Odessa bazaars tour
We invite you to Odessa bazaars – the tour is extremely interesting, tasty and healthy! Our route will pass through the trading areas where the first markets in the city arose – Greek, Volnyi, New, Red Rows. During the tour you will learn how trade developed in Odessa, what Odessa bazaars are famous for, what you definitely need to try and, of course, what to buy as a keepsake. In addition, we offer a choice of the oldest and most popular bazaars to visit with our guide – Privoz and Starokonka. Duration – 2-2,5 hours.
OTHER THEMATIC EXCURSIONS IN ODESSA
In Odessa, trade arose with the birth of the port city. The first bazaar appeared back in 1795. it was called Volnyi (Old Market). Locals used to sell their goods from carts and carriages here. Trade has developed rapidly, becoming one of the main activities.
In the XIX century Odessa was considered to be the main trading center in the south of the country. The main city bazaars were Greek, New, Red Rows, Skotsky (Starokonny), Privoz. Some are still there, open to buyers.
Today, the Odessa market is one of the most popular attractions where tourists rush not only to shop, but also to hear local speech, as well as to feel a special spirit, plunging into the real atmosphere of Odessa authenticity. By the way, here a mistress does not “go to the bazaar”, she rather “does bazaar”! Indeed, for a true Odessa citizen, this is a place where you can relax, talk, find out the latest news and ask the price.
Privoz market remains the most famous one, about which I. Babel, E. Bagritsky and V. Kataev wrote in their stories. It is here that you will be given an opportunity to taste “pork ears”, delicious corned beef or small shrimps “crustaceans”. Passing through the market, you can see the signs, like “No looking with your hands”, “No touching, crumpling or massaging”, “Everything is sharpened here, even …”, “We will help you wake up” and other funny comments. However, as Odessa residents say: “You gotta not to click with a mitt!” So as not to become a victim of pickpockets.
It is worth mentioning one more quite famous market, which arose in 1833 and exists to this day – Starokonka. If they go to Privoz for groceries, then Starokonka is for all sorts of things. Every weekend, sellers occupy sidewalks around the Starokonny Market – street trading stretches along the city blocks. Here you will find rare books, antiques, coins, objects of the Soviet period, household utensils and other interesting things.
Starokonka is a favourite place of locals, visitors, curious onlookers, collectors, and tourists from all over the world. Walking around the “flea market”, you can see that people come here not only to sell or purchase, but to feel the atmosphere of communication “in Odessa”. By the way, it’s customary to bargain here. Sellers willingly make discounts, especially if the client is polite and with a sense of humor.
So, if you are a shopaholic or an “Odessaism” seeker, go to the market! Make sure to bring a notebook, a camera, a good mood and our guide. He/she will show you tidbits, help in choosing a souvenir and save you from minor troubles.
Trading Rows of Velykyi Avenue are the shopping sections and a second class hotel, that arose at the beginning of the XIX century. In 1809 the Big Avenue with the width of 80 m appeared on the map of Odessa. In 1820, it was renamed to Alexandrovsky Avenue. It was the main street of the city, which they began to actively build up with retail shops. Among them were Karaite, German, Jewish, etc. The prospectus connected the main bazaar areas of Odessa – Greek, Starobazarnaya and Privoz. In the 1830s, they began to build houses here, thereby separating the prospectus from Greek Square. Starting from the 1840s and 50s, the trading sections were rebuilt into residential buildings, and the shops moved to Deribasivska and Rishelievska streets. Today Aleksandrovsky Avenue is a street in the historical part of the city.
The 7th km is a well-known industrial goods open market in Ukraine, located near Odessa on the 7th km of the Ovidiopolska road (official name – the Industrial Goods Market). It has been open since 1989 and is considered to be the largest wholesale and retail market in Europe. It covers an area of 75 hectares (!). At first, in the dashing 90s, the first entrepreneurs traded in various deficit goods here. Over time, the market grew trade and warehouse infrastructure, gradually becoming a whole trading town. Today, the 7th km is visited daily by over 100 thousand buyers. This is where you will find anything you want and at the most attractive prices. Interestingly, the world’s largest billboard is located in its territory. The huge “7 km” inscription can be seen even from space and viewed from a height of 40 km.
Old Bazaar was founded in 1795 as the Volnyi Market and the very first bazaar where the goods were sold from carts. After appearing of the New market in 1812, the market began to be called the Old, and the area – Starobazarnaya. The square was at the intersection of Alexandrovsky Prospekt and Bazarnaya Street. Bazarnaya Street appeared in the 1820s and was first inhabited by Jews who conducted various trade here. In the 1830s, according to the project of G. Toricelli, they began to build a trading complex, which consisted of 4 large sections. Each section belonged to one of the merchants who kept their trading shops. In the middle of the market, a clock tower was erected and was called the Turkish tower (collapsed in 1958). With the advent of Soviet power, a children’s square was built here. Today everything the Starobazarny square is still here. In 2006 a monument to the ataman A. Golovaty. i was installed n the park.
The Red Rows is one of the old trading floors where only manufactory goods were sold. They arose at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries. Its facades were overlooking the Greek Square, and the back side – the alley. The Red Rows were divided into three parts. The first part did not have any name, as store owners often changed. The second part of the shopping arcade belonged to the merchant Avchinnikov, and the third (on the odd side) belonged to the merchant Protasov. With the advent of Soviet power, the editors of the newspaper “Voice of the Proletariat” occupied these buildings. Today the Red Rows is a historical center of Odessa with a length of 300m.
The New bazaar is one of the oldest markets in Odessa, founded in 1812. It is an architectural monument (26 Torgovaya St.). In the 1840s the first trading corps with open galleries were built in the square where the market was. In the 1890s, covered enclosures with large trading halls, preserved to this day, were erected on the territory. It was believed that at the New Market it was possible to buy any products necessary for the Odessa housewife. Such writers as Konstantin Paustovsky, Yuri Olesha and Vladimir Sosyura wrote about it in their works. It was here that the country’s first wine-making station was established in 1905, as indicated by a memorial plaque on the building. With the advent of Soviet power, market premises were used for holding meetings, concerts and rallies, and in 1928 a workers’ cooperative was located here. In the 1990s, the market building was privatized and rebuilt. Today, just like many years ago, the New Market is open to buyers. Here you will find food and non-food items. A number of services are also offered, for example, sewing and repairing clothes, shoes and other small services.
The Palais Royal is a square located behind the Opera House and surrounded by buildings from all sides (1, Tchaikovsky lane). In the first half of the XIX century, this place served as a marketplace. In 1842 44 sections of market raws were erected here (architect D. Toricelli). Later, a square with alleys was erected, a fountain was installed, and an area was paved with stone. The territory became similar to the Parisian Palais Royal. That’s where the name came from. The place quickly gained popularity and became a must-see for wealthy residents of Odessa. In addition to shops, there were cafes where an exquisite society of the city gathered. In 1900 a sculpture by B. Eduards was erected in the square. At the beginning of the XX century, trade was transferred to the Passage, and the square is still a favorite place for walks and evening promenades.
The Greek Bazaar is one of the oldest main markets of Odessa, which existed until the early 1930s. In the 1820s, according to the design of the Frapolli brothers, the Greek Square was built up with shopping raws, which were finalized by 1830. Here you could find everything – from bread and groceries to art objects. Merchants could rent or purchase land for their stores. An architectural ensemble consisted of an oval building in the center, known as the Round House, and two semicircular on each side. When the square lost its commercial significance in the 1920s and 1930s, a horse-railway city road station appeared, then a Belgian tram society. In Soviet times, the terminal served as a tram stop and bus station. During the Second World War, one of the side buildings was destroyed, and a square was set up in its place. In the 1960s, instead of a square, a semicircular building was erected. There, the Kiev restaurant was opened, a bus stop was removed, and trams were replaced by trolleybuses. Since 2004 Greek Square is a pedestrian one.
Starokonka is the oldest Odessa market, located on Moldavanka (Raskidailivska street). It ppeared in 1833, in the city outskirts of those days and was called “the cattle market,” which sold cattle, horses and other domestic animals. When in the 1850s, a new market for the sale of livestock appeared next to the current Privoz, the old one was called Starokonny or Starokonka. Gradually, the market was built up and started selling bread, vegetables and various products. However, first of all, Starokonka was known as a bird market, where you could buy pets. In the 1930s, a flea market appeared nearby. Today the Starokonny market is one of the most authentic sights of Odessa. Here you will find rare books, antiques, coins, housewares and many interesting things.
Privoz is the food market, located near the Odessa railway station. It’s a hallmark of the city and the “must visit” place (Pryvozna str.). It appeared in 1827, when a large bazaar, where they sold imported goods, was opened. Hence the name of the market – Pryvoz. In 1913, the Fruit Passage was erected on the territory of the market, the buildings of which today are an architectural monument. In the 1990s, a major reconstruction was carried out – new pavilions were built. In 2007, shops were opened and were called “New Pryvoz”. Privoz is an authentic place. Here you can buy anything you want. Just do not forget to bargain.