Łódź.
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Overview

Łódź (Pronounced: Wootch) is Poland's third biggest city, and the capital of the Łódzkie Voivodship. Unlike most other large Polish cities, which have long histories, Łódź was created almost from scratch during the 19th-century textile industry boom to house textile mills, their owners and their workers, and rapidly grew to become an important industrial and commerce centre. Since the end of the Soviet era, the textile industry split into many smaller companies, which often specialize in technically complex products such as lingerie and wedding dresses. The city rebounded in the 21st century due to foreign investment in IT industries.

Owing to its history, Łódź has an impressive collection of residential, commercial and industrial 19th-century architecture including some of Europe's largest factory buildings, now mostly repurposed as shopping centres or lofts. Local investment and a long-standing cultural scene ensures there is always something more to do than just sightseeing or shopping, with the city hosting some of the best museums and art galleries in the country. The close proximity of Warsaw and Łódź's location at the crossroads of the Polish motorway system make it an ideal destination for a day trip or longer city break.

Understand

Name and history The origin of the city's name is unknown, however, the word łódź translates to "boat" in English. This is referred to in the emblem and when you hear the dwellers of Łódź (łodzianin (man) łodzianka (woman) łodzianie (plural)) calling themselves "the boat people".

A settlement on the area of present-day Łódź was established in the 14th century and in 1423 it was granted a town charter, along with the right to have a marketplace. However, the real development of Łódź started with the industrial era at the beginning of the 19th century when the city was chosen to be the heart of the rapidly-growing textile industry. The population of Łódź soared from some 4,000 people in the 1830s and 40,000 in 1865 to over 300,000 inhabitants at the turn of the century, which was an unprecedented growth on a worldwide scale.

The rapid development of Łódź in the second half of the 19th century was brought about by the rise of enormous industrialist fortunes. New inhabitants, craftsmen and merchants came to Łódź; markets and town fairs came to life. The profits obtained from prosperous textile mills opened up practically unlimited possibilities for their owners. The city residences became expressions of the riches and power of the local tycoons. They were usually next to the owner's factory.

Ever since the industrial revolution brought a massive influx of workforce, Łódź had been a city almost equally divided between four cultures - Polish, Jewish, German and Russian. The day before the outbreak of World War II, Łódź was inhabited by approximately 672,000 people, among whom 35% were of Jewish faith and some 15% were ethnic German. Andrzej Wajda's movie, Promised Land based on a novel by the Nobel laureate Władysław Reymont, depicts those times and is a worthwhile introduction to the city's bustling history.

During the Nazi occupation, Łódź was incorporated directly into the Third Reich. The city was renamed to Litzmannstadt, and Piotrkowska Street was called Adolf-Hitler-Strasse. The Jewish community was practically wiped out, and many others lost their lives. Although the city was not destroyed in the aftermath, the material losses were serious as the machinery, raw materials and finished goods were taken away by the fleeing Nazis. The day before the liberation, about 80,000 Germans left Łódź in panic. At the beginning of 1945, the population was estimated at 300,000.

Łódź today Since the fall of communism in Poland, Łódź has not enjoyed the rapid economic growth cities like Kraków, Warsaw and Wrocław have experienced, and has had to endure the fall of much of its textile industry, high unemployment and emigration (within Poland and abroad). This led to further dilapidation of the investment-starved city, and many of its streets and buildings show profound signs of neglect. At first glance, for a city of 680,000 and agglomeration of 1.1 million (2019), there does not seem to be much to see. However, the situation is rapidly changing now with Łódź campaigning and redesigning itself as an up-and-coming destination. To accomplish this, Łódź has been capitalizing on its film history - Łódź is jokingly referred to as the "HollyŁódź" of Poland and hosts several film festivals and many other cultural events.

Łódź today may not have the glitz and glamour of its heyday; however, there is a certain charm to Łódź in its partially renovated façades and leitmotivs, not to mention its grand artistic traditions.

Orientation The main tourist office is at Piotrkowska 28/2U. You should also be able to get a map and some tips at the airport.

Łódź is divided into five districts: Śródmieście - central downtown area Polesie - western residential area Widzew - eastern industrial and residential area Bałuty - northern industrial and residential area Górna - southern residential area

Get in

To travel between the city and the airport:

Public transport, buses 65A and 65B serve the airport. Read more in the public transport section. Taxi, in front of the terminal there is a number of taxis to choose from.

The marginalisation of Łódź's own airport is due to the proximity of the Warsaw's Chopin Airport (WAW), which offers a wide range of European and intercontinental flights. Warsaw's other airport, Modlin Airport (served by Ryanair only), is farther away.

Łódź Fabryczna is a centrally-located terminal station for domestic trains, incl. direct trains from Warsaw, Kraków, Gdynia, Poznań. Luggage lockers 13-16 zł/24 hr. Łódź Widzew is a station east of the center, which handles most intercity traffic to and from Łódź. You can get there on trams number 8, 9 and 10 and many buses (if travelling by tram, you need to alight at the Rondo Inwalidów stop and walk alongside Adamieckiego street). Łódź Kaliska is a station west of the center that, as of 2018, does not handle any transit trains and offers connections mainly to nearby towns around Łódź such as Sieradz or Kutno.

By car Łódź lies at the centre of Poland's road and highway system. The nearby city of Stryków is important motorway junction, where two of the most important motorways cross each other: The A2 E30 runs from Berlin to Warsaw (through Poznań). The section between Berlin and Konin requires hefty tolls. An alternative is taking the former country road no. 2 . The A1 between Gdańsk and Katowice was completed in 2013. The 1 E75 is its country road equivalent.

The planned A8 highway to Wrocław has been downgraded in plans to S8 expressway.

Flixbus serves Berlin, Prague, Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdansk, Katowice, Zakopane and Poznań. Buses depart from Łódź Fabryczna bus station (adjacent to the train station).

Eurolines serves many European routes.

Small minibus and bus companies offer connections between Łódź and number of cities (big and small) around Poland. While most of these depart from Łódź Fabryczna station. The Czech bus company Leoexpress connects Łódź Fabryczna railway station with Warszawa Zachodnia bus terminal and Młociny metro station.

Get around

On foot Depending on your level of fitness, you can see the whole of the city center without needing any transport. However, for some attractions like the Old Jewish Cemetery or Botanical Garden you will be better off taking a bus.

In winter snow is sometimes not removed from the sidewalks, resulting in a mixture of snow and mud. Be sure to bring waterproof shoes if you plan to travel on foot in the winter.

By bike A bicycle sharing system was implemented in Łódź in 2016. There are 154 bike stations available and 1540 bikes for rent. You need to register with a fee of 20zł, but if you return the bike within 20 minutes no money is charged. For more information and the full tariff, see the ŁRP website (available in English). Bikes are not available in the winter season.

The public transport system is operated by MPK-Łódź (apart from two bus lines: 6 and 61, operated by other companies, but the same tickets are valid within city limits; don't mistake the bus line 6 with the tram line 6, which has the same number, but is operated by MPK). It is definitely the cheapest way of moving around the city. The descriptions on the bus and tram stops are in Polish only, but they should be easy to follow. See the Polish phrasebook if you feel uncomfortable. For schedules of buses and trams see also jakdojade.pl (available in English). Outside of the rush hour (07:00-09:00 and 15:00-18:00), the public transport is quite efficient and runs on time. During the rush hours and in winter (during snowy conditions) be prepared for some delays.

Łódź is divided into two ticket zones: inner-city and suburban (the division doesn't concern 20-minute, 40-minute and 60-minute tickets). The inner-city tickets are valid within the city borders, while the suburban ones - in the neighbouring towns and villages serviced by the Łódź public transport system (with some exceptions in the towns of Zgierz and Pabianice, which will be explained later on).

Some of the lines have variants marked by different letters. In the case of some lines there are only two of those (9A and 9B, or 10A and 10B), but with some lines there are as many as five (53A-E). Always check the timetable, where all the information is always included.

Every ticket allows you to change the vehicle an unlimited number of times within the ticket time (waiting time at the bus or tram stop also counts, so be careful if you have a "short" ticket and a long connection). a student ID of a Polish university or an ISIC card) as it will be requested during the ticket control.

Validate your ticket immediately after you enter a bus or a tram - it should be the first thing you do. It is advisable to buy tickets beforehand in numerous newspaper kiosks and small groceries. There are also ticket machines at selected spots in the city, usually near busy sites in the city centre, and these accept both cash and cards. Most of the vehicles (except those operating bus lines 6 and 61) are equipped with ticket machines, but the majority of these accept only payment by card. If the ticket machine in the vehicle is out of order and you run into ticket control, you can buy a ticket for 4.40 zł (cash only) from the controllers and avoid the penalty fee. This does not include situations in which the machine is only temporarily blocked, so the regulations leave some room for interpretation and it is a good idea to buy the ticket before boarding the vehicle. It is not possible to buy tickets from the driver.

Tickets valid for longer than 24 hours are written onto an electronic card called "Migawka"; you can buy them in a few dozen sales points. Tickets valid for longer than 5 days are available in two versions - bearer and personal. Personal tickets are cheaper, but they must be ordered in advance (online or at one of 5 MPK customer service points) and you must attach a photo.

Unfortunately, only Skycash offers an English website, but there is still no English application.

Travelling with any luggage (within reason) or a bicycle is free of charge. During the summer, there is a special summer schedule with a reduced number of departures for most of the lines.

All traffic info (mainly disruptions) is posted in real-time on the Facebook page MPK-Łódź Traffic.

There are 18 tram lines (1-18, with variants) serving the city proper and two suburban tram lines (41 and 43). Line 10 (both variants) is served by low-floor trams throughout the day. With other lines, you are likely to find yourself boarding one of the older trams with no access for the disabled. If there is a change in the schedule (in other words, if something fails), the substitute bus lines are marked with either the Z or KZ abbreviation (for "komunikacja zastępcza" - "substitute transport"), or the number of the substituted tram. Because of the renovations of the tram tracks, some lines have been closed and are served by substitute buses. Such long-term substitute buses are marked with the letter Z and a number, often being a number of the replaced tram line - for example Z2 for a bus substituting tram number 2 (but it's not a rule).

Łódź has one of the oldest tram networks in Poland, which dates back to the 19th century. One of the attractions during the summer is taking the 'Tourist Tram Line' (43), which goes from the area of Liberty Square in Łódź (the beginning of Piotrkowska street) through the town of Konstantynów Łódzki to the village of Lutomiersk. Łódź public transport tickets (both inner-city and suburban) are valid. You can also buy tickets from the tram crew dressed in historical costumes.

By bus The buses are the backbone of the public transport in Łódź. Almost all of the buses are the easily accessible low-floor buses. The bus line map (also including trams) is worth printing and keeping in your pocket whenever you're visiting.

Night buses There are 8 night bus lines and they serve extreme points of the city. All the night lines have a common stop at Kościuszki/Zielona intersection and depart every hour starting at 22:30 on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends. Be fast to board your bus as they stand in a long line and all depart at the same time! The night bus map is separate from the day version linked above.

Suburban trams and buses The public transport system of Łódź also connects the city with neighbouring towns and villages. It is divided into two zones: the inner city and the suburban zone (the division doesn't concern 20-minute, 40-minute or 60-minute tickets, which are valid in both zones and allow crossing from one to the other). The towns of Zgierz and Pabianice have their own public transport systems and their own tickets. Outside the borders of Łódź, it is important to know which tickets you should use.

The suburban tickets of the public transport of Łódź are valid in: all the trams and buses within the borders of Łódź all the trams outside the borders of Łódź all the buses outside the borders of Łódź, except the local lines in Zgierz (including lines 6 and 61 that connect the town with Łódź; lines Z45 and Z46 are operated by MPK Łódź and require regular Łódź public transport tickets) and Pabianice.

The tickets of the public transport of Pabianice are valid in: local buses in Pabianice

The tickets of the public transport of Zgierz are valid in: buses in Zgierz - local ones and those connecting Zgierz with Łódź (6 and 61), but only within the borders of Zgierz

Travelling from Łódź to Zgierz by one of the bus lines: 6 or 61, you have to validate a new ticket at the border stop (marked in the timetable with a hash: #).

Travelling beyond Łódź city limits, you need to have a valid ticket for the suburban zone from the moment you cross the border stop (marked in the timetable with a hash: #). If you possess, for example, a monthly inner-city ticket for Łódź, and you are going to Pabianice by tram (41), you have to validate a 40-minute Łódź ticket (or another one that is valid in the suburban zone) at the Mały Skręt stop. Of course, you can have a suburban zone ticket for the whole journey, including the part within Łódź.

The unified map of both inner-city and suburban lines in the Łódź metropolitan areas is another great resource to print out and keep on your person whenever you're walking around the city.

By train Several train stops scattered throughout the city complement the city's public transport system. Łódź public transport tickets (same as for buses and trams) are valid on all trains operated by Polregio and ŁKA (Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna) companies within city limit. For long-distance trains operated by PKP Intercity you need a separate ticket. If you want to make sure your station lies within city limits, check for the name of the city in the station name (the only exception is Lublinek, which despite lacking 'Łódź' in its name still lies within city boundaries). Check the bus and tram system maps above for the location of train stations.

By car Driving in Łódź is quite easy and the rules of the road are adhered to. Pedestrians and bicycles have a right-of-way on pedestrian and bike crossings. During the rush hour, you may expect large traffic jams on the main arterial roads (Mickiewicza, Kopcińskiego, Pabianicka, Włokniarzy, Jana Pawła II, Paderewskiego, Śmigłego-Rydza, Rzgowska, Kościuszki, Strykowska and Zgierska).

Local and international car rental agencies can arrange a car for you when you arrive at the airport. When parking in the city center within the marked paid parking area, make sure you pay the parking fee. Depending on the parking zone, the fee is 1-1.50 zł for the first 30 min, 2-2.50 zł for the next hour, 3-3.50 zł for the second hour, 3.50-4 zł for the third hour, then 2.50-3 zł per every next hour. Parking can be paid with credit cards, coins or via CityParkApp and mobiParking parking apps. You only have to pay when you park between 8:00 and 18:00 on weekdays, and weekends and holidays are free. You may also park on a privately-owned parking lot in the center. A parking attendant will approach you then and put a piece of paper behind the wiper with the time you started parking. When leaving, you will have the pay the fee - it is usually the same as for the public parking (or slightly more).

Yearly passes can be bought at Zarząd Dróg i Transportu (Road and Transport Authority) at ul. Piotrkowska 171/173 (Tuesdays 09:30-16:00, every other weekday 08:30-15:30) or at the road and transport authority's Web site.

Taxis Taxis are another option to consider, and are quite cheap for a westerner. However, one should be sure that there is a taxi sign atop the cab and that the driver has a permit. 9622, 600400400 and 9191 are some of the known companies and they all have exactly same prices. You also can order a taxi via a hailing app, such as Uber, Bolt, FreeNow (former myTaxi) or iTaxi.

On Piotrkowska Street, you can travel any distance on a rickshaw for 2.50 zł per person. It gets to 4.00 zł in the night and most of the rikshaw drivers will take you out of Piotrkowska if you offer to pay more.

See

Łódź is well known for its architectural monuments which form a record of the city's heritage, particularly its unique 19th century development. Since 1989, the city of Łódź has rediscovered its industrial heritage, a unique ensemble of architecture, preserved despite two world wars.

Piotrkowska street. It is one of the longest commercial streets in Europe and one of the major attractions in the city. It runs in a straight line from the Liberty Square (Plac Wolności) to the Independence Square (Plac Niepodległości). Many pubs, bars, restaurants, and attractions are on this street. Although the cross streets have motor vehicles Piotrkowska Street itself has none so one has about 5 kms of fairly carefree strolling.

Łódź Walk of Fame. Being the Polish Hollywood, Łódź has its own Walk of Fame. Some of the names are Pola Negri, Roman Polański or Andrzej Wajda.

Old Market Square. Was once incorporated into the Ghetto. It now serves as a venue for concerts and fairs.

The Decalogue Memorial. It is a tribute to the coexistence of Poles and Jews. The memorial is close to the Old Market Square in Staromiejski Park.

Litzmannstadt Ghetto. The Litzmannstadt Ghetto was the second largest Jewish ghetto in Poland after the Warsaw Ghetto. It is referred to as both the Łódź Ghetto and the Litzmannstadt Ghetto, the latter name coming from the German general who captured the city in World War I (the entire city was later renamed Litzmannstadt in his honor). The ghetto was the last one to be liquidated due to the high productivity of the slave laborers and lack of armed resistance. See Holocaust remembrance for context.

Radegast Station. From this station thousands of people were herded to Polish death camps. After WWII it lay in ruins for many years but in 2002 efforts commenced to turn it into one of the museums of the Lodz ghetto. Today some 80 years later it remains a sad and solemn place.

Poznański Palace. A beautiful 19th-century building that was built by Izrael Poznański - a textile magnate and a philanthropist. Today it holds the Museum of the City of Łódź.

Ludwik Geyer's Mansion. A classicist mansion built in 1833 by Ludwik Geyer - one of the textile magnates. It is a privately owned property.

Karol Scheibler's Palace. Neo-Renaissance palace today hosts the Film Museum.

Leopold Kindermann's Villa. One of the most important examples of art nouveau architecture in Łódź. Built in 1903, it houses Łódź's Art Gallery.

Manufaktura. It is the largest shopping mall in the city and occupies old factory buildings.

White Factory. This old factory holds the city's Textile Museum. It's next to a small lake, and is very nicely lit during the evenings.

Księży Młyn. A large complex of 19th-century textile factories.

Kopisch's bleachery. It is the oldest (built in 1826) preserved building connected with textile Łódź. No tours inside.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. A rare example of Orthodox architecture in Poland.

St. Joseph's Church. This is the oldest building in the city - the only one built in the pre-industry period.

Jewish cemetery. For centuries, Poland was home to the largest Jewish community in the world. Jewish people also strongly influenced the history of Łódź. This is the largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. The Poznanski mausoleum near the entrance is a beautiful memorial. The cemetery has many tall trees and vines. It is very green and leafy and makes for peaceful exploring and meandering.

Old cemetery. The most important active cemetery in Łódź. Here you will find one of the most exquisite sacral buildings in Europe, the Karol Scheibler's Chapel.

Karol Scheibler's Chapel. This chapel was for a long time neglected and its condition deteriorated, however, today, works are on the way to improve its past glory.

Łódź has a surprisingly large number of museums for a city of its size and background, which strengthens its claim as a hotbed of culture and ensures there is always somewhere to go for a visitor. Most charge a small fee, though these are good value by western standards.

ms1. It was one of the first museums of modern art in Europe and has a really impressive collection of Polish and international 20th century art (for long time and arguably still the best in Poland). The building belonged to the Poznański family, same as the palace where Muzeum Historii Miasta Łodzi is located. (Tip: after leaving the museum take Gdańska street and go 50 meters up north to see the beautiful building of the Music Academy - which used to be one of the houses of Izrael Poznański. If you are confident enough you can go in (entrance on ul. 1 Maja) to see an elegant stain glass window on the first floor.)

ms2. Ms2 is dedicated mostly to the Collection of 20th and 21st Century Art. The museum is in a building of 19th century weaving plant (former part of Poznański family textile manufacture, modern days part of shopping mall Manufaktura). This museum should be considered as an extension to the ms (Muzeum Sztuki) and even the name shows that ms2 is second and also has bigger expositions area. (ms to square).

Muzeum Historii Miasta Łodzi (Museum of the City of Łódź). Various beautiful rooms with exhibitions dedicated to some of the most famous people from Łódź including writer Julian Tuwim, pianist Artur Rubenstein, and collections of items from the daily lives of those who have lived in Łódź throughout the years. The museum is in a beautiful building called Palace Poznańskiego. One of the major attractions in Łódź.

Dętka. Museum of the old sewage system in a circular water tank below pl. Wolnosci, built in brick in 1926. Accommodates max. 10 people inside, no big bags, do not go in if you are claustrophobic. A great experience otherwise.

Muzeum Archeologiczne i Ethograficzne. The largest museum in the city, containing an exceptional collection of ancient treasures and archaeological artefacts from all around the surrounding region. Many exhibits date from as long ago as the Stone Age, and cover various periods right up to the Middle Ages.

Museum of Textiles. Permanent and temporary exhibitions concerning everything connected with textiles: industry, machines and fashion. Working machines on display on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 09:00 - 17:00, and on Thursdays: 11:00 - 15:00.

Also in the complex is the Open-air Museum of the Łódź Wooden Architecture.

Parks One of the "greenest" cities in Poland, Łódź is home to 34 public parks - 11 of which are natural monuments - and one of the largest city forests in Europe is within the city borders. Perhaps the most interesting ones are:

Łódź Hills Landscape Park. A natural landscape reservation for walks and bike rides. 30 minutes by bus line 88 from the Academy of Art. Large part of Łagiewnicki Forest is a part of this park. Small outskirt villages in the park like Kalonka, Dobieszków or Wódka are among the most prestigious locations for house development.

Łagiewnicki Forest. One of the largest forest complexes in the world that is within city boundaries. Arturówek lake is a very well known local attraction during the summer, there are also numerous bike paths there.

Botanical Garden. Largest botanical garden in Poland with some very interesting natural architecture and plant exhibitions. Enter from Kusocińskiego or Krzemieniecka Street. Open from 1 April until 31 October. For 60 zł you can hire an official guide.

Źródliska Park. The oldest park in Łódź. In 2007 it was selected the most beautiful city park in Poland and it also ranked 5th in Europe. It is in the city center on Piłsudskiego Street. Inside is Palmiarnia Łódzka.

Palm House. One of the most interesting buildings in Łódź. It is in Źródliska Park. Inside, you will many unique plants. It is estimated to have 4500 plants. For 30/45 zł (depending on the ticket type) you can hire an official guide.

Józef Piłsudski Park. The largest park in Łódź. It is more a forest than a park with a few lakes and large alleys.

Poniatowski Park. It is best to enter from Parkowa Street (near Real hypermarket). The park is a very popular venue for wedding photos and casual biking. There are also tennis courts there (entry from Mickiewicza Street).

Old City Park. The Decalogue Memorial is in the park, and has an excellent view on the Old Market Square. You can play chess with the locals there.

Do

Having been primarily promoted as a centre of creative industries (arts, design, fashion), the city hosts a considerable number of cultural events throughout the year on a range of subject matter. If you are travelling not just to see beautiful architecture, but to also experience a plethora of local events, Łódź is a great place to be.

Łódź of Four Cultures Festival. Takes place every September. Intended to promote understanding and tolerance between the four nations that have built the city.

Light Move Festival. A festival of light held every October that utilises public spaces in the city centre for a spectacular show of art and video.

Explorers Festival. Extreme sports and tourism festival. Takes place every November.

International Festival of Photography. Takes place every May. All the events take place in old factories, tenement buildings and villas of Łódź – post-industrial architecture creates a truly unique atmosphere for presentation of photographs.

International Festival of Comics and Games. Held annually in October. It is the biggest comic event in Central-Eastern Europe.

Łódź Design Festival. Held in May. Hosts various exhibitions and design events.

International Festival of Music Producers Soundedit. Mostly acoustic shows.

Festival of Music Individualities Tansman. Homage to Alexandre Tansman.

International Festival of Pleasant and Unpleasant Plays. Held in the Common Theater, a long-running play festival.

Summer Academy of Jazz. Held in July-August. The jazz festival (some of the concerts are free) that attracts a number of Polish and international jazz celebrities as well as talented young musicians.

Lunapark. A popular, free theme park just outside the city.

Łódź zoo. A state-run zoo (and thus relatively low in ticket prices) that hosts a wide variety of exotic animals. The giraffes and elephants are a particular highlight

Kino Charlie. A nice cinema with mostly interesting programme of (often European and Asian) films, not as commercial as Silver Screen.

Kino Bałtyk. Once it was the largest and the most important cinema in Łódź, but it has lost the market to chains like Silver Screen or Cinema City. The cinema is right behind the philharmonic. It is well-known for its excellent sound system.

Cinema City. Comfortable, big theater with 14 cinema halls and 1 big IMAX hall offering projections of 3D movies. Movie selection contains the latest Hollywood hits with Polish subtitles.

Bodo. The small independent cinema theater with a program that will delight true cinephiles. There is also a second hall - the exprerimental one that seats only 5 spectators.

The city's theatre scene can be considered a jewel in its cultural crown and includes a diverse range of shows and productions.

Teatr Jaracza. It is considered one of the best drama theaters in Poland. They play Tuesday to Sunday mid September till mid June. On its 3 performance halls you can see modern Polish and international drama as well as the classics.

Teatr Nowy. It offers varied, mostly contemporary repertoire. Also the quality is varied so better ask for advice someone local or ask staff for an honest recommendation. The building served a Jewish cabaret before World War II and a Jewish theatre until 1948 (later it moved to Warsaw).

Teatr Wielki. It is the largest theatre in the city (second largest in Poland) with 1070 seats. It specializes in opera, operetta and ballet.

Teatr Powszechny. A very popular theatre that hosts many well-known plays and a few festivals.

Teatr Muzyczny. Musicals and operettas are the main plays here.

Artur Rubinstein's Łódz Philharmonic. Second oldest philharmonic in Poland. If you are a fan of classical music, this is a place to go. Behind the philharmonic is Kino Bałtyk.

Tango Milongas usually take place on Wednesday and Saturday. They typically start at 19:00-20:00 and don't last longer than till 22:00-00:00. Several long and short tango courses are usually organized through the year.

Sports Football: Widzew Łódź play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground Municipal Stadium (capacity 18,000) is 2.5 km east of city centre. ŁKS Łódź were relegated in 2024 and now play in 1 Liga, the second tier. They too play at Municipal Stadium.

Łódź Marathon. A major sports event held yearly in April. Quite popular both among the locals and the visitors, it offers a few different distances to run.

Fala Aquapark. One of the largest aquaparks in Poland. Once it was the most popular swimming complex in the city, and after a complete renovation it aspires to its former glory.

AZS Clubs. Every major university has its own Academic Sports Society Club. They offer various activities (sekcje or sections) ranging from chess to sailing for low prices.

Arena Łódź. Large multi-purpose indoor arena hosting both concerts and sports events like basketball, volleyball or ice hockey matches.

Buy

Whether one is in search of American-style malls, designer boutiques, dusty family stores or antique markets, there is much to be explored and it is likely you will need more than a day to experience it all!

Piotrkowska Street is the main commercial street in the city. It is supposedly the longest commercial street in Europe, being four kilometres long. There are many enticing shops selling jewelry, clothes and books. Kościuszki Street not as famous as Piotrkowska Street, but you can usually buy the same things here and pay much, much less.

Łódź has a good number of shopping malls. The most notable are:

Manufaktura. Manufaktura is a unique place - an old factory converted into a modern shopping mall. Apart from shops there is a cinema, hotel, museum and art gallery.

Galeria Łódzka. The largest single collection of shops is the Galeria Łódzka - a large mall on ul. Piłsudskiego - where you will find almost anything from the latest fashions and expensive perfume to modern electrical equipment and groceries.

Port Łódź. Another shopping mall. You can buy (also eat and drink) there almost everything. One of the shops there is IKEA. The mall is within the city limits. From city center you can go there by car in the direction of Pabianice or just take the tram line 11 heading to IKEA/Chocianowice (it is the last stop you cannot miss it). Most shops and restaurant in Port Łódź can also be found in the city center or other existing malls. But if you love IKEA, it is the only place in Łódź where you will find it.

Ptak Trade Center. If you thought that Thailand or China are the places to go to buy clothes, well, you are mistaken. This is one of the largest clothes-oriented wholesale and retail centers in Europe (if not the largest one). The prices are highly competitive, quality is high and you can get there anything from a wedding dress to hipster clothes. The mall is enormous, so be prepared to spend at least a whole day there. Do not go there on Mondays as most of the stands are closed. It's a few kilometers south of Łódź.

Polros. Next to Ptak Trade Center, another very large clothes-oriented shopping mall. A few kilometers south of Łódź.

Retkinia Shopping Center. It is not a mall per se, but rather a small local shopping center that you will rarely find on a tourist map. There are no chain stores here, but still you can buy RPG and board games, clothes and many other things.

Markets If you are up to buying groceries, clothes or anything else on a real market, these are the places to go:

Bałuty Market. Big open air market, every Saturday you can buy everything here from vegetables, to clothes to live pets. Not romantic, but an experience!

Dolna-Ceglana Market. The biggest open-air vegetable market for individual people. Very often by mistake named as Rynek Bałucki - but they are two different places.

Zielony rynek. A great place to buy fresh fruits and vegetables as well as bread, meat, homemade honey and other products.

Górniak Market. A well-known market among the locals.

Former Łódź Car Market. The place of one of the largest used car markets in the country in the past, now serves as a market for cheap clothes, electronics, sweets, car parts and a bit of vintage articles. Every Sunday morning, the traffic down Pushkin street (Widzew district) near the Dostawcza street junction is blocked to accommodate the hundreds of stalls.

Clothes You will find numerous shops offering wedding dresses in Łódź. This is a derivative of Łódź being once a very large textile center. The "wedding district" is on ul. Jaracza, ul. Sienkiewicza and ul. Kilińskiego, but you will also find other shops all around the city. It is cheaper if you decide to buy in autumn as it is considered to be the low season.

For groom clothes, you can visit either Ptak Trading Center, Polros or Pawis shop where you can get a tailor-made suit (but it usually takes a few weeks). There is also Sunset Suits and Armani stores in Manufaktura mall that tailor wedding garments.

Łódź and the surrounding area is also known for producing some of the highest quality and best-fitting bras in the world. Some factories, such as Ewa Michalak, are open for tours or have stores.

Pan Tu Nie Stał. Clothes and accessories reminding of the PRL (People's Republic of Poland) times with a designer twist.

Eat

Łódź has culinary influence from all over the world and it is actually quite difficult to find explicitly Polish cuisine if you do not dine in the most expensive places. For the cheapest food, it is best to go to one of the numerous kebab or Yem joints. For something a bit healthier, you can easily get a tasty sandwich for around 6-8 zł. Polish cuisine does not have any cheap 'fast food' meals, so if you want to try something definitely Polish, it is wise to invest a bit more money and go to a splurge restaurant. They are costly only by Polish standards.

The cheaper option would be to look for a 'Pierogarnia' (or ask someone about it). There are many of such places in Łódź and they sell Polish dumplings.

Food delivery services are represented by such popular apps like Pyszne.pl, Pizzaportal.pl, Glovo and UberEats.

Food shopping The most popular hypermarkets are Carrefour, Kaufland, Auchan and E.Leclerc. If you are on budget, you can go to Biedronka or Lidl. If you are willing to spend some more money and buy better produce, go to Piotr i Paweł.

Da Grasso. Their big pizza is more than enough for 2 hungry people. It is a chain, so you can find their restaurants all around the city.

In Centro. Small pizzeria in the center of the city near Galeria Lodzka and Ibis Hotel. The oldest one in Łódź.

Green Way. A vegetarian fast food chain has one restaurant. They also offer free wireless access to the internet.

Manekin. This place is about pancakes that are served in all imaginable varieties, sweet or savory, plain or stuffed, and even baked under cheese to make them even more hearty. Prices are surprisingly low, while the interior and service reputedly good. And if you can't eat any more pancakes, soups and salads are also available.

Orfeusz. International restaurant with traditional Polish and Italian cuisine. There is also a salad bar and a big choice of dishes à la carte.

Szwalnia smaków. Great breakfasts, excellent hummus, very friendly service.

Restauracja Polska. Nice, calm interior and impressive menu.

Restauracja Anatewka. If you are looking for original Jewish cuisine, this is a place to go. There is also a branch at Manufaktura. It is a popular place, so make sure you reserve if you plan to go there during the weekend.

Restauracja Soplicowo. Mainly Polish cuisine. There is often a wedding reception there on Saturdays, so the whole restaurant may be closed.

Elitna Gruzja. The upscale Georgian restaurant.

Drink

Łódź is known for its excellent night scene. Nightlife is concentrated in the city center (Piotrkowska Street, Kościuszki Street and the adjoining streets). There are dozens of pubs and restaurants there. Another focal point is Manufaktura where many festivals and public concerts take place (but it usually closes much earlier).

Piwoteka. Off Piotrkowska Street, it is both a shop and a pub. You can try hundreds of Polish regional beers there. Recommended for beer tasters.

Bierhalle. A German-style brewery. They close quite early, but the beer is good.

Pub Łódź Kaliska. One of the most popular pubs, an institution! Named after the artist group "Łódź Kaliska". Decorated with pieces of art. On weekends very crowded. A must see are the women's toilets on the second floor!

Irish Pub. Wide selection of beers - including Guinness and Kilkenny, Irish specialties - wines and other beverages. You can eat as well as have a drink here.

Rolling Stone. A self-styled "English Pub". Here you can sit back on oak pews and laugh at caricatures of the Royal Family and Keith Richards to the sound of The Cure. Is much bigger than it looks from the outside.

Dwie Dłonie. The only pub in the city that aims to integrate those who hear and those who don't. Staff people know Polish sign language. You can have a drink here as well as eat a pizza (9.5 - 27 zł), play table football, billiard or darts or use internet for 2.50 zł/hour.

The Eclipse Inn. English pub with several British beers off the tap and more in bottles.

Owoce i warzywa. Mecca for the local hipsters. Furnished with some examples of Polish design. Regular concerts of indie musicians, also from abroad.

Coffeeheaven. Coffee Heaven is nothing but a bland international-style coffee place, but it is indeed a heaven in early morning hours, when more genuine Polish cafes are still closed and keep their seducing desserts behind the windows. Expect pricey coffee, decent cakes, grilled sandwiches (best choice here), and a non-free Wi-Fi connection. Also at Aleja Józefa Piłsudskiego 15/23.

Hort-Cafe. Essentially an ice-cream cafe, Hort boasts a selection of cakes and tarts delivered from the adjacent bakery, decent choice of tea and coffee, and even several savory meals (pancakes, kotlety) served until 19:00. The interior is somewhat retro-style, while the mandatory 1 zł charge for the cloakroom is also reminiscent of old and mildly annoying traditions. Free Wi-Fi.

Kawiarnia Syrena. Also known as "u Husajna" or "chez Hussein" offers good coffee, huge ice-cream desserts, milkshakes and truly international atmosphere.

Mała Litera. It is an artistic bookshop with books mostly in English, big range of CDs (mostly classical and ethnic music) and a small cafe. It is one of few places in Łódź where they know how to make a good macchiato. Concerts and meetings with artists are often organized in the evenings. Free Wi-Fi (ask staff for password).

Niebieskie Migdały. Offers a wide selection of reasonably priced teas in very pleasant, quiet and comfortable surroundings. Indeed, after five minutes you'll soon forget that you're in Poland's second largest city.

Sleep

Łódź lacks cheap hostel accommodation, but with generally low prices for the mid-range hotels, everyone should be able to find something suiting their needs. It may be wise to choose one of the hotels in the city center as this will reduce the time you need to spend on the public transport or in taxis. Łódź is a fairly compact city, and while most attractions are in the center, you need to travel some distances to a few other attractions that are on the outskirts.

Boutique hostel. Central. Free Wi-Fi, free parking, newly built. Each room with cable TV LCD.

Hotel Boss Łódź**. TV in every room, parking free for all guests, tasty traditional food in hotel's restaurant.

Hotel Boss. Few minutes by public transport from ul. Piotrkowska, in calm area, close to main roads. Free Wi-Fi, free parking, restaurant and pub. Each room with TV and bathroom.

Hostelling International Youth Hostel. The rooms are clean, but very basic in terms of amenities. The hostel hosts large groups of young children that often run around the halls screaming. There's also a curfew requiring guests to be in the hostel no later than 22:59, though it's possible to come back at a later time, when arranged in advance.

Flamingo Hostel. Day-round hostel, close to city centre, opposite to a small park.

Music Hostel. Very good location, free breakfast, Wi-Fi 10 Mbit/s.

Łodzki Dom Turystyczny Helenówek. In the northern outskirts of town, right by a large forest and with a pond on site. Tram connection (25-30 min. to the centre). Has a variety of singles, doubles/twins and bigger rooms, which are all en-suite (prices start from 100 zł), available on Booking.com

Syrenka. Cheap hotel (shared bathroom facilities). Rooms with satellite TV 10 zł extra, showers 5 zł per use.

Hotel Ambasador Chojny. In the southern part of the city in a small park. The hotel restaurant is a popular place to hold a wedding reception.

Hotel Borowiecki. About 10 minutes from the centre by public transport. It is very close to Zdrowie Park. Good access by car

Boutique Hotel's Rewolucji. Free Wi-Fi and parking for guests, TV LCD with cable in every room, breakfast 21 zł.

Boutique Hotel's Milionowa. Central, newly built, free Wi-Fi and parking for guests, TV LCD with cable in every room, breakfast 21 zł.

Hotel Campanile. A good and central hotel.

Hotel Focus. A new hotel close to the Film School.

iness Hotel. A business hotel close to the city center and the Technical University.

Hotel Mazowiecki. It is not as good hotel (in term of number of stars) as the previous ones, but has good prices and reasonable rooms. A bit off the city center.

mHOTEL. A conference hotel completely outside of the city center in the north-western part of the town. If you stay there, be prepared for a commute to see the attractions.

Hotel Ambasador Centrum. 4-star hotel.

Andel's Hotel Łódź. A very original hotel in an adapted historical textile manufacture next to Poznański Palace. It won the "Architecture of the Year" in 2009 in the European Hotel Design Award competition.

Grand Hotel. The Grand Hotel is the oldest hotel in Lodz. 81 rooms including 7 apartments.

Nowa Gdynia SPA & Wellness Resort. Outside Łódź, this is a spa resort with many attractions like a sports center or an aquapark.