Attractions of Odesa

The City Garden in Odesa is the oldest public park in the city and one of the main centers of the city's social life.

This is a small square with an area of ​​about 1.5 hectares at the end of Derybasivska Street, in the block between Derybasivska and Lanzheronivska, not far from Soborna Square. Founded in 1803 by Feliks de Rybas, the brother of the founder of Odesa, Yosyp Derybas, as a private kindergarten on his own plot of land, it was later transferred to the city.

The main decoration of the City Garden is a two-hundred-year-old fountain with a bowl made of Carrara marble. The Summer Theater of the City Philharmonic (1949, architect Rehina Volodymyrska), the music pavilion-rotunda (1943), as well as several original sculptures are located here: the monument to Leonid Utyosov, the monument to Serhiy Utochnik, the sculptures "Lion" and "Lion ", the monument to the "Twelfth Chair".

Derybasivska is a pedestrian street in the center of Odesa, celebrated by writers and poets. It was named after the first Odesa mayor Osip Derbas (Khose de Ribas).

At the very beginning of the street, there is a monument to Deribas, popularly nicknamed "the grasshopper". The street is built with low-rise buildings of the 19th century, the first floors of which are occupied by numerous shops, restaurants and cafes with outdoor summer areas.

Traditionally, major city events take place on Derybasivska Street, in particular the Humor Parade during the annual "Humorina" celebration on April 1. On other days, the street is open for walking, and there is a brisk trade in paintings and souvenirs. The fair town "Odesa Fair" with wooden houses selling street food and drinks is constantly operating.

There are several interesting sculptures in the park zone of the City Garden: a monument to Leonid Utyosov, a monument to Serhiy Utochnik, sculptures "Lion" and "Lioness", a monument to the "Twelfth Chair".

Monument to Armand Emmanuel du Plessi, Duke de Rishelye, who was one of the most popular Odesa mayors.

The Duke de Rishelye, a Frenchman by birth, emigrated to Russia after the Great French Revolution of 1789. In 1790, he participated in the capture of Izmail, in 1803 he was appointed the city of Odesa, and then the governor-general of Novorossiya.

Richelieu began to be called Emmanuel Yosypovych. For him, Odesa received a temporary exemption from taxes and was actively built.

When the Bourbons returned to power in France in 1814, the duke left for his homeland, donating all his property to the Odesa Rishelye Lyceum.

After his death in 1822, fundraising began, and in 1828 a monument to Duke Rishelye was erected. Sculptor Ivan Martos created the duke dressed in a Roman toga with a scroll in his hand and three brass bas-reliefs symbolizing agriculture, trade and justice. Today it is the most famous symbol of Odesa.

Pranksters recommend looking at Duke from the water hatch to the left of the monument. From this angle, the scroll in Duke Rishelye's hand looks very ambiguous.

The Genocide Museum "Territory of Memory" in Odesa opened in 2024 by Odesa Holocaust Research Center. The institution is located in the place of the Central Post Office in the center of the city.

The exposition reveals the history of the appearance of the term genocide, the fate of its authorship by Raphael Lemkin, the essence of the concept of the crime of genocide in international law, the tragic pages of the Holocaust and the history of salvation, the themes of the Armenian and Roma genocide, the Holodomor in Ukraine, the deportation of the Crimean Tatars, the genocides of the 21st century. A separate location is dedicated to the Russian-Ukrainian war.

The miniatures represent the railway station from which the Tatars were deported, the powder warehouses where Odesa Jews were burned, the episode of mass shooting and torture in Buch, the destroyed drama theater in Mariupol, Zmeyiny Island and the destruction of the Moscow cruiser.

The modern interactive exhibition space makes extensive use of multimedia digital technologies. A special emotional atmosphere is created with the help of point lighting. The multifunctional museum space includes a library and a discussion platform.

The Museum "Secrets of Underground Odesa" tells about the famous Odesa catacombs, on which stands the whole city. Their total length is estimated at about 2.5 thousand kilometers.

Most of Odesa's catacombs are underground quarries, in which the building stone rakushnyak, which was used to build most of the city's buildings, was mined. The system of catacombs also includes cavities of natural origin - karst and dilatancy caves.

At various times, the catacombs served as transshipment bases for smugglers, "raspberries" for gangs, places to gather underground, shelters for guerrilla and sabotage units, bomb shelters.

The museum in the dungeons on Moldavanka was established in 2013 by the military-historical club "Military Valor". Entering the catacombs, visitors are immersed in the past of the city. Here you can see the anti-nuclear bunker, go through the flooded part, visit the wild catacombs, visit the guerrilla parking lot and bandit raspberries and more.

Odesa Archaeological Museum is one of the first museums in Ukraine.

Founded by Ivan Blaramberg, who donated part of his collection of antiquities.

The development was facilitated by the Odesa Society of History and Antiquities, founded in 1839, which had the right to conduct excavations in southern Russia.

The collection includes more than 150,000 items: monuments of history and culture of the Northern Black Sea Coast, Ancient Greece and Rome. The best collections of Egyptian antiquities in Ukraine (sarcophagi, mummies of people and animals, jewelry, etc.).

The "Golden Pantry" exhibits real things made of precious metals, the oldest of which date back to the beginning of the second millennium BC.

A copy of the ancient Greek sculpture "Laokoon" is installed in front of the entrance.

On the night of July 20, 2023, during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the building of the Odesa Archaeological Museum suffered significant damage as a result of a massive missile attack on Odesa by the Russian army.

The Odesa Film Studio Museum opened in Odesa in 2017. The museum is located in a real film pavilion built in the 1930s. This pavilion is the largest on the territory of the Odesa Film Studio.

The exhibition of the film museum is the richest collection of costumes, scenery, and props for famous films shot at the Odesa Film Studio and highlights the history of the development of cinema, tells about the role of Odesa in the formation of cinema, reveals the stories of the filming of favorite films and what remained behind the scenes.

Visitors to the film museum are presented with locations from the most famous films of the Odesa Film Studio, which have long become classics, as well as the expositions "Golden Film Fund" (1970-1980) and "Modern Cinema of the Odesa Film Studio".

During the tour, visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in augmented reality, which allows them to "revive" museum exhibits and see their use directly in the film.

The Museum of Cinema Technology is located under the legendary film pavilion No. 1, in the film and lighting equipment workshop. The museum of cinema technology presents: film and lighting equipment, auxiliary camera equipment, projection, sound recording and playback equipment, editing, make-up and photographic areas, game and special transport in models and mock-ups, an old 35 mm projector with an original positive film with fragments of films of the Odesa Film Studio of different years.

The Odesa Literary Museum is one of the most visited museums in Odesa located in the palace of the XIX century (architect Luyi Sezar Otton), which belonged to Prince Dmytro Haharin.

In the second half of the century Haharin transferred the palace to the city, in 1899-1903 there were meetings of the Literary and Artistic Society. Chic interiors have been preserved.

The Odesa Literary Museum was founded in 1977. Each of the 20 halls reflects the artistic image of the decade to which it is dedicated.

In the museum yard there is a garden of sculptures with flower beds, a fountain, medieval statues and modern humorous bronze miniature monuments in honor of the heroes of Odesa folklore: Eternal Jew Rabynovych, Future Genius, Mykhaylo Zhvanetskyi, Denim Dyuk, Kostya-sailor and more.

RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR

On the night of July 20, 2023, during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the building of the Odesa Literary Museum suffered significant damage as a result of a massive missile attack on Odesa by the Russian army. The blast wave damaged most of the windows, the interiors of the museum were damaged, the ceiling in two halls collapsed, and the exhibits were damaged.

In December 2024, UNESCO included the Literary Museum in Odesa on the International List of Cultural Properties under Enhanced Protection.

The building of the Odesa National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.

It was created by Viennese architects Hermann Helmer and Ferdynand Felner, who also built theaters in Vienna, Budapest, Dresden, and Zagreb. The building is richly decorated in the Renaissance style with Baroque elements. A sculpture of the art muse Melpomene rises above the facade.

The auditorium in the French "rococo" style is impressive. On the ceiling are four paintings by Lefleur with scenes from Shakespeare's works, a luxurious chandelier. Petro Chaykovskyi, Mykola Rymskyi-Korsakov, Serhiy Rakhmaninov performed their works here, Fedir Shalyapin and Solomiya Krushelnytska sang, and Anna Pavlova danced.

In the repertoire: "Giselle", "Sleeping Beauty", "The Nutcracker", "Don Quixote", "Carmen Suite" and others.

The museum of the Opera Theater is open, and tours are held.

The artistic treasures of Odesa are preserved and popularized by the Odesa National Art Museum (OFAM).

The museum has an outstanding collection of all types of fine art: painting, graphics, sculpture, decorative and applied arts, icon painting by Ukrainian and Russian masters from the 16th century to the present day, numbering more than 10 thousand original works.

The Odessa Art Museum is located in the ancient Potocki-Naryshkin Palace, which was built in 1823-1826 by Countess Olha Potocka (married to Naryshkin), daughter of Stanislav and Sofiya Potocki. The construction was supervised by the Italian architect Franchesko Boffo. This is a typical noble estate in the style of classicism with a two-story central building and side wings, which are connected by round galleries. The decoration of the ceiling, marble and parquet floors with inlay has been preserved. In the basement of the building there is an artificial cave with a grotto, which is connected by underground passages with the catacombs of Odesa (visit only accompanied by a guide).

In 1888 the palace was bought by Odesa Mayor Hryhoriy Marazli, and in 1899 on the initiative of the Odesa Society of Fine Arts it opened the City Museum of Fine Arts, which still functions as the Odesa National Art Museum.

The exhibition presents works by Vasyl Tropinin, Taras Shevchenko, Ivan Aivazovskyi, Oleksiy Savrasov, Ivan Shishkin, Illya Repin, Mykola Pymonenko, Oleksandr Murashko, Arkhyp Kuyindzhi, Mykhaylo Vrubel, Mykola Rerikh, Oleksandr Benua, Zinayida Serebryakova. Vasyl Kandynsky's "Sunlit Street" is considered a world-class masterpiece.

On the evening of November 5, 2023, Russia launched a massive missile attack on the historic center of Odesa. As a result of the Onyx and Iskander-M missiles, the Odesa National Art Museum, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, suffered significant damage. In the museum, the walls were damaged, the windows and glass were broken, and the high-pressure water pipe was damaged.

Potomkin Stairs on Prymorsky Boulevard in Odesa is the main entrance to the seaside city from the port. Being an architectural dominant, it is considered one of the symbols of Odesa.

Designed by the architect Franchesko Boffo , the 192-step staircase (originally there were 200) was built in 1841. on the initiative of Governor General Count Mykhaylo Vorontsov. From the monument to Duke on Prymorsky boulevard, there are 10 flights of stairs going down to the Sea Station of Odesa Port. Their lower part is slightly wider than the upper part, which when viewed from above creates the illusion that their width is the same along the entire length, and when viewed from below, makes it visually longer.

The Potomkin Stairs got their current name and worldwide fame thanks to Serhiy Eyzenshteyn's film "The Battleship Potomkin", in the key scene of which a baby carriage rolls down the stairs.

A funicular line was laid parallel to the Potomkin Stairs in 1902 (reconstructed in 2005).

Prymorskyi Boulevard is one of the most beautiful streets of Odesa, a favorite place for walks by citizens and tourists.

Planted with hundred-year-old sycamores, chestnuts, maples and lindens, the pedestrian boulevard runs over the cliff parallel to the seashore.

Among a number of buildings in the style of classicism and early Italian renaissance, which form the main sea facade of Odesa, a special place is occupied by the "Londonsky" hotel, where many celebrities stayed.

The main decoration of Prymorskyi Boulevard is the Potomkin (Prymorskyi) Stairs (1841) in 192 steps, which descend to the Maritime Terminal (the funicular operates nearby). Above the stairs is a monument to the most famous Odesa mayor, Arman de Rishelye (Duke).

Fragments of an ancient settlement of the V-III centuries BC were discovered on the Prymorskyi boulevard, and a glass pavilion was built over the archaeological site.

The famous Odesa Pryvoz is a colorful market where "you can buy everything", one of the symbols of Odesa.

Built in the first half of the 19th century on Pryvozna Square as a branch of the Old Market, Pryvoz was originally intended for trade "from wheels", i.e. from carts (voz). Capital buildings appeared only at the end of the 19th century, and Pryvoz gradually became the main market of Odesa. It was considered one of the largest markets in Europe.

In recent years, a modern complex "Novy Pryvoz" was built nearby, which offered merchants well-equipped shopping areas.

A monument to Aunt Sonya, the heroine of Odesa folklore, was opened.

Tourists are especially recommended to visit the "Pryvoz" fish rows in the old part of the market, which preserve the Odesa flavor of trade.

RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR

On the night of July 24, 2025, Russian terrorist forces carried out a massive drone attack on Odesa. As a result of a fire caused by the Russian shelling of Odesa, the legendary Pryvoz market was seriously damaged. In addition, damage was recorded to other architectural monuments in the historical center of Odesa, which is under the protection of UNESCO.

Odesa cognac plant is the oldest enterprise of the industry in Ukraine.

Founded in 1863 by the South Russian Society "Black Sea Winery". Later, the factory was bought by the Shustov family of famous industrialists.

At the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900, Shustov's cognac won first place, thus earning the right to be called "cognac".

Currently, PJSC "Odesa Cognac Factory" produces 16 varieties of cognacs, starting from the ordinary "Desna" and ending with collector's ones - "Yuvileynyi", "Odesa", "Kyiv", "Zoloty Duke".

In 2013, the Mykola Shustov Cognac Museum was opened, which recreates the atmosphere of ancient cognac cellars. The museum includes several "caisson" halls: three exhibition and tasting halls, a cinema, a hall of changing exhibitions.

In particular, a copy of a copper Charente alembic for alcohol smoking from the end of the 19th century by the French firm Prulho, a full-size model of a pre-revolutionary conca, as well as a bottle of Shustov cognac from 1900, which won the Grand Prix at the World Exhibition in Paris, are presented.

A tour of the museum includes part of the production (blending workshop and alcohol aging workshop), a visit to the old cellars, as well as a tasting of the best "Shustov" cognacs.

Fixed tour times: 10.00, 12.00, 14.00, 16.00 and 18.00

Odesa Museum of Western and Oriental Art is one of the best museums in the country in this field.

Occupies the former palace of the landowner Oleksiy Abaza, built in 1856-1858 by architect Louis Cesar Otto. The house is made in an eclectic style: baroque features coexist with elements of Empire and Rococo styles. The "swinging" grand staircase in the lobby, carved from Carrara marble, erected without load-bearing beams-kosour together with the platforms form a spectacular hanging structure. The interiors of the Abaza Palace are rich in stucco decor, carvings, bronze fittings.

The Museum of Western and Oriental Art was founded in Odesa in 1923 on the basis of private collections collected by the local committee for the protection of monuments of art and antiquity.

The museum's exhibition presents paintings by Dutch masters, porcelain of the best European factories of the XVIII-XX centuries, sculptures and ceramics of Iran, Tibet, China, India and Japan. Pearls of the collection: "Saint Luke" and "Saint Matthew" by the great Dutchman Frans Hals , "Madonna on the Throne" by the Florentine painter of the 16th century. Francesco Granacci, "Endangered Cupid" by Etienne Falcone, as well as unique woodcuts by the famous Japanese master Katsushiki Hokusai from the series "Book of Birds".