Lodz, Poland, on a Budget

Łódź, an industrial city in Poland, is the country’s third largest. Home to a mix of Polish, Jewish, German and Russian people, the city is mainly known for the suffering it endured during the Nazi occupation of World War II. At the start of the war, the city was inhabited by over 600,000, 15% of whom were Jewish.

The city has been largely overlooked by travelers in favor of other Polish cities like Krakow, Warsaw and Wroclaw, and as a result has a slightly old, decrepit look to it. Much of the architecture is leftover from Soviet days, but slowly this is changing. Lodz is now billing itself as an up and coming destination, and for the most part it is. Capitalizing on its film history, the city hosts several film festivals each year and new, trendy restaurants and club are popping up around town.

Ryanair flies into Lodz from Dublin, London and Shannon and LOT (Poland’s national airline) flies from Warsaw, but most visitors will arrive via train at one of the city’s two stations. Lodz was one of the first cities in Poland to operate a tram for public transportation. Today the Lodz tram has one of the longest links in Europe at 34 km. Buses operate throughout the city, and taxis are plentiful and cheap. Rickshaws are also popular on certain streets and are a unique way to get around.

Because of Lodz’s history during World War II, there are several important historical sites in the city. The Litzmannstadt Ghetto was the second largest Jewish Ghetto in Poland after the Warsaw Ghetto. The Ghetto is both referred to as the Lodz Ghetto and the Litzmannstadt Ghetto, named after the German General who captured the city. The Decalogue Memorial is a tribute to the coexistence of Poles and Jews. The memorial is located close to the Old Market Square. Also worth a stop is the Old Market Square. Once incorporated into the Ghetto, it now serves as a venue for concerts and fairs.

The city is home to several museums, including the Muzeum Sztuki, one of the first modern art museums in Europe, and the Muzeum Historii Miasta Łodzi (Museum of History of City Lodz).  For shopping, head to the main commercial street in Lodz, Piotrkowska Street, which is rumored to be the longest commercial street in the world with a length of four kilometers. Manufaktura, old factory converted into a modern shopping mall, and Galeria Lodzka, the largest single collection of shops in the city, are also great place to spend some money. Additionally, there are farmer’s markets that operate almost every day of the week.

 

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