Train to Łódź – Connections, Tickets and Itinerary

• Destination station: Łódź Fabryczna station - main, underground station. The other important junction is Łódź Widzew station, served by PKP Intercity, POLREGIO and ŁKA.

• Station vs city centre: once you leave Łódź Fabryczna station, you can take the tram to Piotrkowska street or walk in about a dozen minutes.

• Local transport: you travel around Lodz by trams and buses of MPK Lodz. A single ticket costs a few zlotys and a daily ticket a dozen or so - check current prices at mpk.lodz.pl.

• Character of the city: you will find Manufaktura in the former Poznański factory, Piotrkowska Street and one of the largest collections of street art in Poland.

• Best time to go on a city break: it is best to choose April, May or September - the daytime temperature is 15-20°C, tourist traffic is lower than in summer and the cultural offer remains wide.

• How much to go for: a weekend (Friday evening - Sunday) is enough for the main attractions. If you want to see more neighbourhoods and both art museums, plan for 3 days.

The best choice is April, May or September - the daytime temperature is 15-20°C, there is less tourist traffic than in summer, and museums and galleries operate without long queues.

Spring (March–May)

• In Park Źródliska and the city gardens, the season begins, so you can walk around at 12-21°C.

• In May, the Łódź Design Festival takes place with design exhibitions and limited editions of products by local designers.

• You enter Manufaktura and EC1 without long queues and accommodation prices are lower than in summer.

Summer (June–August)

• The terraces and outdoor seating on Piotrkowska Street are open late, and it's 18-22°C in the evening.

• In summer, the Festival of Four Cultures takes place with concerts, plays and literary meetings.

• At weekends, tourists from surrounding towns come to the city, so Manufaktura can get crowded.

Autumn (September–November)

• In September it is 17-21°C and the weather is often stable, making it one of the best months for a city break.

• October sees the Łódź Film Festival with film screenings and meetings with filmmakers.

• You can enter galleries and museums such as ms1, ms2 and EC1 without long queues, and accommodation prices drop after summer.

Winter (December–February)

• In December, a Christmas market operates on Piotrkowska Street and Manufaktura has festive decorations.

• In January and February, you can visit museums in a quieter atmosphere and without the crowds.

• Accommodation prices are then among the lowest of the year, except on New Year's Eve and during the holidays.

You can get to Łódź by train from most major cities in Poland. You can choose between connections to the city centre and to the eastern part of Łódź, so you can match your arrival station with your place of accommodation.

From Warsaw

• It takes about 1.5 hours to get to Łódź Fabryczna station by IC train from Warszawa Centralna or Warszawa Wschodnia stations.

• There are also POLREGIO and Koleje Mazowieckie trains on this route.

• Some connections also go to Łódź Widzew station, so check the destination station when purchasing.

From Katowice

• You travel approximately 2.5 hours to Łódź Widzew station by IC train via Dąbrowa Górnicza, Radomsko and Piotrków Trybunalski.

• Some connections continue to Łódź Fabryczna station, so the journey time is sometimes slightly longer.

• You have several connections a day on the route.

From Krakow

• You travel approximately 3 hours to Łódź Fabryczna station by IC train via Częstochowa and Radomsko.

• If you choose to connect to Łódź Widzew station, the journey takes about 2.5 hours.

• You have several connections per day on the route.

From Bialystok

• You travel approximately 2.5-3 hours to Łódź Fabryczna station by IC train via Warszawa Centralna station.

• The same train also stops at Łódź Widzew station.

• You have several connections per day on the route without changing trains.

From Poznań

• You travel approximately 4 hours to Łódź Widzew station on a POLREGIO train via Kalisz and Sieradz.

• On the way, the train also stops at Łódź Kaliska and Łódź Chojny stations.

• These stations are useful if you are staying overnight in the western or southern part of the city.

From Gdańsk

• It takes about 5 hours to get to Łódź Fabryczna station or Łódź Widzew station by IC or TLK train.

• The route goes through Warsaw Central Station, but you do not change trains.

• You have several connections on the route every day.

You can also get to Łódź from smaller cities - from Częstochowa in about 2.5 hours and from Kutno in about 1.5 hours by ŁKA and POLREGIO trains.

You can buy tickets for all routes on Europodróże without registration - you receive them by e-mail and SMS, and 30 minutes before departure you receive an SMS with a link to your ticket. The earlier you buy, the better the price and the greater the choice of seats. You can return your PKP Intercity tickets up to 20 minutes before departure and exchange them up to 30 minutes before departure - see our returns and exchanges policy page for details.

You can benefit from statutory concessions when you buy: 51% for students, 37% for children and young people and 30% for senior citizens. PKP Intercity commercial discounts are also available - Large Family Card, Family Ticket and Cheap with Relatives offer.

You can get around Łódź by tram, bus and on foot, and between the main attractions you can easily combine public transport with walking.

From Łódź Fabryczna station to the city centre: you can get to Piotrkowska Street by tram, and with lighter luggage you can also walk. The exit to the city leads through a shopping centre.

From Łódź Widzew station: the station serves the eastern part of the city. By tram you can reach the city centre in about a dozen minutes.

MPK Łódź: trams and buses cover the entire city. A single ticket costs a few zlotys and a daily ticket a dozen or so - check current prices and timetables at mpk.lodz.pl.

Łódź Kaliska and Łódź Chojny: these stations are worth using if you are staying overnight in the western or southern part of the city. They are served by ŁKA and POLREGIO.

On foot in the city centre: the main attractions such as Manufaktura, EC1 and the Old Market are all within a few kilometres of Łódź Fabryczna station. A walk along the whole of Piotrkowska Street takes around 1-2 hours.

City bikes: there is a Łódź Bike system in operation in Łódź. Check the city's official website for details and season dates.

Taxi and ride-sharing: you can order them at both main railway stations.

Where to stay:

• Manufaktura area - the most convenient base for a city break, as the main attractions are close by.

• Piotrkowska Street - the most convenient base for a city break, as the main attractions are close by.

Most time should be spent on Piotrkowska Street, Manufaktura, EC1 and the murals, as these are the places that best show the character of the city.

Piotrkowska Street

One of the longest promenades in Europe, it is over 4 km long. Here you will find the stars of Lodz cinema fame embedded in the pavement, Art Nouveau townhouses, cafes and galleries. The entire length of the walk takes about 1-2 hours, depending on your pace and the number of stops. Admission is free.

Manufaktura

Israel Poznański's revitalised factory, today a complex with museums, cinema, restaurants and shops. Entry is free. The Factory Museum and the ms2 Museum of Art are worth seeing - both places have a fee. Plan about 2-3 hours for a tour of Manufaktura with one museum. Check the opening hours at manufaktura.pl.

EC1 Łódź - City of Culture

A former power station turned into a science and culture centre. The Science and Technology Centre has interactive exhibitions, so it's especially good for a trip with children. There is an entrance fee and the tour takes about 2-3 hours. Check opening hours at ec1lodz.pl.

Museum of Art in Łódź (ms1)

At Więckowskiego Street you will see one of the oldest collections of modern art in Europe. There is an entrance fee and the tour takes about 1-2 hours. The collection includes works from the interwar avant-garde to contemporary art.

Old Market Square

The historic centre of Łódź with its church and townhouses. It takes about a dozen minutes' walk to visit, and it doesn't take long to get there from Piotrkowska Street. It is a quieter part of the city than the main promenade.

Urban Forms murals

Łódź is one of the most important street art cities in Poland. The route of the murals is free and a map can be found at urbanforms.org. Plan about 2-3 hours on foot to walk around the dozen or so most important works.

Plan for day 1

• Start in the morning with a walk along Piotrkowska Street and through the Old Market, which will take about 2-3 hours.

• At noon, choose Manufaktura, the ms2 Art Museum and lunch at one of the restaurants in the complex, which will take about 2-3 hours.

• In the afternoon, visit the EC1 Science and Technology Centre or walk the Urban Forms murals route, which is worth about 2-3 hours.

Plan for the weekend (2 days)

Day 1: You can arrange the same as the 1-day plan.

Day 2: In the morning, visit the ms1 Art Museum on Więckowskiego Street, and the tour will take about 1-2 hours. At noon, go to Park Źródliska, the oldest park in Lodz, with a palm house and ponds - the walk will take about 1 hour. In the evening, choose to have dinner at Piotrkowska Street or in the Manufaktura area.

For meals, it is best to choose Piotrkowska Street, Manufaktura and Hala Targowa, because in these places it is easy to combine sightseeing with lunch or shopping.

Łódź and regional cuisine - tripe in the Łódź style, żurek (sour rye soup) and pierogi with various fillings can be found in restaurants on Piotrkowska and in Manufaktura. In Łódź, it is also worth trying dishes inspired by Jewish cuisine, which refer to the multicultural history of the city.

Hala Targowa (Market Hall) on Zielona Street - at the market you can buy fresh vegetables, cheese, cured meats and bread. Best to visit in the morning when the choice is greatest.

Restaurants and cafes at Piotrkowska Street - there are many establishments with Polish and international cuisine along the entire length of the promenade. In the evening, Piotrkowska comes alive with bars, pubs and music clubs. Prices are sometimes lower than in the centre of Warsaw or Krakow.

Manufaktura - there is a food court and restaurants in the complex. It is a good place to have lunch after visiting the ms2 or before a cinema screening.

Souvenirs

• Products with a Lodz fabric motif - industrial design available at Piotrkowska Street and in Manufaktura.

• Books on the history of the city - you will find them in bookshops at Piotrkowska Street and in Manufaktura.

• Local handicrafts - souvenir shops at Piotrkowska Street and in Manufaktura. Limited editions of products by local designers are available during the Łódź Design Festival.

For 2 days and 1 night, a budget ranging from under 200 PLN in the budget version to over 900 PLN in the comfortable version, without the train ticket, is usually sufficient.

Budget - you stay in a hostel or Airbnb, eat in milk bars and at the market, and choose free attractions such as Piotrkowska, the murals and the Old Market. You get around the city by tram with a single ticket.

Mid-range - you choose a three-star hotel, lunches and dinners in restaurants along Piotrkowska, a daily MPK ticket and entry to ms2 and EC1.

Comfortable - you stay in a four-star or boutique hotel in the centre, eat in restaurants with an extensive menu, use taxis instead of MPK and visit several paid attractions.

Accommodation prices in Łódź are lower than in Warsaw, Kraków or Gdańsk - for a three-star hotel in the centre you will pay around 150-250 PLN per night. The train ticket to Łódź is not included in the table.