Łódź is probably the Polish city you’ve never heard of – and definitely not one you pronounce correctly. But don’t worry, we’ll fix that! A trip to Łódź should be high on your bucket list.
Łódź is actually the fourth-largest city in Poland in terms of population. The city is the center of the country’s textile and film industry, and also plays an important role in electronics and entertainment. Until the 1800s, Łódź was just a tiny farming village with barely a thousand inhabitants, but it quickly grew into one of Europe’s largest textile hubs. The First and Second World Wars, however, put an end to this rapid development, and by the 1990s much of the textile adventure was over. Fortunately, the city had already invested in new technologies that gave its business sector a fresh boost.
Łódź is different from the more well-known Polish cities like Krakow, Gdańsk, and Warsaw with their characteristic old towns. Instead, Łódź has a more urban feel, full of street art, creativity, and culture. Before the world wars, the city was a multicultural community with Polish, Jewish, German, and Russian residents. Unlike Warsaw, which was almost completely destroyed during World War II, many of Łódź’s palaces, factories, churches, and other 19th-century buildings have been preserved.
Below we’ve gathered suggestions for exciting things to do in Łódź.
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Things To Do in Łódź, Poland:
Manufaktura
One of the really cool things about Łódź is how old factories and industrial buildings have been given new life. Manufaktura is Poland’s prime example of revitalization. Originally, Manufaktura was a gigantic textile factory complex that employed 10,000 of the city’s residents. The transformation project was the largest of its kind in Europe and took a total of nine years to complete.
The result is a fantastic hub for culture, recreation, and business. Here you can shop, eat, play, go to the cinema, grab a beer, play beach volleyball, and even fly across the area on a zipline! For us, Manufaktura gets a solid 10/10 – what a cool place.
Poznański Family Palace
This family palace, with its beautiful and ornate façade, was built by Izrael Poznański, who owned and ran the textile factory that is now the Manufaktura complex. Inside, you can admire the pompous interiors from Poznański’s heyday, in what is today The Museum of the City of Łódź.
Piotrkowska Street
Piotrkowska Street is the lively main artery of Łódź, stretching an impressive 4.2 kilometers through the city – making it one of Europe’s longest shopping streets. Along the street you’ll find a number of grand 19th-century buildings. Many are designed in Art Nouveau, though you’ll also see modern architectural styles represented.
A large part of the street is adapted for cyclists and pedestrians, with a broad cycle lane down the middle. Along Piotrkowska Street there are countless shops, cafés, restaurants, and pubs, some tucked away in cozy courtyards. Many of the city’s main attractions are within walking distance of Piotrkowska Street, so set aside plenty of time to explore – there are lots of gems here.
Rose Passage (Pasaż Róży)
Rose Passage must be the city’s most photographed courtyard – and once you step inside, you’ll immediately see why. The entire courtyard is covered with hundreds of thousands of tiny mirror fragments, arranged in a stunning mosaic of blooming roses. The artwork was created by artist Joanna Rajkowska, inspired by her own daughter who developed a serious eye disease. The shattered mirrors symbolize vulnerability and seeing the world anew.
Street Art in Łódź
If there’s one thing we always love when visiting new cities, it’s exploring the local street art. And Łódź definitely delivers, with many artists creating imaginative works on the city’s walls. Many pieces have a surrealist touch, reminiscent of Salvador Dalí. It’s well worth keeping your eyes open as you wander the streets of Łódź.
OFF Piotrkowska Center
The city’s newest renovation project is OFF Piotrkowska Center, located right where the promenade section of Piotrkowska Street ends. The former spinning and weaving factory (Franciszek Ramisch Cotton Products Factory) has been completely transformed into a melting pot of trendy bars, restaurants, event venues, and offices for creative startups. OFF Piotrkowska Center has even won awards for its innovative revitalization of historic buildings.
Orientarium ZOO Łódź
As the name suggests, the Łódź Zoo focuses on oriental species. In collaboration with international animal experts, the zoo works to protect endangered species such as the red panda and red lemur (both of which have recently been born here!). The animals have large enclosures to roam, so make sure you set aside a couple of hours to wander the park.
The Museum of the Factory
Inside Manufaktura you’ll find a small museum worth a stop. Through multimedia exhibits you learn about the origins of the factory complex and gain insight into the lives of the people who once lived and worked here.
Central Museum of Textiles
The Central Museum of Textiles is located in former factory buildings at the heart of Łódź’s textile industry. Here you can see everything from old looms to examples of clothing that was produced – from everyday wear to high fashion. The museum spans several floors and is a must for textile and design enthusiasts.
Łódź City Culture Park
In the backyard of the Textile Museum lies Łódź City Culture Park. Based on old family photos and stories from locals, a number of houses have been reconstructed to show how people lived in Łódź during the late 1800s and 1900s. You get an authentic and detailed picture of everyday life for those who worked in the textile industry. If you only visit one museum in Łódź, make it this one – we found it really impressive and well made!
Łódź Fairy Tale Trail
Łódź has long been the center of animation film production in Poland. Many popular TV series for both children and adults originated here, with some even winning international awards (including two Oscars!). Throughout the city, small statues of famous cartoon characters have been placed for you to discover.
The Unicorn
At Aleja Mickiewicza Square, a large tram terminal with a colorful roof was built in 2015. Locals weren’t especially impressed with the quirky structure, and it quickly got the nickname “The Unicorn Stable” due to the colorful roof. The name stuck so firmly that the city authorities decided to actually put up a unicorn statue here! As they themselves say: not many cities have the infrastructure to house real unicorns.
Where to Eat in Łódź
Spółdzielnia – Located in the modern OFF Piotrkowska district, serving delicious food in lively surroundings.
Galicja – Taste authentic Polish food at this restaurant in the Manufaktura district.
Ukryte Rzeki – Dine in style in chic surroundings in the Geyer district, across from the Textile Museum.
Where to Stay in Łódź
We stayed at the stylish PURO Hotel Łódź Centrum. Beautiful rooms, excellent breakfast, great service – we were extremely happy with our stay! The hotel has a gym, spa, and rooftop bar with views, and is centrally located just across from Poznański Palace and Manufaktura. It’s part of a chain founded by a Norwegian, and the Scandinavian style really shines through in both interior and atmosphere.
Łódź in Poland: FAQ
How to travel to Łódź?
First fly to Warsaw, from there you can take a train or bus to Łódź.
How many days do you need in Łódź?
You can see quite a lot in one day, but we recommend at least two to three days.
So how do you actually pronounce Łódź?
The strange Ł is pronounced as a “W” and not as an “L”. The correct pronunciation is something like “woodge”.
Is Łódź worth visiting?
Yes, absolutely! We really enjoyed this slightly different Polish city. There’s plenty to do for all ages.
Where can I find more information about Łódź?
You can find out everything you need at Lodz.travel.
Our trip to Łódź was a press tour organized by the Łódź Tourism Organization and the Polish Tourism Organisation.
