Odessa region tours
We invite you join our out-of-town excursions to the sights of Odessa region. We offer a choice of visiting the Bilhorod-Dnister fortress, the Shabo winery, the old estates of the Dubetskiy-Pankeevs and the Kurisov family, the ancient city of Izmail, the Ukrainian Venice and other places near Odessa. In addition, we organize one-day tours to Transnistria – an unrecognized state. Visit there will transport you to the times of the USSR. Read more about objects on this page. You can book a tour here
Map of Odessa region
OTHER THEMATIC EXCURSIONS IN ODESSA
Odessa region is one of the richest ones in Ukraine in terms of historical monuments that filled the treasury of national heritage. To this day, religious buildings of the XIII-XX centuries have been preserved in the region. Numerous sights of different times, cathedrals, defense and palace complexes, monuments of architecture and landscape gardening of Odessa region are of particular value in the list of historical and cultural heritage of the country.
We invite you to join our guides for out-of-town excursions from Odessa. Among popular tourist routes Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky, Shabo, Vylkove (“Ukrainian Venice”), Izmail, Bolhrad, Kurisov Castle, etc are often mentioned. However, besides them, there are other unusual and fascinating objects worthy of attention.
Thus, on the outskirts of Odessa, driving along the Hadzhibey road, at the foot of the Skoda mountain, there is a unique and little-known place – an ancient Cossack cemetery of the Sotnykivska Sich (XVIII-XIX centuries). The graveyard was laid in 1775, and the earliest of the remaining graves is dated by 1791. On the slopes of the mountain, the remains of cave dwellings, arranged in the rocks by Cossacks-Nerubians, who settled here in the middle of the 18th century, preserved.
The Akkerman fortress located in Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky is the largest and best preserved medieval fortification in Ukraine (XIII-XV centuries). It is worth saying that the city itself is founded on the site of the ancient Greek village of Tire (VI century BC) and is officially considered to be the oldest one in the country. This fact is confirmed by archaeological excavations of the ancient city and a stone tomb of the Scythian period.
A geographic location and a favorable climate have contributed to the development of wine-making in the region. The Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking named after Tairov, ShABO Wine Culture Center, Bolgrad winery, as well as private family wineries were established. Each of them offers guided tours with visits to ancient cellars and wine tasting of the highest quality.
Natural resources with medicinal properties have made Kuyalnytsky and Hadzhibeysky estuaries famous. Every year thousands of vacationers come to improve their health here. There are also nature conservation areas, such as: the Danube Biosphere Reserve, the Dniester plains, the Tiligul landscape park, etc.
Just 105 km from Odessa you will find Tiraspol – the capital of the unrecognized state of Transnistria. The republic bordering the Odessa region attracts hundreds of tourists from around the world who want to feel the spirit of the times of the USSR. Here you can still see Soviet buildings, symbols, signs and monuments to Lenin.
If you are the curious traveler we are talking about, we will gladly arrange for you an individual excursion to any point in the region, accompanied by our professional guide in a comfortable car / minibus so that you have only pleasant memories.
Izmail is the second largest city in Odessa region (256 km from Odessa), located on the banks of the Danube River. Presumably, it is based on the site of the Greek colony Antiophilas (IV-V centuries). Subsequently, the settlement of Smil appeared. It was also known as Sinil because of the Genoese who appeared here during the Middle Ages. The first mentions in the documents are found in the 16th century, when the territory belonged to the Ottoman Empire and a fortress was built that had strategic importance until the middle of the 19th century. Today we can see only the remains of fortifications, on the basis of which the Park-Museum “Fortress” was created. Visiting the museum, you will learn the history of the foundation and development of the Izmail fortress. The preserved objects include earthen ramparts and ditches, the Small Mosque, the Assumption and Nikolaev Churches, as well as military burials. Inside the mosque, the diorama “Assault of Izmail Fortress” is presented. In the center of the city you will see the Intercession Cathedral, the local history museum and parks. In Izmail, there is a control point on the border with Romania.
Shabo is an ancient village famous for its winemaking and Shabo wines (76 km from Odessa). Back in the XVIII century. vineyards were planted here by the Turks, who founded the village. At the beginning of the XIX century, Swiss winemakers settled in the region and revived wine production. So, by 1847 they presented 8 unique varieties of Shabo wine. Since that time, the place was called Shabab, and later renamed to Shabo. To this day, the winemaker Andre Anselma (XIX century) has been preserved in the village. Today Shabo is known for the winery, which produces Shabo brand alcoholic drinks known in Ukraine. In 2009 the Shabo Wine Culture Center was opened, which included the enterprise, old wine cellars, a tasting room, as well as the Wine and Wine Museum. Annually, the Center is visited by thousands of tourists from different countries.
Shkodova Hill is located on the outskirts of Odessa in the direction of the Hadzhibey road. At the foot of the mountain is the ancient Cossack cemetery of the Sotnykivska Sich (XVIII-XIX centuries), which has survived to this day. The cemetery was laid back in 1775. The earliest of the remaining graves dates by 1791. Also on the slopes of the mountain you will see the remains of old cave dwellings, which were arranged in the rocks by Cossacks-Nerubayans, who settled in the middle of the XVIII century.
Kuris Castle is located in the village of Kurisovo (63 km from Odessa). At the beginning of the XIX century the land passed into the possession of Colonel I. Kuris, who founded the estate. The castle was built in the 1820s. Its western part was completed in the 1890s. It was an oriental palace with elements of the Mauritanian style. With an advent of Soviet power, the estate was looted, and later an agricultural school occupied the premises. During the period of World War II, the Romanian commandant’s office was located here. In the 1990s, lightning struck the building, having significantly damaging the building. In 2000 the village was visited by a direct descendant of the Kuris family living in Paris. Today, the palace, fragments of the park and the economic building have been preserved. Having ordered an excursion, you will not only see the old family estate, but also learn about the family and how they contributed to the development of the area. Not far from the village you will also find the Tigul estuary.
Transnistria is an unrecognized state, bordered by the Odessa region. A trip to Transnistria is compared to a trip to the socialist past. The feeling of the times of the USSR is present at every step – these are the buildings of the Soviet period, monuments to Lenin, Soviet symbols and streets named after the communist heroes. It is not surprising that the state flag of Transnistria is an exact copy of the flag of the Moldavian SSR. By the way, the Soviet emblem was minted on local coins. The capital of the unrecognized Transnistrian Moldavian Republic is Tiraspol (105 km from Odessa). In the city you can visit the Quint wine and brandy factory, founded in 1897 (excursions, tastings are held on the territory of the factory), a recreation park opened in 1947 (the largest location for entertainment); as well as the remains of the Middle Fortress, built in the 1790s under the leadership of the Russian commander Suvorov. 14 km from Tiraspol you will see the Bendery Fortress (XVI century), which is one of the best sights of Transnistria. A museum of torture operates in one of the castle towers.
The estate of Dubetskiy-Pankeev – known as the “Wolf’s Lair”, is located in the village of Vasylivka (40 km from Odessa). Built in the middle of the XIX century for Major General V. Dubetskiy, it was a magnificent palace with a large garden and a pond. In the 1880s, the owner of the estate was the merchant K. Pankeev, whose son is known as the “Wolf Man”. The fact is that Sergey Pankeev was one of the patients of Z. Freud, who subsequently wrote a book about his illness. With an advent of Soviet power, Pankeev Jr. emigrated to Vienna, the mansion was nationalized, placing various institutions in it. The garden was almost destroyed. Today, only the ruins of the palace and the lake have survived. However, the mystical spirit of Vasylivka Castle every year attracts tourists to feel the mystery of this place.
Kuyalnik Estuary is a salty estuary in Odessa region (13 km from Odessa). The area of the estuary is up to 60 square km. its average depth reaches up to 1 m. The water level and salt concentration change at regular intervals. Interestingly enough, near the estuary the lowest point of Ukraine – 5 m below sea level – is located. Kuyalnik Estuary is famous for its mud containing valuable medicinal properties. Back in 1834 the oldest resort of Kuyalnik was founded near the estuary, and since 1890 a mud bath has been operating. It exists to this day (sanatorium named after Pirogov). In addition to mud, estuary brine and Kuyalnik mineral water, produced right there on the territory, are also valued.
Khadzhibey Estuary is located in Odessa region (9 km from Odessa). Salt was mined here in the Middle Ages. Chumaks and Zaporizhia Cossacks used to come here often. The estuary value (70 sq. Km) is stored at its bottom – it is black brine and clay with medicinal properties. Comparing to Kuyalnik Estuary, the Khadzhibey Estuary is more watery and with lower salt concentration. Based on this, one of the first mud resorts in the country was founded, known since the 19th century. Today, sanatoriums are opened here, where mud therapy, climatotherapy, and physiotherapy are carried out. On the banks of the estuary you will see the villages of Kholodna Balka, Usatovo, Otradovo and others. The estuary is good for fishing. Carp, perch, pike perch and goby are found here. From Odessa you can get here by tram N20 or by minibuses.
Vilkovo is a small town in Odessa region (240 km from Odessa), located in the Danube Delta. Due to the numerous canals stretching along the streets, it is known as the “Ukrainian Venice”. Therefore, a boat is a common means of transportation among locals. Near Vilkovo, the Danube Biosphere Reserve is located (included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Danube Delta). The area of the unique reserve with channels, lakes, floodplains, islands of the river delta and a two-kilometer strip in the marine area is 50,3 thousand ha. It is noted that up to 300 species of birds, 45 species of freshwater fish live here. There are also amphibians and reptiles. Tourists can take excursions to the place where the Danube flows into the Black Sea, to the islands of Old Believers and water lily fields. In addition, in Vilkovo you can visit two ancient Old Believer churches, as well as a museum of local lore.
The Catacombs are located in the village of Nerubayske (14 km from Odessa). They are underground passages with a length of up to 3 thousand km, considered to be the longest artificial underground in the world. Odessa catacombs are former quarries that appeared after the extraction of shell rock, used in the XVIII century for construction. At the beginning of the XIX century catacombs were used by smugglers. Partisans used to hide here during the Second World War. Thus, a detachment of 70 partisans was walled up inside by Romanian invaders. After the war, the partisan glory memorial complex was opened on the territory of former catacombs. The museum presents wartime items, staff equipment, weapons, documents, etc.
Belgorod-Dnestrovskyi is a city on the banks of the Dniester estuary (84 km from Odessa). It is considered to be the oldest city in Ukraine that arose on the site of the ancient Greek settlement of Tyra (VI century BC). Due to its favorable location, the city was often conquered throughout its history. For centuries, different nationalities were settled on these lands. It left an imprint in the cultural, spiritual and architectural directions. So, today in Belgorod-Dnestrovskyi, we can see the Ascension Cathedral, the Armenian and Greek churches, the synagogue and the Bulgarian cathedral. The ruins of the ancient city of Tyra and the stone tomb of the Scythian period found by archaeologists are other unique objects. However, the main attraction is the Akkerman fortress (XIII-XV centuries), – one of the largest and best preserved medieval fortifications in Ukraine. It’s a monument of history and urban planning. On the territory of the fortress festivals, jousting tournaments, various thematic events, guided tours are conducted.