Odessa Things to Do Tips by hunterV Top 5 Page for this destination

Visiting the City Zoo

Visit the city Zoo that is not far from the railway station.
The Zoo was founded in 1922.
You can see lots of animals and birds from all continents there.
There is also an aquarium representing the fish population of the underwater realm.

Directions: It’s located next to the park opposite to Privoz central market.
The Zoo is 10 minutes’ walk from the railway station (or take a taxi).

Website: http://timer.od.ua/news/odesskiy_zoopark_prazdnuet_yubiley_foto_625.html

Duke de Richelieu

I remember visiting the monument to Duke Richelieu.
Richelieu was the Governor General of the territory, the city mayor from 1803 to 1814.
The monument became one of the symbols of Odessa.
The Odessans call this monument simply The Duke.
This is the place where all the first-time visitors of Odessa have always been taken to and where many people agree to meet.
The monument is the most outstanding work of the great Russian sculptor Ivan Martos who finished it in 1828.
The statue depicts the duke in an antique way.
You can see bronze bas-reliefs on the pedestal.
The reliefs represent Trade, Justice and Agriculture.
The inscription on the front side reads,

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
The grateful inhabitants of all estates of this city
have erected this monument.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Address: Maritime Boulevard (Primorsky Boulevard)

Directions: in the middle of Primorsky Boulevard on the way to Potemkin Staircase and the port

Potiomkin Staircase

Visiting the famous Potiomkin Staircase that became one of the emblems of the city is also a must for the visitors of Odessa, as many people say.
The staircase has not always been called that way. In the search for the best suitable name people gave it different names.
Before it was called Gigantic Staircase and then Boulevard Staircase.
The staircase consists of ten flights of stairs and 192 stairs all in all.
If you look at it from the territory of the port, you will notice that it gets narrow upwards as if inviting you to visit the city .
The staircase was built in 1841 and has long become one of the architectural gems and symbols of Odessa.

Address: Primorsky Boulevard ("Maritime Boulavard")

Website: http://www.odessapassage.com/default.aspx?lang=eng

"The Cannon"

This monument located in the southern part of Primorsky Boulevard
(Maritime Boulevard in English) near the City Council is called simply the Cannon.
This unusual monument – a cannon on a wooden gun carriage - is a battle trophy
of the Crimean War of 1854-1856.
The cannon was dismounted from the British frigate “Tiger" that took part in the siege of the city during the Crimean War.

Address: Maritime Boulevard

Website: http://www.odessapassage.com/default.aspx?lang=eng

City Garden

Visiting the City Garden (this is how the city park is called) you will see the monument to Leonid Utyosov at the main entrance.
Utyosov was a famous Soviet singer, an actor, the founder and the leader of the most famous jazz orchestra in Odessa.
He was famous for his extraordinary live character and love of music.
There is a telephone booth opposite the monument where you can listen to some of his most famous songs (over 40) to your choice.

Address: De Ribas Street in downtown Odessa.

Website: http://www.odessapassage.com/default.aspx?lang=eng

Europe's Longest Balcony

During your city tour have a look at 25 Greek Street and you will see what the Odessans call the longest balcony in Europe at that building.
The building was built in 1905 by a wealthy Odessa merchant Maurocordato who was a Greek.
Forty-four windows and doors face that balcony.
If the tenants’ walls did not divide it, you could have walked along it above the pavements of Greek Street and Yeraterininskaya (Catherine) Street for quite a long time.

Address: 25 Greek Street

Directions: corner of Greek Street and Catherine Street, in the Old City

Website: http://www.odessapassage.com/default.aspx?lang=eng

Odessa Port

The Odessa port is called the Sea Gate
of the country.
It’s one of the six Ukrainian ports at the Black Sea.
There is St.Nickolas Cathedral at the territory of the port.
St.Nickolas is the patron saint of all sailors.
In April 2001 "Kempinski" hotel was dedicated on the territory of the port. Now it is called Odessa Hotel.
There is an exquisite bronze sculpture in front of the main entrance to the sea terminal.
The sculpture is called A Child is Being Born.
The Odessans say it cost a pretty penny.
This strange bronze sculpture at the entrance to the Odessa passenger port has a very symbolic meaning, not clear to all Odessans, though.

Address: Territory of the port.

Website: http://www.odessapassage.com/default.aspx?lang=eng

Railway Station

You can't miss visiting the railway station that was built in 1952.
There is a sculpture over the main entrance representing soldiers and workers and an inscription Glory to the Hero-City.
The railway station has a spacious lobby with booking offices, a cafeteria and kiosks on the first floor and waiting rooms on the second floor.

Directions: The railway station is located downtown near the central streets. You can take a taxi in front of the main entrance or right on the platform where your train arrives. The taxi drivers meet you directly at the platform.

Website: http://www.odessapassage.com/default.aspx?lang=eng

Exploring Downtown Odessa

Browsing the streets in downtown Odessa don't miss walking along Pushkin Street.
If you take a look at downtown Odessa from above, you will be surprised to find out it represents almost an ideal chess-board.

Picture #2: Philharmonic Society in Pushkin Street;
Pictures 3,4 and 5: Don't miss De Ribas Street and the City Park.
You can relax at the bench next to Leonid Utiossov in De Ribas Street and have your photo taken. This monument is very popular with the residents and visitors of Odessa.
The plaque at the foot of the monument reads,
Leonid Utiossov
from the thankful Odessa
Leonid Utiossov (1895-1982) was a famous Soviet singer and actor. He was born in Odessa in the family of Weissbein, an impoverished Jewish family. He made his career using his talent for music.

Address: Downtown Odessa

Website: http://www.odessapassage.com/default.aspx?lang=eng

Fine Arts Museums

Here is a listing of Odessa museums for you to be able to choose where to go first:
First of all fine arts museums:
Arts Museum
5a Sophia Street
Tel.: +38 048 223 82 72
There are exhibitions of originals of the pictures of Russian and Ukrainian artists of the 16th – 20th centuries such as Serov, Vrubel, Candinsky and others.
There is also Icons Hall where you can see 35 icons.
You can see the pictures of the Russian marinist Aivazovsky – 35 pictures.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Museum of western and oriental art
9 Pushkin Street
Tel.: +38 048 224 67 46
Tel.: +38 048 222 48 15
There are pictures of artists from the 15th – 20th centuries,
originals of Franz Hals, Caravagio, Maniasco and others.
On the picture: Juan Carrenio de Miranda, a 16th-century Spanish artist, the portrait of Mary Luise of Orleans.
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Nickolay Roerich House
Tel.: 47 Big Arnaut Street
Tel.: +38 048 715 58 58
You can see reproductions of works of Nickolay Roerich and his son Svyatoslav Roerich.;
- graphics of B.Smirnov-Russetsky, Nickolay Roerich’s pupil;
- water colors of Alexander Fonvizin and his pupil V.Yasnopolskaya;
- exhibition of local artists – originals of their works;
-World of Art exhibition of Serebryakova, Benoir and Kustodiyev from Vereshchagin Museum in Myckolayiv, the neighboring city port on the Dnipro (220 km to the east of Odessa).

Website: http://www.odessapassage.com