Odessa, Ukraine

Voyage to The Jewel of Ukraine

Odessa is a big city with a small town feel. An energetic and historic port, it has been described as “taking New Orleans and adding the weather of Marseilles, the people of Naples, the shop fronts of Cony Island, the grit of Baltimore, and the architecture of Paris and Rome.” But don’t get too caught up in comparisons, because Odessa is a place like no other.

Take a stroll along Primorskiy Boulevard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that leads directly to one of cinema’s greatest landmarks, the infamous steps from Sergei Eisenstein’s film Battleship Potemkin. Or, head to Deribasovskaya Street, where you won’t find any cars, but you will find plenty of cafés, statues, monuments, and more than a few street performers. You’ll also find the world-renowned Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater in this neighborhood as well as the City Garden, the perfect place to spend the afternoon relaxing under old trees, snacking on pakhlava (the Ukrainian version of baklava).

The people of Odessa are known for their fashion sense and their sense of humor. And while we can’t help you tell the perfect joke (ok, maybe just one: What washes up on tiny beaches? Microwaves!), we can tell you to head to the Seven Kilometers Bazaar, the largest outdoor market in Europe for sartorial finds like leather goods, jewelry, clothing, and everything in between.