Central Museum of Textiles in Łódź

The Central Museum of Textiles in Łódź (say: WOODGE) is Europe's largest museum devoted to textiles, fashion and the textile industry. It occupies the White Factory, a grand 19th-century cotton mill built by industrialist Ludwik Geyer at 282 Piotrkowska Street. Working looms, fashion collections and a park of historic wooden houses explain how Łódź grew from a small town into the "Polish Manchester" – and make it one of the top things to do in Łódź, especially if you are curious about industrial history.

Where it is and how to get there

Łódź sits in central Poland, about 1.5 hours by train from Warsaw. The museum is at the southern end of Piotrkowska Street, the city's famous 4-km (2.5-mile) main street, with a tram stop right outside the main entrance. A second entrance on Milionowa Street has free museum parking; Piotrkowska itself is in a paid parking zone. From the city center (Plac Wolności), take a tram south along Piotrkowska.

A short history

The neoclassical White Factory is one of Poland's finest pieces of industrial architecture. In 1839, it housed the first steam engine in Łódź, kick-starting the city's industrial boom. The idea of a textile museum dates back to 1946; the collection moved into the factory in 1955 and became an independent museum in 1960. Today it holds around 200,000 objects and organizes the renowned International Triennial of Tapestry.

What to see

• "City – Fashion – Machine" – the story of textile Łódź, fashion and factory workers,
• Machinery in Motion Hall – historic looms and spinning machines that are switched on for demonstrations,
• The Boiler House – the old factory boiler room with its tall chimney,
• "The Last Summer" – a 1930s lifestyle exhibition in a wooden summer villa,
• "Łódź Microhistories" – everyday life in multicultural Łódź, told in five wooden houses.

The Łódź Urban Culture Park next door brings together eight historic wooden buildings moved from around the city, set along two cobbled lanes, including a wooden church begun in 1846. Allow at least three hours for everything.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026 (official museum website):

• Wednesday 12:00–5:00 pm, Thursday–Friday 12:00–7:00 pm, Saturday 11:00 am–6:00 pm, Sunday 11:00 am–5:00 pm,
• closed Mondays and Tuesdays,
• last tickets 30 minutes before closing,
• all-exhibitions ticket PLN 55 (about US$14), reduced PLN 39,
• single permanent exhibition PLN 22, reduced PLN 15,
• permanent exhibitions are free on Wednesdays (pick up a free pass at the ticket desk),
• audio guide PLN 5 per exhibition; guided tours in English PLN 38 (reduced PLN 28).

Tickets can be bought online. Box office: +48 572 087 469.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes – even if you don't think of yourself as a textiles person. Seeing the looms run is loud and memorable, the wooden houses show a side of Łódź that has almost vanished, and the factory itself is a landmark. Families enjoy the machines and the open-air park; note that some park paths are cobbled, which can be tough with strollers. Combine the visit with a walk up Piotrkowska Street or a trip to Manufaktura.