Described as the “City of Four Cultures” and the “Manchester of Poland”, the Polish city of Łódź (pronounced “Wootch”) echoes its industrial past, alongside a modern spirit of reinvention. Once a powerhouse of textile manufacturing in the 19th century, Łódź has woven itself a new identity, transforming into a dynamic hub for arts, fashion and innovation. Wander through its often avant-garde streets, explore museums and spend time in the parklands, as well as paying a visit to some of the local restaurants; local specialities include pierogi (dumplings) and kopytka (potato dumplings).
PURO Hotel Łódź Centrum
Some of the UK’s leading designers were employed to create the bold interiors here, to the brief of functional minimalism. Its 136 bedrooms are arranged over six floors, with views of the red brick industrial complex, or neo-Baroque palace from most of them. The URO Hotel has three restaurants, including a rooftop bar and garden, the chain’s signature Prisma Spa and an onsite cinema to which only hotel guests have access. The hotel features a diverse art collection, curated using the works of some of the most interesting national artists.
Vienna House by Wyndham Andel’s Lodz
Housed in a former textile mill within the Manufaktura neighbourhood, Vienna House is surrounded by shops, restaurants and arts venues. But there’s plenty to keep you in the hotel itself; Dine at Delight, the signature restaurant serving modern Polish cuisine, skyFLY rooftop lounge, the Lobby Bar and skySPAce, the wellness centre with a glass-enclosed pool, herbal and dry saunas, state-of-the-art fitness facilities and treatment rooms. 277 bedrooms, suites and long-stay apartments are decked out in jewel-toned furnishings and heated bathroom floors. Vienna House by Wyndham Andel’s Lodz was the city’s first four-star hotel.