As part of the nationwide #PodrozujDoThere campaign, we are pleased to present you with some ideas for trips to the nearer and farther environs of Lodz, both for one-day and weekend trips. See what we have prepared for you this time.
As soon as Bartek from Paragon on the Move and Marcin from Wandering Butterflies asked us if we would like to participate in the #TravelToHere campaign, we didn’t think for a second! With pleasure and undisguised joy we agreed to show fantastic corners around Lodz.
Because that’s what the #TravelToHere campaign is all about. 16 bloggers from all over Poland will show you 5 or 9 real gems around a selected city from a particular province. Because a time when the word coronavirus does not leave the headlines, and Poles are not only worried about where to go on vacation, but whether it will be possible at all, is a time when we can explore unhurriedly our immediate surroundings. Because it is possible, and that is what we want to encourage through this action.
Traveling is not just about exotic, faraway trips. Traveling is a state of mind ;) For us, over the past few years, traveling has become more than a hobby. It’s already an important part of our lives, and when we were locked out of the house we couldn’t fit it all in. Since it is now possible to go out recreationally, since the hotels are open we are moving more and more boldly and farther out.
We have already discovered a lot of places in Lodz province. One of the most interesting adventures was exploring castles in the Lodz province as part of the Blogger Championship. But the #PodrozujDoThere campaign is about showing something more, something new, less known and not necessarily within the borders of the province (distance from a given city is more important).
We focus on diversity in our proposals! Here you will see castles, palaces, beautiful parks and gardens, forests, lakes, places for both single-track and water sports fans. We are confident that everyone will find something for themselves here – those who need active recreation, as well as those who are looking for quiet and relaxing places, as well as families with children.
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So we present you with a list of places from the vicinity of Lodz, plus one interesting place in the capital of the province itself. Most are within 50 kilometers of the city center, but some are a little farther, although it won’t necessarily take more to get there than to those located closer. Perfect places for a day trip in central Poland :)
Here we go!
Table of contents
An idea for a day trip to the Lodz area, in a film version
We’ll start differently, though, because there’s also a movie version! We invite you to our YouTube channel where we also show places around Lodz, just in time for a short trip to central Poland,
More, of course, as always below. Plus the map at the very bottom :)
Our idea for a trip to the northwest is to go to Uniejow. Depending on what interests you, we suggest relaxing at the Uniejów Thermal Baths, walking to the Castle of the Archbishops of Gniezno (now a hotel, but you can see it from the outside and enter the courtyard) and around the park (watch out for the White Lady gambolling!). In the park there is a designated nature trail, so while taking in the fresh air you can do some educating ;)
If possible, we encourage you to come to the Thermal Baths during the week or on the weekend first thing in the morning, as it is quite a popular place. We’ve never experienced standing in long lines, but that’s because we’re generally at the opening or during the autumn-winter season. We even recommend relaxing in the hot thermal waters in outdoor pools when the air temperature is close to zero or even lower.
Not far from the Term is the Mill Homestead with a wooden manor house from the 1880s and two windmills. Here you can participate in craft workshops or see antique horse-drawn vehicles and tools.
Uniejów is also a good place for canoeing on the Warta River.
At the end of a busy day, we recommend checking out the Windmill Brewery, where you can eat quite deliciously, and they have a great kids’ corner.
You can read more about Uniejów in a dedicated post.
Access:
We suggest traveling by car: getting to Uniejów is very easy, just follow national road 72 northwest. The road takes about an hour’s drive from Lodz.
2. Leczyca, Tum and the geometric center of Poland
Leczyca is home to the 14th century Royal Castle, built during the reign of Casimir the Great.
A trip to Leczyca is especially recommended in August, when the famous International Tournament of Knights takes place at the Castle in Leczyca. Unfortunately, we don’t know if it will come to fruition this year, so we encourage you to follow the news on the castle’s website. Just remember that while in Leczyca you need to beware of the famous Devil Boruta ;) There is even a special exhibition dedicated to him at the castle.
Not far from Łęczyca, in the village of Tum, there is an archdiocese that is a must-see when exploring the area around Łęczyca. After all, it is one of the oldest monuments on the lands of the Lodz province. The church, which dates back to the 12th century, impresses primarily by its size. The very fact that such a powerful structure is located in such a small village is surprising.
However, according to historians, it was here that there was a stronghold that performed very important functions of the former Piast state. And now the most important – this fortified settlement, is currently being reconstructed and we can expect a really interesting place here, filled with history. The work was supposed to be completed in the fall of this year, but these days things are different ;)
If you are exploring the area by bicycle (which we highly recommend!), then we suggest you do a ride to the geometric center of Poland, that is, to the village of Piątek (about 20 km, an hour’s bike ride, by car this is also doable ;) ). Although if we are to be more accurate, it should be added that in 2018 we recalculated once again where the center of Poland is located and it is in the municipality of Piątek, in the village of Balkow.
Access:
By car: the easiest and fastest way to get to Leczyca is by driving to Zgierz and then DK 91. The road in good winds takes 40-50 minutes.
Train: there are Lodz Agglomeration Railway, IC and Regio trains going to Leczyca. Ticket prices start at $11 one way per adult, and the trip takes about an hour.
3. Arkadia Park and Radziwill Palace in Nieborów.
Another idea for the whole day – this time it will be romantic! The order of visiting is arbitrary, but it is worth bearing in mind that on weekends around noon there are more people here, so we recommend arriving in the morning or at the end of the day.
To the palace in Nieborów we personally have a huge sentiment. We visited the place many times as a couple, brides, until we finally had a wedding session there. The history of the site dates back to the 14th century, when a wooden mansion stood here. The current building was built in the 17th century and is open to the public for a fee (entrance to the garden area is also charged). Inside, richly decorated and furnished rooms, a beautiful staircase decorated with ceramic tiles, numerous paintings and portraits await. Definitely worth a look inside.
We also came here just to stroll through the beautiful garden, French-style.
If you’re more interested in spending time outdoors than the palace itself, take a look at the Helena Radziwill Romantic Garden in Arkadia, located right next door.
The park was established in the 18th century and is full of objects that were supposed to create a mythical land here. Here you will find a Roman aqueduct, a stone arch, the Temple of Diana, building ruins and numerous statues. It is worth walking, wandering, searching and discovering new corners.
Access:
By car: Nieborow is located between Lodz and Warsaw, just off the A2 highway exit to Lowicz. From Lodz, the journey takes about an hour.
4. the SGGW Arboretum in Rogów
In the eastern direction, we would like to invite you to one of the most valuable and richest arboreta in Europe, and it is located near Lodz, in Rogow.
If you only remember them from school trips a few dozen or so years ago, it’s worth seeing for yourself how the place has changed.
The Arboretum in Rogow occupies a rather vast area, so everyone on site will find a piece of peace and quiet for themselves. You can walk through the forest watching exotic trees and flowers, admire rockeries and interesting installations. In spring and summer, you can see a real feast of colors and scents!
Particularly noteworthy is certainly the Alpinarium depicting plants that grow in the highest parts of the mountains. The nearby part of the Arboretum has also been renovated, preparing new exhibitions (including the Garden of the World’s Vanishing Plants), landings, and several deck chairs and benches have been purchased, making it more than advisable to relax here.
We encourage you to follow information about flowering plants on the Arboretum’s website – this will allow you to hit the best time to admire the flowers in their full glory.
A trip to Rogow can be varied by including a ride on the historic narrow-gauge train and a visit to the local museum.
We also wrote about the narrow-gauge railroad and the Rogów Arboretum here.
Access:
By car: to get to Rogow, head east to Brzeziny and then a piece of DK 72. The commute takes about 40-50 minutes.
Train: Rogow can be reached by Regio or ŁKA train, with the best starting point being Lodz Widzew station. The train takes about 20-30 minutes and costs from PLN 9 per adult one way.
5. the Blue Springs in Tomaszów Mazowiecki and Spała
Another idea for a day trip, this time to the southeast, is a trip to Tomaszów Mazowiecki and Spała. Once again, we are not showing just one place, as we encourage you to set aside a whole day or weekend to be able to see several interesting places at one time.
In Tomaszow Mazowiecki, the most noteworthy are the Blue Springs and the Pilica River Open-Air Museum next door.
The Blue Springs is a landscape reserve that owes its name to the karst springs located here and the optical phenomenon due to which one has the impression that there are blue spots at the bottom of the reservoir. A walk around the lake is an opportunity to observe many birds, fish and amphibians. Learning about them includes an educational path with information boards.
As we have already mentioned, close to the Blue Springs is located a small open-air museum dedicated to the Pilica River. There are quite a variety of exhibits here, but they all share a common denominator – the aforementioned river. The first building that catches the eye is the old wooden mill, which was moved from the village of Kuznica Zerechowska. Be sure to take a look inside, as not only explanations related to the functioning of the mill await, but also a great many exhibits.
There are quite a few other exhibits waiting at the open-air museum. In the war section, we can see war vehicles and artifacts excavated from the river, including an armored Luftwaffe artillery tractor. Walking further we can see the shelter, barge, boats, and even the waiting room from the train station in Czarnocin!
If you’re interested in war themes, you can’t go wrong with a trip to the Konewka bunkers, where you explore nearly 400 meters of railroad shelter with numerous exhibits, military vehicles and technical shelters (yes, a whole train could go in here!). Note, it’s chilly inside (about 10-12 degrees) so be sure to bring some warm clothes.
A stone’s throw away is Spala, a place known for its harvest festivals and athletes’ training. For us, it is a great base when it comes to bicycles. In the city itself, look out for the famous bison and a small wooden church in the center.
Access:
By car: to get to Tomaszów Mazowiecki, head south along the A1 road. After Tuszyn, we turn to Wolbórz and then Tomaszow Mazowiecki. The road takes between 1 and 1.5 hours.
Train: there are LKA, Regio, IC trains between Lodz and Tomaszow Mazowiecki. The trip lasts from 0.5 to 1 hour and costs from PLN 12 per person one way.
6 Mount Kamiensk
Something for fans of active recreation! Kamieńsk Mountain near Belchatow is the highest hill in central Poland. It is an artificial embankment created by the mining of coal in a nearby mine.
The best place when it comes to skiing in the province of Lodz, but there is also something to do here in the summer. Both on the mountain itself and in the surrounding area you can ride a bicycle (there are more than 60 km of bicycle paths). Even if you prefer paved paths, you’ll find them here, as the municipalities in the area are plentiful and the bike paths are very well prepared.
In summer, during the season, at the foot of the hill there are many attractions mainly for toddlers like inflatables, trampolines, a toboggan run is also great fun.
And what’s in the neighborhood? For example, the Belchatow Mine. Viewing the largest hole in Poland from a vantage point is impressive.
If you would like to learn more about coal mining and the operation of a mine, you should take a look at PGE Giganta Mocy, located in Belchatow. Mainly for children, but adults also have the opportunity to expand their horizons.
You can read more about Belchatow and the surrounding area here.
Access:
By car: getting to Gora Kamiensk from Lodz is very easy and, despite the greater distance, quite fast. You can get here in 1-1.5 hours by driving south on the A1 highway.
7. levitin in Pabianice and Sereczyn fishing settlement
This time it will be very close to Lodz. Because sometimes you just need to cross the administrative boundaries of a city and discover interesting places. And these are the kind of places we recommend near Lodz and Pabianice.
We recommend Levitin to both fans of active recreation and the more lazy ;) There are playgrounds, prepared paths for pedestrians and cyclists, there is a beach, you can rent pedal boats. A pumptrack full of hills and turns requiring a fairly good sense of balance was a hit.
The next place was the Sereczyn Fisherman’s Settlement, where we were originally supposed to go only for lunch. We had never been here before despite the fact that several people had recommended this place to us much earlier. And it was a hit! Perfectly complementing the stay in Levitin. There it was active, and here it was quiet. In addition to delicious food at the restaurant, where they serve fresh fish from their own farm, you can take a look at the homestead with farm animals.
Access:
By car: depending on traffic jams, the journey from the center of Lodz takes 20 to 40 minutes.
Public transportation: Lodz and Pabianice are connected by public transportation, so you can get here by bus Z41 and then walk about 20 minutes. The entire journey from the center of Lodz takes more than an hour.
8. the Jeziorsko Lagoon
There were mountains (or more precisely one), there will be water too ;)
We have long wondered what place to recommend when it comes to splashing in the water. Initially it was supposed to be the Sulejov Lagoon, but the current situation on the ground is uncertain, we ourselves would have doubts about going there, so all the more reason we will not recommend a trip to the Sulejov area here. Our choice therefore fell on the Jeziorsko Lagoon.
This is another place that we know mainly from trips on two wheels and…. balloon flight! Here was our first flight, which was part of the creation of materials promoting the use of European Funds in the province. We were familiar with these regions until now mainly from bicycle routes, yet it was only from the heights that we were able to take a detailed look at the vast area of the lagoon. Because you need to know that Jeziorsko is the largest reservoir in Lodz province, and what’s more, the largest reserve in the province – the Jeziorsko Nature Reserve – is also located here.
It is home to many interesting bird specimens like herons, cormorants, terns, cranes and even eagles. There are also many wild beaches around Jeziorsko, sometimes you just have to walk a little further to have a patch of beach all to yourself.
It is to be expected that the infrastructure and attractions around will continue to develop. Nowadays there are quite a few accommodations, campgrounds, several marinas, you can rent canoes, pedal boats.
Access:
By car: to get from Lodz to the Jeziorsko Lagoon, head west to Pęczniew, through Konstantynów Łódzki. The road takes slightly more than an hour.
9. Łódź: Park of the Survivors and the Mark Edelman Dialogue Center.
Finally, free of charge – one place in Lodz!
We have repeatedly written and recommended the most interesting places in our home city (for example, here). We have mentioned Survivor Park, but never recommended it as a best of the best. Because this place should not be looked at in terms of the best or most popular attraction in the city. For us, it’s more a place to reflect, learn about history, and stop for a while. Although a park, somehow we can’t come here just for recreation.
The site commemorates the Jews, prisoners of the Lodz Ghetto (Litzmannstadt Ghetto), who survived the Holocaust. Each person who made it to Lodz planted a tree in the park – 418 people, but a total of 450 trees are planted. Each signifying one person.
Overlooking the park is the Memorial Mound, with Jan Karski waiting on a bench at the very top. At the other end of the park is a pond, and above it is the Monument to Poles Saving Jews – special plaques record the names of Poles who have been honored with the title of Righteous Among the Nations. Looking down from above, you can see that the plaques are placed on the walls, which are arranged in a Star of David.
Anything else? On the territory of the park there is a building – the Dialogue Center named after him. Mark Edelman. Inside, permanent exhibitions can be viewed for free, and cultural events, conferences, temporary exhibitions, etc. are held here.
Map of attractions in central Poland
Below you will find a map with all of the above attractions marked in central Poland, one step from Lodz :)
With this post, we hope you have planned at least a few upcoming weekends to explore the near and far areas of Lodz.
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Szukasz mapy z atrakcjami Łodzi? Tutaj znajdziesz ponad 120 punktów na jednej mapie, od atrakcji, ciekawych miejsc, po noclegi i restauracje. Odkrywaj z nami Łódź!
>>> Polecamy również naszą książkę “Łódzkie dla każdego”! W książce znajdziesz 268 stron pełnych inspiracji, opisów, proponowanych tras zwiedzania, naszych ocen oraz praktycznych informacji. Wyruszaj w drogę i zwiedzaj z nami centralną Polskę!
Our choice of places was diverse, so that everyone could find something for themselves, while showing how many interesting places there are so close to the city. We did not hide the fact that we also discovered interesting corners ourselves on the occasion. We were a bit constrained by the grid imposed by the project to show something from each direction, because for the most part we could have easily presented you with a few more places worth seeing. But the time will come for that too :)
...prefers a quiet, lazy vacation, but does not miss the opportunity to see something interesting and bravely keeps pace with Kamila. Contrary to appearances, he also loves active leisure :) He is responsible for the organizational and practical part of the trip, i.e. he makes sure that we get to the ... More about us >>
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