Planning a Trip

Getting There

Lódz lies at the geographic center of modern Poland and is well served by roads, trains, and buses from around the country. Most trains arrive and depart from the main station, Fabryczna, at Pl. Salacinskiego 1 (tel. 042/94-36; www.pkp.pl). Fabryczna is a 10-minute walk from the center of town. A taxi to the center will cost 10zl ($4.35/£2.70). Some trains also arrive at and depart from suburban Kaliska station, Ul. Unii Lubelskiej 3/5 (tel. 042/94-36), or Widzew station, Slozbowa 8 (tel. 042/94-36), so be sure to check your ticket. The main bus station, Pl. Salacinskiego 1 (tel. 042/631-97-06; www.pks.lodz.pl), is situated just behind Fabryczna train station. This is also where Polski Express buses arrive. Several budget air carriers now fly to Lódz from various cities in the U.K. and continental Europe. Lódz's Wladislaw Reymont Airport, Gen. Stanislawa Maczka 35 (tel. 042/688-84-14; www.airport.lodz.pl), is a 10- to 15-minute drive southwest of the center. On arriving, take bus no. 55 to get to the main street Piotrkowska. A 30-minute bus ticket costs 2.40zl ($1.05/65p). A taxi into town will run about 30zl ($13/£8.10).

Visitor Information

The city of Lódz Tourist Information Center, Piotrkowska 87 (tel. 042/638-59-55; www.cityoflodz.pl), is one-stop shopping for all you'll ever need to know. Here you'll find two helpful pamphlets for negotiating the city: Lódz Tourist Attractions and the Lódz City Guide, as well as the essential Jewish Landmarks in Lódz. The latter includes a (long) self-guided walking tour of the Lódz (Litzmannstadt) ghetto. The staff maintains a complete list of hotels and can help arrange transportation and restaurant reservations.

Getting Around

Lódz has an excellent public transportation system of buses and trams. Tickets cost 2.40zl ($1.05/65p) for a standard 30-minute trip and are available from news agents. There are no trams or buses, though, running down the main drag Piotrkowska, leaving walking (about 45 min. end to end at a brisk pace) or pedicabs as the only options for getting around. The pedicab rate is about 6zl ($2.60/£1.40). Lódz is flat as a board and perfect for cycling, but rentals can be hard to find. Ask at the Tourist Information Center. To reach the Jewish Cemetery and the Radegast station, take tram no. 1 or no. 6 to the end, or hail a cab. The taxi ride will cost about 15zl ($6.50/£4.05).