To sum up: Could you compare the mentality of people between the two cities ?
Which city do you think is the "best"? I am coming to poland for the "feeling", the friendly people, etc. Not for "beautiful" places. For example I prefer krakow over warsaw (well it's not a very good example because warsaw is ugly but I have only seen 3 cities).
I have read that lodz is a special place in poland, could you explain it?
Also,what is the cost of living ratio between lodz and wroclaw? Rent seems to be about the same (-10%), for what I'm looking for. My source of income should not be based on the opportunities offered by the area.
Don't answer if you are the kind of person who says it's not possible to eat with less than 1000 a month XD, I will not believe you anyway (I can eat in a cheap restaurant for lunch and diner every day with that, and I have only been in poland for 1 week).
Can you tell where you are from in your reply (I am from france)? Because it makes a big difference. It is very hard to get an opinion by redeading comments on this forum becauses answers are always extremes.
If you have to choose between Wrocław and anywhere else, always pick Wro. It's the creme de la creme of Poland, with something for everyone. £ódź is an artsy backdrop for those that enjoy the ennui of a city's decline. £ódź isn't David Lynch's fave city because of it's bucolic parks and cheerful atmosphere. You will see all that £ódź has to offer in about one afternoon. Once you've visited one deteriorated industrial complex converted into an art gallery, you'll feel like you've visited them all. If you enjoyed Krakow, you will enjoy Wrocław. They are about the same age and have some similar aspects, tho of course, I'm partial to Wro. In answer to your last question, I'm an American with a wife from Wrocław. I've had an unusually thorough perspective of Wro from all social strata, and feel thoroughly versed in the city's offerings.
Thank you for your answer. I indeed think that for a long presence Wroclaw has more material things to offer, in theory. But this is poland we are talking about, in theory it sucks, but in fact it's amazing.
So you may not apply materialistic criteria to compare polish cities.
Also compared to rest of europe poland has not much to visit/do anyway so maybe the difference is not that important between polish cities after all. Your point of view is interesting but I am rather curious about the opinion of someone who has actually lived in Lodz.
None ot the two is tourist city in the full meaning of that term, but from the two of them Wroclaw is definitely more tourist.
Anyway those are two cities with very different history, so it all depends what you are looking for.
In terms of economy Wroclaw is relatively wealthier. Lodz is kind of a young city which grew very fast on one type of industry and had very hard time landing when this type of industry collapsed, additionally nearness of Warsaw sucks vital powers from it. I don't know if it is special place in Poland, the distinctive thing about it is a directors school (ie. Roman Polanski is from there), but that would be mostly it. Well, maybe old factories and tycoon palaces is the second distinctive thing.
Wroclaw is much older so architecturally is more diversified, and has this charming thing which old cities should have - nice marketplace. Probably Wroclaw has better night life also, but that is quite subjective thing. The other advantage (and curse) of Wroclaw is five rivers flowing through it, which creates many nice places to feast and relax - with moskito repellent ;)
Cities like paris or rome. As a tourist you have much more to see in these cities. I don't want to troll or anything but poland doesn't have many monuments because most have been destroyed in WW2. In France Spain or Italy, wherever you go there's always something to see. But this is only from a touristic point of view. I don't deny that living in poland is overall more interesting than in the west (otherwise I wouldn't come) but I am still a bit skeptical about the cultural/events thing.
I am not sure Gnynia is that good. If it's like French riviera it's probably not a good place to live in (boring most of the year and with "empty" people).
I choose to live in Lodz so that says something. I'm sure its not as pretty as Wro.Lodz is an industrial city that is less than 2 centuries old, Wro is originally a Germanic city nearly a 1000 years old - big difference. Therefore its buildings and skyline will be nothing alike.
Lodz has a great bar scene and I've never witnessed any trouble here on a night out. There are many excellent, cheap and varied restaurants. There are a lot of social activities cinema, theatre, concerts etc. I wouldn't say it has many good museums. It has good shopping in Manufaktura and on Piotrkowska. It has excellent national transport links.
the cities massive varied cultural history is fascinating to me. A century ago it was a mix of Russian Orthodox, German Protestants, Polish Catholics and Jews. I find the graveyards fascinating. They are segregated and have some of the biggest/flashiest graves you will ever see.
Hello! I from poland, and i was been in £ódź (i live in £ódź) and in Wrocław. In my opinion Wrocław is prettier than £ódź. People...hmm...People are the same everywhere. We are hospitable, kind and helpful. £ódź is dangerous during matches.
£ódź is the most depressing city I have ever been. Go for Wrocław, Kraków or any other Polish city and you can be sure that it will be always better choice than £ódź. I don't know the suicidal rates of £ódź but they are for sure higher than in any other Polish city. Recently I was there for few days and couln't imagine how £odzianie are able to live there. Sad but true.
£ódź is the most depressing city I have ever been.
If you're looking for quaint and colourful, Lodz isn't the place to be. Nevertheless, it has a unique atmosphere and there is something special about the centre.
Every city have propaganda pictures. You intentions might be good, but seriously £ódź is ugly and depressing. Here is movie with a promising title "Ziemia obiecana 2" about how £ódź really looks like:
youtu.be/8pk7ukm09aI
My previous statement is justified. In my case if Russians would want to exile me in the indefinite future ;), they should choose not Siberia but £ódź. It will be a more severe punishment for me.
Here is movie with a promising title "Ziemia obiecana 2" about how £ódź really looks like:
Come on, I can shoot the same film about other Polish cities during one day. Probably you haven`t seen my Ugly Wrocław and Ugly Krakow photos yet. :):):):)
Each city in the world has its bright and dark sides.
Maybe first 3 min. can be found in other cities. After that is only plain and ugly £ódź in its best. Seriously the pictures you posted were taken in the city center. 1 meter from center is kilometers of ugly £ódź. Unfortunately I have been there, I know what I'm talking about.
pawian, if those are the best pics of Lodz you can find on the net, then I dont know what to say... they make the city look grimy and depressing. Ive never been there so I cant comment.
I live in Wroclaw. Quite honestly the city is becoming less attractive day by day. Yea of course, the city center is quite romantic and beautiful. Outside of course are crumbling prewar German apartment buildings and communist sprawl. Not very attractive. But Im talking about living here, not visiting. The city went on a massive shopping spree with absolutely no regard given to cost, quality, timetables or logic. A number of large investments have been finished or soon will be finished, unfortunately few of them actually "affect" the quality of life in the city besides showpiece smokescreens like fountains, concerts and stadiums besides the AOW, thank god, but that was a govt project.Traffic is getting, surprisingly, worse in the city center, but still better than the nightmare it was 2 years ago. Parking on the other hand has turned into an absolute nightmare.
Public transport is crumbling at the seams and for me a joke, while at the same time becoming insanely expensive. Wroclaw is generally plagued with low salaries with a very high cost of living. Depends what field you work in, but besides IT, its meh... not worth it. You can easily make the same in Slask or even more with half of the living costs. Half.
The city, and region, also has some of the highest service costs in Poland, such as mechanics, plumbers, contractors, construction etc, and Ive found that businesses from any other part of Poland are far more "in tune" than those in Wroclaw and less likely to try to rip you off. Emailing businesses and negotiating price or a million other aspects is still foreign in Wroclaw. In this regard Warsaw is far better and CHEAPER. Overall, the roads and general infrastructure, including public transport, the parking situation, generally driving in the city, cleanliness, traffic... suck. The general bar scene and whatnot doesnt really concern me anymore, but most of the offerings for me have become stale and boring. The general restuarant scene is also quite dull and plagued with overpriced mediocrity, though there are a few gems. International food is terrible here. From sushi to Mexican, most of it sucks.
On a positive note, the bureaucracy is seriously improving, you can schedule visits and most of the govt employees are quite helpful and kind. Im still split with the general population, Ive my fair share of good people, but there is quite a lot of general ********** behavior and lack of culture, but then again far less kozaks and "szpan" than I met in Warsaw. You still cant help yourself from giving some people a good punch in the face.
Not only 1 meter from the centre but in the very centre there are kilometers of ugly Krakow.
The only difference is that Krakow`s ugliness is historic while £odź`s not. :):):):)
I don't know what ugliness in Kraków center you are talking, but since everybody have their unique taste... £ódź ugliness is also historic, something like XIX-century ugliness.
Alligator: Unfortunately I have been there, I know what I'm talking about.
So have I. :):):):):)
When you have been in £ódź, you had to wear pink glasses all the time, because what I saw is rather different, from what you saw.
Its pity for £ódź, that it is located in the same province as Warsaw. All the money goes to capital and not much is left to this city. If they had their own province the situation would be different.
I remember that when the administration reform was introduced, Kielce fought to have separate province from Kraków. That was a good choice, bigger and more important city would have outflow all the money and vitality from the smaller city.
£ódź unfortunately don't have it's own province and as a result is deteriorating.
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