Getting Around Lodz - A Local's Perspective

Welcome to Łódź! Our city offers a range of transport options to help you explore its unique sights. This guide provides information on all methods, so you can choose what best suits your plans.

Pro Tip: Walking and cycling are the most predictable

While public transport reaches many areas, it's worth noting that for time-sensitive journeys, walking or cycling can often be more predictable.

Walking & Cycling: Reliable & Scenic Routes

For central areas of Łódź, exploring on foot is often the best way to soak in the atmosphere and discover hidden gems, namely street art.

City Bikes (Łódzki Rower Publiczny): Łódź offers a public bike-sharing system called Łódzki Rower Publiczny (https://lodzkirowerpubliczny.pl/), which can be a pleasant and efficient way to get around.

App & Usage: You'll need to download the dedicated mobile app from the Łódzki Rower Publiczny website – or the current operator's app website: https://nextbike.pl/en/. The app interface is available in English and German. Registration and an initial account payment are usually required. Bikes are unlocked via the app, often by scanning a QR code. Check the app for current pricing, station locations, and instructions for correctly returning and locking the bike.

Pro Tip: Cycling Safety in Łódź

Bike infrastructure in Łódź has improved a lot in recent years, and the city center is quite well covered with bike lanes. However, if you venture into less central neighbourhoods, you might find yourself sharing the road with cars. For your safety, wear a helmet.

Public Transport: Buses & Trams

Łódź has an extensive network of buses and trams operated by MPK Łódź. These can be useful for reaching areas further from the center or when it's chilly outside.

Planning Your Journey

Google Maps (https://www.google.com/maps): Provides good public transport routing, reliable, available in English, and you probably already know it.
Jakdojade (https://jakdojade.pl/): A very popular app in Poland for public transport, offering detailed route planning, transfers, timetables, often real-time vehicle locations, and ticket purchasing for Łódź. The app is generally available in English and is free with an optional premium version.

Buying Your Tickets

Ticket Machines (Biletomaty): Located at many major stops, train stations, and sometimes inside newer vehicles. These usually offer instructions in multiple languages, including English, and accept card payments.
Kiosks & Shops: Paper tickets can often be bought at newsstands or shops displaying a ticket sales emblem. These paper tickets can also make for a fun, small souvenir of your trip!
Mobile Apps: Several Polish apps offer ticket purchases and are available in English. Note that even if you choose an English interface, some of them will show instructions partly in Polish, so have a translator app handy as well. Popular options include:
Jakdojade (https://jakdojade.pl/) (also for route planning & public transport tickets)
moBiLET (https://mobilet.eu/pl/) (also for parking payments)
SkyCash (https://www.skycash.com/) (offers public transport tickets, parking, highway tolls, train tickets, and other mobile payments)
mPay (https://www.mpay.pl/) (provides public transport tickets, parking, highway tolls, train tickets, and various other payment services)
zBiletem (https://zbiletem.pl/) (specializing in public transport tickets, including period passes) You'll typically need to register and add a payment method. Remember to validate your ticket in the app as per its instructions.

Ticket Types

Common options include timed tickets (e.g., valid for 20, 40, or 60 minutes, allowing transfers) or day passes.

Pro Tip: Public Transport Insights

While public transport covers wide areas, please be aware that buses and trams can sometimes experience delays or not arrive as scheduled. If you have a tight schedule or need to be somewhere quickly, relying on walking or cycling for shorter distances, or a taxi/ride-share for longer ones, might be a more predictable option.

Electric Scooters

Electric scooters offer a quick way to cover short to medium distances.

Operators & Apps

Companies like Lime (https://www.li.me/), also available in the Uber app (https://www.uber.com/pl/en/ride/), and Bolt (https://bolt.eu/) operate in Łódź. Each uses its own mobile app (available in English) for locating, unlocking, and paying for rides.

Usage

Always check the app for riding zones and parking guidelines to avoid fines. Ride responsibly and be mindful of pedestrians.

Travelling by Car

Driving in Łódź

Navigational apps like Google Maps or Waze are reliable. City center traffic can be busy, especially during peak hours.

Parking in the City

Central Łódź has Paid Parking Zones (Strefa Płatnego Parkowania - SPP). Payment is usually required on weekdays (e.g., Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM). Weekends and public holidays are often free – check local signage for specific hours and rates. Always double-check the specific zone requirements and payment instructions on nearby signage or parking meters.

Payment

Parking Meters (Parkomaty): You'll find these machines on streets within the city's Paid Parking Zones. Most accept coins (but often do not give change) or cards. Look for a sticker on the parking meter or nearby signage, which indicates the specific parking zone and its rules.
Mobile Apps: Some apps like moBiLET (https://mobilet.eu/pl/), mPay (https://www.mpay.pl/), SkyCash (https://www.skycash.com/) (which offers parking along with other services), or CityParkingApp (https://www.cityparkinggroup.pl/) offer parking payment services in Łódź. Most apps are available in English language, some can also show you which zone you are currently in.

Parking Lots

Numerous paid parking lots are available, especially near major attractions and in the city center. It's often a good idea to check the website of your specific destination (e.g., a museum, venue) as they may list recommended nearby parking facilities. Additionally, parking lots at major shopping centers are often free of charge and can be a convenient option if your visit aligns with their location.

Taxis & Ride-Sharing Services

Using Ride-Sharing Apps

International apps like Uber (https://www.uber.com/pl/en/ride/), Bolt (https://bolt.eu/), and FreeNow (FREENOW) (https://www.free-now.com/pl-en/) operate in Łódź and are fully available in English. Download their respective apps to request rides, see fare estimates, and pay securely.

iTaxi (https://www.itaxi.pl/en/) is another option with an app available in English that works with licensed taxi drivers.

Traditional Taxis

You can order traditional taxis by phone. One local number is 400 400 (though their services and app may not be in English).

Pro Tip: Ordering Taxis Safely

Be cautious when taking taxis directly from train stations or hailing them on the street, as there's a higher chance of being overcharged. For safety and fair pricing, it's generally better to use one of the recommended ride-sharing or taxi apps, or call a reputable taxi company by phone.

Apps We Use & Recommend

Please note: Neither this article nor the list is an exhaustive investigation of all available transport apps. Rather, it's intended to help you make a quick decision on which apps might be useful during your short to mid-term visit to Łódź. These are apps we often use ourselves when navigating the city. We don't earn any commission for recommending them; our aim is simply to share what we find helpful.

For City Bikes: NextBike: https://nextbike.pl/en/ (operator for Łódzki Rower Publiczny)
For Planning Public Transport Journeys: Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps
For Buying Public Transport Tickets: SkyCash: https://www.skycash.com/
For Electric Scooters: Lime (available via the Uber app): https://www.uber.com/pl/en/ride/ (check the Uber app for Lime scooter availability)
For Paying for Parking: CityParkingApp: https://www.cityparkinggroup.pl/

Choosing how to get around Łódź depends on your destination, schedule, and personal preference. We hope these tips help you explore our city comfortably and confidently!

Getting Around Łódź: Public Transport, Taxis & Tips