A Black Sea port city, Odessa is known for its beaches and 19th-century architecture, and was was also immortalized in classic Russian film Battleship Potemkin in 1925. Today’s city has a thoroughly contemporary energy to compliment the historic grandeur though.
Visit the National Opera and Ballet thearte Ukrainians are more than familiar with Russian musicians such as Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky so Ukraine is the perfect place to get acquainted with their masterpieces for an extremely affordable price. In Odessa this can be done at one of the city’s most famous buildings, the National Opera and Ballet Theater. This 19th century building, influenced by French and Italian Baroque, is not only a monument but a venue in its own right and it’s worth catching a performance here.
At the Odessa Catacombs Underneath Odessa lies a huge network of tunnels known as the Odessa catacombs. They are a big part of the city’s history, having been a refuge for Soviet partisans during World War II and later smugglers. Nowadays, there is a small museum on the partisan movement, the Museum of Partisan Glory, and you can explore the tunnels on organized tours such as the secrets of underground Odessa. Do not attempt to visit these tunnels on your own or with an unregistered guide.
Derybasivska Street is a pedestrian street in the center of Odessa. A busy thoroughfare, surrounded by Odessa’s landmarks and many shops, restaurants, and cafés, this is a choice spot for people-watching. Walk, shop and stop for a coffee; you’ll get a real feel for the city’s vibe on this stretch.
With a wide network of tunnels underneath it, Odessa was a haven for smugglers historically. To commemorate this secret history, you can visit The Museum of smuggling to learn how illegal trade once thrived in Odessa.
Arcadia, a historical district about half an hour away from the city center, is sometimes affectionately nicknamed ‘the Ibiza of Ukraine’. During the day it’s full of families going to the beach; at night it transforms into one of the biggest party hotspots in the city, with clubs, bars, and people dancing the night away, especially in the summer.
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