Sightseeing tour in Odessa
We conduct sightseeing tours in Odessa, where you get acquainted with the history of the city and see main attractions and highlights – Potemkin Stairs, Opera House, Vorontsov Palace, Monument to Duke, Sea Port and so on. A sightseeing tour is walking and takes a place in the center of Odessa. Duration – 2-3 hours.
Map of Odessa Center
OTHER INTERESTING PLACES IN THE CENTER
Our company offers you to visit one of the most popular excursions – the sightseeing tour in Odessa.
Odessa is the southern port city on the Black Sea coast, famous for its rich history, architectural monuments, cultural events, beach holidays, entertainment industry and multinational cuisine. Every year Odessa becomes more interesting and attractive not only to travelers, but also to business people. Thus, the fDi Magazine recognized Odessa as a promising European city, putting it at the 4th place in the rating.
Odessa is, first of all, a tourist city. Every year thousands of tourists come here from all over the world. So if you are one of them, then, of course, you want to get acquainted with the city and book a sightseeing tour around Odessa. It should be noticed that the central part of Odessa is a unique sample of urban development, which originates from the port, built according to the plan of the first architect de Volan. The historical center is a subject of special pride of Odessa citizens. It is not surprising that the center of Odessa with its architectural masterpieces is planned to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Each of you can immediately name the main sights of Odessa, which today are the hallmarks of the city. The first one on the list will be the Opera House, famous all over the world and marked by Forbes as one of the extraordinary buildings of Eastern Europe. Well, is there anyone who hasn’t heard of the legendary Potemkin Stairs? This unique construction is one of the most beautiful objects in Europe. Dozens of films were shot here, and the Potemkin Stairs was awarded the title of the “Heritage of European Cinema Culture”.
And, finally, the first monument erected in Odessa is the monument to Duke, which became not only a symbol of the city, but also its talisman. There is a belief that if you rub a bag of money depicted on one of the high reliefs of the monument, then your financial part will soon get improved. Odessa citizens could not ignore the sculpture itself and they make fun of it by saying “Look at Duke!” And what lies behind these words, you will find out for yourself, after joining our sightseeing tour around Odessa.
During the tour, in addition to the main attractions, you will also see the mansions of the Count families of the Potockis and the Tolstykhs, as well as the Shah Palace, the Main Synagogue and other architectural objects. We will compulsory walk along Derybasivska, Rishelievska, Grecheska and the famous Primorsky Boulevard, where Pushkin, Babel and Utyosov once walked. During the tour, you will hear the history of the seaport; learn about the outstanding citizens, as well as many facts known only to the citizens of Odessa. Excursion duration is 2-3 hours.
If we still have some strength remaining to continue our journey, we will explore the underground grotto of the Potocki Palace or the oldest quarry in Odessa called the Catacomb of Kantacuzene.
Have you already made up your mind to join our fascinating tour? Then submit an application here. Check out our tour guides in Odessa.
The Gogol House, erected in 1836-1849, is a historical monument (11 Gogol St.). The house is famous for the fact that in 1850-1851 a promenent writer Nikolai Gogol lived here. The plaque on the facade of the building reminds of. It is believed that the second part of the novel “Dead Souls” was written here. The mansion itself was built for a retired Major General Troshchinsky – a relative of Gogol. The Troshchinskys were trustees of the Gogol family. The building is now ruined.
Teschin bridge (Mother’s-in-law bridge) is a pedestrian bridge in Odessa, built in the late 1960s (blvd. Prymorskiy). Immediately after the opening, the townspeople started making various stories and called the “mother’s-in-law bridge” because of its length (130 m). This is the longest and the narrowest bridge in Odessa. In addition, the design is easy to swing. If 2 or 3 of you stand on the bridge and jump on it together, you can feel slight swinging. Nevertheless, couples chose this place and hang “locks of love” on the bridge. An interesting fact is that the Teschin bridge is an exact copy of the Duchess Charlotte bridge in Luxembourg.
The Potocki Palace is a historical monument of architecture, built in the beginning of the XIX century. (St. Sofiivska, 5-a). The owner of the mansion was the daughter of the Polish magnate Stanislav Potocki – Countess Olga Potocki, (Naryshkina after marriage). In the 1840s the palace changed its owner, and in 1888 it was bought and transferred to the city, after which in 1899 an art museum was opened here. Today, the Odessa Art Museum is also located in the Potocki Palace. Interestingly, there are several cellars under the building. In one of them (under the main part of the building) there is an underground grotto. You can get a guided tour there and to learn about the history of the palace.
A single-wall house is the most quaint house in Odessa (4 Vorontsovsky Lane). If you look at the facade of a building from a certain angle, it seems that the building does not have a side wall. The secret is that the side walls of the house are built at an acute angle towards the facade. The exact history of the construction of the house-wall is not known. However, there are a lot of mystical stories about this structure invented by Odessa citizens.
Tolstoy Palace is a mansion in the style of Russian classicism, built in the 1830s. It was commissioned by the captain Horvat (Sabaneev bridge st., 4). In the 1840s, the Odessa public figure and philanthropist Count M. Tolstoy purchased the mansion and settled there with his family. Later, a building for M. Tolstoy’s own art gallery was erected next to the mansion. In his gallery one could see the works of Goya, Velasquez, Rembrandt and other great artists. At that time, the count’s art gallery was considered to be one of the richest in the country. Subsequently, the younger son of Tolstoy donated a large part of the paintings, as well as a personal collection of books, to the city. Now the former Tolstoy mansion occupies the House of Scientists, which has been located here since 1934. Today it is an object that belongs to architectural monuments. The decoration of the mansion with its rich interior has been preserved to this day. Silk and Marble living rooms, as well as the Green Room are striking with their beauty. In the interiors of the house of Tolstoy family, some scenes of the famous Soviet film “D’Artagnan and Three Musketeers” were filmed.
The hotel “London” is a historical monument of architecture, built in the in the Renaissance style 1820s (11, Primorsky Blvd.). In 1846, the first in Odessa hotel called “London” was opened in the mansion. Its founder was the French pastry chef Jean-Baptiste Karut. Throughout its history, such famous personalities as Isadora Duncan, Georges Simenon, Marcello Mastroianni, Robert Lewis Stevenson and others stayed at the hotel.
Vorontsov Palace is a monument of architecture in the Empire style, built in 1826-1828 and designed by architect F. Buffo (2 Vorontsovsky Lane). It served as a residence of the Governor-General M. Vorontsov and was a palace complex, which consisted of buildings for various purposes, separated from the city by a stone wall. Of all the buildings in the ensemble of Vorontsov Palace, only a mansion and a belvedere – the colonnade (rotunda) of two rows of the Tuscan warrant columns, erected right on the edge of the city plateau, have survived to this day. It’s a place with an amazing view of the sea terminal and the port. Also, concerts and celebrations are often held here.
The fountain monument to Pushkin is a monument to the Russian writer A. Pushkin, erected in 1887-1889 from donations by Odessa citizens (Blvd. Primorsky, 14). It is a bust of the writer on a granite pedestal. Under the bust there is a lira. On all sides of the four-sided pedestal you will see sea creatures with the fountains falling from their mouths into four bronze bowls. Overflowing bowls, water falls into a large granite reservoir that surrounds the monument.
The former merchant exchange is a neo-renaissance building constructed in 1899 for exchange trades, known as the New Merchant Exchange (15 Bunin St.). It served as a marketplace for a short period of time. With the advent of Soviet power, various organizations began to be placed here, and since 1946 until now the Odessa Regional Philharmonic Society has occupied the premises. Interestingly, the stock exchange building is considered similar to the Doge’s Palace (Venice, Italy). The unique architectural structure still has its original appearance and draws the gaze with its decoration – huge windows with colored stained glass windows, a grand marble staircase and walls of halls decorated with paintings. Even if you are not a fan of symphonic music, you should definitely get inside to see the beauty of the interior.
Monument to the founders of Odessa was erected in 1900 in honor of Catherine II and her associates de Ribas, de Volan, Count Potemkin and Count Zubov (Ekaterininskaya Square). It is believed that Catherine II became the founder of the construction of Odessa and the port. In Soviet times, the monument was dismantled and partially destroyed. Thus, only the head was preserved from the statue of Catherine II, and all four sculptures of the Companions were transferred to the Museum of Local Lore for storage. These sculptures were saved, thanks to M. Gorky and Benoit, who marked the value of sculptures as an object of art. In the 1990s, local authorities decided to restore the monument. National organizations opposed such a decision, arguing that it was Catherine II who introduced serfdom in Ukraine and destroyed the Zaporizhian Sich. Despite the pickets, in 2007 the renovated monument to the founders of Odessa was opened. The controversy is still not subsiding but the monument still stands in its historic place, decorating the Ekaterininskaya Square.
Bristol Hotel is a business 5 * hotel of premium class in the center of Odessa (9.2 on Booking.com). The hotel was built in 1898-1899 and is a monument of architecture. Just like more than a hundred years ago, the hotel remains under its historical name. World renown figures, such as Henri Barbusse, Theodore Dreiser, James Aldridge, etc used to stay here. Today the hotel offers 113 comfortable rooms decorated in the Baroque style. The number of rooms includes both standard rooms and junior suites. It has got Presidential suites too. Guests can enjoy a recreation area, spa area and a fitness center. On the ground floor you will find the “Le Grand Café Bristol” restaurant. Business Hotel Bristol has repeatedly won the TripAdvisor Travelers Choice nomination.
The house with Atlants is a monument of architecture, built in 1900-1901 (Gogol St., 7). Originally it was an apartment house owned by the Falz-Fein family. The building has long been one of the business cards and the main attractions of Odessa, thanks to two giant Atlants who decorated the building. The peculiarity of the sculpture is that it was erected separately from the walls of the building, and the figures of the Atlants, holding the starry globe, bowed under the weight of the heavenly ball. The sculpture is the emblem of the World Club of Odessa.
The Shah’s Palace is an architectural monument, erected in 1852 in the neo-Gothic style (Gogol Street, 2). It was built for the nobleman Brzhozovsky. In the 1880s, the palace passed into the possession of Count Schönbek. In the years of 1909-1917 in the building of the palace was inhabited by the Shah of Persia, Mohammed Ali, after which the citizens called the palace Shah. During the Soviet period, the premises were occupied by various institutions. In the 2000s, the building has been restored. Today it houses a commercial bank.
The Savior Transfiguration Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church erected in Odessa (Soborna Square, 3). The church was originally laid here in 1794. After the reconstruction carried out in 1903, the cathedral became one of the largest churches in the country (capacity – up to 12 thousand parishioners). However, with the advent of Soviet forces in 1936, it was destroyed. In the late 1990s excavations were carried out, during which the old foundation of the cathedral was found. It was the beginning of its revival. In the 2000s, the cathedral was reconstructed in its historic place. Today it is the Transfiguration Cathedral. Just like many years ago, it rests the ashes of the Vorontsovs. Nearby there is a fountain-monument in honor of the opening of the Odessa water supply system, as well as a monument to the governor-general M. Vorontsov.
The sea port is the business card of Odessa, the most beautiful and modern sea terminal not only in Ukraine, but also in Europe (6, Prymorska St.). It was built in 1968 and reconstructed in 1993. Here is the largest port of Ukraine. Odessa Sea Port is a commercial port of international importance, recognized as the main cruise port in Ukraine. Every day thousands of passengers arrive here, hundreds of cargo ships and international airliners moor here. Sea Port is not only one of the largest passenger terminals in Europe, but also a favorite place for walks of citizens and tourists. From here you can see the port of Odessa and feel its mightiness. On its territory you will find the “Odessa” hotel, the building of the commercial port, the anchors museum, the summer concert venue, a restaurant, souvenir shops, St. Nicholas Church, a yacht pier and a XIX century cannon that participated in the defense of Odessa in 1857. From the pier, the boat trips depart to roam along the sea shore. So, there is an opportunity not only to enjoy the sea breeze, but also to see Odessa-Mama from the sea.
The Potemkin Stairs is one of the main structures in Odessa (Prymorsky Blvd.), erected in the first half of the XIX century by order of Prince Vorontsov as a gift to his wife. Its length is 142 m. It has got ten spans and 192 steps (!). The uniqueness of the stairs lies in its construction. So the lower part of the staircase is wider than the top, so if you look at it from above, it seems that it has an equal width, the parapets are parallel, and only spans are visible to the gaze. If you look from below, you get the impression that the staircase is longer and only a cascade of steps is visible. The Potemkin Stairs is one of the most beautiful and most famous historical sites in Europe. This is a legendary place where a lot of films were shot. Those films were marked by the European Film Academy that granted it the “Treasure of European Cinema Culture” title.
The funicular was opened in 1902 and is located next to the Potemkin Stairs (Prymorsky Blvd). At first, there were cabins for 35 passengers, brought from Paris itself, and the route was about 100 m. In Soviet times, the funicular was replaced with an escalator. In the late 1990s, it was decided to launch the funicular on the principle of inclined elevators, each moving along its own line. In 2005, the opening of a new funicular in two carriages with 10 seats took place. The funicular has two stations – up and down. Inside the upper station there is a souvenir shop, in the lower station you will find a cafe.
The monument to Duke is a bronze monument, erected in 1828 in honor of the mayor and governor-general of the dutch (duke) de Richelieu. It was the first monument opened in Odessa (Prymorsky Blvd., 7-8). It was thanks to de Richelieu that the city became a major trading port. The monument is a bronze statue of de Richelieu wearing a Roman toga with a scroll in his hand and three high reliefs, symbolizing agriculture, commerce and justice. The figure of de Richelieu is facing the sea, and the monument itself is located in front of the Potemkin Stairs. The monument to Duke is one of the main attractions of Odessa.
Prymorsky Boulevard is the most famous boulevard, located in the historical center of Odessa, on the edge of the city plateau. It has got constructions on one side and a steep green slope leading to the port on the other side. After construction finished, the boulevard became a kind of ceremonial facade, adorning the entrance to the city from the sea. In 2008, during the reconstruction of the boulevard, local archaeologists found the remains of an ancient Greek settlement of the 6th-5th centuries BC. Covering them with a glass dome preserved the excavations, and the place itself has since become one of the landmarks of the boulevard. Prymorsky Boulevard is also famous for the fact that a lot of movies have been shot here. The boulevard is especially beautiful with its colorful garlands in the evening.
The City Duma is a historical building erected in 1837, also known as the Old Stock Exchange (Dumska Square, 1). The building was built for the Odessa Stock Exchange. It was a neoclassical building, decorated with columns and sculptures. On the sides of the building, in niches, you can see the figures of Mercury and Ceres. Above the entrance you can see the clock, manufactured in 1868 in England, which still preserved till today. The old exchange existed here until 1899, after which the building was occupied by the City Duma. Today it houses the Odessa City Council.
Passage is a historic Art Nouveau building, decorated with rich stucco and numerous sculptures, which have comparable in design in whole Odessa. It is located on the corner of Transfiguration and Derybasivska streets and is a monument of architecture of the late XIX century (34, Transfiguration Street). It is a four-storey hotel and a shopping complex. On the ground floor you will find some shops. The hotel occupies other floors. In the courtyard of the Passage, there are boutiques, restaurants, and various offices. At the time of opening, the Passage was considered to be one of the best hotels in the city, equipped with 162 comfortable rooms, steam heating, telephone, elevator and electric lighting, which was provided by its own power station. Few lower floors of the building were originally equipped as trade spots. Until now, the architecture of the Passage building has been preserved in its original form and attracts the gaze of every tourist.
City garden is the oldest city park, located in the center of Odessa on the Derybasivska street and founded in 1803 by the brother of de Ribas – Felix. In 1806, the park was granted to the city. In the City Garden there is a rotunda pavilion, as well as a light and musical fountain. A summer theater, where the Symphony Orchestra of the Odessa Regional Philharmonic Society plays in the evenings, is also open here. Near Gorsad you will find monuments, which have become the hallmark and symbols of Odessa. This is a monument to the Twelfth Chair, established in honor of the “The Twelve Chairs” by Ilf and Petrov, and a monument to the world-famous Odessa citizen – the legendary artist Leonid Utesov.
Derybasivska Street is a pedestrian street in the city center and one of the main attractions of Odessa. It appeared at the beginning of the XIX century and was named after the founder, José de Ribas. At the beginning of the street there is a monument to de Ribas, depicted with a plan of the city in his hand. Today Derybasivska is the most popular place for celebrations and various events. City holidays, such as Odessa Humorina, City Day, etc. take place here. There are many cafes, restaurants, boutiques, and a souvenir fair on Derybasivska. At the end of the street you will find Gorsad – the first park in Odessa, built in 1803.
The Opera House is the main attraction in Odessa. It is a historical monument of architecture, erected in 1884-1887 in the style of Viennese baroque (1 Tchaikovsky boulevard). The Odessa Opera House is unique for its architectural design, layout, and for its technical equipment. It is included in the list of the best operas in Europe. The Odessa Opera House is a three-tiered structure, decorated with columns, fancy stucco and sculptures of theatrical muses. On the side of the theater there is a fountain, and on the back side there is a famous in the city opera theater canteen. It’s worth mentioning that acoustics of the theater allows the audience to hear even whispers from the stage. World-famous artists used to perform on the stage of the Odessa Opera. Among them: P. Tchaikovsky, S. Rachmaninov, F. Chaliapin, E. Caruso, Isadora Duncan and others. In 2008, Forbes named the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater one of the extraordinary objects of Eastern Europe.