Discover Odesa
Accommodation in Odesa
You can get to know Odesa through its historic cityscape, distinctive landmarks and public green spaces. Its attractions offer a range of experiences: neoclassical streetscapes and cultural diversity in the city centre, open-air art in the parks, and guided visits to different parts of the catacombs. You can tailor your trip to the subjects that interest you most.
Historic Centre and Landmarks
The historic centre of Odesa is densely built and laid out according to neoclassical principles. Two- to four-storey buildings define the area; broad, tree-lined streets running at right angles shape the cityscape. Here, architecture is expressed not only in individual buildings but also in the layout of the streets and their relationship to the buildings.
The centre bears witness to Odesa’s great ethnic and religious diversity. It is also an outstanding example of intercultural exchange and of the development of multicultural and multi-ethnic cities in Eastern Europe in the 19th century. The historic centre therefore draws attention both to the built city and to its cultural history.
The city’s most important landmarks include Prymorsky Boulevard, the Prymorsky Stairs that descend to the waterfront, and the ensemble of the Odesa Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Palais-Royal. The monument to the Duke de Richelieu is also located on Prymorsky Boulevard. These places offer different points of reference as you explore the cityscape and its best-known buildings.
Parks, Art and Events
Greek Park opened on 2 September 2018 on the slopes of Prymorsky Boulevard, to the left of the Potemkin Stairs and near the Vorontsov Colonnade. At the centre of the park is the “Beginning of Beginnings” fountain: a patinated bronze sculpture by Odesa sculptor Mykhailo Reva. It symbolises the world order through biblical and ancient motifs. An open-air area with copies of ancient Greek statues, including a statue of Poseidon, adds to the art in the park.
Greek Park has an area for children and walking, with equipped playgrounds, paths, ramps and a lift for visitors with reduced mobility. If you plan to use these facilities during your visit, check their current condition on site. This lets you take the amenities into account without assuming they are currently operational.
A music pavilion in the form of a rotunda stands in City Garden. On summer evenings, live music is often played there at free concerts. The programme is seasonal and schedules may vary, so check the current concert dates before your visit. The sculpture garden of the Odesa Literary Museum opened in 1995 and was created by Leonid Viktorovych Liptuga.
Monuments, City History and Catacombs
A monument to Ataman Anton Holovaty was erected in the centre of Starobazarnyi Square in 2006. It depicts him with a horse and an angel in the sky. Another layer of history awaits you in Preobrazhensky Park, which occupies the site of Odesa’s First City Cemetery. Prominent residents of pre-revolutionary Odesa and the city’s founders were buried there. The two places offer different perspectives: a monument depicting a specific figure, and parkland with a history as a burial ground.
Guided tours of various parts of the Odesa Catacombs are offered regularly. These include a recreated gangster hideout and a Cold War-era bunker. Ask the operator about current availability. Unlike monuments standing freely in the cityscape, these areas can be explored as part of a guided tour; City Garden, meanwhile, offers a seasonal attraction for summer evenings with its concerts. Dates and tour availability are therefore the practical differences to consider when planning these experiences.
Discover more destinations: Biliaivka, Khlibodarske, Vylkove, Karolino-Buhaz, Kryzhanivka, Izmail, Pidhirne, Mizikevycha.
For the overview of the wider region: Odesa Oblast.
