Self-Guided Tour of Odesa - 3 Days
Highlights
- Climb the Potemkin Stairs as your official entry to the city
- Explore the different beaches settled along the Black Sea
- Tour the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater and stay for a show
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival in Odesa | Odesa |
| Day 2 | Self-Guided Tour of Odesa | Odesa |
| Day 3 | Last Day in Odesa and Departure |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Odesa
Welcome to Odesa! Upon your arrival at the airport or train station, a chaperone will meet you and drive you to your centrally located apartment. Once you are checked in, you will find a detailed guidebook that will help you plan your stay.
The port city is located on the Black Sea in the southern region of Ukraine. Odesa is a town rich in history, arts, and culture, and you will get to experience everything while you are here. On your first day, you can visit:
- Potemkin Stairs: Also known as the Potemkin Steps, this is a giant stairway, and is considered a formal entryway to the city. This is a great way to launch your sightseeing. There are 192 steps in total, an elevation of nearly 90 feet, and a distance just shy of 1 mile.
- Primorsky Boulevard: Located next to Istanbul Park, you can walk up and down the streets to admire mansions and museums overlooking the nearby harbor, along with several monuments to teach you about the local history.
- Privoz Market: This famed market is the largest food market in Odesa! Take the time to explore the different vendors and food offerings while you are here.
- Derybasivska Street: Named for one of the town’s founders, the Neapolitan José de Ribas, you can find street artists performing here, plenty of shops to browse in, and many cafés and restaurant terraces to visit for lunch.
- Odesa Passage: Part of a large development that includes a hotel on its top three floors, this hidden shopping passage is laced with statues, like Mercury and Fortuna, and you can visit the many boutiques and souvenir shops along the way.
If you are interested in more sightseeing adventures, you can also bookmark the following destinations:
- Monument to the Founders of Odesa
- Transfiguration Cathedral
- Archaeological Museum
- Vorontsov Palace
- Museum of Western and Eastern Art
- Shevchenko Park
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 2: Self-guided tour of Odesa
After a full day of sightseeing in Odesa, on your second day, enjoy the beach! Make your way down to the Black Sea, where you can relax and take in the rays, be active in the water, or explore the restaurants and shops surrounding. The top beaches to consider include:
- Arkadia: This is the most affluent of the beaches in Odesa. Enjoy your time in the sun here, where you will also be able to enjoy a meal outside by the water and visit the surrounding shops.
- Otrada: This beach can be accessed by cable cars, and you can walk the many small beaches contained within. Here, you will find beaches with bars and wait staff service, along with kid-friendly play zones. Visitors like to enjoy jet skiing and windsurfing, too.
- Lanzheron: This spot is popular thanks to its central location. You can ride watersides, take a ride on a speedboat and indulge in other watersports.
- Delphin: This beach is stationed south of Lanzheron and Otrada. You will find great sand quality here, a clean beach, and exceptional service. This location is great for a summer day outdoors or a romantic evening with your partner.
Wind down from your beach day with a nice meal. Known for great food, there are many different genres of fare to taste in Odesa. Some of the best restaurants include:
- Sophie’s Café
- Alexandrovskyi
- Bernardazzi
- Tavernetta
- Columbus
After dinner, you can visit the Odessa National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet. Although you can take a daytime tour of the building, it is highly recommended you revisit in the evening, so you can attend a local opera or ballet performance live!
Day 3: Last day in Odesa and departure
On your last morning in Odesa, enjoy a nice breakfast or brunch before you depart. Since late breakfast is common in Odesa, you can take your time in choosing between some of the following options:
- Kompot: Where you can indulge in traditional Ukrainian fare
- Jardin: Where you can dine in a laid-back garden setting
- Dacha: Another traditional Ukrainian option with six prix-fixe breakfast menus
- Berndazzi: Which hosts a Mediterranean-style courtyard and a local menu
Following breakfast or brunch, you will make your way to the train station or airport. You can bid farewell to Odesa knowing you have fully enjoyed the town, from its history to the gorgeous Black Sea beaches.
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