Coming from Manchester, I was curious to visit Lodz, which is nicknamed the “Polish Manchester”. Just like Manchester, the city has a rich textile manufacturing industry, although it sadly fell into decline after World War Two.
As with many Polish towns and cities, its name is pronounced nothing like how it is spelt. Actually pronounced “Woodj”, the city is now up-and-coming, with a lot of regeneration happening. You’ll find trendy cafes and colorful murals scattered all over. Lodz isn’t as well known as places like Krakow, Warsaw or Wroclaw, but it’s a destination definitely worth visiting if you get the chance.
With Ryanair operating cheap flights from London, it’s especially easy to hop over there for a weekend from the UK. Plus prices in Poland are much more affordable, so it makes for a cheap weekend getaway. Best of all it’s easy to walk around on foot, so no need to spend money on transportation while you’re there.
What isn’t immediately evident is that Lodz also has a bit of a dark story – during World War 2 Lodz was home to the Lodz Ghetto, which was one of the largest ghettos in Poland. Jews from all over German-occupied Europe were brought to the Lodz Ghetto and eventually sent to extermination camps via the ghetto. During your time in Lodz you can pay your respects at the Radegast Train Station, which houses a Holocaust museum.
Your Lodz itinerary will also include lots of museums and murals – there are tons of them all over the city. Here are some of the top things to do in Lodz, Poland:
Things to do in Lodz
Piotrkowska Street
Piotrkowska Street is Lodz’s main street, which happens to be one of the longest commercial streets in Europe, measuring 4.2km. The street runs in a straight line between Independence Square (Plac Niepodleglości) and Liberty Square. It feels like it lasts forever, particularly if you walk along it in winter, which is when I went. Lodz gets exceptionally cold in winter and it hurt to take my gloves off for more than a second! The street is lined with shops, restaurants and colorful buildings. At no. 78 you’ll find the childhood home of the Polish-American classical pianist Arthur Rubinstein and on the street you’ll find a statue of him sitting at a grand piano.
Check out Avenue of Stars
Located at Piotrkowska Street, Avenue of Stars aka Hollylodz (pronounced Hollywoodj, get it?) is a copy of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. However, instead of famous Hollywood actors, you’ll find the names of over 65 famous Polish actors, directors, cinematographers, stage designers and other artists. Famous names include Roman Polański, Jerzy Kawalerowicz and Pola Negri, one of the most famous actresses of the silent film era. You’ll find the Avenue of Stars between 6 Sierpnia Street and Rubinstein Passage, partly in front of Lodz’s most iconic hotel – The Grand Hotel.
Manufaktura
Housed in a renovated old factory building, Manufaktura is the city’s most well-known attraction. Covering an area of over 27 hectares, this enormous complex of red brick buildings houses over 300 businesses, including several museums, a cinema, a theatre, a bowling alley and a fitness club. You’ll also find a plethora of shops, restaurants and cafes to choose from.
Izrael Poznański’s Palace
This 19th century palace was once the residence of textile magnate Izrael Poznański, who was one of the key figures who drove the textile revolution in Poland. After acquiring the site on which it stands, Poznański commissioned an architect to turn the existing two story building into a Neo-Renaissance and Neo-baroque style residence. Visitors to Lodz can take a tour of the lavish rooms and visit the Museum of the City of Łódź, which is housed inside the palace.
Pasaż Róży
If you’re looking for a unique Instagram location, have your photo taken at Pasaż Róży, located at 3 Piotrkowska St. The passage is covered in pieces of broken mirror that sparkle in the daylight, bringing life to this otherwize dark courtyard.
Created by artist Joanna Rajkowska, this work of street art is inspired by the illness of her daughter, Rose, and her journey from not seeing, to seeing. After undergoing chemotherapy for a type of eye cancer, Rose was left partially blind and had to have her retina constructed.
Murals, murals and more murals
If you love murals, Lodz is covered with them. Everywhere you go you’ll find incredible street art splashed over walls throughout the city.
Over 70 walls have been decorated with urban art, making it the largest urban gallery in Poland. The project was initiated by the Urban Forms Foundation in 2009 with the aim of transforming Łódź by supporting international street artists and modern artistic projects in the city’s open spaces.
It’s not difficult to stumble across the murals but if you need some help locating specific murals, In Your Pocket has created a directory of Lodz street art with addresses that you can put into Google Maps.
One of my favorites is the colorful portrait of classical pianist Artur Rubenstein, which was created by Brazilian artist Kobra in 2014.
If it weren’t for the street art, Lodz would be a rather gloomy, grey place, but these colorful paintings really make the city’s streets come alive.
Off Piotrkowska
This modern development is called Off Piotrkowska because, well, it’s situated directly off Ulica Piotrkowska. Just like Manufaktura, it’s housed in an old brick cotton mill that closed down in 1990. This is perhaps the most hipster area of Lodz, featuring a barber shop, several boutiques, artist studios, eateries and bars. With the brick walls and fire escapes, it has a bit of a New York vibe, don’t you think?
Muzeum Sztuki ms2
Muzeum Sztuki ms2 is a modern art museum featuring avant-garde and contemporary art works. Located in the Manufaktura complex, the museum features 20th and 21st Century Art, along with changing temporary exhibitions. When I visited the most striking art works included a sign of flashing light bulbs reading “not for you” and a painting of a ship’s bow.
Dinner at Anatewka
If you want to try some traditional Polish/Jewish cuisine, head to Anatweka, an old school restaurant which has live music every day and a violinist perched up high on the wall playing a medley of Jewish tunes. The menu features dishes such as Jewish style carp, caviar with onion, betroot soup, beef in horseradish and duck with cherries.
Eat Pierogi
While you’re in Lodz, make sure you try some Polish cuisine, especially pierogi! Pierogi are dumplings that usually contain a sweet or savory filling. Typical fillings include ground meat or potato with cheese. They’re usually served with a side of sour cream and sometimes with fried onions on top. Yum!
Herbst Palace Museum
The Scheiblers and the Herbsts were among the wealthiest families in Poland, having built their wealth from textile manufacturing during the industrial revolution. Built for the marriage of Matylda Scheibler and Edward Herbst, the Herbst Palace remained in the hands of the family until 1942, before being nationalized after World War 2.
It took on various functions before eventually being taken over by the Muzeum Sztuki in 1976.
During the period of 2011-2014 the palace interiors were renovated and the interiors were restored to resemble how they would have originally looked when the Herbst family lived there. Today you can take a tour inside the palace and walk around the tranquil garden.
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 11.00-17.00
Stop for lunch at Mitmi Restobar
Situated in the Off Piotrkowska area, Mitmi Restobar is a cute cafe and restaurant with exposed brick and a semi-industrial interior. The restaurant serves modern Polish cuisine and a locally sourced, seasonal menu. I ordered the duck and it was delicious.
Park Źródliska
Park Źródliska is an impressive green space covering an area of 17.2 hectares and has two distinct areas, Park Źródliska I and Park Źródliska II. Źródliska features a Palm House with a collection of exotic plants as well as a School Botanical Garden. Meanwhile Źródliska II features an extensive collection of decorative trees of rare species and varieties.
Have a beer at Piwoteka
Whenever I go traveling I love visiting breweries and trying the local beer. Piwoteka is a brewery in the centre of town with a great selection of craft beers. The service is great and I felt super comfortable sitting on my own chatting to the bartender. Definitely a great spot for a casual drink in Lodz.
Have coffee at Warzywa i owoce, aka Café Fruits And Vegetables
I happened to stumble upon Warzywa i owoce when I was wandering around Lodz and was in need of hot a drink to warm myself up. This coffee shop has a funky interior with plants hanging in the window. The coffee is some of the best in town and the baristas know what they’re doing. You can also order food, craft beer and desserts.
Radegast Train Station
Radegast Train Station is train station that was used in The Holocaust to transport Jews to the Auschwitz and Chelmno extermination camps. Around 200,000 Jews from the Łódź Ghetto (one of the largest ghettos) passed through this point. In 2005 it was converted into a Holocaust Memorial and a place of remembrance for those who were killed.
Two cattle trucks sit alongside the holding area with their doors open as if they are ready to depart. Large signs in the form of gravestones are inscribed with the destinations of the trains that left the station. Inside the station building you’ll find a museum with two permanent exhibitions, one of which features a suitcase belonging to Anii and Erich Schwarz – two deportees from Vienna.
Fala Aquapark
One of the largest water parks in Poland, Fala Aquapark features indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an artificial wave pool and a water slide called Kamikaze, which is the tallest water slide in Poland. The park also boasts multiple saunas and steam rooms.
Muzeum Fabryki
This is a small museum inside the Manufaktura complex dedicated to the history of Lodz’s textile manufacturing history. You can see some of the machines that were used in Izrael Poznanski’s factory and discover what life was like for the factory workers.
Planetarium EC1
Planetarium EC1 boasts one of the most advanced spherical projection cinemas in Europe, which has seating for 110 people. The camera displays images in stunning 8K resolution and the screen has a diameter of 14 meters. The planetarium plays fascinating shows about stars and the cosmos, each lasting around 45-55 minutes. Tickets to the Planetarium EC1 can be bought online or at the ticket counters inside the planetarium.
Central Museum of Textiles
Located inside Ludwik Geyer’s White Factory, The Central Museum of Textiles is a textile museum featuring one of the largest collections of modern artistic fabrics in the world. Visitors have the opportunity to learn about the history of the textile industry and learn about the Geyer family’s textile empire. On display you can see numerous types of weaves and fabrics, as well as a functioning steam engine, jacquards and mule. Behind the museum you’ll find the Lodz City Culture Park; an open-air museum with typical wooden 19th structures including weavers’ houses, a summer villa and a wooden church moved from Nowosolna St.
Getting to Lodz
I flew budget airline Ryanair, which offers cheap flights from London Stansted and East Midlands to Lodz. Flights start at as little as £9.99! You’ll land at Łódź Władysław Reymont Airport is located around 6km southwest of the city and the best way to get into town is by taking a taxi or Uber.
Taxis take around 20minutes to get into town and are very cheap, costing around 20-40 zloty. If you want to take public transportation, you can Bus Line No. 65A and 65B, which will take you to the Lodz Kaliska Railway Station, where you can catch the train into the city centre.
