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Odessa Travel & Sightseeing Guide

January 10, 2008 |

A trip to Odessa

Once an important shipping port in the Soviet Union, these days Odessa is part of an independent Ukraine. The once rich city now has a slightly unkempt appearance however the old town still contains a good number of historical buildings. Visitors can easily gauge what Odessa must have been like at that turn of the 20th century, when the city was a bustling port city on the Black Sea.

Flights to Odessa
Odessa plays second fiddle to the country’s capital Kiev, but it still remains the most accessible city in the country as far as international flights go. There are many direct flights to major cities in Europe, with the most frequently services being Vienna, Austria and Istanbul, Turkey. Aside from international carriers, LOT and Malev Airlines connect with Budapest, Hungary and Warsaw, Poland almost daily. There are daily flights to Moscow, and within the Ukraine, there are usually four of five flights per day to Kiev. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Odessa try lastminute.com.

Being on the Black Sea means it’s relatively easy to use ferries to reach places like Istanbul or the Romanian coast from Odessa. The train system is also an option once you’re in the country, with buses making the journey between Odessa and Kiev on a daily basis. The city itself has a good tramway and network of city buses.

Odessa


Sightseeing in Odessa
The most popular sight in Odessa is the old town itself, where the former glory of the Russian empire can still be felt. The rest of the city has not seen much care since the fall of communism, let alone the October Revolution. The Opera House that can be found in the old town is a tantalising example of what the city was capable of building in its heyday.

The Museum of Western and Eastern Art is a great place to spend an afternoon, with works by renowned artists such as Caravaggio and Aivazovsky appearing in the permanent collection. There are a couple of nice boulevards to stroll along, like the Promorisky parkway and the lively and colourful Deribasovskaya street, where many street sellers hock their wares to tourists.

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Fun by night – eating, drinking and partying
The gastronomical fare in southern Ukraine is similar to that in other parts of Russia and the former Soviet countries of Eastern Europe. Hearty stews and meat figure prominently and are complemented by beer, which is widely available and enjoyed by all. Wine is also common, but the local varieties are very sweet. Fear not, the supermarkets stock most alcoholic beverages you could think of as well as food if you find ordering from a Cyrillic menu becomes tiresome.

Fun by day – shopping and activities
The shopping situation in Odessa has improved since the fall of the Soviet Union. You won’t see locals waiting in line for bread and toilet paper anymore, but don’t expect the variety you’d find on the Champs Elyssées either.

The beaches on the Black Sea coast are not ideal for swimming, but you will nonetheless see hordes of locals crowding onto the sand with the city’s industry all too apparent in the background. Film buffs will want to check out the Potemkin Steps, where one of the most famous scenes in cinematic history was shot in the film Battleship Potemkin.


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