Odessa

About Odessa

Odessa is a major port and resort on the Black Sea coast, known for its landmarks, mild climate, and abundance of entertainment. The city’s unique architectural style blends Gothic and Classicism, Empire style and the Baroque, Renaissance and Art Nouveau. Odessa is also known as the “world capital of humour and laughter” and hosts a popular humour festival called Humorina.

Odessa is a large port and resort on the Black Sea coast, the industrial, scientiﬁc and cultural centre of Ukraine.

Odessa passenger terminal is ideally located in the centre of the city close to the most important tourist sights. Numerous landmarks, a mild climate, an abundance of entertainment, suitable connections to the airport (8km), railway station (3km) and bus station (5km) attract tourists from every corner of the world.

One of the symbols of Odessa, made famous in S. Eisenstein’s ﬁlm ‘The Battleship Potemkin’ are the Potemkin Stairs. The top step is 12.5mtr wide, and the lowest step is 21.7mtr wide giving the illusion of greater length. A person looking down the stairs sees only the landings whilst a person looking up sees only steps. The architectural style of Odessa is unique. The whole central part of the city is an architectural reserve, where the streets are the blend of Gothic and Classicism, Empire style and the Baroque, Renaissance and Art Nouveau.

Odessa is a ‘world capital of humour and laughter’. It is here, nowhere else in the world on April Fools’ Day since 1973 citizens and numerous guests of the city participate in the theatrical procession in the city streets and squares, eﬀervescent humour festival Humorina. Odessa passenger terminal can simultaneously accommodate ﬁve vessels. The terminal includes a concert and exhibition hall, yacht marina, centre of underwater activity, Maritime Art gallery, Anchor Museum and St. Nicholas’ church.

Tourists are met with ceremonial music, modern air-conditioned buses and a variety of fascinating tours. Odessa oﬀers you a wonderful world of art and architecture, bright sun and sparkling sea, yacht journeys and sea cruises. For a proper meeting with the Pearl of Ukraine we invite you to visit Odessa and hope it will leave a lasting impression and a desire to visit again.

Port destination information

Odessa’s name origin is debated, but it’s thought to be from the ancient Greek city-state “Odessos.” Though this city-state is actually in Varna, Bulgaria, in 2008, an ancient Greek city called Istrian Harbour was discovered at Primorsky Boulevard. The region was under various empires and Khanates throughout history, and in 1792, the city of Odessa was founded, becoming the third-largest city in the Russian Empire. Odessa is home to representatives of over 100 nationalities, and its famous attractions include the Potemkin Stairs, catacombs, and the Opera and Ballet Theater. Famous Odessans include musicians David Oistrakh and Svyatoslav Richter, athlete Vladimir Zhabotinsky, and Sidney Reilly, the model for James Bond.