Parks & Nature

Parks and nature in the Łódź region mean more than a lawn with a bench - almost 190 hectares of forest right in the middle of Łódź, reserves with beavers and herons, three-hundred-year-old oaks by ponds, and a whole network of landscape parks across the region. Łódź has its own, broader list on the parks and nature in Łódź page - here we gather places from across the whole region you can head to for a walk, a bike ride, a kayak trip, or simply some quiet, from Park Źródliska to the Załęczański Landscape Park on the Warta. If you're after a zoo, an aquapark or an outdoor gym specifically, below you'll also find where to look for those separately.

Which parks in Łódź are worth seeing first?

The oldest and most impressive is Park Źródliska in Księży Młyn - established in 1840, with three-hundred-year-old oaks, ponds and the Palmiarnia Ogrodu Botanicznego (Botanical Garden Palm House), home to around 4,500 plants across three pavilions, so it works even in the rain. A little further on, in Stary Polesie, lies Park Poniatowskiego - one of the largest in the city, with a historic villa and a concert shell.

In Zdrowie-Mania stretches Park im. Józefa Piłsudskiego, known simply as Park na Zdrowiu - over 188 hectares of forest-like character, with Orientarium Zoo and the Łódzki Ogród Botaniczny (Łódź Botanical Garden) nearby. In Radogoszcz, it's worth visiting Park Julianowski, a former manor park belonging to Juliusz Heinzel on the Sokołówka river, and in Stary Widzew, Park 3 Maja with its preserved pond. In Doły, Park Staromiejski operates, known as Park Śledzia - the name comes from the former Jewish market district on whose site it was established.

Arturówek - what's in Las Łagiewnicki on the Bzura?

Arturówek isn't a single site, but part of Las Łagiewnicki - one of the largest urban forests in Europe, protecting 280 plant species. Here the Bzura forms three ponds, partly protected as the Uroczysko Arturówek reserve. By the water is MOSiR Arturówek, with a seasonal bathing spot and an outdoor gym (free admission), and Zielone Płuca Arturówek, with a guarded beach, a pool and a campsite with 90 pitches. The forest also has Park Linowy Arturówek, with routes for children and adults, paintball and archery. It's one of those corners of Łódź people regularly search for online - rightly so, since combining forest, water and a picnic spot in one place is rare in the city.

Where in Łódź can you swim or sit by the water?

In Chojny, on Stawy Jana street, is the Stawy Jana facility - a pond with a beach, water equipment rental and courts. It's one of the more popular spots for relaxing by the water without leaving the city. For anyone who wants to swim outside Łódź, there's Zalew Sulejowski - a reservoir on the Pilica that is also the city's main source of drinking water - and a guarded beach at Nowe Bulwary in Tomaszów Mazowiecki.

Nature reserves you can reach in half an hour

Close to Tomaszów Mazowiecki lies the Rezerwat Niebieskie Źródła (Blue Springs Reserve) - blue-green water from karst springs, home to seventy-five bird species that nest there. Near Aleksandrów Łódzki is the protected raised peat bog Torfowisko Rąbień, with boardwalks over rare bog flora, next to Polana Rąbień. In the Pilica valley, near Szczerców, is Uroczysko Święte Ługi, with a tower and viewing platforms, and on the Linda river in Zgierz County, a trail through Grądy nad Lindą.

Landscape parks of the Łódź region - where for a full day out?

Closest to Łódź is the Sulejowski Park Krajobrazowy (Sulejów Landscape Park) - the Pilica valley, protected across over 17,000 hectares, with seven nature reserves. On the Warta, amid Jurassic landscape, is the Załęczański Park Krajobrazowy (Załęcze Landscape Park) - the first in central Poland, established in 1978, with cycling trails. Closer to Spała stretches the Spalski Park Krajobrazowy (Spała Landscape Park), over 13,000 hectares of the former Pilica Forest with a European bison breeding centre and 205 bird species, and towards Skierniewice, the Bolimowski Park Krajobrazowy (Bolimów Landscape Park), with the meandering Rawka river and six reserves, where several operators run kayak trips. On the border with the Świętokrzyskie region lies the Przedborski Park Krajobrazowy (Przedbórz Landscape Park), with an observation tower on the region's highest hill, and near Sieradz, the Park Krajobrazowy Międzyrzecza Warty i Widawki, with four reserves and over 600 plant species.

Greenery in county towns - Zduńska Wola, Tomaszów, Kutno, Uniejów

In Zduńska Wola, the town's largest park is Park im. Stefana Złotnickiego, created from a private garden by the former Anstadt brewery and rebuilt between 2015 and 2017, and next to it, the smaller Park Miejski, with ponds and the town's oldest lime tree. Tomaszów Mazowiecki has the modern Nowe Bulwary on the Wolbórka from 2019 and the riverside Tomaszowskie Błonia with a covered speed-skating track - the full list of the town's greenery is on the parks and nature in Tomaszów Mazowiecki page. In Kutno, it's worth visiting Park Traugutta from 1917, known for its rose avenue and annual rose festival, and in Uniejów, Park Zamkowy, a 34-hectare English-style park by the castle on the Warta, and along the river itself, Ogrody Bulwar. Radomsko can boast Park Glinianki - opened in 2023 on the site of a former clay pit and awarded as the region's best new green space - and Łowicz has Park Błonie on the Bzura, recognised in 2011 as the region's best public space. In Wieluń, in the former Lasek Miejski, is the Wieluński Ogród Botaniczny (Wieluń Botanical Garden), with arboretum and alpine-garden zones.

In Pabianice, south of Łódź, the town's walking heart is Park Słowackiego on Zamkowa street - the full list is on the parks and nature in Pabianice page. In Zgierz, to the north, it's worth visiting Park Miejski im. Tadeusza Kościuszki in the Old Town - the full list is on the parks and nature in Zgierz page. Bełchatów has the small Park przy Dworku Olszewskich, laid out around a 19th-century manor house, and in Opoczno, a walk by the water leads along the Molo Opoczyńskie.

With a child among animals and plants - what to choose?

Besides Orientarium Zoo in Łódź, close to Poddębice is ZOO Safari in Borysew, covering 26 hectares, with a thousand animals, including white lions. In Dmosin is Dinopark Kołacinek - life-size dinosaur figures, with a 3D room, and near Ujazd, MIKROKOSMOS, where enlarged sculptures of insects and microorganisms stand in a botanical garden. In Rogów it's worth seeing the Arboretum SGGW, one of the richer tree collections in the region, and in Parzęczew, Dolina Skrzatów, an outdoor park of Slavic mythology on the Bzura.

Open-air museums and historic greenery

In Arkadia near Łowicz survives the Park romantyczny (Romantic Park) of Helena Radziwiłł from 1778, with the Temple of Diana and the Sybil's Grotto - one of the first sentimental gardens in Europe. In Maurzyce near Zduny is the Łowicki Park Etnograficzny (Łowicz Ethnographic Park), with 42 thatched wooden buildings, and in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, the Skansen Rzeki Pilicy (Pilica River Open-Air Museum) - the first river-themed open-air museum in Poland. In Łęczyca, you can visit the Łęczycka Zagroda Chłopska (Łęczyca Peasant Homestead) on the Tum Canal.

Practical information: getting there, rain, free admission

Most of Łódź's city parks are free and open all year round - this applies to Park na Zdrowiu, Źródliska, Poniatowskiego, Julianowski, 3 Maja and Park Śledzia. Parking is usually available at the main entrances, and on sunny weekends things can get crowded, especially around Arturówek and Stawy Jana. For a rainy day, the Palmiarnia at Park Źródliska works best. Reserves and landscape parks have marked paths and boardwalks, so it's worth keeping your dog on a lead and staying on the trail - these are protected areas, not ordinary walking parks.

FAQ - frequently asked questions about parks and nature in the Łódź region

What's the nicest park in Łódź?
There's no single answer, since it depends on what you're after. Park Źródliska wins on its old trees and palm house, Poniatowskiego on its scale and historic architecture, and Arturówek on its combination of forest and water.

Where in Łódź is there the most greenery in one place?
Park na Zdrowiu, since it covers over 188 hectares together with the Botanical Garden and the zoo, and a little further on, Las Łagiewnicki with Arturówek begins - together the largest green complex in the city.

Is there anything to do with a child at Park Źródliska in the rain?
Yes - the Palmiarnia Ogrodu Botanicznego has three climate pavilions with around 4,500 plants and operates regardless of the weather.

Can you rent water equipment at Stawy Jana?
Yes, the facility in Chojny offers water equipment rental alongside the beach and courts.

Where can you go kayaking close to Łódź?
The closest is the Rawka river in the Bolimów Landscape Park - several operators run trips there, though the river can be technically demanding.

Is admission to the region's landscape parks paid?
The landscape parks themselves (Sulejów, Załęcze, Spała, Bolimów, Przedbórz) are free - charges only appear for specific attractions within their boundaries, such as kayak trips or parking.

Parks, reserves and open-air museums are only part of what's worth seeing in the region - historic architecture and history are on the historic monuments page, atmospheric courtyards and squares on the atmospheric places page, and more ideas for children in the for kids category. Anyone looking for outdoor sports activity should also check sport and recreation and aquaparks and pools. A full overview of greenery in Łódź itself is on the parks and nature in Łódź page, and more about the city on the discover Łódź page.