EC1 – the City of Culture

EC1 – the City of Culture is a campus of attractions exploring science and the crossover between technology and culture. In addition to the Centre for Science and Technology, the Planetarium, and Ulica Żywiołów (a science museum for younger visitors), you’ll also find the Centre for Comics and Interactive Narrative, the National Centre for Film Culture, and the Hala events space.

EC1 – the City of Culture

Whilst Łódź has done a pretty good job at promoting its cinematic and creative heritage, the EC1 campus taps into its industrial legacy to explore science and technology. EC1 is a small district close to the impressive main train station that contains a 1907 power plant, now refashioned into a huge science museum, and other attractions focused on the places where science and the arts meet. It’s a smart and exciting variation on the post-industrial consumerism of developments like Manufaktura and can be seen as emblematic of how Łódź has reinvented itself for the 21st century.

There’s a strong educational element to the different museums here but they are anything but dry. The Centre for Science and Technology has tons of hands-on experiments designed very much for kids and Ulica Żywiołów is purpose built for smaller children to learn about science. The Planetarium shows groundbreaking work, in addition to journeys through the universe. The National Center for Film Culture is a contemporary counterpoint to the city’s excellent Film Museum. And perhaps most exciting is the Center for Comics and Interactive Narration which takes viewers through the history and creation of graphic media and digital storytelling.

I’ve listed the main venues below with links for where you can find more information:

Planetarium EC1

Planetarium EC1

Probably the most advanced in Europe, the Planetarium presents a 14m seamless spherical screen with an immersive 8k resolution and state-of-the-art Dolby sound system. A changing repertoire of live shows and site-specific movies explore astronomy and space in creative and engaging ways.

Centre for Science and Technology EC1

Centre for Science and Technology EC1

Appropriately located in a former power station, the EC1 Science and Technology Centre is now an enormous hands-on museum exploring principally physics and the generation of power. Additionally, the former cooling tower is now a viewing platform with panoramic views of the city.

Ulica Żywiołów

Ulica Żywiołów – The Street of the Elements

Aimed at families with 3-to-10-year-olds, The Street of the Elements is a museum where children can learn about the basics of science through play. Kids can experiment with the properties of water, air, fire, and earth with hands-on displays, conduct fun experiments, participate in workshops, and discover this fascinating world in a fun and educational way.

Center for Comics and Interactive Narrative

Center for Comics and Interactive Narrative

Opened in 2023, the Center for Comics and Interactive Narrative is a museum space dedicated to comics, video games, gaming, and virtual reality, and helps firmly establish Łódź as the Polish capital of contemporary media.

The National Centre for Film Culture

The National Centre for Film Culture

A contemporary counterpart to the city’s excellent Film Museum, the National Centre for Film Culture is a hub for film lovers, offering screenings, workshops, and discussions. Located within the EC1 technology campus, this multifaceted institution houses a cinema showcasing classic and arthouse films, a film archive preserving Polish cinema heritage, and educational programs dedicated to film appreciation.

EC1 – the City of Culture is near the Łódź Fabryczna train station and is served from a number of bus stops. The closest is Tuwima – Targowa (Planetarium). Use this official Łódź timetable to plan your journey. The whole area is heavily signposted with maps once you reach the EC1 campus.

EC1 – the City of Culture address: Targowa 1/3, 90-022 Łódź, Poland

Most attractions at EC1 are open as follows:

• Tuesday-Sunday: 10am-6pm
• Monday: closed

Film times at The National Centre for Film Culture will often fall outside of these hours, and there are often special evening shows at the Planetarium. Ulica Żywiołów opens at 9am on Tuesday to Friday. All times and prices are subject to change, and opening hours may be different during public holidays.

Unfortunately, I didn’t find the official EC1 website very useful. I couldn’t get the English language function to work and there is limited information about public holidays, last entry times, or accessibility.

Follow the links above to individual pages for more information about ticket prices and what to expect in each museum.

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