Christmas in Łódź

If you’re looking to escape for winter break to a destination with lots of Christmas gift options, Łódź has plenty to recommend it.

Piotrkowska in Łódź at Christmas – image © MOs810 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Poland is one of Europe’s cosiest places destinations at Christmas, with some of the biggest and liveliest markets of handcrafted gifts, warming drinks, and hearty food. And, whilst Wrocław and Kraków get most of the plaudits, Łódź has some unique features of its own and certainly doesn’t disappoint.

In contrast to most markets, which tend to be a crush of people in a city square, the stalls in Łódź are stretched out along Piotrkowska and highly decorated with Christmas cheer.

Additionally, there is a Christmas market on the main open area of Manufaktura, with an annual open-air ice rink and a giant tree outside the mall.

Christmas decorations in Łódź – image © Zorro2212 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Christmas In Łódź

Along with Easter, Christmas is one of the two most important festivals in Poland. The vast majority of the population identify as Catholic, so the the birth of Christ is treated with deep religious significance and joy. You can expect to see all the usual trappings of the season, including Christmas trees and lights, nativity scenes and carol singers. But, here, these symbols often have a spiritual significance that has been somewhat lost in more secular nations.

The season begins with Adwent, on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. These four weeks of abstinence and spiritual are in preparation for the arrival of Christ. St. Nicholas’ Day on 6th December marks the holiday season itself, when small gifts are given to well-behaved children and ‘rózga’ go to the naughty (twigs or lumps of coal). Larger gifts on Christmas Eve are delivered by Jesus himself (or his messenger).

Poles celebrate Christmas on December 24th, with a 12-course meal, so shops and services tend to close for the day from 2pm. It’s a beautiful time to wander through the city centre and enjoy the peace. The feasting continues on December 25th, with visits to family and friends.

If you want to learn more about traditions and customs, you can join a Łódź Christmas tour that takes in the most festive sights with the stories behind them.

New Year’s Eve (or ‘Sylwester’) is typically huge in Poland, with nearly every available venue holding an all-night party. You’ll generally need to have booked in advance. Then Three Kings Day on January 6th is a public holiday in honour of Kaspar, Melchior and Balthazar, and usually includes a big street parade.

Christmas market at Manufaktura – image © Zorro2212 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Łódź Christmas Market

Precise dates for Christmas markets vary each year but things generally kick off on either the last Saturday of November or the first Saturday of December, depending which is closest to the start of the month. Opening hours have traditionally been 11am-7pm on weekdays and midday-9pm at the weekend, with midday on December 23 being the last day of the market.

The markets are easy to find. The Piotrkowska market stretches up a long section of the upper end of the street, and the large central courtyard area of Manufaktura will be obvious from the lights and rides.

You can expect rows of stalls with craft items, like carvings and knitwear, as well as beautiful Christmas decorations. Additionally, there’s always a huge selection of hearty winter food, with sausages, soups, and smoked cheese. And there’s little chance of staying cold when you have mulled drinks to warm you up. It is the perfect tonic for short mid-winter days. There’s entertainment, too, with music performances of folk, Christmas music, and pop. It gets busy but the jostle is somehow part of the experience.

Fairytale Garden of Light

For Christmas 2023-24, Park Źródliska was transformed with millions of lights into a fairytale garden. This stunning installation ran from the end of October until early March and was open Tuesday to Sunday from 5-9pm. It still remains to be seen if this event will return, but it’s recommended if it does.

Manufaktura – image © Arewicz / CC BY-SA 4.0

Christmas Shopping In Łódź

In addition to the Christmas markets, Łódź is a great city for shopping, with a number of big malls, often with prices that are much cheaper than at home.

Piotrkowska Street is 4km long and, though many of the shops have moved out to the malls, there are still some treats for gift hunters. We particularly like the traditional Polish pottery at Cepelia (Piotrkowska 97). It’s beautifully decorated and they’ll wrap it for safe travel in the shop.

In addition to the Christmas market, Manufaktura has, of course, a large shopping mall, and is perfect for gift shopping. You’ll find well-known international brands, as well as some new Polish names, with jewellery, perfumes, clothes, shoes, chocolates, and much more.

If you’re hunting for children’s gifts, the small range of toys and books at the Film Museum is very well selected to reflect the exhibition of Polish animation on the top floor.

Restauracja Stary Rynek 2

Christmas Food And Drink In Łódź

If you’re ever celebrated Christmas with a Pole, you’ll know that Wigilia – the meal on Christmas Eve – is one of the most important celebrations of the year, loaded with spiritual significance. Amongst other customs, an empty place is set at the table, to welcome any absent or unexpected guest, and 12 different dishes are served over the course of the meal, which are almost exclusively vegetarian. Celebrations are supposed to start after the first star has been spotted in the night sky.

Prepare to be amazed by every aspect of the food on offer at a Polish market during festival time. At Christmas, you’ll find warming mulled wine and flavoured vodkas, alongside Polish sausages, oscypek (grilled smoked cheese), bigos, and other specialities. These mouth-watering treats are often cooked in eye-popping quantities.

Away from the market, you’ll find plenty of places to eat around the city. Here are some suggestions to start you off:

• Restauracja Stary Rynek 2: Stary Rynek is an elegant Art Nouveau restaurant that harks back to the Polish cuisine of the pre-war era, and is one of the most beloved places to eat in the city.
• Galicja Restaurant: Galicja’s menu takes inspiration from the historically-shifting borders of Central and Eastern Europe, and offers hearty and homey dishes for the hungry.
• Szpulka: Szpulka is a smart, contemporary bar and bistro with a big choice of comfort food. It’s a good place to load up on breakfast before a shopping expedition to Manufaktura.
• Spoldzielnia: With breakfasts by day and cocktails by night, Spółdzielnia does double duty in the thriving post-industrial area of OFF Piotrkowska.
• Owoce i Warzywa: The name means ‘Fruit and Vegetables’ and this stalwart favourite of the Łódź cafe scene has a well-earned status thanks to perhaps the best coffee in town and the retro interior. Open into the evening, it doubles as a nice place for a drink, particularly before or after a performance at the nearby Filharmonia.

See our Restaurants In Łódź page for more suggestions.

Grand Hotel

Where To Stay For Christmas In Łódź

There is no shortage of great accommodation in Łódź, but for the maximum Christmas romance, you’ll want to stay close to the twinkling lights of Piotrkowska. Here are some suggestions. You can read more on our Where To Stay In Łódź page.

• Grand Hotel: With an astonishing interior, the memorable Grand Hotel is a top 5-star hotel in an excellent location. The clue is in the name.
• Hotel Pietryna: With one of the best locations in the city, Hotel Pietryna is an irreverent yet comfortable 4-star hotel in an historic building.
• Stare Kino Cinema Residence: Łódź has a long tradition of Polish filmmaking and most of the key directors studied in the city. Stare KinAlgoraveo Cinema Residence reaches back through this heritage with its unique, movie-influenced interior design. Great location, too!
• Hampton by Hilton Lodz City Center: Excellently located opposite Piotrkowska Centrum, bang in the middle of Łódź’s lengthy shopping promenade, the Hampton by Hilton Łódź City Center is a solid 3-star hotel with really comfortable beds.
• B&B Hotel Łódź Centrum: Occupying the same niche as ibis, B&B Hotel Łódź Centrum is a solid budget offering just to the west of ul. Piotrkowska.

Christmas Weather In Łódź

Although less likely these days, due to an overall rise in temperatures, it’s still possible you’ll see some snow if you visit Łódź in December. With an average temperature of 0°C and a low of -2°C, it’s certainly cold enough. But there’s a 45% chance you’ll get rain instead. The average high is 2°C.

Wrap up warm, if you’re visiting the markets, with layers, gloves, hat, and scarf, and make sure your boots and outer garments are fully waterproof. Our packing guide has plenty of tips for what to take for a winter trip.