August 18, 2025
Łódź, Poland’s third-largest city, is often overlooked by travelers in favor of Warsaw, Kraków, or Gdańsk. Known historically as the country’s industrial heart, it’s a place where towering red-brick factories and textile mills still shape the urban landscape. While it may not fit the image of a traditional tourist city, Łódź offers a fascinating mix of history, creativity, and reinvention. From vibrant street art and cultural hubs to unexpected green corners, it has plenty to surprise curious visitors. Here are five places that capture the city’s unique character.
Piotrkowska street
Considered the city centre of Łódź, this street is what makes Łódź different from the rest of the Polish cities. Here, no traditional Rynek (market square) but one of the longest streets in Europe instead! Shops, restaurants, bars … You will find everything on Piotrkowska. If you start your tour from Plac Wolności and go South from there you will be able to appreciate the length of the street and enjoy all the things it has to offer. Remember to look out for the incredible street art pieces the city is known for in Poland on the way!
All the way down, you will be able to admire buildings from different architectural styles and time periods. The eclectic vibes of Piotrkowska are a good image of the overall spirit and history of the city. Don’t hesitate to stop and have a look at some of the courtyards or hidden side streets like Pasaż Róży, where a local artist has embellished all the facades with mirrors ; or Niebostan cafe, located in one of the courtyards where you can sit on lounge chairs or enjoy the high terrasse.
If you keep strolling down, you will eventually reach Off Piotrkowska, one of the most interesting side streets and trendiest spots in the evenings. With tall brick buildings hosting designer shops, cafés, bars and restaurants it has become a popular outdoor space to grab a drink with friends while enjoying the lounge chairs or rooftop bars in the sunset.
Manufaktura
Only a few minutes away from the Northern side of Piotrkowska street, Manufaktura is now one of the most famous and popular attraction spots in the city. Originally one of the largest textile factory complex, the big brick buildings that were once weaving mills, a power plant, fire station… have been renovated not so long ago to turn this very special place into one of the biggest shopping malls in Poland. But Manufaktura is much more than just a shopping mall : you will find there a great number of restaurants and cafés, a hotel and plenty of entertainment! Cinema, museums, bowling alley, laser tag… In summer, it even hosts Manufaktura beach for people in need of some sand, cocktails and a lounge chair.
And if you are curious and want to learn more about the place itself the Poznański Palace, former residence of the owners of a textile company and largest and most opulent private residence of the industrial days of the city, is worth visiting. Not only will you be able to appreciate the period furniture and styles displayed inside, but you will also gain more knowledge and information about the history of Łódź as the residence is now also the City Museum.
The Cinema Museum and Źródliska Park
Few people know this, but Lodz is the capital city of Polish cinema. Many classics were filmed in the city’s palaces and studios and a museum dedicated to the country’s movie history is now located in the old Scheibler Villa.
The Scheibler family used to be one of the wealthiest in town, having made a fortune in the textile industry. Owners of the factories at Księży Młyn, they lived across Źródliska park in a house originally built in 1856 that underwent several changes and renovations to finally look like the Italian Neo-Renaissance style estate we can visit today. Architecture and history lovers will be able to appreciate the residence itself and admire the woodwork, styles and a famous mosaic ; while also getting the opportunity to learn about the history of cinema in Poland. With old footage being shown, displays of vintage and antique cameras and machines, original costumes and a last floor entirely dedicated to cartoons, it is a great visit for people of any age, or with the whole family.
The park behind the villa might be one of the loveliest in the city and you can enjoy walking around its paths looking for squirrels or spending the rest of the day in the shades of its high trees.
Księży Młyn
One of the lesser known but best places in Łódź : Księży Młyn, the “city within a city” of the late 19th century. When Karol Scheibler started his textile enterprise in Lodz, he went even further than other industrials and instead of simply building himself a palace next to his factory, turned the area into a gated community with its own shops, hospitals, power plant where the workers, who constituted the largest workers’ settlement at the time, could all live.
The whole neighbourhood now comprises brand new cafes and restaurants, apartments located in the old textile industrial complex, and the proximity with two great museums. The area is located right at the end of Źródliska park where the cinema museum stands ; and next to the former factory, on the other side of the street, you can find Herbst Palace, once the residence of Scheibler’s daughter and son-in-law. This beautiful villa, its charming park and arts museum are a must-see here in Lodz. The house will make you feel as if you have just fallen through time and woken up in the early 20th century and the former stables house a branch of the art museum, where the exhibition displays some of the most renowned polish painters of that time.
Less busy and crowded than the other old factories and popular spots, Księży Młyn is what you need when you want to feel like you’re spending the day in a smaller industrial but trendy town.
South Piotrkowska
Piotrkowska might be over 4 kilometers long but going all the way to the end of the street is definitely worth it. It is not one place in particular but rather the whole area that is worth seeing.
It is pretty clear by now that the nice spots in Łódź usually have something to do with old factories. But Biała Fabryka, or “white factory”, is a little different, as it is now the Central Museum of Textiles as well as the Culture Park and not a whole centre like the rest of the restored industrial complexes. It is still a real gem and whether you are interested in history and architecture, fashion or machinery you will find something to look at. The recreation of traditional houses and interiors from the 19th century to the 1980s, the use of textile machines or display of clothes and fashion items will entertain anyone.
The park bordering the museum is the place to go if you want to sit near the water and enjoy the pond and fountain ; or you can explore the rest of the centre’s South side. With the Cathedral nearby, the outside of Steinert’s Palace to admire or the renovated Fuzja neighbourhood to explore, there is plenty of things to see in this part of town, it just needs a little more curiosity!
In conclusion
Łódź may not be the most obvious stop on a trip through Poland, but that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding. Beneath its industrial façade lies a city that surprises at every turn — with art, history, and plenty of character. Whether you explore just a few highlights and must see or wander further off the beaten path, you’ll quickly see why the city of Łódź deserves a spot on your travel map.
Read all the articles conected to the project ” Odkryj Łódź” : https://levelupngo.com/project/odkryj-lodz/
Author : Sacha Lefèvre