Tips for trips: Get sporty in Lodz

LODZ OFFERS A LOT OF SPORT EXCITEMENTS! IT HAS HOSTED SEVERAL TIMES THE BEST VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS DURING THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND WORLD LEAGUE GAMES. ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST EQUIPPED SPORT HALL IN POLAND CREATES MANY NEW OPPORTUNITIES. VISIT THE CITY IN NOVEMBER, DURING THE EXPLORERS FESTIVAL OF MOUNTAINS, EXTREME SPORTS AND ADVENTURE.

Nothing is better than starting a weekend actively! Preferably in one of the biggest water parks in Poland – the “Fala” Aquapark. In addition to the sport swimming pool, recreational pool and wave pool, it offers the highest slide in Poland (called Kamikadze - only for die hards!) and the relax zone with saunas, massages and salt graduation tower. 

If you are in Lodz on the first Saturday of a month, it’s worth to visit the Sports Palace (21 Skorupki St.) There are regularly held exchanges of sport memorabilia, such as badges, tickets, pennants, cups, medals or posters. Such a flea market is a real treat for everyone who loves sport! The Sports Palace used to be an unbeatable object in the city for more than 50 years, until opening of Atlas Arena in 2009 – one of the largest and most modern sports halls in Poland with more than 13 thousands seats in the auditorium. Visit Atlas Arena during the most important sport events. So far it hosted Champions League and World League in volleyball, European Championships in basketball and other major games. In 2014 the object was host Volleyball Men’s World Championships. Nearby
is the Łódzki Klub Sportowy (ŁKS) – the oldest still running football club in Lodz. For many years two teams – ŁKS and Widzew represented Lodz in the Premier League. They have much in common - both were established in the early 20th century and both used to be Champions of Poland.

Maybe you would prefer to explore the city tracing great sportsmen? Two representatives of ŁKS went down in history of sport. The first was one of the most popular Polish athletes of the 1990s. High jumper Artur Partyka three times competed in the olympics. He officially ended his sport career over 10 years ago, but
he still lives in Lodz. Another one, Marcin Gortat is basketball player in NBA American league. He has moved to the US, but he still maintains a relationship with his hometown and he wears a bracelet with the inscription “Bałuty Boy”. The next sportsman was associated with Widzew. Zbigniew Boniek started there aged eighteen in the season 1975/1976. He contributed to the great national and international success of the club. In 1982 he has been acclaimed the third best football player in Europe. Mariusz Pudzianowski, a famous strongman, used to play rugby in Budowlani Łódź. Lodz rugby team is a multiple Polish champion. If you want to see an exciting rugby match, visit the Municipal Stadium at 2 Unii Lubelskiej alley.

In the evening, have a hiking - reach one of the highest hills of Lodz – Rudzka Góra (230 m / 755 ft ASL). An excellent panorama of the city extends from the top, particularly beautiful at sunset. Downhill run on the toboggan run will make you long for winter on a hot summer day.