Odessa

Odessa is a city of impressions and recreation.

Odessa is a unique and original Ukrainian city on the Black Sea. It is the main industrial, cultural, transport, scientific and tourist centre of the northern Black Sea region and a real intercultural port of Ukraine, where representatives of more than 130 nationalities live. Despite the diversity of the population, which differs in religious beliefs, ways of life and customs, Odessa has always been and remains a peaceful and free city.

Odessa was built by Europeans and Europeans. The atmosphere of freedom they brought to the city had a great impact on the creativity of many foreign writers who liked to come to the city in search of a muse. The city became famous all over the world and acquired many poetic names: "Southern Palmyra", "Pearl of the Black Sea", "Odessa-Mama", "God's Smile"...

Since its foundation, Odessa has been a centre of free trade, inflow of foreign investments, economic growth and successful cooperation with foreign partners. During its existence, Odessa grew from a small port settlement on the Black Sea coast to one of the main economic centres of Ukraine, located at the crossroads of international routes from Europe to Asia.

Everyone who has visited Odessa will agree that it has a special charm. Cobbled streets, ancient courtyards and many architectural monuments - all this is the hallmark of Pearl by the Sea.

Architectural masterpieces of Odessa

Odessa has experienced several historical and, along with them, architectural stages, which were marked by different styles of construction. The buildings in the old part of the city are built in different architectural styles, from Renaissance to Art Nouveau. In total, the city has 1016 architectural monuments, of which 8 are of national importance and 1008 of local importance.

Arriving in Odessa, every tourist is simply obliged to visit the most famous street of the city: Deribasivska . It is here that there are a lot of famous monuments and places, each of which has its own unique history. Deribasivska is also called the "soul of Odessa": it is a permanent party, a quiet crowd, bright lights at night, many cosy cafes and restaurants.

It is at the intersection of Deribasivska and Preobrazhenska that you will find one of the most famous buildings in Odessa and a favourite spot for photographers and Instagram bloggers: the Mendelevich Passage. Above the entrances to the building are statues of Mercury on a steam engine and Fortuna on a ship. And in the inner gallery of the Passage there are small shops and cafes, but the main feature of this place is the beautiful stucco and the glass lantern-roof, which lets in natural light.

One of the favourite places in Odessa for selfies and regular photos is the Potemkin Staircase, created by the architect Boffo. Today, they are often used as grandstands during various concerts and shows. By the way, there is a funicular railway nearby that connects Primorsky Boulevard with Primorskaya Street. Interestingly, the Potemkin Staircase is among the ten most beautiful staircases in Europe! The race is held here every year, the record so far is 22.8 seconds.

Odessa is a city of parks and squares

There are many trees in the streets of the city, in addition, there are several parks and squares in the centre which are literally flooded with greenery: Istanbul, Gretsky, Shevchenko, Peremohy and others. In addition, on weekends various festivals and interesting events are constantly held in the city's parks.

Odessa is unique courtyards

After visiting Odessa, be sure to take a walk through its absolutely unique courtyards, located in the historical centre of the city and in Moldavanka. Since most of the buildings in the city centre were built before the revolution, almost all of Odessa's courtyards are two- or three-storey, enclosed and picturesque. Here you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of old Odessa, which is supposedly untouched by time: the Odessa courtyards in Moldavanka have remained unchanged since the middle of the 20th century.

In general, we recommend that everyone who comes to Odessa walks a lot, even if you do not have a clear route, you can find very beautiful and unusual monuments, parks and institutions. We recommend that you tick the "must-see" box next to the Potemkin Staircase, Primorsky Boulevard, the Opera House, the Port and the Greek Square. Having worked up an appetite with hiking and lots of impressions, it is worth eating deliciously and relaxing. Odessa will definitely not leave you hungry.

Beach holidays in Odessa

Odessa's climate is characterised by mildness and a large number of sunny days. In summer, thanks to the breeze, even on hot days it is more comfortable here than in the neighbouring steppes. The healing mud of the estuaries and mineral springs attract many tourists to Odessa. The Odessa tourist area stretches for tens of kilometres along the coast and estuaries and is one of the oldest and most popular in the country.

Tourists with any requests can find an ideal place to rest in Odessa. The city has both beaches equipped with paid services and more democratic ones. Popular beach resorts delight holidaymakers with the presence of swimming pools, sun loungers and bars for every taste. On the more democratic beaches, you can also rent sun loungers and play water games. For lovers of partying and noisy nightlife, we recommend one of the most famous beaches in the city. "Arcadia" has many restaurants and nightclubs here.

If you don't want to move away from the city centre, the Langeron beach is at your service. It is distinguished by a convenient location and the presence of a car park. The famous dolphinarium "Nemo" and a beautiful embankment are also located here. And one of the exits from the beach leads directly to the Shevchenko Park, from where there are beautiful views of the harbour and the seashore.