main thoroughfare and one of Europe’s longest commercial streets at over 4 kilometers. This lively pedestrian promenade is lined with restaurants, bars, shops, and architectural gems.

Strolling down Piotrkowska Street lets you take in the city’s energy and history. Highlights include the 19th century Hotel Grand, Pasaż Rubinsteina, Pasaż Schillera, and OFF Piotrkowska Center.

Manufaktura – A unique blend of history, culture, and shopping

Manufaktura  is a vast 27-hectare complex that beautifully fuses old factory buildings with modern architecture. Wander through the shopping and entertainment center with 300+ stores, restaurants, and museums.

Don’t miss the Museum of the Factory, MS2 modern art museum, and historic brick factory buildings. Manufaktura hosts events like the Design Festival and has become an iconic attraction.

Museum of the City of Łódź – Discover the city’s past and heritage

The  Museum of the City of Łódź  lets you explore Łódź’s history through art, artifacts, and interactive exhibits. It’s located in the stunning former residence of influential industrialist Izrael Poznański.

See lavish interiors, learn about famous citizens like pianist Artur Rubinstein, and understand Łódź’s development from industrial powerhouse to modern city.

Art and Street Art in Łódź – An artistic paradise

Łódź boasts an outstanding art and culture scene. The  ms1 Museum of Art  has an excellent modern art collection. Exciting street art and giant murals adorn walls across the city.

OFF Piotrkowska  is the city’s creative district with galleries, workshops, markets, and studios to get a taste of the local art community.

Łódź Opera House – A grand architectural gem

The magnificent  Łódź Opera House  is one of Poland’s most prominent opera venues. The neo-Baroque building dates to the early 1900s and impressively combines architectural styles.

Attending an opera or ballet performance underneath the ornate chandeliers and frescoes is a memorable experience. Guided tours are available to see the interior when no shows are running.

Palm House and Łagiewniki Park – Nature and relaxation

To relax surrounded by vegetation, head to the  Palm House  located inside the huge Łagiewniki Park. Stroll through tropical gardens under the glass dome housing over 750 plant species.

Outside, the park has multiple lakes, walking/biking paths, sports fields, and sites like the Łódź Zoo. It’s a welcomed natural escape in the city.

EXPO Łódź – A hub of exhibitions and events

EXPO Łódź  is one of Poland’s largest exhibition centers hosting major fairs, concerts, and events year-round like the International Comic Book Festival.

The center has versatile conference spaces perfect for business gatherings. Check their event schedule during your stay.

Łódź MT Trade Fairs – Business and trade opportunities

Łódź International Fair  is one of the leading organizers of trade shows in Poland. Held at EXPO Łódź, they facilitate key events for different industries.

For business travelers, it’s worth timing your visit in sync with any relevant trade fairs related to your field.

Things to Do in Łódź

Sightseeing tours and walking routes.

Łódź Walks  offers excellent English-language walking tours like their Łódź Old Town route covering hidden courtyards and street art. Themed tours about Łódź’s diversity, art nouveau architecture, and Jewish history are also available.

For self-guided touring, key landmarks are connected along Piotrkowska Street. The city also has various cultural walking routes to explore specific interests like music or famous film locations.

Cultural experiences and local traditions

Łódź has many theaters, concert halls, and festivals showcasing plays, music, and performances. The city is proud of its multicultural roots visible through events like the  Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival .

Local cuisine mixes Jewish, Polish, and foreign influences. Try specialties like  Łódź kugel  potato casserole or  biłgorajski kołacz  sweet bread.

Food and dining options

Łódź’s  dining scene  offers everything from high-end cuisine to casual pierogi spots. Piotrkowska Street is lined with restaurants, like  Anatewka  for Jewish fare or  Pierożek u Fryzjera  for pierogi.

Don’t miss  OFF Piotrkowska  – the city’s nightlife and restaurant hotspot located in converted old factories.  Manufaktura  also has excellent dining.

Entertainment and nightlife

Łódź’s evening entertainment spans laidback bars, unique pubs, stylish cocktail lounges, and buzzing nightclubs. Piotrkowska Street has options like  Cafe Greenwich  and  Pauza  bar.

OFF Piotrkowska  is the city’s top nightlife hub. Other spots include  Łódź Kaliska  multi-club and  Teatr  777 experimental theater .

Shopping in Łódź

From boutiques to malls, Łódź offers diverse shopping.  Manufaktura  and  Galeria Łódzka  are massive shopping centers with international and Polish brands.

Piotrkowska Street features independent shops alongside big retailers. For local goods, find folk handicrafts, garments, ceramics, and more at the  Jarmark Łódzki  open-air market.

Day Trips and Excursions from Łódź

Nearby attractions and destinations.

Łódź provides a central base to visit surrounding attractions:

• Żychlin  – Beautiful manor house and large park area.
• Inowłódz  – Picturesque spa town with historic Ottoman baths.
• Piotrków Trybunalski  – The oldest town in central Poland with a lovely market square.
• Spała  – High-end spa town and nature getaway.
• Nieborów  – Small town with a grand Baroque palace and gardens.
• Zelów  – Quaint town with a well-preserved synagogue.
• Sulejów  – Area with hiking and water sports around a large reservoir.

How to plan day trips from Łódź

Many nearby towns can be easily reached in under 1-2 hours by train, bus or car. Żychlin, Inowłódz and Piotrków Trybunalski are all within 30-50 minutes driving from Łódź.

For quick day trips, trains leaving in the early morning and returning in the evening are the most convenient options. Travelling by rental car allows more flexibility for longer excursions.

Joining organized day tours is also a possibility for those without their own transport. Many Łódź tour companies offer half-day or full-day group trips combining multiple destinations.

Safety and Practical Tips

Important travel tips for visitors.

• Use taxis from reputable companies like  Barbakan Taxi  or  Radio Taxi Dwójka . Avoid unlicensed taxis.
• For free WiFi access, visit any  miejsce aktywności miejskiej (MAM)  public hotspot.
• When using public transport, validate tickets before riding at the machines located on vehicles and platforms.
• Most attractions, restaurants, and hotels accept credit cards but always carry some cash as backup.
• Pedestrian safety is key when strolling busy streets like Piotrkowska. Use crosswalks and exercise caution.

Emergency contact information

Emergency Services:  112

Police:  997

Fire Department:  998

Ambulance:  999

Tourist Information Office:  +48 42 638 5988

Health and safety considerations

Łódź is generally very safe but exercise normal precautions for urban travel:

• Avoid poorly lit areas at night. Stick to main streets in evening hours.
• Only use regulated taxis and ride shares, especially at night. Know your route.
• Keep valuables secure and don’t leave bags unattended.
• Follow pedestrian walking signals and rules to avoid traffic accidents.
• Keep away from any protests or demonstrations.
• Carry any needed medication, prescriptions, and health insurance documents.

Recap of Łódź’s highlights and attractions

With regenerated factories, riveting museums, stunning architecture, vibrant culture, diverse cuisine, and dynamic energy, Łódź provides the complete package for an engaging urban getaway.

Strolling grand Piotrkowska Street, admiring the street art splashed across revitalized buildings, learning the moving history through sites like Radegast Station, seeing inventions come alive at EC1, and enjoying evenings out in Piotrkowska encapsulate the diverse experiences this reinvigorated city offers visitors.

Beyond the classic attractions, Łódź rewards those who take time to venture into its alternative arts scene, lively parks, local eateries, and events that celebrate its multicultural roots.

Easy to navigate and more relaxed than other Polish hubs, Łódź has its own distinctive charm. Its industrial legacy is being reinvented with creativity and pride.

Final thoughts on visiting Łódź

For travelers seeking culture beyond just tourist highlights, Łódź provides a refreshing change of pace. The city seamlessly blends rich history with modern urban experiences.

Rather than being overcrowded with other visitors, Łódź has an authentic vibe and seems to mainly attract those already “in the know”. But armed with the tips in this guide, you can now be one of them!

Take advantage of low costs, fewer crowds, and wealth of sites before word fully gets out. With an open mind, sense of discovery, and taste for revitalization, a visit to continually surprising Łódź will undoubtedly leave you wanting more.

Explore this hidden gem in Poland!

If you’re looking to immerse yourself in a city full of contradictions and creativity, let Łódź be your next destination. Walk the beautiful collision of past and future. See how art flourishes on abandoned walls. Taste the mix of cultures in the food scene. Feel the hum of positive change happening.

Łódź today is writing a whole new chapter while still celebrating its storied history. Be a part of its welcoming revival and see Poland from this exciting up-close perspective.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to get around lodz.

Lodz has an extensive public transportation network. Trams, buses, and trolleybuses serve most popular sights. Walking is also easy in the compact city center. Using taxis or rideshares at night is recommended.

How many days do you need in Lodz?

3 full days allows enough time to see the top attractions at a comfortable pace. With extra days, you can join walking tours, see more museums, and make a day trip. 2 days is doable for a quicker visit.

What is there to do at night in Lodz?

At night, go bar hopping along Piotrkowska Street or in OFF Piotrkowska. Check events at performance venues like Teatr Wielki opera house. Łódź Kaliska offers club nights. Local pubs and lounges have live music.

Is Lodz safe for tourists?

Yes, Lodz is generally safe but should be treated like any big city with common sense precautions. Avoid poorly lit areas at night, only get in marked taxis, and keep valuables secure.

What is the best season for visiting Lodz?

Late spring and early autumn are ideal with mild weather and smaller crowds of tourists. Summer brings outdoor events but can get quite hot. Winter is cold but charming with holiday markets.

What food is Lodz known for?

Lodz cuisine blends Polish staples like pierogi with Jewish dishes like bagels and Gefilte fish. Specialties include Łódź kugel potato casserole. The dining scene ranges from hip eateries to old-school Polish restaurants.

What are the top museums in Lodz?

Don’t miss the Museum of the City of Lodz, Central Museum of Textiles, Museum of Cinematography, Museum of Art in Lodz, and Museum of the Factory. Many provide exhibits on the city’s industrial history and culture.

I know what it's like to go from being a crazy backpacker without a care in the world, via being a vaguely sensible parent to being an adventurer once more. In other words, evolving into a Grown-up Traveller.

Like everyone else, I love to travel, have visited a lot of countries and all that but my big thing is Africa.

I also own and run The Grown-up Travel Company as a travel designer creating personalised African itineraries for experienced adventurers

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Lodz – the alternative and creative center of Poland

I’ve been meaning to visit Lodz for years (especially that it’s one of the easiest day trips from Warsaw ) as I always felt there’s so much more to the city than it seems at first sight.

Years have gone by, I was passing the city on numerous occasions but never really saw it.

Finally this summer, after finding out about the unusual, movie-themed hotel, I set off for the weekend in Lodz.

A reason good like any other but it was a final push for me that it’s really about the time I should visit the city and check myself what to do in Lodz.

And well, now I can’t explain why I’ve waited so long! There were so many great things to do in Lodz and the place turned out to be one of the most interesting and unique cities in Poland!

Lodz essentials

• Where to stay in Lodz: PURO Łódź Centrum (9.4/10) / Cinema Rooms (8.8/10)
• Best Lodz tour: Private Walking City Tour in Lodz
• Get insured for your trip to Poland with SafetyWing

Table of Contents

Short history of Lodz, Poland

The train journey from Warsaw to Lodz takes a little bit less than 2 hours but these two cities couldn’t be any more different.

While Warsaw used to be sophisticated and elegant, known as Paris of the East (and now is a “Phoenix city” and a mix of just about everything), Lodz is full of its industrial heritage.

The settlement, conveniently located in the middle of Poland, at the crossroads of trading routes, has been a sleepy place for centuries.

This has changed at the beginning of 1800s when Lodz became a “Promised Land”, attracting people from all over Europe (even as far as England or Portugal ). The first factories opened changing the city forever.

Lodz was once the biggest textile production center in the former Russian Empire, the city was also known for its multicultural character, being home to the big Polish, German, Russian and Jewish population.

Even if the city was dealing with numerous industrial and workers issues it was doing rather good, the peak of the prosperity of the city happened just before the First World War.

The troublesome history of Europe, especially the occupation by Nazi Germany, had a big impact on Lodz and its inhabitants.

The city lost half of its population in the WW2 but it was quickly regained due to the migration movements. Lodz was yet again the main textile center of Poland and the second biggest city in the country.

After the communism collapsed the industry in Lodz slowly faded away, leaving the city with numerous problems to deal with.

These days Lodz tries to redefine itself, drawing inspiration from its industrial past and becoming the alternative hub of Poland. Lodz tourism is blooming!

Lodz tourist information – where you should start your visit

I started my weekend in Lodz by visiting the local tourist info center , conveniently located in the middle of Piotrkowska street – the most important street in the city.

And it was the best decision as the guy working there was very passionate about his hometown and happily shared all his knowledge and recommendations for the places to visit in Lodz.

He quickly passed on his enthusiasm and despite the rather terrible weather I was even more excited and couldn’t wait to explore all the amazing Lodz attractions!

He said that the majority of people who visit Lodz come there just for a couple of hours which might be enough to see only Piotrkowska street and its surroundings.

Even the weekend might be not enough to discover all Lodz has to offer. And he was right…

Where to stay in Lodz

Before setting off to exploring Lodz I went to my hotel – Stare Kino Cinema Residence . I adore unusual places and well, it was love at first sight.

The hotel is located in one of the yards on Piotrkowska street, not far from Off Piotrkowska (the best place in the city).

Since the film industry is very strong in Lodz (the biggest film studio and the best film school are located there) it’s not surprising that the hotel drew inspiration from movies.

The interior is carefully designed, every minor detail is connected to the movies and altogether they create a perfect atmosphere.

As soon as you step inside you can smell freshly made popcorn and you just know you’re in a very special place!

There are 42 apartments in Stare Kino Cinema Residence, half of them inspired by Polish movies and half by international.

I don’t think I’d be able to decide which apartment I want to stay at, all of them look unique and so interesting.

The faith put me at “Rebel without a cause” and it was beautiful and so comfortable (a small kitchen and a tea in the morning always win my heart)!

I immediately fell for a big comfy armchair and could have spent hours sitting in it. And I did, planning my weekend in Lodz or resting after a busy day exploring the city.

Click here to see current deals and to book the place at Stare Kino – Cinema Residence.

Piotrkowska street – the heart of Lodz

Most cities have market squares in old towns as the main venue but Lodz has Piotrkowska street.

It is the second longest street in the city and one of the longest commercial streets in Europe , spreading for almost 5 km in the heart of the city.

The most beautiful part, from Plac Woloności to Piłsudskiego street, is pedestrian however you need to look out for numerous bikes speeding around (especially now that Lodz has its own city bikes system and stations are located around every corner).

Even if Piotrkowska is such a long street it doesn’t get boring to walk it all the way.

The key to fully appreciate it is to look up and around to admire all the beautiful buildings you pass (many of them built in the eclectic and modernism style, reminding of the wealth times) and peek inside the gates to find some of the most charming yards. That was actually one of my favorite things to do in Lodz.

The street is lined with endless cafes, pubs, and restaurants so it’s very easy to get distracted there, but every time it is a pure pleasure!

Off Piotrkowska – the creative hub of Lodz

The most famous yard can be found at Piotrkowska 138/140. That’s where Off Piotrkowska is located – a cultural and creative center of Lodz.

A former spinning and weaving factory was transformed in 2011 to serve people.

Right now there’re around 50 small businesses operating: designers, architects, restaurants, clubs, galleries or concept stores (just to name few).

Off Piotrkowska was a unique project in the country and started the new trend of transforming former industrial spaces into cultural hubs all over Poland.

In 2014 it even won the title of the new wonder of Poland in the contest organized by National Geographic.

During my trip to Lodz I visited the place a couple of times and always, no matter what time of the day, it was full of people enjoying the place.

And I can’t blame them as it was simply amazing, probably the best contemporary space I’ve seen in Poland so far!

The creativity was floating in the air and I could easily picture myself spending hours in Off Piotrkowska, catching up on writing. It just felt so good to be there!

Hidden wonders on Piotrkowska

But even if Off Piotrkowska is the best spot in Lodz there’re a couple of similar places along the main street.

At number 217 , in the former iron foundry, a culinary scene of Lodz is blooming. That’s where the street food festival and food market take place but also where some really nice cafes and restaurants are located.

Apparently Lodz needs this kind of places, they somehow define the present of the city.

But even random yards along Piotrkowska hide some wonders: beautiful tiles, interesting architecture and even more great cafes and restaurants.

The best one was Lavash restaurant serving Armenian food – rumors say it is the best Armenian restaurant in Poland and I can gladly confirm it (or maybe I’m just biased as I like Armenia so much ?).

From all the yards the most spectacular one is located at number 3.

It’s Rosa’s Passage and is decorated with uncountable pieces of mirror.

When the sun shines the effect is mind-blowing! The whole place is glittering and looks like from a fairy tale!

Industrial past, promising future

With such a rich industrial past I was expecting to see numerous factories in Lodz. But I didn’t expect that many of them!

I can’t really recall the number of factories I’ve admired in these 2 days of Lodz!

In recent years they’ve been going through the major restoration process, giving them the splendid look and charm.

I was over excited to see them all, I have a soft spot for industrial places and so when visiting all the former factories I felt like a duck in the water!

The most famous one is probably Manufaktura – a commercial and entertainment center, the biggest one in Central Europe .

The former industrial complex is simply stunning and always busy with people.

But there’re so many other old factories worth visiting in Lodz!

White Factory (currently serving as Central Museum of Textiles ), Księży Młyn (together with rows of houses for workers) or power station EC1 (where, among other institutions, film studio of David Lynch is located).

Still, so many of industrial buildings are decaying, waiting for the better times.

But looking at the recent boom in Lodz I believe they will be taken care of too, sooner or later, turning them into yet another amazing landmark in Lodz. Right now they’re perfect for urban exploring anyway.

Incredible Lodz street art

The main reason, however, why I came to Lodz was the amazing street art .

It was the first Polish city that I recall where big murals were introduced and promoted.

Back in 2009 the local foundation Urban Forms started promoting the street art, inviting international artists like ROA from Belgium (known from Berlin street art ) or Inti from Chile (you can find his works in Kosice, Slovakia too) as well as promoting local – and now world famous – artists, like ETAM cru .

Of course that’s not everything you can find in Lodz.

Just keep your eyes open and you will stumble across numerous Lodz murals all over the city, including old grand format advertisements.

I was literally in awe when looking at all the great street art I’ve managed to find.

Even if there are so many works they are spread all over the city and you don’t feel overwhelmed like in Gdansk .

Big murals are just part of the local outdoor scene, they simply blend in.

There’re also numerous sculptures (including big objects that we used to use everyday decades ago, like old washing machine or flask) or a beautiful rainbow tram stop known as the stable of unicorns.

Even two local football teams have a funny yet creative war on the walls of Lodz, writing sentences like “RKS doesn’t read books” and “ŁKS sleeps in socks”.

I really love how Poland becomes one of the best street art countries in Europe and Lodz is a great example of how this form of art should fit into the cityscape.

Beautiful architecture of Lodz

It’s not that Lodz is only about creative and post-industrial places. You can find truly beautiful architecture there too.

As a rather new city, there isn’t a typical old town but a wealthy past resulted in many jaw-dropping mansions and palaces that used to belong to the most prominent citizens.

The most stunning one is Izrael Poznański Palace – a neo-baroque residence known also as the “Louvre of Lodz”. And it definitely deserves this title!

These days the museum of Lodz history is located there but you can easily wander around the garden to fall in love with the place.

Most of these spectacular buildings can be found on Piotrkowska street but when wandering around the center you never know when you might stumble across some architectural beauties.

I really enjoyed old wooden houses form Lodz region, located next to the White Factory. The summer villa looked exactly like from a fairy tale or childhood American movies!

Is Lodz worth visiting?

If you ask random people in Poland if they would go for a city break to Lodz most of them will probably tell you there’s nothing interesting there. Huge mistake!

Two days I’ve spent there were not enough to see all I wanted to – i.e. I missed all the museums or grand cemeteries, some of the most beautiful ones in Poland.

Before visiting Lodz I didn’t expect the city to be so amazing, now I’m thinking of returning there even if just to soak up the creative and alternative atmosphere again.

Lodz is different than most of the cities in Poland but that’s what makes it so interesting and unique. I can’t really compare it to any other city (maybe Zyrardow as it had a similar past but that’s about it).

If you’re looking for an unusual place to visit in Poland Lodz is your answer!

Travel Resources

You can find the best accommodation options at Booking . They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in Lodz

Never travel without travel insurance , you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for Poland here.

I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Get Your Guide – click here .

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49 Comments

Maria Emília Melo

A great and unforgetable surprise!

Kami and the rest of the world

Marina Furdyna

no nie, wlasnie jak doslownie 5 minut temu wrocilam! ale przyda sie na kolejny wyjazd :)

super! i jak wrażenia z Łodzi? :)

Igor Lenivtsev

amazing! just on time! going there next sunday!

nice! I’m really curious if you’re going to like it!

I’ll let you know:-)

Filip | Głodny swiata

Obiecałem sobie, że Łódź będzie jednym z pierwszych kierunków zwiedzania w PL po powrocie do kraju. Nakręciłaś mnie na nią tymi pięknymi fotkami jeszcze bardziej :D. Dzięki!

Polecam się :) Łódź naprawdę daje radę, sama byłam zaskoczona!

Marcin Wesołowski

Wygląda zachęcająco, na tyle, aby pojechać przełamać własne stereotypy o tym miejscu!

polecam bardzo!

Joanna Ejsmont Lisowska

właśnie wróciłam z babskiego weekendu w górach a dawno nie byłyśmy w mieście.. no więc już wiem jaka będzie nasza kolejna destynacja:)

doskonały wybór!

Piotr Goroh

mocno odbiega od obrazu miasta w mojej głowie, na plus, Kilka ładnych lat sie w PL nie było…

polskie miasta bardzo się zmieniają i na szczęście idą w dobrym kierunku :)

Monika Marcinkowska

Hm… Łódź pamiętam miło, ale bez zachwytów. Może powinnam wybrać się ponownie? :)

zdecydowanie! aż takiego wow się tam nie spodziewałam!

Joanna Lenart

Właśnie mam w planach Łódź! Odkąd pisałam pracę licencjacką o turystyce przemysłowej, strasznie ciągnie mnie do industrialnych klimatów :)

to Łódź na pewno Ci się spodoba! Industrialna jest bardzo!

Piotr Czyszpak

Łódź to właściwie moje drugie miasto :)

dobry wybór ;)

Ewelina Malina

I really need to visit Łodz, not just passing by ;)

definitely!

Evi Mielczarek

Dla mnie to też było ogromne zaskoczenie!

efekt wow był, co :D ?

Tresvodka.com - Chile

Muszę pokazać Twojego posta moim znajomym, którzy uważają, że Łódź jest brzydka, nudna i niewarta odwiedzin. Kawał dobrej roboty Kami!

Dzięki! Też ciągle słyszałam takie negatywne opinie o Łodzi, a tu prosze, taka niespodzianka!

Wow! I had hearts in my eyes the entire time I read this post. I’ve always wanted to visit Poland, not any city in particular, just to go because I feel like Poland is totally underrepresented in the world of travel. It’s such a big country, yet not many people know much about it. I definitely want to visit Lodz now!

Thanks! And you are so right! I can see that people only know Cracow and sometimes 2-3 other cities but that’s about it. And since Poland is such a huge country we really have a lot of places we can be proud of, and Lodz is definitely one of them! You should come and see it yourself!

Super zdjęcia choć trochę idealizują Łódź :P, moje drugie miasto w którym mam sporo znajomych i siostrę. Jeszcze powinnaś odwiedzić osobliwe Muzeum Kanału w Łodzi. :)

nie wiem czy idealizują czy nie, mnie się taka Łódź przez ten weekend objawiła i mnie zachwyciła. o tym muzeum słyszałam sporo, ale czasu nie starczyło niestety.

I dig cities that combine rich history with industrial atmosphere, so sure – I Łódź really like to go there someday :)

it’s kind of like Ostrava, isn’t it :) ? once you’re back in this part of the world we will go there together – Łódź you like that ;) ?

Mam w głowie taki szary, bury obraz Łodzi sprzed kilku lat, a na Twoich zdjęciach jest niesamowita. Piękna kolorystyka zdjęć, oglądam i oglądam i nie mogę się oderwać. Chyba rozważę wiosenny wypad do tego miasta.

Koniecznie! Ja w sumie pierwszy raz byłam turystycznie, zawsze tylko gdzieś przejazdem mijałam, i byłam zachwycona! Fantastyczne miasto!

12 of the Best Cities for Street Art in Europe - Eternal Arrival

[…] Łódź (pronounced “woodge”), a city in central Poland with a rich industrial heritage, is probably the most alternative and creative place in Central Europe. One of the ways to redefine the present of the city was street art. Łódź was probably the first city in Poland where murals were introduced, playing an important role in shaping the cityscape. In 2009 the local foundation Urban Forms invited local and international world famous artists (INTI, ROA, or Etam Cru just to name few) to create art on the walls of Łódź. What we can see now is a great urban gallery, perfectly fitting the vibe of the city. The best way to enjoy Łódź street art is to download the map from the foundation’s website and track down all the works – there are over 30 of them marked there, but that’s not all Łódź has to offer! […]

Podróżnicze podsumowanie 2016 roku - Kto podróżuje ten żyje dwa razy

[…] jednak ciągle coś stawało mi na drodze. W końcu zorganizowałyśmy się wspólnie z Kami z Kami and the rest of the world i wyskoczyłyśmy na weekend. Łódź to dla mnie miejsce szczególne, gdzie w końcu zrozumiałam […]

Coming to Poland for the first time in January (I know…the weather…but flights are so cheap!!) and I am really happy I found this article. I’ll definitely stop in Lodz. Will we be able to enjoy it all in that period? Thanks, great blog as usual :)

To be honest Lodz might be a little grey and depressing in January – you can go there for a day or so but it won’t be as great as in the summertime. Still I hope you will have a great trip!

Sympatyczna relacja i autentyczna zacheta do odwiedzenia Lodzi. Zupelnie przypadkowo na tygodniowy wypoczynek w Polsce wybralismy z mezem sposrod wielu miast wlasnie Lodz (choc ja jestem wierna turystka malenkiego Inowroclwia i pobliskiego Torunia). A Pani relacja tylko potwierdza ze to dobry wybor. Czekamy do wrzesnia i bedac w Lodzi na pewno skorzystamy z Pani bloga!Lodzianie powinni byc Pani wdzieczni za tak mila reklame ich piekniejacego miasta!

Dziękuję bardzo za ten przemiły komentarz Pani Doroto! Mam nadzieję, że Łódź się Państwu spodoba tak samo jak mi się podobała! Proszę koniecznie dać znać po powrocie jak było! Udanej podróży!

Loved reading this thank you! Visited Gdansk earlier this year and fell in love with Poland – with street art being a particular highlight! A few friends want me to take them to Gdansk in a couple of months but I may have to divert the trip here instead ?

Łódź is really big on street art so I think you might really like it there! And the rest of the city is pretty awesome too but not as picture-perfect-pretty like Gdańsk so it all depends on what your friends like. But no matter what you choose you’ll enjoy it for sure!

Daniel De Wit

We go to Lodz in august for a week. Thank you for this fascinating article.

I hope you will have a great time! August is a good time to visit Łódź :)

Mariana van Aswegen

What can I expect of the weather during September? Just cold or rainy as well?

Septembers in Poland are usually warm (but not hot anymore) and sunny but of course rain might happen. You can check the past weather at Accuweather, that’s what I always do when planning a trip somewhere

Cieszę się, że trafiłam na twojego bloga. Nigdy nie byłam w Łodzi i chyba czas to zmienić.

Zdecydowanie, Łódź jest super!

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Discover the Hidden Jewish Heritage of Lodz, Poland, and its Beauty

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Lodz, often pronounced as “woodge” and meaning “boat” in translation is situated roughly 130 kilometers southwest of Warsaw. While it may not immediately dazzle visitors with the charming squares that grace many other Polish cities and towns, Lodz stands out as one of the country’s most captivating and distinctive destinations. For an extraordinary and enlightening exploration of the world and its rich cultures, Lodz is highly recommended.

Traveling to Lodz from major Polish cities like Warsaw is incredibly convenient, thanks to its excellent infrastructure and strategic location. The European Rail high-speed train network provides efficient and swift connections between cities, offering passengers breathtaking views of stunning landscapes. My personal journey from Warsaw to Lodz was both seamless and enjoyable, with an average travel time of about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Regardless of the duration of your trip, the significance of comfort cannot be overstated.

Lodz’s recent history is closely tied to its textile industry, which propelled the city to prosperity during the 19th century, earning it the moniker “Manchester of Poland.” This economic boom resulted in the construction of grand palaces and mansions by affluent mill owners and industrialists like Izrael K. Poznanski, leaving an enduring architectural legacy throughout the city.

Despite its industrial character, Lodz was also a vibrant cultural hub and the birthplace of renowned writers, poets, and musicians such as Arthur Rubinstein, Yitzchak Katzenelson, Artur Szyk, and Julian Tuwim. However, with the decline of communism, Lodz saw the gradual fading of its once-thriving textile industry, which left the city grappling with a host of challenges and issues to address.

Lodz boasts a significant Jewish heritage, and its Jewish sites offer a fascinating glimpse into the city’s history. The Lodz New Jewish Cemetery, located on Bracka Street, stands as the largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. Established in 1892, it holds an impressive array of over 180,000 graves, adorned with 65,000 tombstones, Ohel’s (architectural structures built over the graves of revered individuals), and elegant mausoleums.

The cemetery’s grandeur is evident in its main pathways, reserved for individuals of high social standing. Numerous tombs pay tribute to prominent factory owners, such as Silberstein, Prusak, and Stiller. One must not overlook the breathtaking Art Nouveau-style mausoleum dedicated to Israel Poznanski, the cemetery’s founder. The Konsztat family tomb stands out as a remarkable site, featuring a beautiful Tuscan colonnade, while Marcus Silberstein’s tomb reflects Hellenistic design influences. Nearby, you’ll find the family tombs of other renowned industrialists from Lodz, including the Cohen, Jarociscy, and Prussak families.

Many of the more modest burial plots are intertwined with lush greenery and shaded by towering trees, creating an eerie yet captivating beauty that adds to the cemetery’s unique allure.

The mausoleum was built in Art-Nouveau style for Israel Poznanski – New York Jewish Travel Guide

Continuing our stroll through the cemetery, we come upon the poignant Ghetto Field, a section that presents a stark contrast to the traditional Matzevot (headstones). Here, the landscape transforms into a vast open area adorned with concrete stones, small metal plaques, upright slabs, and a few newly placed Matzevot by grieving families.

This somber space bears witness to the tragic history of the Lodz ghetto, where an estimated 45,000 individuals who perished or were victims of violence between 1940 and 1944 found their final resting place. As we proceed leftward, heading towards the wall and tracing the path along the prewar quarters, we encounter a series of pits that were originally intended as mass graves. These pits were to hold the remains of over 800 Jews who, following the liquidation of the ghetto in 1944, were left behind to clear the land. Remarkably, they managed to survive the war, as the retreating Germans fled when the Soviet Red Army approached the city. These pits have been left uncovered as a solemn reminder of that harrowing period in history.

The Ghetto Field in the Lodz Cemetery- New York Jewish Travel Guide

In 1959, a monument was erected within the cemetery to honor and remember the Jews of the Lodz ghetto who tragically lost their lives during the Holocaust. This solemn monument features a black marble plaque inscribed with the following heartfelt message in Hebrew, Yiddish, and Polish: “This monument is dedicated to the blessed memory of the innocent victims, Jews from Lodz and the surrounding areas, who were brutally murdered in the ghettos and camps by Nazi criminals during the period from 1939 to 1945. Your memory will forever dwell in our hearts.”

The cemetery also serves as the final resting place for esteemed Tzadik (righteous figures) and rabbis, including Elimelech Weissblum, the son of Abraham Icchak, who hailed from the distinguished Elimelech the Great family of Leajsk and was a Tzadik in Staszów. Another revered figure interred here is Meir Bornstein, son of Zew Nachum.

For additional information and insights, you can visit the following website: www.jewishlodzcemetery.org/PL/OCmentarzu/OCmentarzuNaBrackiej/Default.aspx .

Rabbi Eliyahu Hayim Maizel – New York Jewish Travel Guide

During our visit to the Radegast Station, we explored one of the most significant historical sites associated with the Lodz ghetto. This station served as a tragic departure point for as many as 200,000 Jewish individuals from Poland, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, and Czechoslovakia who were destined for the death camps. Remarkably, the original wooden station building and its loading platform remain intact to this day.

As we approached the central area of the memorial site, walking along the path, our attention was drawn to the Column of Remembrance. This solemn structure, resembling a chimney, bears the poignant inscription, “Thou shalt not kill.” Beyond the column, a tunnel is engraved with the start and end dates of World War II. In the distance, the paved courtyard and the wooden station building itself came into view.

On the station’s platform, three original cattle cars were displayed with their doors open. One car was intentionally left open for visitors to briefly step inside and experience the cramped and harrowing conditions that victims endured during their transportation. For many visitors, this encounter is deeply unsettling, leaving them with an overwhelming sense of horror and a profound inability to fully comprehend the unimaginable suffering endured by those confined in such cattle cars for days on end.

For many visitors, the most poignant aspect of the memorial is the long tunnel that seemingly leads nowhere. The designers of the memorial extended the track beyond the railcars into a dark tunnel. Lit by sensors, this tunnel unveils a haunting display of names, bearing witness to the individuals who were tragically transported to their deaths. Additionally, large signposts in the shape of headstones indicate the destinations of the trains that departed from this very station. Plaques throughout the site serve as poignant reminders of the Jews from Vienna and Luxembourg, who, after passing through the ghetto, were also transported to the death camps.

Radegast Station – New York Jewish Travel Guide

Annually, Lodz observes the anniversary of the Litzmannstadt Ghetto liquidation, a somber tradition now in its 74th year, taking place every August. The commemoration commences with a solemn memorial service conducted at the Lodz Jewish Cemetery. Following this service, participants embark on a two-mile memorial march that leads to the Radegast station, a site of profound historical significance as the central arrival and departure point for all transports to and from the ghetto during that harrowing period. Alongside the route, three cattle cars, reminiscent of those used for transporting Jewish individuals, serve as poignant reminders of the past.

The commemorative program encompasses a range of activities, including exhibitions, film screenings, workshops, and meetings with special guests. These events aim to provide a platform for reflection and remembrance.

Rabbi Dawid Szychowski of Lodz shared the significance of these commemorations, stating, “For us, the Jewish community, it is a means to honor the memory of the deceased and those who were murdered. It is also an opportunity to contemplate Polish-Jewish relations, both in the past and in the present, today and in the future, because such events offer us the chance to connect and build relationships with the residents of Lodz.”

A startling revelation for most tourists, and even many Polish citizens, is the existence of a concentration camp exclusively for children. During the dark days of the German occupation, Lodz was home to a concentration camp specifically for children, making it possibly the sole facility of its kind in Europe during World War II. These innocent children, who were often transferred from other camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau, Majdanek, or Stutthof, found themselves in a place known as “Little Auschwitz.” It’s important to note that these young detainees were not of Jewish descent; rather, they were Polish children whose parents were deceased, missing, unaccounted for, or imprisoned. Many of these children had been caught committing minor offenses like stealing food or begging for survival. Their ages ranged from 2 to 16, with the older ones slated for eventual transfer to adult labor camps. The camp typically held an average of around 3,000 children at any given time.

The names of the heroes are listed on a wall in Yad Vashem’s Garden of the Righteous.- New York Jewish Travel Guide

A documentary film titled “We Were Stripped of Our Whole Childhood” recounts the harrowing story of this camp, and in 1971, a memorial was established in Szare Szeregi Park in Lodz to honor these children. Furthermore, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in the local cathedral, and each November, prayers are held at the Memorial of the Children Martyrs of Wars, also known as the Monument of a Broken Heart, to pay homage to their memory.

The Marek Edelman Dialogue Center, established in 2010, serves as a hub dedicated to celebrating the multicultural and multiethnic heritage of Lodz. Its mission encompasses education, the organization of diverse cultural events, and the commemoration of survivors, as well as the Righteous Among the Nations and their families. The center’s activities extend to conducting walks, hosting open lectures, curating exhibitions, arranging concerts, and facilitating performances.

Joanna Podolska, the center’s director, highlighted that Lodz’s historical identity has been profoundly shaped by a blend of Polish, Jewish, German, and Russian influences, intricately woven into its fabric. She highlighted the center’s role in researching the past while simultaneously considering the future as a paramount concern. The city of Lodz provided the center’s primary financial backing, demonstrating its commitment to preserving its rich multicultural heritage. In addition to this municipal support, the center also received significant contributions from Israeli entrepreneur Mordechai Zisser, who, as the son of a Holocaust survivor, played a pivotal role in the establishment and advancement of the center. Mordechai Zisser’s generous contributions were instrumental in ensuring the center’s growth and continued impact.

Podolska explained that the center provides regular classes and educational programs for local students, adults, and tourists. They offer guided walks, tours, and conferences on a weekly basis, open to the public. Topics covered include Jewish history, World War II, Holocaust history, and contemporary issues. In addition, the center hosts lectures during the academic year on subjects like Islam and refugee matters, addressing crucial topics of our time. They also organize exhibitions focused on children’s rights, both past and future, while actively seeking ways to create a better future for all.

Within the center lies Survivors Park, one of Lodz’s newest public gardens, dedicated to honoring both the survivors of the Lodz Ghetto and the Polish Righteous Among the Nations. The park’s concept was conceived by Halina Elczewska, herself a survivor of the Litzmannstadt Ghetto, and brought to life through the dedicated efforts of the city’s president, Mr. Jerzy Kropiwnicki. The renowned Jan Karski bench monument resides in the park’s memorial, which the Polish-Jewish architect and politician Czesaw Bielecki designed

Survivors Park has a walk with the names of survivors. – New York Jewish Travel Guide

This remarkable park spans 15 acres, occupying the very location where the ghetto once stood. Survivors have planted 594 trees within its grounds, including a variety of birches, oaks, larches, maples, and ashes. Each of these trees bears a unique number and is registered in the name of the survivor responsible for planting it. The park extends an invitation to future visiting survivors to carry on this tradition by planting a tree in their honor.

A prominent feature of the park is a pathway adorned with the names of survivors, leading to a memorial mound atop an 8-meter-tall hill. From this vantage point, most of the city’s landscape can be observed.

Its walls take the shape of a six-pointed star of David. Currently, this list bears 6,200 names of Poles, accounting for 28 percent of all righteous among nations worldwide. The heroes’ names are inscribed on a wall within Yad Vashem’s Garden of the Righteous. Among them stands Irena Sendler, renowned for her role in rescuing over 2,500 children from the Warsaw ghetto and providing them with refuge on the “Aryan” side.

A tall triangular pedestal serves as a support for an eagle with outspread wings, symbolizing the Polish nation, along with the poignant words, “He who saves one life, saves the whole world.” Geometric patterns of trees adorn both sides of the pathway, encircled by walkways leading to a square featuring a stone commemorating the park’s establishment. Granite plaques, bearing the names of survivors and tree numbers, are positioned along the pathway.

To discover more about the Marek Edelman Dialogue Center and Survivors Park, the ideal point of contact is spokesperson Ms. Justina Tomaszewska, who can be reached at [email protected] .

Jewish Community Center and Synagogue

Opposite the splendid Credit Society building stands the main gateway to the heart of Lodz’s Jewish community, which consists of approximately 150 to 200 Jews. The Credit Society building itself served as the most significant institution financing the construction of factories in Lodz during the 19th century. Across the street, at No. 18 Pomorska, one can find Lodz’s most vital Jewish institutions, including the community center, synagogue, a newly constructed mikveh (a ritual bath, a source of pride for the Lodz community), and a guest house named Linat Orchim.

Lodz Synagogue- New York Jewish Travel Guide

Rabbi Dawid Szychowski, the spiritual leader of the community, has also taken on the role of the recently appointed emissary to Lodz for Shavei Israel, an Israeli organization that encourages individuals with Jewish ancestry to strengthen their ties with Israel and the Jewish people. According to Rabbi Szychowski, there are an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 Jews residing in Lodz, a conclusion drawn from the prevalence of Jewish names on intercoms throughout the city. Rabbi Szychowski actively engages in the city’s social life, representing the Lodz Jewish community during both local and national celebrations, providing education about Judaism, and more.

The guest house Linat Orchim, overseen by the local Jewish community, offers accommodations within a meticulously restored 19th-century building. Inside, guests can expect immaculate rooms with twin beds and spacious suites featuring private balconies. Religious services are conducted at the adjacent synagogue under Rabbi Szychowski’s guidance. The Jewish community in Lodz is on the rise, drawing individuals from other cities who come to visit or make this beautiful city their home. During holidays, tables are laden with visitors, and many lend a hand in preparing meals for Friday Shabbat dinners.

Julian Tuwim – New York Jewish Travel Guide

In addition to its thriving textiles industry, Lodz boasts a flourishing film industry that has earned it the nickname “Hollywood.” For a long time, Lodz has held the distinction of being the epicenter of Polish filmmaking. The city has been home to numerous celebrated Polish directors, including Roman Polanski, Andrzej Wajda, and Krzysztof Kieslowski. A unique testament to this cinematic legacy is Lodz’s own version of Hollywood Boulevard: The Walk of Fame, situated outside the Grand Hotel on Piotrkowska Street, adorned with bronze stars honoring prominent figures from the Polish film industry.

One of the most notable locales in Lodz is found at Piotrkowska 138/140, where OFF Piotrkowska is situated. It has been transformed into a cultural and creative hub since 2011, breathing new life into a former spinning and weaving factory for the benefit of tourists and residents alike. Approximately 50 small businesses, including designers, architects, restaurants, clubs, galleries, and concept stores, thrive within this vibrant space. In 2014, OFF Piotrkowska earned the title of “New Wonder of Poland” in a contest organized by National Geographic, solidifying its status as a cultural gem in Lodz.

Piotrkowska Street- New York Jewish Travel Guide

One must-visit attraction in Lodz is Manufaktura, the largest shopping, entertainment, and service center in Poland and one of Europe’s largest. Built on the historic site of the Izrael Poznanski factory, it seamlessly blends tradition and modernity, becoming an integral part of Lodz’s identity. Within Manufaktura, you’ll discover a four-star Andel’s hotel, an expansive market of nearly 3.5 hectares hosting concerts, parties, shows, and events that draw visitors from across Poland and beyond. The center also boasts a Museum of Art branch, an Experymentarium (science center), around 60 dining venues, supermarkets, over 260 stores and salons, a cinema, a bowling alley, a fitness club, and Europe’s longest fountain, stretching an impressive 300 meters.

Manufaktura Shopping Center- New York Jewish Travel Guide

While exploring Lodz, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the Historical Museum of Lodz, also known as the City Museum of Lodz and the Izrael K. Poznanski Palace. This magnificent neo-Baroque-style building, constructed at the turn of the 20th century for textile magnate and philanthropist Baron Izrael K. Poznanski, is a true architectural gem. In my opinion, the facade and the view from the back garden are even more impressive than the exhibits housed within.

In the afternoon, consider exploring one of Lodz’s most popular museums, such as the Museum of the Factory. Located within MANUFAKTURA, the Factory Museum delves into the history of textile factories in Lodz during the 19th century. Another intriguing option is the Herbst Palace and Museum, which once served as the residence of the Herbst family.

Lastly, don’t miss Off Piotrkowska, a former cotton mill transformed into a bohemian-inspired haven filled with bars, restaurants, galleries, and unique shops. It’s an excellent place to conclude your walking tour of Lodz.

For more information, visit:

To plan a trip to Poland, contact the Polish Tourism Board or log on to https://www.poland.travel/en  and http://travel.uml.lodz.pl/.

To travel via train, contact Rail Europe or log on to https://www.raileurope.com/.

Story and photography by Meyer Harroch, New York Jewish Travel Guide, and New York Jewish Guide.com

The author took part in a press trip sponsored by the Polish Tourism Board.

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1. Łódź - 1-day tour to the most surprising Polish city (from Warsaw)

2. Lodz Old Town Highlights Private Walking Tour

3. Lodz Small Group Tour from Warsaw with Lunch

4. Half-Day Chelmno Kulmhof Concentration Camp Private Tour

5. Jasna Gora & Black Madonna Private Tour from Lodz with Lunch

6. Unique Gems of Lodz - Walking Tour

7. Full-Day Private Historic Guided Tour of Lodz from Warsaw

8. Torun Private Tour from Lodz with Lunch

9. Romantic tour in Lodz

10. Private Walking City Tour in Lodz

11. Wroclaw Private Tour from Lodz with Lunch

12. Lodz - Full Day Tour from Warsaw by private car

13. Lodz Private Traditional Polish Food Tour

14. Lodz Private Polish Beer Tasting Tour

15. Lodz Private Vodka Tasting Tour

16. Warsaw Private Tour from Lodz with Lunch

17. Magic Christmas tour in Lodz

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Lodz does not usually rank high as a top travel destination in Poland. Generally speaking, it is an enigmatic place with a rough façade. At first sight it can be controversial, but the second sight is captivating. Having your personal Lodz tour guide guarantees you getting an in-depth taste of this big and interesting city. We can arrange both short and long excursions in several languages.

Lodz Sightseeing

• The best of the Lodz universe
• Uncapturable must-sees
• David Lynch’s favorite haunts

Jewish Lodz

• the biggest Jewish cemetery in Europe
• Chaim Rumkowski’s ghetto place
• amazing 19th century buildings

Auschwitz & Krakow

• Two places you need to see in life
• UNESCO World Heritage
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• The largest mass murder site
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Europe , Lodz , Poland , Travel Guide · October 20, 2019

22 Epic things to see and do in Lodz – The Ultimate Lodz Travel Guide

What if I tell you there is a city that is still overlooked by tourists, but has the most epic things to see and do like amazing architecture, street art, hipster bars, tasty food and a fantastic light festival? And that this place also houses the most friendly people and is incredibly budget friendly? Aren’t you excited to go there? I sure was when I found out I was going to Lodz, the third largest city of Poland! I had the opportunity to explore Lodz for four days and bundled my experiences and advice in this Lodz travel guide, so you know what are the best things to see and do in Lodz!

Lodz Travel Guide: 22 most epic things to see and do in Lodz

Lodz city mural, light move festival, one of the most epic things to do in lodz, piwnica lodzka.

Lodz currently gets overshadowed by Warsaw and Krakow. Tourism here isn’t big yet. But I’m sure this will soon change. Lodz is expert in reinventing itself and knows like no other how to give back life to old factories and buildings. Its industrial look is unique and the city houses many cool hipster bars and restaurants with the most delicious food! In Lodz the past, present and future all coexist magically.

Where is Lodz?

Lodz is situated in the center of Poland, Southwest from Warsaw. It is easy to reach by plane, train or car.

How to get there?

Lodz has its own airport about 5 kilometers from the city center, but not all airlines fly directly. Most flights arrive at Chopin Airport in Warsaw. From there it takes about 2 hours driving (1,5 hours at Polish taxi driver speed) to Lodz.

When is the best time to visit?

The best time to visit Lodz is probably now! All jokes aside, Lodz is still one of the few off the beaten path locations in Europe. So if you want to experience authentic Lodz, it is best to visit as soon as possible! The city is undergoing many changes due to renovations. A lot of money is currently invested in infrastructure, public transport and old factories being turned into loft apartments, shopping centers, hotels and cultural projects like museums, movie theaters, restaurants etc.

A fun time to visit Lodz is during the Light Move Festival. During this period you can find numerous light installations accompanied by performances, concerts, deejays and art shows.

Where to stay in Lodz?

I stayed at the Tobaco Hotel , which in my opinion was the perfect base to explore all the amazing things to see and do in Lodz! This stylish hotel is located in the former Kretschmer wool mill. In 1925 the mill was converted into a tobacco and cigarette factory. You can notice this by the many posters and advertisements hanging on the walls in the hotel.

The rooms are spacious (even the single rooms), clean and colorful. The breakfast buffet is served in the restaurant “Kretschmer’s” located in the basement and offers plenty of food and drink options. You can also have lunch or dinner at the restaurant, which I recommend because their tomato soup, deer tartar and pierogi were absolutely delicious!

Another reason why I loved staying at the Tobaco hotel is its location. It is not situated near Lodz main street Piotrkowska or its most famous attraction Manufaktura, but you can easily take tram 12, which stops in front of the hotel. It only takes about 8 stops to reach Piotrkowska.

How long should you stay in Lodz?

I spent 3 nights/4 days in Lodz, but I felt as if I could’ve stayed a little longer to explore some more. 5 days would’ve been perfect.

How to best visit Lodz and experience its awesome things to see and do?

Lodz is a city you have to experience. You can’t find famous big monuments, but the red brick city has some very cool places to visit. Most of them are old factories turned into something else, like shopping malls, museums, etc. And thanks to its rich textile industry history there are also a lot of palaces to discover, once belonging to one of the textile kings (Izrael Poznański and Karol Scheibler). I am sure it won’t take much time anymore until these monumental factories become (insta)famous!

The trick to find the most epic things to see and do in Lodz is a guide! My trip definitely wouldn’t have been the same without my awesome tour guide Krzysztof ! Not only did he have great stories to tell, he also showed things in the city I never would’ve noticed myself! He took me to little alleys and hidden corners proving Lodz is a city you have to experience by wandering around, exploring every alley, looking up, looking down, looking behind you… but more on that later!

Exploring a city on foot is always my favorite thing to do. But knowing Lodz has one of the longest shopping streets in the world (4,2 km) and museums spread all over the city, it is better to use public transport! Taking the tram in Lodz is super easy! You can even pay by credit card on the tram! (First time I ever saw this in my life)

A short history of Lodz

Lodz used to be the most important place for textile in Europe. The development of this once small settlement began in the 19 th  century, when innovation in steam and electricity revolutionized the world economy. The city grew around its big factories and attracted a lot of people. A lot of the factories were owned by Jews (Izrael Poznański).

Lodz knew a huge Jewish population and after the invasion of the German army during WWII, they were forced into a walled zone; the Lodz Ghetto. Here, they needed to work for the Germans. Once they became useless to the Nazi (too old, weak or wounded to work), they were sent to German concentration and extermination camps. 

After the fall of communism, Lodz’ prosperity declined and factories had to close. Currently it are those factories that are getting renovated and turned into fantastic new projects.

Along with textile, Lodz was also the birth place of cinematography. The Lodz National Film school produced famous Polish directors such as  Roman Polanski  and  Andrzej Wajda . “The Promised Land” is probably Wajda’s most famous film about Lodz’ textile industry and creativity. Even today Lodz is known to have produced the best directors, tv hosts and camera men in the country.

Epic things to see and do in Lodz

Piotrkowska Street

Lodz doesn’t have a big market square, but it does have Piotrkowska Street! It is 4.2 km long and one of the biggest shopping streets in the world. What makes this street so unique and fun to explore are the old houses, palaces, villas and churches. All built in different architectural styles, sizes and colors. You can also find a lot of statues of famous citizens of Lodz like Artur Rubinstein and the textile kings.

The part of Piotrkowska Street near the town hall is paved with several hundred metres of cobblestones with the names of the inhabitants of Lodz. The number of stones keeps rising as each citizen of Lodz can purchase a plaque to be part of it.

Another interesting part of Piotrkowska street can be found between Moniuszki Street and Rubinsteina Pasaz. This part is Lodz own personal Walk of Fame, also called HollyLodz. Here you’ll find brass stars with the names of famous Polish actors, directors, film composers, etc. After all Lodz is home to one of the best film schools in the world!

Side streets of Piotrkowska

Like I wrote previously, Lodz is a city you have to experience. You have to think outside the box. Not just move from one place to another. Take side streets and even walk through gates that look as if the courtyard behind it is private. Always with respect for the property and its inhabitants of course. But honestly, when I was taking photos at more private parts, the owners often just smiled or even opened the gate for me! These were some of my favorites:

Pasaż Róży, one of the most epic things to see in Lodz

This is the first alley you’ll find if you start exploring Piotrkowska from the Freedom Square (Plac Wolnosci) on the Northside. Mirrors completely cover the façades of the houses in this street. Some even shaped like roses.

Joanna Rajkowska is the one who created this piece of art. She got the idea from her daughter Roza’s rare eye cancer. After chemotherapy, she was able to see again and the idea of transforming the street from “not seeing to seeing” brought it all to life!

“Birth of the Day”

When you turn into the Wieckowskiego street, take the gate of number 4 on the left and you will discover the artistic yard of Wojciech Siudmak “Birth of the Day”.

What makes this place so unique is the recreation of Siudmak’s painting on 260 stoneware tiles, precisely arranged on the walls of the buildings in the courtyard – including windows that fit perfectly into the artist’s work. This installation covers a total of 350 sq m.

“Neighbors” of the Spanish sculptor Isaac Cordal

Next to Gen. Romualda Traugutta 8 you will find a third artistic yard with the art installation “Neighbors” of the Brussels-based Spanish sculptor Isaac Cordal. These little suited men on their terrace holding their cellphones stand for the social isolation, the disconnection from the real world.

Mural Aleja Leona Schillera

Also at the Aleja Leona Schillera you can find an enormous mural of what is hidden behind Piotrkowska 114. It refers to the place and its history. It shows the market hall and two men carrying a block of ice from the market ice shop and the facade of the building. You can also see the hair salon that is still there. The artist also added the original signboard from the mirror factory, which was located in this place before the war. Make sure to visit this place with a guide who can give you all the details of this masterpiece.

Charlie Chaplin & Cabinet of Illusions

At Piotrkowska 120 you will encounter an outdoor cinema with a painted cinema screen! Above the screen is a mural of Charlie Chaplin. On the other side of the alley you’ll discover another mural “Cabinet of Illusions” designed by Aleksandra Soćko. It presents the brothers Władysław and Antoni Krzemiński, who launched the first stationary cinema in Poland at this address in 1899.

Also situated in this street is Hotel Stare Kino. Which is a hotel I definitely want to stay at next time. All its rooms contain attributes used in movies and it looks amazing!

Mural by Aryz and the Os Gemeos brothers

Another wall is covered at the Franklina Delano Roosevelta with a mural masterpiece created by Aryz and the Os Gemeos brothers in 2012 for the Urban Forms project. They painted this mural in 10 days.

The largest of all murals of Łódź and Europe, at 30x20m, representing the city, created by Meisal i Bary can be found at Piotrkowska 152. Because it was the largest graffiti in the world, it was mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records.

Off Piotrkowska

This “hipster area” is located between numbers 138-140 on Piotrkowska. It consists of the beautiful old cotton mill buildings of the former Ramisch factory, which are now turned into trendy restaurants, bars, clubs and shops. This is the perfect place to hang out on a sunny day to enjoy drinks on one of the many terraces or have a night out.

Piotrkowska Centrum Tram Station

Never before did I visit such a colorful tram station. Warsaw-based architecture practice Foroom designed this gem. Because of its many colors it received the nickname The Unicorn Stable.

Museum of the Sewer „Tube“

This underground canal system used to store water to clean the sewage. It is about 150 meters long and can hold the capacity of 300 000 liters. Today, as the first sewer in Poland open to visitors, it is a path-breaking museum project and a big tourist attraction of Łódź.

Księży Młyn

Karol Wilhelm Scheibler, the richest industrialist of Lodz founded Księży Młyn (Priest’s Mill) in the 19th century . This company town within the city included factory buildings, terraced houses for workers, shops, a school, hospitals, a fire station and a gas works building.

My guide was a big movie lover and added the extra info that scenes of the Belgian movie Daens were shot here. I only saw this residential and industrial complex by night. But even then it was impressive. I really started dreaming about living in one of those incredible loft apartments!

Center of Science and Technology/ EC1

The former first heat and power plant of Lodz is now the headquarter of the Center of Science and Technology, also called EC-1. Here you can “play” with all different kinds of installations concerning energy conversion, development of science and civilization and the micro and macro world. I especially liked the parts where you could see how the heat and power plant used to work. Another fantastic feature of EC-1 is the planetarium. Here I watched a movie about exoplanets called “Unexplored Worlds”. It is the most modern planetarium of Poland.

Did you know that Lodz was the favorite city of director David Lynch (Twin Peaks)? He even tried to move his own film studio to EC1. Unfortunately it didn’t happen.

Museum of the City of Lodz

This museum is inside the neo baroque palace of Izrael Kalmanowicz Poznański. Unfortunately they were renovating it during my visit, because I really loved the exterior in the back. Inside you’ll discover the over the top decorated rooms of the palace. It is obvious that Poznanski liked to impress. I loved the wooden columns with the carved playing cards in the gambling room. It was a nice detail to show what this room was used for. A few rooms are dedicated to Rubinstein, the famous pianist.

Museum of the Factory

This museum is located at the Manufaktura site. There are old textile machines that produce a serious amount of noise! I just couldn’t imagine what it must’ve been like in the old days, when people had to work in the middle of hundreds of these machines. They probably became deaf quickly!

You can visit the rooftop, where you have a few of the complete Manufaktura site!

Manufaktura

Manufaktura is the most impressive shopping and entertainment center I’ve ever seen! It is a massive factory complex (what else?) of 27 ha turned into museums, shops, discos, restaurants and bars, sport centers, etc. It is the most extraordinary revitalization of a former factory complex in Lodz in my opinion!

Museum of Textile Industry History

Located at Ludwik Geyer’s White Factory, this museum houses steam-driven looms and fabric-printing machines. You can see how people had to work and how they lived. Also the building itself is worth the visit. The only downside is that most things are in Polish. So definitely visit this place with a guide!

Jewish Cemetery

The Jewish Cemetery of Lodz is one of the biggest in the world (40 ha). You will discover about 230 000 graves here. It has a spooky vibe with all the broken grave stones. The most impressive graves were the graves of the King of Textile (Poznanski) who has the biggest Jewish tombstone in the world, the King of Crime (a small grave, but I found it interesting and funny that someone placed play cards on the grave an that he is placed in front of the massive grave of Poznanski)) and the ghetto field (45 000 jews who died in the ghetto are burried in this field).

Also the empty open graves are still kept. These were dug by the remaining jews of the ghetto. They had to dig their own graves, but the Nazi’s were surprised by the speed of the Sovjet soldiers and didn’t have the time to complete their execution.

Radegast Station, an emotional thing to see in Lodz

Not too far from the Jewish cemetery you’ll find Radegast Station. This station used to transport the Jews from the Lodz ghetto to the extermination camps. Inside there is a massive model of the Lodz ghetto to show how big it was. On the rails they placed three original Deutsche Reisebahn cattle trucks. I went inside and it gave me serious chills.

Fabryczna station

It is the biggest most modern train station of Lodz. They kept the facades of the large white townhouses as a reminder of the old Fabryczna station. The station’s modern architecture comprises of a lot of glass work and metal. It is very clean and white. I loved the waiting rooms with their modern cartoons on the walls!

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

This cute little orthodox church is so colorful! It was built during the period when Poland was a part of the Russian empire. Seeing this made me want to visit Saint Petersburg and Moscow! Unfortunately I wasn’t able to visit the interior. The gate was closed because of all the light installations for the Light Move Festival.

Every year during the last weekend of September a huge light festival takes place in Lodz. Artistic illuminations and multi-format displays in 2D/3D mapping technology decorate monuments and facades of buildings. The idea is to change the perception of the city and the city image. There are DJs playing, stalls selling food and illuminated balloons and glasses and even the opera gives free open air performances accompanied by a light show!

Photos don’t do it any justice, so I hope the video I will post later will be able to show the festival at its best!

Where to eat in Lodz?

This restaurant is located at the Manufaktura site. It is a cozy restaurant in a traditional decor offering delicious food! I loved the food and I strongly recommend the chocolate dessert!

Ogrodowa 19a, 91-065 Łódź

In one of the side streets of Piotrkowska you’ll find the Cud Miod restaurant with huge tomato soup cans in the windows. I had the tomato soup (typically Polish) and a tasty salad here for lunch. It is a more modern restaurant, but very good.

Gen. Romualda Traugutta 2, 90-102 Łódź

At the Off Piotrkowska center are a lot of good hipster restaurants and bars. I ate at Drukarnia and didn’t regret it! The mushroom pasta was delicious and my travel compagnon loved the duck! The chocolate cheesecake was the perfect dessert!

Off Piotrkowska, Piotrkowska 138/140, 90-062 Łódź

This restaurant was my last stop in Lodz. So I decided to end with what I started this fantastic trip, because I loved it so much; the deer tartar and pierogi! Also at this restaurant they were absolutely exquisite!

Henryka Sienkiewicza 67, 90-009 Łódź

Practical tips

– Always try the fresh lemonade in every restaurant! It is the best! – Learn some Polish words!

• hello / good morning / Good day: dzień dobry!
• thank you: dziękuję
• good: dobry (when someone asks if the food is good just answer “dobry dobry”, Polish people often say words twice)
• cheers: na zdrowie (prior to drinking alcohol)

– If you truly want to experience the most epic things to see and do in Lodz and its history hire a guide ! – Polish people are really sweet! If you need help don’t hesitate to ask them, they will gladly help you!

Lodz Video: best things to see and do in Lodz

Pin this Lodz Travel Guide for later

This article is sponsored by the Lodz Tourism Organisation and Polish Tourism Organisation . However, my opinion is, as always, my own.

If you want to help me a little please share this “Epic things to see and do in Lodz – The Ultimate Travel Guide” on Facebook, Twitter or any kind of social media. A small thing for you to do that can make a big difference for me! Massive thanks! If you like the pictures in this article, I suggest to follow  my Instagram account  where you can find a lot more! Don’t hesitate to leave comments or questions down below!

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October 21, 2019 at 8:21 AM

Looks like a place for me: architecture, nice food, street art, etc 🙂

October 22, 2019 at 8:02 PM

Yep! You should go!

October 22, 2019 at 7:56 PM

Industrious past with fascinating museums and beautiful architecture- Lodz has everything to attract tourist for all across the globe. I loved the mural on the walls, great way to preserve and remind the past. Credit card payment on tram is great initiative esp for the tourist. I never heard of this city before; inspiring write up 👌.

I never heard of it before either until I won this trip at the Belgian Travel Blog Awards! I am glad I was able to discover something off the beaten path! I loved it!

January 23, 2021 at 6:50 PM

Great post! I visited Lodz a few months ago, but didn’t know the story behind all those colorful murals. It was really interesting to read about some of them. Thank you

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Things to do in Lodz – Off-the-Beaten-Path in Poland

by Mark | October 30, 2016 | Europe Guides , Poland | 6 comments

How to spend a few days exploring Lodz, Poland’s third-largest city

Lodz (pronounced woodge ), approximately 130km south-west of Warsaw, is not a city that instantly grows on you. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find plenty of things to do in Lodz. It doesn’t have the (almost) mandatory picturesque square that you will find in so many of Poland’s other cities and towns. Instead, the centre of the city is dominated by a wide and rather long, central boulevard named Piotrkowska Street. What’s more, Lodz is a grand city, not a pretty one (another adjective that can so often be attributed to numerous Polish cities and towns). Its more recent heritage lies in industry, textiles to be precise, and the city grew magnificently wealthy in the 19th century off the back of its production. At its height, Lodz was the main centre of textile manufacturing for the then-mighty Russian Empire and was sometimes referred to as the Manchester of Poland. As a result of all of this wealth, rich mill owners and industrialists, such as Izrael K. Poznanski (see below), left their mark by building opulent palaces and mansions throughout the city. 

There are also plenty of former textile mills and factories scattered throughout. Some of these buildings, for example, Manufaktura and OFF Piotrkowska (again see below), have been renovated and turned into shopping malls, restaurants, bars, boutiques, offices etc. but you still see plenty of rundown or part-renovated ones as you walk around and discover the city. How long this will be so is a good question. Lodz is a city of rejuvenation. Millions of euros have been poured into it in recent years and everywhere you look, buildings and streets are receiving tasteful facelifts. For the time being, though, the grit is still there and it is this Beauty and the Beast combination that makes Lodz one of Poland’s most engaging cities to visit.    

As a result of the Great Depression of the 1930s, the devastation of World War II and decades of Communist rule, the city’s industrial strength fell into serious decline in the 20th century but Lodz also has a second industry that is active and doing rather well and that is filmmaking. Nicknamed Hollywoodge , Lodz has long been accredited as the centre of Polish movie making. Several renowned Polish directors, including Roman Polanski, attended the National Film School in Lodz, while part of the city’s Cinematography Museum is dedicated to the Polish movie industry (the rest of the museum is devoted to carved wood panelling!). The city even has its own Walk of Fame located outside the Grand Hotel on Piotrkowska Street.

Things to do in Lodz?

Self-guided walking tour of Lodz (approximately 5 hours)

The Tourist Board on Piotrkowska Street is a good place to begin a walking tour of the city. Firstly get yourself a city map and also ask the Tourist Board for a copy of their free guidebook entitled Jewish Landmarks in Lodz . This useful publication highlights what there is to see in the Litzmannstadt (former Jewish ghetto) district of the city and without it, a self-guided visit to this particular part of the city would be fairly meaningless as you won’t know where to go and what to look out for. If the Tourist Board on Piotrkowska Street doesn’t have a copy of this guide, try the branch at Manufaktura, which you will pass before heading up to Litzmannstadt. Alternatively, download it from the Tourist Board’s website .

With maps in hand, head along Piotrkowska Street in a northerly direction. Outside the Grand Hotel you will see plenty of bronze stars honouring famous names from the Polish film industry – Lodz’s own version of Hollywood Boulevard !

Remember to look up as you walk along the street. Although much of the city’s key architecture was either destroyed during World War II or allowed to fall into a state of disrepair in the wake of the Communist-era, many buildings on Piotrkowska Street have now been restored or are in the process of being so. That said, we also enjoyed ducking off the main drag to look at some of the side-streets and courtyards, many of which are still fairly rundown and full of character.

Before you reach Plac Wolnosci (Freedom Square) at the top of Piotrkowska Street, take a left down a gated side alley (more or less opposite the Church of Pentecost ) to visit the Former Hotel Polski . Now apartments, the building is noteworthy as it is completely covered in tiny pieces of mirrors. Of all the things to do in Lodz, taking a selfie or two here is probably one of the most popular.

Continue across Freedom Square (still going north) for two blocks and then turn right and walk towards the impressive Manufaktura. On the way, you can stop to visit the Historical Museum of Lodz (also known as the City Museum of Lodz and the Izrael K. Poznanski Palace). Built at the turn of the 20th century for the textile magnate and philanthropist, Baron Izrael K. Poznanski, it really is a glorious-looking, Neo-Baroque style building but in our opinion, the facade and the view from the back garden are more impressive than the contents within.

It’s not often that we recommend including a visit to a shopping centre in our suggested walking tours, but the massive, 100 square metres plus Manufaktura is well worth seeing. Once an abandoned textile mill, the complex is a good example of the rejuvenation project I touched on earlier. It is now home to shops, offices, restaurants, bars etc. and a good place to stop for a rest and something to eat or drink before continuing to Litzmannstadt.

Litzmannstadt was the first Polish intercity Jewish ghetto to be established by the Germans at the beginning of World War II and second only in size to the Warsaw Ghetto in all of German-occupied Europe. These days the district is evidence that Lodz still has a bit of an edgy side to it. When discussing our intended visit with the Tourist Board, the woman we spoke to advised us to be a little vigilant as we walked through this part of the city. Of course, we were there in daylight hours, but I still think she was being a bit overcautious. Nonetheless, the district is certainly working class and quite run down in parts.

Places of interest in Litzmannstadt are numbered in the Jewish Landmarks in Lodz guidebook. Note, the total distance covered if you decide to visit all of the places mentioned on the route is approximately 10km. On top of that, we decided to walk to the starting point of the tour from Manufaktura, which took us about 30 minutes (there are also regular trams). There are forty-one sights and places of interest on the walking tour, of which many are noteworthy mainly for their historical value. The most significant sights on the tour are the impressive Radegast Station Memorial (#23), the Monument to the Child in Szarych Szeregow Park (#20) and the Jewish Cemetery (#22). The latter is the only place on the tour which has an entrance fee.

You don’t have to follow the tour in chronological order and we ended our walk at the cemetery. From there we took tram #6 back to the northern end of Piotrkowska Street.   Despite a lot of walking, the tour was certainly worth doing, but I will reiterate that without a copy of the Jewish Landmarks in Lodz booklet, it’s difficult to locate many of the district’s sights and places of interest. Furthermore, you need the guidebook’s descriptions in order to get the most out of the tour.

Back in the centre of the city, veer away from Piotrkowska Street to visit the colourful Eastern Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral .

Our suggested walking tour ends at the southern end of Piotrkowska Street at the rather cool OFF Piotrkowska so you can either stroll along Piotrkowska Street once more or head down one of the streets that run parallel to it.

OFF Piotrkowska is a former cotton mill that has been transformed into a bohemianesque playground that is full of bars, restaurants, galleries and quirky shops. We ended up here at lunchtime (well-timed for a   late lunch and couple of afternoon beers!) but regardless of the time of day, OFF Piotrkowska is a great to place in which to end a walking tour of Lodz.

Street art in Lodz

Lodz has a thriving street art scene. There is plenty of it clearly visible within the proximity of Piotrkowska Street plus additional murals further afield, including some interesting pieces in Litzmannstadt. Below is a small taster of what you can see in Lodz but Kirsty intends to showcase it in more detail in a separate post so watch this space! On the recommendation of our friend Kami at Kami & the rest of the World , we downloaded and printed a useful map which highlights the location of Lodz’s plentiful street art.

Where to stay in Lodz

We stayed at the very grand-sounding Hotel Savoy . Situated just off Piotrkowska Street, the location was excellent and our room was quite big (separate bedroom and lounge) but there was something rather Psychoesque   about the place – long, empty corridors, an eerie silence throughout, floor-ladies who would just appear from nowhere and an elevator attendant (yep, you weren’t allowed to ride the elevator on your own) that had us looking at our feet for the whole, seemingly very long, ride to our floor. If we returned to Lodz, we would probably look for somewhere a little more vibrant but for price and location, the Hotel Savoy was fine.

Getting to Lodz

There are at least hourly connections on both trains and buses between Lodz and Warsaw. Both modes of transport take between 2 and 2½ hours. Lodz is also well connected with other cities in Poland. For example, we visited en route between Warsaw and Poznan but there are also good transport links to Krakow and other popular destinations.

We travelled from Warsaw on the Polski Bus which, if booked in advance, is a very economical way of travelling not just between Warsaw and Lodz but to plenty of other destinations in Poland as well.

Keep in mind that Lodz is also serviced by RyanAir and a few other budget airlines. The city is perfect for a long weekend break.

Is Lodz worth visiting?

There are plenty of interesting things to do in Lodz, and the answer to this question is most definitely, yes. We are a tad biased in that we really enjoy Poland and haven’t been disappointed by any of the places we have visited on previous trips to the country but Lodz is quite unique when we compare it to other Polish destinations we have been to. Our first impression (during the walk into the centre from the bus station) were ‘ hmm, this is a bit rough-looking compared to Krakow for example’ but you soon realise that the grittiness of the city blends perfectly with its historic grandeur and we certainly enjoyed the couple of days that we spent there.

Have we inspired you to travel to Lodz? Pin this article to your travel boards…

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I’m really glad you guys enjoyed Łódź, otherwise I’d feel so bad for sending you there 😉 The funny thing is I’ve recommended the city to so many people yet I only got to visit it this August! And I loved it! One weekend wasn’t enough for me to see everything I wanted to! Łódź is definitely one of the most unique Polish destinations and I dare to say so much better than Kraków 😉

We did Kami and thank you for recommending it to us, not sure it would have been on our radar if you hadn’t. Krakow verses Lodz, not sure I want to get involved in that one :-), I like them both but actually if I had to pick a favourite Polish city, I would either go for Warsaw or Poznan. We will look forward to more summer exploration next year – Gdansk and the north is probably the region we will target …

I married a women from Łódź and have now been there 5 times. Have also visited Kraków, Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia, Warsaw and Sandomierz. I like Łódź very much as my home base. Feel very lucky. If I moved to Poland though I think the Tri-City area is my favorite: Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot. Warsaw might also be livable for me. I did not fall in love with Kraków at all.

Have to agree with you re Krakow but we are very keen on Warsaw and our next visit to Poland will be centred around the Tri-City area as we keep hearing good things about it!

Lodz is a nice city to visit but it’s nothing compared to Warsaw and it’s city life. I am involve with Warsaw, with polish people , food, girls. I love the way polish people party. I experienced there the most crazy night in my live. I was in new orleans club. it’s unforgettable!

Agreed! Warsaw is a great city with lots going on, but for travellers seeking a slower pace or looking to get off the beaten path, we think Łódź has a lot to offer. It’s very manageable and has an interesting history.

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• Wednesday 24 April 2024

Klub Wytwórnia , Lodz, Poland

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Atlas Arena , Lodz, Poland

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Wooltura , Lodz, Poland

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Banisher and Truism

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Oxford Drama and Raz Dwa Trzy

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Yasmin Levy

• Wednesday 29 May 2024

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Teatr Muzyczny , Lodz, Poland

• Thursday 30 May 2024
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Lodz, Poland

• Tuesday 18 June 2024

Rod Stewart

• Saturday 22 June 2024

I REFUSE, Arcabe Dust, and Perverse

• Friday 12 July 2024 – Sunday 14 July 2024

Audioriver Festival 2024 Elderbrook and Folamour

Park "Na Zdrowiu" , Lodz, Poland

• Tuesday 23 July 2024

Lenny Kravitz

• Friday 16 August 2024 – Saturday 17 August 2024

Santander Letnie Brzmienia 2024 Brodka, Lemon, Daria Zawiałow, MARGARET, Mrozu, Vito Bambino, Kaśka Sochacka, and Łąki Łan

• Friday 30 August 2024

Cold in Berlin

6 Sierpnia 5, Przechowalnia , Lodz, Poland

• Sunday 08 September 2024

Batushka Shadohm and Terrordome

• Thursday 03 October 2024

Ibrahim Maalouf

• Thursday 10 October 2024

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds Dry Cleaning

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Bryan Adams

Renata Przemyk Dagadana

• Tuesday 15 October 2024

Melanie Martinez Men I Trust and Elita

• Friday 25 October 2024

Within Temptation

• Sunday 03 November 2024

Dream Theater

• Thursday 14 November 2024

Jacob Collier

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Twenty One Pilots

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