Is Lodz Worth Visiting? A Look Into Poland’s Manchester

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Last updated on July 1st, 2025 at 05:33 pm

If you’ve heard of Lodz before, you must be wondering: Is Lodz worth visiting? But even if this is the first time you’re reading about this lesser-known Polish city, here you’ll find the answers to all your questions.

Still under the radar of mass tourism, Lodz is a special city with a very interesting history, part of which earned it the nickname Polish Manchester – but more on this, later on.

In this article, we’re answering the burning question – is Lodz worth visiting? – and offering an overview of all the unique things to do in Lodz and how they’re linked to the city’s fascinating history.

Where Is Lodz?

Lodz is a city in central Poland, less than a two-hour drive from Warsaw, the country’s capital.

How To Get To Lodz

If you’re already travelling in Poland or elsewhere in Central Europe, you can reach Lodz easily by bus or train. Check all available Flixbus routes or train travel options to Lodz.

There’s also an airport in Lodz. However, flights from Lodz don’t reach many international destinations. You can have a look at available flights here.

Alternatively, you can fly to Warsaw or Katowice and then get to Lodz by car or bus.

Where To Stay in Lodz

Lodz is a compact city without any heavily tourist spots. Even if you stay in the very heart of the city, you’ll experience nothing but authenticity and real-life vibes.

The best area to stay in Lodz is near the famed Piotrkowska Street, a spectacular wide boulevard and one of the longest thoroughfares in Europe.

PURO Lodz Centrum is always a good option for its spotlessly clean rooms and excellent service.

However, if you’re looking for a unique accommodation experience inspired by the city’s rich industrial history, we’d highly recommend The Loom.

This stylish central hotel alludes to Lodz’s past as a textile industry superpower.

Travel Resources To Help You Plan Your Trip To Lodz

Is Lodz Worth Visiting?

Outside of Poland, few people have heard of Lodz. But even among Poles, Lodz isn’t that popular, as locals have historically considered Lodz dark and gloomy.

Truth be told, there has been darkness throughout Lodz’s rich history, most of it related to the decline of the local textile industry in the early 1990s, which gradually left the city’s enormous factory complexes hollow and empty.

However, what even Polish people outside of Lodz might not know is that Lodz has been rising from its ashes during the last couple of decades.

Most of the city’s once abandoned old factory buildings have been – or are being – renovated and repurposed to house residences, art spaces or recreation and dining halls in recent years.

The former symbols of decline and deterioration now stand as emblems of rebirth, change and new beginnings.

So, is Lodz worth visiting? For us, the answer to this question is a resounding yes.

First of all, Lodz is worth visiting because it’s a hidden gem, not even remotely scathed by mass tourism and, thus, an excellent destination for mindful travellers.

It’s one of the best places in Poland to partake in local life, frequent spots where only locals go and get a glimpse of what any European city must have been like, before surrendering to the sirens of profitable overtourism.

But it’s also a great example of how a city that has been isolated for centuries can be revived and turned into a hub for artistic expression.

Last but not least, Lodz is a beacon of the importance of recent history and how the latter can forge a destination’s character.

Top 3 Reasons To Visit Lodz

Is Lodz worth visiting? That’s the question that brought you here in the first place. So, let’s get into more detail, shall we?

The top reasons to visit Lodz are – inevitably – linked to the city’s history. Yet, don’t think of it as a dusty history book whose pages reside solely in museums.

In Lodz, history is hiding at every turn, transforming the past into the present and welcoming the future.

1. A Glorious Industrial Past

Without a doubt, the city’s industrial past has left a lasting mark. It all started when the Polish government of the time decided that Lodz was destined for massive industrial development.

In the early 19th century, red-brick factory complexes started popping up, alongside elaborate palaces where the factory owners lived.

This blend of diverse architectural styles created a unique city of contrasts that still fascinates visitors.

Lodz focused on the textile industry, which was so successful that enormous new factories kept being built and the city saw an influx of workers from all over Europe.

During the 19th century and early 20th century, Lodz became a textile industry superpower, mirroring the success of the UK’s so-called Cottonopolis, Manchester.

Hence Lodz’s nickname as the Polish Manchester.

Nowadays, Lodz’s industrial past is omnipresent, echoing on the walls of iconic factories and whispered along the wide boulevards of centuries past.

Best Places To Witness Lodz’s Industrial History

Manufaktura & Museum of The Factory

Built by Izrael Poznanski, a textile businessman, in 1872, what we now know as Manufaktura used to be one of the largest textile factories in Lodz.

Apart from industrial buildings, in the years that followed, the complex expanded to include houses, a school, a hospital and several other public spaces for the factory’s workers.

In the early 1990s, the factory complex was abandoned. It was then renovated and reopened in 2006 as a shopping and arts centre.

Nowadays, Manufaktura comprises 13 historic buildings and one newly built shopping mall and houses more than 300 shops, museums, restaurants and various recreation spaces.

It was the first large-scale factory renovation project in Lodz, leading the way in the city’s rebirth.

Visiting Manufaktura is one of several great things to do in Lodz. Once there, you can admire its stunning architecture, mingle with locals and take in its lively ambience.

The on-site Museum of The Factory is a mandatory stop.

Housed in one of Manufaktura’s historic buildings, this small yet insightful museum narrates the history of this specific textile factory, which is, in essence, the history of the entire city.

Izrael Poznanski Palace

Right next to the Manufaktura leisure complex, the elaborate Izrael Poznanski Palace stands in all its splendour.

As its name suggests, this mansion was built as the residence of Izrael Poznanski, the wealthy owner of the massive factory next door.

Visiting Poznanski Palace offers a glimpse into the life of the rich businesspeople of the time, shedding light on the vast contrast with the everyday hardships of the workers.

Apart from that, though, the Palace now houses the Museum of The City of Lodz.

Wandering around the museum’s collections allows you to learn everything there is to know about this lesser-known yet fascinating Polish city.

Click here for the official website.

Ksiezy Mlyn

Ksiezy Mlyn is yet another historic textile factory complex in Lodz. In fact, it’s the largest of its kind. It belonged to Karol Scheibler, the wealthiest industrialist that ever lived in Lodz.

As was usual back then, apart from industrial facilities, the complex also included residential and other functional buildings.

What made Ksiezy Mlyn stand out from the rest, though, was its remarkable growth. So much so that, up to this day, Ksiezy Mlyn is known as a city within a city.

Strolling through the former factory grounds, which are now renovated, you’ll see a proper city indeed, with distinct industrial and residential buildings and even its own lovely park.

Central Museum of Textiles

The centrepiece of the industrial empire of Ludwik Geyer, yet another successful 19th-century industrialist, the so-called White Factory is famous for two things.

It was the first fully mechanised textile factory in Lodz, with the first-ever factory chimney to appear in the city’s skyline.

Moreover, as its nickname suggests, it’s the only factory whose outer walls are covered by white plaster, contrary to the red-bricked facades of the other factories.

The White Factory now houses the city’s Central Museum of Textiles.

Spread out on several floors, the museum is a study on the history of the textile and fashion industries and it can keep you busy and intrigued for quite a few hours.

We loved checking out the machines used in the textile industry, such as looms, weaving machines, spinning mills and others, and we appreciated the deep knowledge we gained about the various fabrics.

Click here for the official website.

Lodz City Culture Park

Right next to the Central Museum of Textiles, it’s worth taking a stroll through the Lodz City Culture Park.

The latter is dotted with traditional buildings from the past centuries that have been transferred there from various locations in and around Lodz.

Stepping inside these buildings feels like entering a time capsule that transports you into the homes of people who worked in the city’s factories during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Monopolis

Although Poland’s Manchester flourished because of its thriving textile factories, the city’s industry didn’t stop there. Vodka Monopoly was a factory that produced vodka and other spirits from the late 19th century until 2007.

Now called Monopolis, the complex is renovated and serves as one of the city’s cultural and entertainment centres.

EC1

The impressive building of EC1 was the first city power plant in Lodz. It was in constant operation from 1907 until 2000.

Also known as City of Culture, EC1 now houses a cutting-edge planetarium and several museums, such as the educational Centre For Science & Technology, the fun Centre For Comics & Interactive Narrative and the National Centre For Film Culture.

Piotrkowska Street

At first glance, Piotrkowska Street, with its splendid buildings and wide walking lanes, doesn’t seem related to Lodz’s industrial past.

In reality, though, Piotrkowska Street is where it all started for the city, as this famed thoroughfare was where several factories and residences of factory owners and other textile industry professionals were located.

The more the city’s industry boomed, the more the street reflected Lodz’s grandeur with its beautiful residential buildings and shops.

Piotrkowska Street was the very heart of the newly developed city and this is why Lodz doesn’t have a traditional market square, like other Polish cities.

Nowadays, Piotrkowska Street is the highlight of Lodz. Some claim it’s the longest shopping street in Europe. Walking along its pedestrianised part is one of the best things to do in Lodz in its own right.

Apart from marvelling at the elegant buildings that line the street, equally fascinating are the numerous passages and courtyards that hide behind the gorgeous facades.

Two mandatory stops are the dreamlike Rose Passage, a project with a heartbreaking story behind it that you can read more about here, and the Birth of The Day, a street art courtyard like no other.

You’ll find the latter on a side street of Piotrkowska, at number 4, Wieckowskiego Street.

Another great place to check out is OFF Piotrkowska, yet another former cotton factory now turned into a hub for designers, artists and cultural events, with several on-site bars and eateries.

2. A Rich Jewish Heritage

Before the Second World War, Lodz had the largest Jewish community in Poland, second only to Warsaw.

After Germany invaded Poland, the Nazis established a ghetto in the northeastern part of Lodz, squeezing thousands of Jews in a tiny area.

With almost 200,000 Jews living and working in terrible conditions, the Lodz Ghetto was the second-largest in Poland.

The ghetto was separated from the rest of the city with barbed-wire fences, resulting in the complete isolation of the Jewish community.

Since Lodz was already an industrial city, the Nazis took advantage of this by establishing textile factories within the ghetto confines, using Jewish people for forced labour.

However, most of Lodz’s Jews were ultimately sent to death camps.

Best Places to Delve Into Lodz’s Jewish Past

Jewish Cemetery

Lodz is home to one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in Europe. Founded in 1892, Lodz’s Jewish Cemetery is the final resting place of several prominent Jews, such as the Poznanski family.

During World War II, everyone who died in the Lodz Ghetto was buried there in mass graves. The Jewish Cemetery is a vast place to explore, so make sure you leave enough time for your visit.

Radegast Train Station

The old Radegast Train Station is one of the most moving places to visit in Lodz. The station was used extensively for transporting Jews from the Lodz Ghetto to extermination camps.

It’s now a Holocaust Memorial, featuring the original wooden train station building, the railway track and platform and the 140-metre Tunnel of Memory, a heart-wrenching exhibition that leaves no one untouched.

You can also see a mind-blowing model of the Lodz Ghetto there.

Marek Edelman Dialogue Centre & Survivors’ Park

The modern glass and steel construction that houses the Marek Edelman Dialogue Centre stands as a symbol of unity and love.

The Dialogue Centre commemorates Holocaust survivors and their families, while creating a bond with the Roma, Muslim and other minorities that live in Lodz.

Right next to the Dialogue Centre building, the Survivors’ Park carries a strong symbolism, as its trees were planted by the Lodz Ghetto survivors.

Click here for the official website.

3. A Film-Making Mecca

After the end of the Second World War, Lodz emerged as a film mecca of the time when the entire Polish film industry was moved there from Warsaw. All this earned Lodz its new nickname: Hollylodz.

Lodz’s famous Film School was founded as early as 1948. Throughout the decades, notable future directors studied there.

Among them are Roman Polanski and Andrzej Wajda, whose masterpiece The Promised Land retells the long story of Lodz’s industrial past.

Moreover, Lodz has been featured in many films and hosts several film festivals and events. The city is also home to top-quality film studios.

For its continuous contribution to the cinema industry, Lodz has been included in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network.

Best Places To Learn More About Lodz’s Film-Making History

Film Museum (Scheibler Palace)

Housed in the residential mansion of industrialist Karol Scheibler, Lodz’s Film Museum is an essential stop.

Within its palatial walls, the museum takes visitors on a whirlwind journey through the cinema history of Lodz, which coincides with the history of world cinematography itself.

Moreover, Scheibler Palace was one of the filming locations for Wajda’s The Promise Land and you can learn more about this Polish film as you stroll through the museum’s corridors.

Click here for the official website.

National Centre For Film Culture

Housed in one of the EC1 buildings mentioned above, the National Centre For Film Culture is a museum, film archive, cinema, cultural and educational institution, all in one place.

The National Centre For Film Culture is responsible for showcasing and safeguarding Poland’s rich cinema heritage. For that alone, it’s worth a bit of your time while in Lodz.

FAQs About Visiting Lodz

Where is Lodz city centre?

Unlike other Polish – or European, for that matter – cities, Lodz doesn’t have a main square. That’s because the heart of the city has always been – and still is – Piotrkowska Street.

However, during the last couple of decades, with the renovation and development of the Manufaktura complex, this is now the city centre for many, with its vast central square being a favourite meeting point.

Is a weekend in Lodz enough?

Lodz is a very compact city. That said, we’d recommend spending at least three full days in Lodz if you want to explore all those characteristics and historic aspects that make it unique, as we’ve outlined them throughout this article.

When is the best time to visit Lodz?

The best time to visit Lodz is from late spring to early autumn to enjoy the city in sunny, warm weather.

Is Lodz a walkable city?

Yes, Lodz is a delight to explore on foot as it’s a flat city.

Where can I try good vegetarian food in Lodz?

Like everywhere in Poland, Lodz isn’t a place that will starve you if you don’t eat meat.

Your safest bet for the best vegetarian food in Poland is any milk bar, a no-frills eatery serving delicious traditional food at low prices.

There, you can have a vegetable soup, a potato-based dish or, our favourite, the iconic Pierogi dumplings.

The best milk bar we tried in Lodz was Pycha Micha Lodz, a cosy fast food-like restaurant that serves mouthwatering traditional Polish dishes, among which several meat-free ones.

Another restaurant you shouldn’t miss is Zielona at Manufaktura, a vegetarian and vegan restaurant serving meat-free versions of Polish staples, alongside plant-based comfort food, such as burgers, tofu nuggets and other delicacies.

Do people speak English in Lodz?

At popular places, like Manufaktura or the Film Museum, you’ll most likely be able to be spoken to in English. However, in other places, such as milk bars, English is hardly spoken.

That said, the vast majority of Poles are such sweethearts that they’ll do everything in their power to make themselves understood using body language.

How is Lodz pronounced?

The correct spelling of the city’s name in Polish is Łódź. Probably this doesn’t make any difference to you, as it didn’t to us.

However, when we travelled to Lodz, we were shocked to realise that the first letter didn’t sound like an L at all.

The correct way to pronounce Lodz, or Łódź, would be something like woodge in English.

Which other Polish cities can I combine with Lodz on the same trip?

Lodz might not strike you as the perfect place for a standalone trip and we hear you. We always encourage multi-day trips and slow travel anyway.

Therefore, you should consider adding Lodz as one of several stops on a longer Poland itinerary, during which you could also visit Poznan, explore Krakow or discover Warsaw.

Lodz is connected to all these major cities in Poland by bus or train.

We hope you enjoyed this article about Lodz as much as we enjoyed reminiscing of the time we spent there.

Hopefully, the question it all started with – Is Lodz worth visiting? – is now answered and no longer lingering in your minds.

WORDS & EDITING: Maria
IMAGES: Katerina