ICSOC 2026

The 24rd International Conference on Service-Oriented Computing

How to Get to Łódź?

Official page from Ministry of the Interior and Administration about entry and residence conditions for foreign nationals in Poland: https://www.gov.pl/web/mswia-en/entry-and-residence-conditions-for-foreign-nationals-in-poland

Passport and Visa

Łódź is located in Poland, a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area. Entry requirements depend on your nationality. Citizens of EU and EEA countries, as well as Switzerland, may enter Poland using a valid national ID card or passport. Common Schengen rules apply: your passport must have a date of issue within the last 10 years and remain valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure from the Schengen Area.

Visitors from visa-exempt countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, and many others may enter Poland without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period under Schengen rules.

If your country is not part of the visa-free arrangement, you must apply for a Schengen C-type visa at the nearest Polish embassy or consulate before traveling. Standard documentation includes a valid passport, travel insurance, proof of accommodation, proof of funds, and travel purpose documents.

Entry conditions for short stays:

Source: https://www.gov.pl/web/mswia-en/entry-and-residence-conditions-for-foreign-nationals-in-poland

For intended stays in Poland of a duration of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, which entails considering the 180-day period preceding each day of stay, the entry conditions for third-country nationals are the following:

  • they must be in possession of a valid travel document entitling the holder to cross the border satisfying the following criteria: 
  1. its validity extends at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States (in a justified case of emergency, this obligation may be waived);
  2. it has been issued within the previous 10 years;
  • they must be in possession of a valid short-term visa, if required pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 2018/1806, except where they hold a valid residence permit issued by another Schengen state or a valid long-stay visa issued by another Schengen state;
  • they must justify the purpose and conditions of the intended stay, and they must have sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to their country of origin or transit to a third country into which they are certain to be admitted, or are in a position to acquire such means lawfully;
  • they are not persons for whom an alert has been issued in the SIS for the purposes of refusing entry;
  • they are not considered to be a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any of the Member States, in particular where no alert has been issued in Member States’ national data bases for the purposes of refusing entry on the same grounds.
    1. its validity extends at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States (in a justified case of emergency, this obligation may be waived);
    2. it has been issued within the previous 10 years;

The date of entry is considered as the first day of stay in the territory of the Member States and the date of exit is considered as the last day of stay in the territory of the Member States. Stays authorised on the basis of a residence permit or a long-stay visa issued by Polish authorities are not taken into account when calculating the length of short stays. Third countries whose nationals are required to have a short-stay visa to enter the Schengen territory (including Poland) and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement are listed in the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) No 2018/1806 of 14 March 2018 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.

The date of entry is considered as the first day of stay in the territory of the Member States and the date of exit is considered as the last day of stay in the territory of the Member States. Stays authorised on the basis of a residence permit or a long-stay visa issued by Polish authorities are not taken into account when calculating the length of short stays. Third countries whose nationals are required to have a short-stay visa to enter the Schengen territory (including Poland) and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement are listed in the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) No 2018/1806 of 14 March 2018 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.

The date of entry is considered as the first day of stay in the territory of the Member States and the date of exit is considered as the last day of stay in the territory of the Member States. Stays authorised on the basis of a residence permit or a long-stay visa issued by Polish authorities are not taken into account when calculating the length of short stays. Third countries whose nationals are required to have a short-stay visa to enter the Schengen territory (including Poland) and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement are listed in the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) No 2018/1806 of 14 March 2018 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.

In addition, nationals of certain third states are able to travel visa-free to the territory of Schengen countries (including Poland) under the visa waiver agreements concluded by the EU with these third countries. Nationals of certain third states are also able to travel visa-free to the territory of Poland under the agreements concluded by the Republic of Poland with these countries.

Details of the countries covered by the visa waiver programme in the territory of the Republic of Poland are available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Flight Booking

The closest airport to the city is Łódź Władysław Reymont Airport (LCJ), located approximately 6 km from the city center. It serves several direct flights to European destinations such as London Stansted, Dublin, Brussels Charleroi, Milan Bergamo, Alicante, Birmingham, and Málaga.

For long‑distance and intercontinental travel, the main airport is Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW), approximately 112 km from Łódź, offering extensive global connections.

Transfer to Łódź

From Łódź Airport (LCJ):

You can take bus line 65 directly to the city center in about 25–30 minutes. Taxis and ride‑hailing services such as Bolt and Uber are available, typically costing 30–50 PLN for a 15–20 minute ride. Car rental services are also available at the airport.

From Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW):

Direct FlixBus connections operate between Warsaw Chopin Airport and Łódź, with a travel time of around 1 hour 30 minutes. Trains via Warsaw city center also connect to Łódź Fabryczna or Łódź Kaliska stations, taking approximately 2 to 2.5 hours.

Local Transportation

Łódź has an extensive public transportation network of trams and buses. Popular navigation apps such as JakDojadę and Google Maps are useful for planning routes. A 3‑day tourist ticket is available at the Tourist Information Center and selected hotels.

General Information

Language: Polish is the official language, though English is commonly used in hotels, restaurants, and conference‑related services.

Currency: The Polish złoty (PLN).

Safety: Łódź is a modern and developed city. Conference venues and hotel areas are generally safe for visitors.

Temperature: In December, temperatures typically range from approximately –2°C to 6°C, so warm clothing is recommended.