Dętka Canal Museum

A trip down a sewer might not be everyone’s idea of a good time, but this small, eccentric museum is a fun excursion beneath one of Łódź’ main squares.

Dętka Canal Museum entrance

Designed by British engineer, William Heerlein Lindley, and built in 1926, this strangely elegant rainwater tank originally collected 300 cubic metres to help sluice the city sewer system. Now largely dry, clean, and definitely non-stinky, it makes for a quick diversion underground.

You enter via a circular glass building on plac Wolności (at the head of ul. Piotrkowska.), show your ticket and descend a spiral staircase. As the temperature is significantly lower in the sewer than above ground, this is an excellent way to cool down on a hot day!

Inside the Dętka Canal Museum

The sewer itself is a 142-metre red-brick ‘tube’ that encircles plac Wolności. There are occasional sluice gates and, when I visited, photographs of the construction and daily work around the tank. The space is human-sized with little room to manoeuvre. Quite simply, you set off at the beginning and keep walking until you have done a complete loop. The lights are low. I was in there alone and it was strangely peaceful.

It is a brief and unusual experience, bringing to mind how the resistance used to travel around beneath Warsaw during the Uprising, as well as Harry Lime in The Third Man. Perhaps here museum is a misnomer, as there’s very little information on hand. All the same, I think it’s worth a visit if you are in the area.

Read more reviews on TripAdvisor.

Dętka Canal Museum address: plac Wolności, 91-416 Łódź, Poland

The Dętka Canal Museum is open on Wednesday and Thursday between 10am and 5pm and Friday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm. The Museum is closed to the public on Monday and Tuesday. The Museum may be closed for a ‘technical break’ between 2pm and 2.30pm.

The Museum is also closed to visitors during November to April.

Tickets cost 10zł (7zł reduced tickets) and are available online (Polish only) and at the Museum of Łódź ticket office, a couple of streets away, at Ogrodowa 15.

Entry is free on Wednesday with no need to book in advance. Just turn up at the venue and they should let you in. All times and prices are subject to change, and opening hours may be different during public holidays.

There are tours every Saturday and Sunday at 12pm, 1pm, 3pm, and 4pm – although these are not necessarily with an English guide. These cost 13zł, including entry (10zł reduced).

The Dętka Canal Museum is on plac Wolności at the very top of ul. Piotrkowska, and can be reached by any of the plac Wolności bus or tram stops. Use this official Łódź timetable to plan your journey.

Tips For Visiting the Dętka Canal Museum

• The sewer tube is only 1.5m wide and 187cm tall. Once you are halfway round the 142m length, you are committed to walking the whole way around. Some people may find this a little claustrophobic, especially as the ground is slightly curved and usually a little damp. Furthermore, it is dimly lit. Those with limited mobility should avoid.
• The temperature is a few degrees cooler than the surface, which is lovely on a hot day, but make sure you have an extra layer if it feels a bit chilly.
• There are no extra facilities in the exhibit, such as a cloakroom or lockers, seating, cafe, or toilet.
• Photography is allowed.
• Most people will spend about 15 minutes in the exhibit, unless taking part in a tour.

Where Is This Place Located?

Find this location on the Visit Łódź map:

• Open the Visit Łódź map
• Click on a marker and it will give you the name of the landmark, with a brief description and links for more information and directions. You can pan, scroll, and zoom around the map, or use the + or – buttons in the bottom left of the map to zoom in and out
• You will see the list of places on the left hand side, sorted by category. Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want
• Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map
• Each category is on a different layer, which can be switched on and off. So you can just see the Hotel or Restaurant pins, for example
• If you are using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location

Map pins are color coded:

• YELLOW / ORANGE: Łódź Sightseeing
• GREEN: Łódź Transportation
• BLUE: Hotels in Łódź
• PURPLE: Shopping In Łódź
• DARK RED: Restaurants in Łódź
• LIGHT RED: Nightlife in Łódź