National Geographic shines tourist light on Łódź

Łódź has been included in the National Geographic Traveler’s global plebiscite “Best of the World 2022” – the only place from Poland to do so. The city in the central Poland has been listed in the “Sustainable Development” category.

“I am impressed with how Łódź has changing recently, how it has taken care for its post-industrial identity, revitalized old factories, turning them into centers of life and meetings for residents and at the same time becomes a leader in sustainable development. Once the most industrialized of our cities, today it has ambition to become the greenest. Come to Łódź, you will not be disappointed!,” says Agnieszka Franus, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Polska and National Geographic Traveler.

Each year, local editorial offices of National Geographic Traveler from around the world submit places and attractions – candidates for the global poll. The central editorial office in the US selects 25 places – hits that are worth visiting in the coming year.

Such distinguished tourist destinations are selected in five categories – Adventure, Culture, Nature, Family, Sustainable development. Łódź was submitted to the plebiscite by the Polish editorial office of the magazine, which visited the city in July 2020 at the invitation of the Łódź Tourist Organization.

“The inclusion of Łódź by this prestigious magazine emphasizes how unique our city is and how much it has to offer tourists,” says Tomasz Koralewski, president of the Łódź Tourist Organization.

“More than 30% of the area of ​​Łódź is green, including the Łagiewnicki Forest, which is one of the largest urban forest complexes in Europe,” says Martyna Szczepanik, National Geographic Traveler.

“We make many efforts to make Łódź a more sustainable place, friendly to its inhabitants, tourists and the natural environment. I am convinced this is a great opportunity for Łódź to be widely promoted and appear on the international arena as a unique and sustainable place,” says the Mayor of Łódź, Hanna Zdanowska.

Łódź was announced one of the top 10 value destinations in 2019 by Lonely Planet. The city came second in the ranking having impressed with its transformations of former factories into cultural, leisure and commercial spaces.

Specialists from Lonely Planet mentioned the following sites on the map of Łódź:

Manufaktura, a commercial and recreational center which houses the Museum of Art (ms2) and attractions such as: an artificial beach (in the summer), artificial skating rink (during winter) and a zip-line above the Łódź Textile Workers’ Market;

Fabryczna Railway Station – a unique work of art functioning as a railway station;

A ride in a rickshaw down Piotrkowska Street – the longest promenade in Europe.

_{Photo credit: Pałac Heinzla – Urząd Miasta Łodzi, fot. z archiwum UMŁ}