Łódź

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 situated 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 760,000 and agglomeration of 1,428,000, 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 87 Street. 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

Śródmieście encompasses most of the historic architecture and points of interest. There is not much for a tourist to see outside of Śródmieście and areas directly neighbouring its borders.

By plane

• Łódź Władysław Reymont AirportOne of the smallest airports in Poland. As of 2019, it offers few connections, mainly served by Ryanair to Dublin, London Stansted, East Midlands and Athens, and by Lufthansa to Munich. Apart from that, the airport serves seasonal and charter flights to holiday destinations (Burgas, Antalya, Zakynthos).

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. OKbus offers a direct connection between Łódź and both airports.

By train

See also Poland#By train

• Łódź Fabryczna is a centrally-located terminal station for domestic trains.
• 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 is to be 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.

By bus

Flixbus serves Berlin, Prague, Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdansk, Katowice, Zakopane and Poznań. They offer free onboard Wi-Fi and the tickets should be bought online beforehand for the best price. 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, there are also buses (operated by OKbus) that go to Warsaw Chopin (Okęcie) and Warsaw Modlin airports from Łódź Kaliska station. The Czech bus company Leoexpress connects Łódź Fabryczna railway station with Warszawa Zachodnia bus terminal and Młociny metro station.

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.

Public transport

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). There are also reduced fare tickets (50% off the regular price), but these can be used only if you have valid documentation with yourself (e.g. 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.
There are also several mobile phone payment systems for buying tickets. Callpay uses premium numbers (there is no need to register or download any application), while Mpay, Mobilet, Skycash and Unibank all offer pre-paid e-purses accessible through a mobile phone application. 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.

By tram

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. The tram line map is worth familiarizing yourself with first. 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).

Tourist Tram Line

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. There is no fare increase compared to other public transport services, so you can use ordinary tickets on the night lines. 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 (such as Hertz, Avis or Eurocar) 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.

Rickshaws

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.

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 streetIt 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.

• Łódź Walk of Fame

  address: ul. Piotrkowska
  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

address: ul. Kilinskiego 56

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

• The Decalogue Memorial

  address: ul. Kilinskiego 56
  It is a tribute to the coexistence of Poles and Jews. The memorial is close to the Old Market Square in Staromiejski Park.

Litzmannstadt GhettoThe 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.

Palaces and mansions

• Poznański Palace

  address: ul. Ogrodowa 15
  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

  address: ul. Piotrkowska 286
  A classicist mansion built in 1833 by Ludwik Geyer - one of the textile magnates. It is a privately owned property.

• Karol Scheibler's Palace

  address: Plac Zwycięstwa
  Neo-Renaissance palace today hosts the Film Museum.

• Leopold Kindermann's Villa

  address: ul. Wólczańska 31/33
  One of the most important examples of art nouveau architecture in Łódź. Built in 1903, it houses Łódź's Art Gallery.

Former factories

• Manufaktura

  address: between Zachodnia, Ogrodowa, Karskiego and Drewnowska streets
  It is the largest shopping mall in the city and occupies old factory buildings.

• White Factory

  address: ul. Piotrkowska 282
  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 MłynA large complex of 19th-century textile factories.

• Kopisch's bleachery

  address: ul. Tymienieckiego 5
  It is the oldest (built in 1826) preserved building connected with textile Łódź.

Religious buildings

• Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

  address: ul. Kilinskiego 56
  A rare example of Orthodox architecture in Poland.

• St. Joseph's Church

  phone: +48 42 633 45 37
  address: ul. Ogrodowa 22
  This is the oldest building in the city - the only one built in the pre-industry period.

• Jewish cemetery

  address: Entrance from ul. Zmienna
  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.

• Old cemetery

  address: ul. Ogrodowa 43
  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

  address: ul. Ogrodowa 43
  This chapel was for a long time neglected and its condition deteriorated, however, today, works are on the way to improve its past glory.

Museums & art galleries

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.

• ms 1

  address: ul. Więckowskiego 36
  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.)

• ms 2

  phone: +48 42 634 39 48
  address: ul. Ogrodowa 19
  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 a 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)

  phone: +48 42 6540323
  address: ul. Ogrodowa 15
  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

  phone: +48 42 254 90 11
  address: plac Wolności
  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

  phone: +48 42 632 8440
  address: Plac Wolnosci 14
  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

  address: ul. Piotrkowska 282
  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.

• Film Museum

  address: pl. Zwycięstwa 1

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

  address: Between Łódź and Brzeziny
  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 ForestOne 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

  phone: +48 42 688 44 20
  address: ul. Krzemieniecka 36/38
  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.

• Palm House

  address: Plac Zwycięstwa
  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.

• Źródliska Park

  address: Plac Zwycięstwa
  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.

• Józef Piłsudski Park

  address: Polesie district near to City Zoo and the Botanical Garden
  The largest park in Łódź. It is more a forest than a park with a few lakes and large alleys.

• Poniatowski Park

  address: almost along the whole length of Mickiewicza St
  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

  address: Nowomiejska/Północna intersection
  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.

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.

Festivals

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

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

• Explorers FestivalExtreme sports and tourism festival. Takes place every November.

• International Festival of PhotographyTakes 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 GamesHeld annually in October. It is the biggest comic event in Central-Eastern Europe.

• Łódź Design FestivalHeld in May. Hosts various exhibitions and design events.

• International Festival of Music Producers SoundeditMostly acoustic shows.

• Festival of Music Individualities TansmanHomage to Alexandre Tansman.

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

• Summer Academy of JazzHeld 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.

Leisure

• LunaparkA popular, free theme park just outside the city.

• Łódź zoo

  phone: +48 42 632 75 09
  address: ul. Konstantynowska 8/10
  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

Cinemas

• Kino Charlie

  phone: +48 42 636 00 92
  address: ul.Piotrkowska 203/205
  A nice cinema with mostly interesting programme of (often European and Asian) films, not as commercial as Silver Screen.

• Kino Bałtyk

  phone: +48 42 630 36 03
  address: ul. Narutowicza 20
  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

  phone: +48 42 664 64 64
  address: ul. Karskiego 5
  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.

• Multikino

  phone: +48 42 639 58 00
  address: ul. Piłsudskiego 5

• Bodo

  phone: +48 539-801-858
  address: Rewolucji 1905 roku 78/80
  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.

Theatres

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

  phone: +48 42 662 33 33
  address: ul. Jaracza 27
  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

  phone: +48 42 636 05 92
  address: ul. Zachodnia 93 (Mała Sala - small performance hall) and ul. Więckowskiego 15 (Duża Sala - large performance hall)
  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

  phone: +48 42 633 77 77
  address: plac Dąbrowskiego
  It is the largest theatre in the city (second largest in Poland) with 1070 seats. It specializes in opera, operetta and ballet.

• Teatr Powszechny

  phone: +48 42 633 25 39
  address: ul. Legionów 21
  A very popular theatre that hosts many well-known plays and a few festivals.

• Teatr Muzyczny

  phone: +48 42 678 19 68
  address: ul. Północna 47/51
  Musicals and operettas are the main plays here.

Live music

• Artur Rubinstein's Łódz Philharmonic

  phone: +48 42 664 79 10
  address: ul. Narutowicza 20/22
  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 Mondays in Oranżada on ul. Piotrkowska 67 and on Sundays in Klub Mojito on ul. Piotrkowska 143. They usually 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

• Łódź MarathonA 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

  address: al. Unii Lubelskiej 4
  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 ClubsEvery 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

  address: al. Bandurskiego 7
  Large multi-purpose indoor arena hosting both concerts and sports events like basketball, volleyball or ice hockey matches.

The vast rate of improvements made over the past two decades mean Łódź may in fact be Poland’s top shopping destination (but don't tell that to someone from Warsaw!). 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!

Shopping areas

• Piotrkowska Street is the main commercial street in the city. It is supposedly the longest commercial street in Europe, being four kilmometres 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.

Malls

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

• Manufaktura

  phone: +48 42 654 85 00
  address: Ul. Ogrodowa 17
  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

  phone: +48 42 639 1500
  address: Al. Piłsudskiego 15/23
  The largest single collection of shops is the Galeria Lodzka - 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

  address: ul. Pabianicka 245
  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

  address: ul. Rzemieślnicza 35, Rzgów
  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

  address: Tuszyńska 72/74, Rzgów
  Next to Ptak Trade Center, another very large clothes-oriented shopping mall. A few kilometers south of Łódź.

• Retkinia Shopping Center

  address: ul. Maratońska 24/32
  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:

• Baluty Market

  address: in the district of Baluty in the north of the city
  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

  address: Dolna Street
  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

  address: Plac Barlickiego
  A great place to buy fresh fruits and vegetables as well as bread, meat, homemade honey and other products.

• Górniak Market

  address: Piotrkowska 317
  A well-known market among the locals. You can buy numerous gadgets here, as well as high-quality clothes for a very low price.
• Former

  Lodz Car MarketThe place of the 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. If you buy something directly off-shelf, you may get a very good price (usually less than €250). 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. Again, if you buy off-shelf, the price is highly competitive.

• Pan Tu Nie Stał

  phone: +48 797 892 609
  address: ul. Piotrkowska 138/140
  Clothes and accessories reminding of the PRL (People's Republic of Poland) times with a designer twist.

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. The price is usually very competitive.

Food shopping

The most popular hypermarkets are Tesco, Carrefour, Kaufland, Auchan or E.Leclerc. If you are on budget, you can go to Biedronka or Lidl. If you are prepared to spend some more money and buy some better produce, go to Piotr i Paweł. The last shop is 100% Polish-owned.

Budget

• Da GrassoTheir 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

  phone: +48 42 636 99 92
  address: ul. Piotrkowska 153
  Small pizzeria in the center of the city near Galeria Lodzka and Ibis Hotel. The oldest one in Łódź.

• Green Way

  phone: +48 42 632 08 52
  address: ul. Piotrkowska 80
  A vegetarian fast food chain has one restaurant. They also offer free wireless access to the internet.

• Manekin

  phone: +48 42 671 07 84
  address: ul. 6 Sierpnia 1
  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

  phone: +48 42 631 98 06
  address: ul. Narutowicza 43
  International restaurant with traditional Polish and Italian cuisine. There is also a salad bar and a big choice of dishes à la carte.

Mid-range

• Piotrkowska Klub 97

  phone: +48 42 630-65-73
  address: ul. Piotrkowska 97
  Piotrkowska Klub 97 is said to be David Lynch's favorite restaurant in Łódź. Good quality food and wines. There is a Milonga Milonga w Łodzi - a tango evening in one of the halls most of Monday nights (starting around 19:30).

• Da Antonio

  phone: +48 42 630 50 70
  address: ul. Jaracza 45

• Montenegro

  phone: +48 42 632 00 94
  address: ul. Wólczańska 51 90-608 Łódź
  As the name suggests this is a Montenegrin restaurant, with surroundings fancier than the price would suggest. Great food, good wines and friendly service.

• Szwalnia smaków

  phone: +48 603 036 113
  address: Piotrkowska 217
  Great breakfasts, excellent hummus, very friendly service.

Splurge

• Restauracja Polska

  phone: +48 42 6338345
  address: ul. Piotrkowska 12
  Nice, calm interior and impressive menu.

• Restauracja Anatewka

  phone: +48 42 6303635
  address: ul. 6 Sierpnia 2/4
  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

  phone: +48 42 6373081
  address: ul. Wigury 12a
  Mainly Polish cuisine. There is often a wedding reception there on Saturdays, so the whole restaurant may be closed.

• Revelo

  phone: +48 42 6368686
  address: ul. Wigury 4/6
  The best rated restaurant in Łódź.

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

  address: ul. 6 sierpnia 1/3
  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

  phone: +48 42 632 03 76
  address: ul. Drewnowska 58
  A German-style brewery. They close quite early, but the beer is good.

• Pub Łódź Kaliska

  phone: +48 42 630 69 55
  address: ul.Piotrkowska 102
  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!

• Foto Cafe 102

  phone: +48 42 632 15 34
  address: ul. Piotrkowska 102
  Directly opposite Łódź Kaliska lies a much more laid back and down to earth establishment. Good music and an interesting gallery of pictures on the walls provide welcome refuge from the Friday night throngs.

• Irish Pub

  phone: +48 42 632 48 76
  address: Piotrkowska 77
  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

  phone: +48 42 633 65 41
  address: ul. Moniuszki 6
  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

  phone: +48 42 630 10 05, +48 605 99 46 99
  address: ul. Wólczańska 40/42
  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.

• Eclipse Inn

  address: ul. Piotrkowska 80
  English pub with several British beers off the tap and more in bottles.

• Owoce i warzywa

  address: ul. Traugutta 9
  Mecca for the local hipsters. Furnished with some examples of Polish design. Regular concerts of indie musicians, also from abroad.

Coffee

• Coffeeheaven

  address: ul. Piotrkowska 80
  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

  address: ul. Piotrkowska 106/110
  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

  address: ul. Piotrkowska 66
  Also known as "u Husajna" or "chez Hussein" offers good coffee, huge ice-cream desserts, milkshakes and truly international atmosphere.

• Mała Litera

  address: ul. Nawrot 7
  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

  phone: +48 609 511 484
  address: ul. Sienkiewicza 40 and ul. Piotrkowska 200
  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.

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.

Budget

• Boutique hostel

  phone: +48 42 636 22 01
  address: ul. Stefanowskiego 17
  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

  phone: +48 42 674 07 36
  address: al. Piłsudskiego 141
  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

  phone: +48 42 630 66 80
  address: ul. Legionów 27
  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 its possible to come back at a later time, when arranged in advance.

• Flamingo Hostel

  phone: +48 42 66 11 888
  address: ul. Sienkiewicza 61
  Opposite to a small park.

• Music Hostel

  phone: +48 533 533 263
  address: ul. Piotrkowska 60
  Very good location, free breakfast, Wi-Fi 10 Mbit/s.

• Helenowek

  phone: +48 42 658 22 39
  address: ul. Okulickiego 10b
  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 75 zł).

• Syrenka

  phone: +48 42 633 38 69
  address: ul. Zachodnia 56
  Cheap hotel (shared bathroom facilities). Rooms with satellite TV 10 zł extra, showers 5 zł per use.

Mid-range

• Hotel Ambasador Chojny

  phone: +48 42 646 49 04
  address: ul. Kosynierów Gdyńskich 8
  In the southern part of the city in a small park. Free parking, swimming pool and sauna included in the room price. The hotel restaurant is a popular place to hold a wedding reception.

• Hotel Borowiecki

  phone: +48 42 288 01 00
  address: ul. Kasprzaka 7/9
  About 10 minutes from the centre by public transport. It is very close to Zdrowie Park.

• Boutique Hotel's Rewolucji

  phone: +48 42 630 63 15
  address: ul. Rewolucji 1905 roku 8
  Free Wi-Fi and parking for guests, TV LCD with cable in every room, breakfast 21 zł.

• Boutique Hotel's Milionowa

  phone: +48 42 684 75 10
  address: ul. Milionowa 25
  Central, newly built, free Wi-Fi and parking for guests, TV LCD with cable in every room, breakfast 21 zł.

• Hotel Campanile

  phone: +48 42 664 26 00
  address: al. Pilsudskiego 27
  A good and central hotel.

• Hotel Centrum

  phone: +48 42 632 86 40
  address: ul. Kilińskiego 59/63
  It used to be considered the best hotel in the city, but it has lost it glamour.

• Hotel Focus

  phone: +48 42 637 12 00
  address: ul. Łąkowa 23/25
  A new hotel close to the Film School.

• iness Hotel

  phone: +48 42 684 45 54
  address: ul. Wróblewskiego 19/23
  A business hotel close to the city center and the Technical University.

• Hotel Mazowiecki

  phone: +48 42 637 43 33
  address: ul. 28 Pułku Strzelców Kaniowskich 53/57
  It is not as good hotel (in term of number of stars) as the previous ones, but they good prices and reasonable rooms. A bit off the city center.

• mHOTEL

  phone: +48 42 652 99 90
  address: ul. św. Teresy 111
  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 Polonia Palast

  phone: +48 42 632 87 73
  address: ul. Narutowicza 38
  One of the oldest hotels in the city. 2 stars.

• Hotel Savoy

  phone: +48 42 632 93 60
  address: ul. Traugutta 6
  Built in the 1912, it is a very well-known building among the locals. Not so posh and glamorous anymore, but still staying there is said to be like moving to the 1920s.

• Hotel Światowit

  phone: +48 42 636 36 37
  address: al. Kościuszki 68
  A good and centrally located hotel.

Splurge

• Hotel Ambasador Centrum

  phone: +48 42 677 15 20
  address: Al. Piłsudskiego 29
  4-star hotel.

• Andel's Hotel Łódź

  phone: +48 42 279 10 00
  address: ul. Ogrodowa 17
  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

  phone: +48 42 633 99 20
  address: ul. Piotrkowska 72
  The Grand Hotel is the oldest hotel in Lodz. 81 rooms including 7 apartments.

• Holiday Inn

  phone: +48 42 208 20 00
  address: ul. Piotrkowska 229/231
  A four-star hotel in the centre.

• Nowa Gdynia SPA & Wellness Resort

  phone: +48 42 714 21 61
  address: ul. Sosnowa 1
  Outside Łódź, this is a spa resort with many attractions like a sports center or an aquapark.

• Qubus

  phone: +48 42 275 51 00
  address: al. Mickiewicza 7

Postal service

There are numerous post offices in Łódź. The main post office is on Tuwima 38 Street in a century-old building. Do not be misguided by the name, the main post office is not open 24/7 (but the one next to Łódź Kaliska station is).

• 24/7 Post Office

  address: ul. Włókniarzy 227

• Main Post Office

  address: ul. Tuwima 38

Internet

There are some Internet cafes on Piotrkowska and nearby streets and most bars and restaurants have Wi-Fi, just ask the staff. There's also free Wi-Fi in Manufaktura centre and at Łódź Airport.

• PWN Bookshop

  address: ul. Więckowskiego 13
  You won't get coffee here but the staff is very nice and the bookshop itself has a good choice of academic books (not only). The building served a Jewish school between 1945 and 1968. Free Wi-Fi.

Łódź has a rough reputation among Polish people from other cities, largely thanks to well-publicized events that shocked Poland in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Today, Łódź is a safe place. Contrary to typical newcomer's fears, the crime rate is relatively low and according to statistics is much lower than in any other large city in Poland (only 39 crimes per 1000 citizens were reported in the city in 2008). Also, violent crime is very rare. Some basic advice though:
Watch out for pickpockets. A common trick for thieves is to operate in groups and create artificial crowds on buses and trams which distract their victims' attention prior to being pickpocketed. Also, do not leave your belongings unattended and keep you wallet in your front pockets.
Do not visit the city parks after dark. During the day you are perfectly safe, but almost all city parks are open also during the night and there have been reported cases of muggings.
Avoid the following places. Even though the city is safe, the locals will tell that you should avoid certain places if going alone. These are: Włókiennicza Street (also a small part of Wschodnia and Kilińskiego Streets that is in the proximity of Włókiennicza), Abramowskiego Street, Solna Street and Limanowskiego Street.
Avoid displaying football-related emblems. The hooligan scene in Łódź is quite large and very divided. You never know who you will meet, so it is safer to keep your football affections to yourself. This is especially important during the local derby between ŁKS and Widzew football clubs. This advice holds for every Polish city.
Be careful when using pedestrian crossings. Even though pedestrians have right-of-way on pedestrian crossings, some Polish drivers do not respect that. So please be careful and always make sure that there are no cars approaching when you decide to cross the street. This applies to all Polish cities.

Beggars

Łódź hasn't been developing residentially quite as rapidly as some other more successful Polish cities, and has some of the most deprived urban areas in Poland, but such issues are handled by the government and (especially) NGOs.
If you are keen to help, consider donating to an accountable charity, like the Polish Red Cross or Caritas Polska. If you still want to give something to a beggar, offer buying food for them (and notice their reaction).

Łódź is a safe and friendly city, very eager to receive foreign visitors. The average English level of Łódź residents is high, especially among young people. Older generations are more fluent in Russian and German. However, directions to major sights are not well-marked and you are best off with a map at hand. Do not be afraid of asking directions, as people will almost always try their best to help you! It will be very well perceived if you learn at least a few Polish words like "dziękuję" (thank you) or "proszę" (please). See the phrasebook Polish for more Polish words and their pronunciation.

Religious services

• Church of St. Theresa

  phone: +48 42 678 35 22
  address: ul. Kopcińskiego 1/3

• Synagogue

  phone: +48 42 6320427
  address: ul. Pomorska 18
  This is an Orthodox synagogue: services are in Hebrew, women and men sit in separate sections, men are expected to have their heads covered, and everyone should dress modestly.

Consulates

• Austrian consulate

  phone: +48 42 652 72 12
  address: ul. Klaretynska 9 91-117

• Belgian consulate

  phone: +48 42 630 04 33
  address: ul. Gdanska 91 bud. F, 90-613 Lodz Poland

• British consulate

  phone: +48 42 631 1818
  address: ul. Piotrkowska 89 90-423 Lodz Poland

• Czech consulate

  phone: +48 42 665-54-59
  address: ul. M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 11, 90-505 Lodz Poland

• Danish consulate

  phone: +48 42 632 87 11
  address: ul. Piotrkowska 89 90-423

• French consulate

  phone: +48 505-104-817
  address: ul. Pawilonska 47, 91-487 Lodz Poland

• German consulate

  phone: +48 42 633 71 00
  address: ul. Piotrkowska 111 90-425

• Hungarian consulate

  phone: +48 42 25 35 303
  address: ul. Kaczencowa 10 91-214

• Latvian consulate

  phone: +48 42 633 97 68
  address: Al. Tadeusza Kosciuszki 35 90-418

• Moldovan consulate

  phone: +48 42 207-30-30
  address: ul. Srebrzyńska 83, 94-209 Lodz Poland

Laundries

• Usługi Pralnicze S.C.

  phone: +48 42 654 34 36
  address: ul. Snycerska 5

• Pralnia Perfeckt

  phone: +48 42 636 12 90
  address: ul. Radwańska 6

• Pralnia eko serwis

  phone: +48 642 07 07
  address: ul. Tatrzańska 110A - pavilion 619

Useful for day trips:

• Łęczyca, a medieval town about 40 km north of Łódź with a royal castle, knight tournaments, old churches and Festival of Film Trailers. About 1 hour by train from Łódź Kaliska bus station or by coach from Lutomierska and Zachodnia streets intersection.
• Łowicz is famous for colorful regional costumes and folk art. It is about 60 km north-west of Łódź (about 1 hour 15 minutes by train or bus from Łódź Kaliska station). Boasting rich history, Łowicz also houses the old residence of Polish archbishops, numerous churches, monasteries and museums.
• Nieborów has a splendid baroque palace with a large park, and is close to Łowicz.
• Arkadia is an English-style, large romantic park with artificial ruins. To get there, first go to Łowicz and then take a bus (PKS) in the direction of Skierniewice that stops in Arkadia and Nieborów.
• Inowłódz is a small village south-east of Łódź, just beyond Tomaszów Mazowiecki. There is a famous, almost 1,000-year-old church there.
• Spała is a village right before Inowłódz. There is the Spała Landscape Park and the village is known throughout Poland for its spa resorts and luxurious hotels.

Large cities nearby:

• Warsaw, the capital of Poland, with much to offer to any type of tourist. The fastest way to get there is to take the train from Łódź Kaliska or Łódź Widzew station, or travel by car or coach over the A2 highway that connects both cities.
• Poznań, one of the largest cities in Poland and home to the country's oldest cathedral. It's about 200 km west by same A2 highway.
• Toruń is one of the oldest Polish towns and the birthplace of Copernicus. It's about 160 km north of Łódź by A1 highway (a half of it still under construction).