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What to visit in Odessa - the main attractions of the city - sighsteeing options..
and excursions outside Odessa..
If you are from Europe, USA or Canada feel free and use the CURRENCY CONVERTER located on your right to calculate the costs of the tour accordingly. Thank you.
1st. CITY TOUR - TO BOOK/ ENQUIRE
Odessa is barely two centuries old, yet it has a wealth of history. An exclusive necklace of the Black Sea Northern Seashore was decorated with its precious pearl – Odessa (after the ancient Greek colony Odessos, which was believed to be in the vicinity). The city today is a large sea port, a major commercial, cultural, scientific centre of Ukraine. Your city tour starts from the hotel, the guide with an air-conditioned car takes you to the historical centre of the city to start an easy stroll, beginning with the Odessa Opera & Ballet House along Primorsky Boulevard towards Potemkin stairway. The theatre building is considered to be the second best after the Vienna Opera Theater. Completed in 1887, in baroque style, the theatre was designed by the architects, responsible for the Vienna House and the Dresden Court Theatre, both of which it resembles. Further on there are: the Classical building of the Archaeological Museum., the white marble Laocoon Statue, the colonnaded City Hall, which has served many purposes in its history, a cannon, which was salvaged after the British Frigate “Tiger” sank in 1854 during the Crimean War; and Pushkin Monument. We continue strolling along Primorsky Boulevard, lined with majestic 100 – year old horse chestnuts and plane trees towards the impressive Potemkinskaya staircase and Duke Richelieu Monument.
In Ekaterininskaya Square (named after the Russian Empress who founded Odessa) you will take your car to drive you across the historical centre of the city towards estate of Count Tolstoy, which now houses the Scientists’ Club of Odessa for visit. Among the Palace’s exhibits is a collection of photographs and furniture which once belonged to Count Mikhail Tolstoy, a cousin of Leo Tolstoy, an outstanding Russian writer. You will go along Richilieuvskaya street, one of the major thoroughfares, connecting the old historical centre with the Railway Terminal.
You will pass by Odessa Synagogue, A Muslim Cultural Centre and St. Panteleimon the Healer Cathedral, which proves the fact, that Odessa is a cosmopolitan city, a city of many religions.
The car will go further along Taras Shevchenko Avenue through the city district, which was built after the World War II, pass by the Victory Monument and drive along the French Boulevard then to have a glance upon Odessa resorts, towards Shevchenko park. Named after Ukrainian poet and patriot, a park offers a pleasant view on the Black Sea nearby the Unknown Sailors' Obelisk (World War II); has its own bathing beach and an open-air theatre.
Duration: 3 hours.
Cost: from £ 50.00 GBP ( British Pounds ) per person (depending on number of pax in a group)
If you wish to receive some info regarding accommodation offers, local tours in and nearby the Odessa etc... just contact us directly and we are more then happy to help you with your holiday to Ukraine.
2nd Catacombs/Museum of Partisan Glory - TO BOOK/ ENQUIRE
Threading some six hundred miles under the city of Odessa and its environs (5-12 m from the surface), the catacombs were used as a hiding plаce for revolutionaries and criminals. During World War II they were used as command post for the resistance and were never occupied by the Nazies. Departing from the quayside, this excursion begins with the brief drive through the port city and will take you to small Ukrainian villages, farms, orchards and vineyards. A photostop could be made to make photos of the countryside, formerly known as the USSR wheat basket.
You will soon make a stop at the village of Nerubaiskoe , originally built as the Cossak’s settlement at the end of the 18th century.
In the Catacombs you would be able to indulge in the atmosphere of the guerilla movement participant camp in the years of Hitler invasion. Odessa’s 73-day defense against the Nazi invaders remains an example of great fortitude and courage. The title of the Hero City was conferred upon Odessa for this heroic deed. You will be guided through the catacombs by a knowledgeable catacomb guide.
You will come to know, that World War II was extremely destructive and traumatic experience for the former Soviet Union, part of which Ukraine was. A great deal of the prestige of the Communist regime over several decades stemmed from its successful leadership of what was called
the “Great Patriotic War” against the Nazi invaders, and from its attempt to mix Communist ideology with patriotic sentiments. You will learn about the World War II more, about its influence upon the Soviet security concerns, and about its more general ideological impact.
NOTE: Please, note: this tour involves a moderate amount of walking on flat underground walkways and some stairs in the catacombs.
We recommend you to dress comfortably and carry a jacket or pullover for your underground visit. Then you will be taken back to the city centre to have lunch on own or to your hotel.
Duration: 4 hours
Cost: from £ 70.00 GBP ( British Pounds ) per person (depending on number of pax in a group)
3rd Criminal Odessa - TO BOOK/ ENQUIRE
On this excursion you'll find out about mysteries and legends involving first smugglers and gangsters of the city. From the first days of its foundation Odessa had been accepting all kinds of shady people because of its need of manpower for town-planning and construction works. So in the guise of such "builders" and "workers" thieves like Emmanuel Bernanstelli, Mishka Yaponchik, Sonya "Golden Hand" and others come and lived here. We will tell you how city authorities tried to fight a crime.
Duration: 2.5 hours.
Cost: from £ 40.00 GBP ( British Pounds ) per person (depending on number of pax in a group)
4th Temples of Odessa - TO BOOK/ ENQUIRE
The tour leads through the picturesque historical center of Odessa and gives an idea of the history of the Orthodox Church, its traditions and rites. You will visit famous churches and cathedrals such as the Cathedral of the Assumption, which was built in 1869.
This is an impressive blue-and-white ensemble of five swooping domes and a very tall bell tower rising over the entrance. There are two fine churches on the southeast side of the city center, near the railway station. Five very bulbous silver domes and a pointed bell tower rise from the now Byzantine Panteleymonovsky Church. Just down the Pushkin Avenue is the blue Illinsky Cathedral (1886), very richly adorned beneath a large central dome. Many years have passed by since one of the most interesting Odessa architecture monuments - St.Paul Lutheran church -
was built.
The tower vertical line of its western front crowned with tiled roof is seen from distant approaches of the city and determines the originality of the silhouette of the church.
Duration: 4 hours .
Cost : from £ 40.00 GBP ( British Pounds ) per person (depending on number of pax in a group)
5th Private Concert incl. champagne and snacks in Count Tolstoy’s Palace
- TO BOOK/ ENQUIRE
A bus brings you to the entrance of the palace where a local guide – a research assistance of the museum – meets you.
Then you will have an excursion through the palace where lived one of the most famous family of Odessa history. You will visit the main White hall where the Tolstoys organized concerts with participation of well-known violinists, pianists, singers; see the most interesting exhibit – legendary grand piano of Ferenc List who had concerts in Odessa and left his grand piano in our city; hear the stories about the family members and their contribution on evolution of Odessa.
After that you will go to one of three concert halls (depends on the amount of the group: Grand Hall – a picture-gallery of the Tolstoys, White Hall, Walnut Reception-Room) and enjoy a wonderful music of the string quartet “Harmonies of the World”. The quartet, which members are soloists of the Odessa National Symphony Orchestra, is famous and very popular all around the world (Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, USA, Spain etc.).
The music they play is from classic till popular and known for everyone. One of the best musicians not only of Odessa, but also of Ukraine, Honored artist Vladimir Tomaschuck (clarinet) soloist of the National Symphony Orchestra, takes part in the concert.
You will have a magic time of music, in the pause having some champagne and a unique possibility to talk with such great and famous people as the musicians of the quartet “Harmonies of the World”.
18:00 Arrival Tolstoy Palace. Excursion
18:30 1st Part of the Private Concert
19:15 Pause, champagne
19:30 2nd Part of the Private Concert
20:15 Departure Tolstoy Palace
Note: tour is considered expedient only for the group 20-30 pax. Minimum 15 pax in a group.
Cost: from £ 50.00 GBP ( British Pounds ) per person - on request.
6th. The Heroic Defense of Odessa" - visiting the memorial Glory complex "The 411 Battery" - TO BOOK/ ENQUIRE
The history of the Second World War, the defense of Odessa, visiting the weapons and was machines storage Battery 411 is a battlefield from WW II just outside of Odessa. Odessa was an important scene during WW II and is known for the “Siege of Odessa“. At the time of this battle in 1941, the Soviet Russian forces were battling the German Fascist forces. The Romanians, German allies, invaded Ukraine and a battle was fought for 73 days until Odessa was sieged by the Germans. This is when the partisans went into hiding, trying to break Odessa free of the Fascists. Eventually, the siege ended in 1944 and was once again Soviet territory. Battery 411 displays planes, boats, cannons, and tanks used in WWII.
Duration: 2.5 – 3 hours.
Cost: from £ 50.00 GBP ( British Pounds ) per person (depending on number of pax in a group)
7th. Museums of Odessa - TO BOOK/ ENQUIRE
Odessa has an excellent collection of museums, mostly of an agreeably moderate size, and all housed in sumptuous former palaces, worth a visit for their architecture alone. Inside of the Regional History Museum is a fascinating assortment of displays covering all aspects of the city's history, including old maps, photos, furniture, and household objects.
Fine Arts Museum
The Museum has an amazing collection of icons from the 14th -15th century and 18th-19th century paintings - Aivazovsky, Repin, Vrubel, Serov, Savrasov and Kramskoy. Early 20th century paintings are represented as well, including works of Rorich, Benz, Somov, Serebriakova, Kandinski.
The building of the museum used to be the palace of Count Pototsky and was built in 1805.
Exquisitely ornamented halls with painted ceilings, beautiful parquet floors, made of rare kinds of wood and fine marble mantelpieces lend an elegant atmosphere to high class painting collections.
Approx. Cost: £ 45.00 GBP ( British Pounds )/person
Archeological museum
Odessa Archeological Museum was the first museum founded in the city and is one of the oldest in CIS.
There are more then 160,000 exhibits providing excellent illustration of North Black Sea coast - from the first appearance of man up to the emergence of the ancient Russian state, Kiev Russ. Museum displays ancient artifacts - collection of priceless ornaments and jewelry from the 5th to the 1st centuries B.C. and coins dating from the 6th century B.C. The excavation of Olbia, Khersonesus, Panticapea, Tyras and other ancient Greek colonies on the Black Sea has mainly contributed these outstanding collections. You can read about this museum at the following link: http://www.arhaeology.farlep.odessa.ua
Approx. Cost: £ 45.00 GBP ( British Pounds )/person
Museum of Literature
This building used to be the residence of Count Gagarin. The building has been completely restored. The museum collection amounts to 40,000 exhibits. It represents the works of Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, Jewish, Bulgarian, etc. writers and illustrates their links to Odessa. The list includes about 300 names. If you study literature this museum will be of a great interest. You can read about this museum at the following link:
http://museum.odessa.net/litmuseum/english
Approx. Cost: £ 45.00 GBP ( British Pounds )/person
Western and Oriental Arts Museum
The museum was founded in 1924 on the basis of private collections in the premises of a wealthy Odessa merchant. The museum has an extensive collection of European masterpieces and antiquities from Italy, Holland, France and Flounders. This collection includes antique sculptures, Ancient Greek ceramics and Roman glassware. The oriental art is represented by the works from China, Japan, India, Mongolia and Tibet. The interior is richly decorated: molded ceilings and parquet floors made of valuable species of wood.
Approx. Cost: £ 45.00 GBP ( British Pounds )/person
EXCURSIONS OUTSIDE ODESSA
8th. Vilkovo town (The Venice of Ukraine" ) & Danube biosphere reserve -
TO BOOK/ ENQUIRE
A wonderful way to see what rural village life is like is to visit the picturesque town of Vilkovo. A considerable part of Vilkovo has picturesque
water canals along which scuttle narrow and sharp-bowled boats - the main means of transportation in Vilkovo. The city has many recently built Greek orthodox churches. The Vilkovo villagers are incredible warm and friendly. The town was founded in 1746. The settlers were not so much attracted to the location because of its beautiful scenery but rather by the fact that the location could easily be made into an impregnable fortress.
Many natural canals bug and small, crisscrossing the area, enhanced the scenic beauty and the natural defenses. Today, a considerable part of
the town is taken by picturesque water canals along which scuttle narrow and sharp-bowed boats (in shape they resemble much larger "chaykas"
"seagulls" --Cossack boats used in the 17th and 18th centuries for naval operations against the Turks with devastating success).
There is a popular joke told in Vilkovo, a Vilkovite who had to much of novak (young red wine, very popular with the locals) sways when he walks, but only backwards and forwards, but never to the sides. This is because the walkways that pass for "sidewalks" are so narrow that one- half step to the side and you find yourself in the waters of the Danube. In the eighteenth century the town sat on the border between the Russian and Ottoman Empires. Later Vilkovo was incorporated into the Russian empire (one of the Romanian kings was said to like the place and go there
to fish and have talks with the local wise men). After the Second World War, the town was returned to Ukraine.
There is a frontier post in Vilkovo because the border with Romania Passes almost through the town, but there is not much for a handful of border guards to do there. In summer time, the provincial quiet is somewhat disturbed by droves of painters who come from all over Ukraine to paint in the open air Because of the very active delta-forming processes, the Kilia delta supports a flora and fauna of worldwide importance. For example, the delta is home to over 950 plant species and nearly 260 bird species, many of which are listed in Red Data books.
Any visitor to the delta in spring or summer will quickly appreciate the natural wealth of the Danube Biosphere Reserve: vast reedbeds stretching to the horizon, lily-coated lakes, and islands of willows and poplars. There are flocks of pelicans, cormorants, ducks, geese and spoonbills while an occasional sea-eagle soars overhead. In the water there is a myriad of aquatic plants, with millions of frogs and toads jumping and splashing. And the angler can have a rewarding day trying his luck to catch a giant carp or catfish.
Duration: whole day.
Cost: ordinary tour – appr. £ 100.00 GBP ( British Pounds )/person, VIP-tour for max, 3 pax – £ 290.00 GBP ( Britsh Pounds )/person
9th. Belgorod-Dnestrovskiy, Akkerman Fortress (80 km from Odessa)
- TO BOOK/ ENQUIRE
Belgorod-Dnestrovsky is one of the oldest cities of the Ukraine. The Greek settlement of Tyras was founded here in 5th century B.C.
Archaeologists still carry on excavation here. The Romans renamed the city Alba-Julia. Slavonic tribes conquered it in 9th century and named it Bely gorod (the White city). The Genovese ruled it for a short time, building a fortress here that was later considerably enlarged by the Turks. Today this fortress is one of the main local sights.
Turkey held the city from 1497 to 1812, but. after its defeat in the Russo- Turkish War, was obliged to give it back to the Russia Empire. After
World War I, the city was annexed by Romania, but then retaken by USSR.
Today it is a regional center in Ukraine's Odessa region. Its population is 68,900 people. Among the bigger industrial enterprises of the city are
the integrated silicate products plant, and the medical equipment factory. The city is situated on the coast of Dnestrovsky Estuary, which is 42 km long and 4.5 to 12 wide, and is connected to the Black Sea via a channel. Given Belgorod-Dnestrovsky's favorable position, in 1971 a merchant seaport was opened here in the aim of relieving the nearest big ports, Odessa and Illichevsk, from handling small tonnage vessels.
The port includes the port point Bugaz, located right in the mouth of the Dnister River before the railway.
The Akkerman fortress (12th-19th cc) is the only example of medieval military that has survived in southwestern Ukraine. Of the fortress proper there have remained this 12th-century citadel, 20 towers, 3 gates, some 70% of defensive walls and a minaret of the Turkish mosque. Inside the citadel there are remains of a ceramic water-pipe, a stone water pool, a heating furnace and underground galleries. The fortress and its structures have preserved authentic masonry made of locally quarried limestone blocks and mortar with a touch of sand and a small portion of pounded bricks. The walls have retained the original elements of Moldavian architecture of the 15th-16th cc such as alternating layers of bricks and limestone blocks.
Some of the walls and towers still have ancient reinforcing timbers and decorative details such as complex machicolations and engraved network and floral ornamentation.
Duration: whole day
Approx. Cost: from £ 100.00 GBP ( British Pounds )/person
THE END
If you wish to receive some info regarding accommodation offers, local tours in and nearby the Odessa etc... just contact us directly and we are more then happy to help you with your holiday to Ukraine. |
0044 1484 663 889
01484 663 889
