Łódź: The city of ITC2022

General info about Łódź: the city of ITC2022

Łódź is the second largest city in Poland area-wise (293.2 m2) and the third largest population-wise (694 990). It is situated in the very centre of the country, just 120 km away from the capital. The location at the crossing point of two main communication routes in Poland makes it a very important spot on the logistic map of Poland.

The city was established in 1423 however, its true development started in 1821 when the central government decided to create a textile settlement in the city. The following years saw the arrival of specialists and workers from all over Europe. The city developed rapidly as new production plants and large industrial plants opened. In the years 1821-1939, the population grew 67 100% (only Chicago was developing at a quicker pace at that time!). This is how Łódź became one of the most important textile centres not only in Europe, but in the entire world.

The current economy of Łódź is based on the service sector. The largest international companies are opening their branches here. Łódź is also a centre of creative industries attracting a growing number of people from different sectors, such as IT, commerce, real estate, and sustainable development. The city is also an important cultural centre with 26 museums and 16 theatres. Łódź is also one of the most important academic centres in Poland boasting 28 higher education institutions with more than 70 thousand students.

Despite its dynamic growth and constant changes, Łódź does not forget its roots in the 19th century textile industry. Old factories located in the city centre are not being demolished, but converted into service centres and tourist attractions. Historical pre-war tenement houses are being restored in order to preserve the original 19th century city layout.

Transport information

Łódź is located in the heart of New Europe. Thanks to its central location the city is in fact served by two international airports: the local Lodz Central Poland Airport (LCJ) has regular flights to 6 European cities: London-Stansted (STN), East Midlands (EMA), Dublin (DUB), Brussels-Charleroi (CRL), Milan-Bergamo (BGY) and Alicante (ALC). You can get to the city centre from the airport by bus number 65B (25 minutes), or by taxi (15 minutes).

The main international airport near the city is the Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) with almost 200 flight connections from all over the world. The airport is situated 120 km from the city. You can get to the city from Warsaw Chopin Airport directly by Flixbus (2 hrs) or by train with one change in Warsaw (2,5 hrs).

Łódź has quite good developed public transportation system with buses and trams. The local carrier MPK Łódź provides an online directions search. You can buy a special tourist ticket for 3 days. The ticket is available in Tourist Information at 28 Piotrkowska Street and in chosen hotels. There are also several taxi companies operating in the city such as: 400.pl, 800300200.pl or green-cab.pl. Navigation through the city is easier with Google Maps or JakDojade app.

Hotels

See the list of hotels offering discounted room rates to ITC2022 participants. When booking, be sure to mention that you are a participant of the “International Tourism Congress”.

Hampton by Hilton Łódź:

  • 370 PLN / night – SGL room with breakfast included
  • 425 PLN / night – DBL/TWIN rooms with breakfasts included
  • contact: sebastian.michniewski@hbhlodz.com

Hotel Novotel Łódź Centrum:

  • 350 PLN / night – SGL room with breakfast included
  • 390 PLN / night – DBL/TWIN rooms with breakfasts included
  • contact: h7830@accor.com

Vienna House Andel’s Łódź:

  • 15% discount
  • contact: reservation.andels-lodz@viennahouse.com

The Loom Hotel:

  • 20% discount
  • contact: recepcja@loom.com.pl

Hotel Puro Łódź:

  • 20% discount
  • contact: lodz@purohotel.pl

Tourist attractions in Łódź

Piotrkowska Street – one of the most renowned streets in the country and also the longest Polish promenade forms a symbol of the city. It is a pedestrian zone surrounded by tenement houses and palaces from 19th century that house local shops, restaurants, cafés, restaurant yards, pubs, and music clubs. Piotrkowska pulsates with life all year round.

Manufaktura – One of the biggest Polish shopping and entertainment centre filled with restaurants, shops and cultural institutions. Back in 19th century it was a huge textile factory complex with its own fire station and power plant. After restoration in 2006 this extremely successful combination of history and modernity has been granted awards on numerous occasions.

EC1 Łódź – City of Culture – constructed in 1906 former power station converted into a modern Centre for Science and Technology. Apart from exhibitions such as “how the electric energy is made” the Centre also houses one of the most advanced planetariums in Central Europe. EC1 is an open space for artists of various fields, adapted for individual creative work, workshops, and group events. It is a home to the National Center for Film Culture, Łódź Film Commission, and Center for Comics and Interactive Narrative.

Księży Młyn – Former factory-residential complex from 19th century. Back in the days it was a self-sufficient city inside a city. It included factory buildings, together with a huge castle-like cotton mill, warehouses, workers’ houses, school, fire station etc. Nowadays, it forms more intimate district in which you can find local cafes and bars.

Central Museum of Textiles – It is located in so called “White Factory” and has the largest collections of artistic fabrics and weaves as well as outfits used in the 19th and 20th century. In the back part of the museum, there is an Open-Air Museum of Lodz Wooden Architecture with the typical 19th century houses.

Piotrkowska 217 – Not so long ago it was an empty yard, now it’s a place where gastronomy, culture, entertainment and art live together and express themselves during events such as exhibitions, workshops, concerts and festivals.

OFF Piotrkowska – Former factory now turned into local restaurants, design and creative industry complex. It is located at the very central part of the city next to main street – Piotrkowska.

Museum of Łódź – The museum is located in the magnificent mansion from 19th century. Apart from the exhibition of its interiors from the turn of the 19th and 20th century and the exhibition chronicling the history of the industrial Lodz, a number of rooms have been dedicated to artists related to the city and those who were meritorious to the city’s inhabitants.

Film Museum – the museum helps visitors get familiar with old film equipment and objects related to the film industry. It is located in the 19th century palace, next to the famous Lodz Film School campus.

Museum of Art MS1 & MS2 – The collection displayed at the Museum of Art is primarily focused on the art of the 20th century. It is an exceptional collection as it was created by the artists themselves when they donated their works to the museum.

Street Art – The walls of over 170 buildings in the centre of Lodz are covered with huge paintings – so called murals. They makes Łódź the largest urban street art gallery in Poland. The city is also filled with street art installations. The most impressive ones are: “Birth of the Day” at Więckowskiego 4 and “Rose Passage” at Piotrkowska 3 where all the walls of a backyard have been covered with the countless pieces of broken mirrors that form hundreds of rose-shaped patterns. At Piotrkowska 165 you can also find a monument of a unicorn – the brand new symbol of Łódź.

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