Odessa

For other places with the same name, see Odessa (disambiguation). Odessa [1] is a city in Ukraine, a country in Eastern Europe. Understand Odessa Opera House is one of the most beautiful in the world History Odessa or Odesa (Ukrainian: Одеса; Russian: Одесса;) is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast (province) located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 (as of the 2001 census). The four foreigners' in Russian service met by chance on a Russian military vessel in 1870s - Jose de Ribas, Duc de Rischelieu, Count of Langeron and Franz de Volan. Later on, those four became instrumental in the city's success: the first one convinced the Russian Empress to found Odessa, the second made it the fourth largest city in Russia in just eleven years, the third one made it free economic zone and the fourth one created the city plan, used to build Odessa, which was considered the most advanced city plan in Russia at that time! The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement, was founded by Hacı I Giray, the Khan of Crimea, in 1240 and originally named after him as "Hacıbey". After a period of Lithuanian control, it passed into the domain of the Ottoman Sultan in 1529 and remained in Ottoman hands until the Ottoman Empire's defeat in the Russo-Turkish War of 1792. The city of Odessa was founded by a decree of the Empress Catherine the Great in 1794. From 1819–1858 Odessa was a free port. During the Soviet period it was the most important port of trade in the Soviet Union and a Soviet naval base. On January 1, 2000 the Quarantine Pier of Odessa trade sea port was declared a free port and free economic zone for a term of 25 years. In the 19th century it was the fourth largest city of Imperial Russia, after Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Warsaw. Its historical architecture has a style more Mediterranean than Russian, having been heavily influenced by French and Italian styles. Some buildings are built in a mixture of different styles, including Art Nouveau, Renaissance and Classicist. Odessa is a warm water port, but militarily it is of limited value. Turkey's control of the Dardanelles and Bosphorus has enabled NATO to control water traffic between Odessa and the Mediterranean Sea. The city of Odessa hosts two important ports: Odessa itself and Yuzhne (also an internationally important oil terminal), situated in the city's suburbs. Another important port, Illichivs'k, is located in the same oblast, to the south-west of Odessa. Together they represent a major transport hub integrating with railways. Odessa's oil and chemical processing facilities are connected to Russia's and EU's respective networks by strategic pipelines. Talk Ukrainian is the country's only official language, but the native language of most of the population in Odessa is Russian, although the majority of the people also understand Ukrainian. Young people tend to know English, although not many people can speak it fluently. The best restaurants will have a menu in English if you ask them, but many cafes and bars might not have them. Almost every of the city's numerous colleges and universities has a ”Russian as foreign language” teaching department. Get in A view towards Odessa-Glavnaya railway station By plane Odessa International Airport (IATA: ODS) has daily direct connections from and to Kyiv, Vienna, Istanbul, Warsaw, Budapest, Prague and Moscow. Several days a week there are also scheduled flights to Athens, Milan and St. Petersburg. You can also fly to Riga 3 days per week in summer via AirBaltic, which offers low-cost connections from many European cities through Riga. Be careful when you will wait for the luggage because it doesn't come in a classical baggage carousel but you have to wait on the STREET in front of the airport for the airport truck similar to the tractor. The airport is easily reachable from city centre, as well as other neighborhoods by a number of minibuses. Bus № 129 links an airport with the railway station making stops in the Cherjomushki district. Mashrutka № 117 also connects with city centre. To find the minibuses exit the airport through the main entrance and turn right, then walk 50 metres and you will see the minibus stop. Caution must be exercised through the airport and customs. Do not take photos of the airport - you will be told not to. Stand behind the line. Travel with little or no cash. You will be asked how much cash you have in your possession and your purpose in Ukraine. If your purpose is a romantic interest, you may be charged $100 US per present for your loved one. As soon as you exit the customs, there will be lots of taxi drivers asking you if you need a taxi. Their prices are VERY high and they basically rip tourists off, so do not agree, or at least negotiate as fiercely as you can. The normal ride to the city center should not cost more than 50 UAH (6,5 USD). It's better to call one of the taxis under the phones below in Get Around section. By train All direct sleeper trains from central Europe have now been discontinued, a change in Kiev is necessary. However there are still services from Minsk (22h) and Grodno (26½ h) on irregular dates. There is a daily train from Chişinău taking five hours too (but it passes by Transnistria which involves some risk - a bus is safer). Connections with Russia is still plenty though with trains from Moscow (26 h) and Saint Petersburg (34 h) 3-4 times each week. Chelyabinsk (67 h) in the Urals and Sochi (33 h) at the Black Sea both have services a few times a week while the train from Baku (77 h) in Azerbaijan leaves once a week, on Wednesdays. Domestic train services is available from all major cities in Ukraine. Also notice that additional trains are added during the summer months. Trains run from Lvov very regularly and take around 12 hours. Odessa has several stations but all international and long-distance domestic services arrive at Odessa Glavnaya, located in the central part of the city and easily reached by bus and tram. Be aware that the station is rather chaotic, has no signage in English nor is there a help, tourist, or information desk. As well, be aware that purchasing tickets you need to be in the right lane on the right floor! Keep in mind, Ukrainians think little of jumping in front in lines, the uniforms at the station will do little to nothing for you. By bus Buses provide connection to Moldova, either through Transnistria or directly to the right-bank part of Moldova. An average trip to Chişinău takes about 5 hours and costs around €6 one-way. Domestic buses are plenty and usually cheap. Tickets for coaches to travel to Ukraine, you can buy online - [2] Autolux [3] offers comfortable bus connections from Kyiv to Odessa and back 6 times per day. You will arrive at the bus station and the ticket now costs 150 or 200 UAH one way (20 or 25 USD). You may also use this bus to get to Odessa directly from Kyiv Boryspil airport [4], in that case it will cost 190 or 240 UAH. Some of the buses are extra-comfortable, hence the difference in price. You may check the schedule on their website, it's in Russian, Ukrainian and English. In any case you'll get air conditioning, comfortable seats and some hot tea or water if you'll ask. Unfortunately, they like to turn on some loud Russian movies which are impossible to turn off, so bring an mp3-player and some headphones. Touring Eurolines [5] offers Bus connections from Germany to Odessa (120 EUR). The trip from Berlin takes approximately one and a half day. Other A regular ferry sails to Illichevsk, the harbour of Odessa, from Batumi and Poti in Georgia, about 42 hours of sailing across the Black Sea. The Morvokzal marine terminal is located just underneath Primorsky Parkway. The famous Potemkin Steps are leading to it from the monument of the Duke De Richelieu. It is reachable by several buses and jitneys, as well as trolleybus № 10. Hitchhiking is also an option, especially on the road from Kiev which is one of the best in the country. Get around Public transport The public transport in Odessa consists of trams, trolleybuses and mini-buses (called marshrutkas), running throughout the city. Trams and trolley-buses are the cheapest, they cost 1,50 UAH (0.20 USD), but may get very crowded, especially in the tourist peak season. There is no schedule that you may find on the marked stops, so you will just have to stand and wait for the next tram or trolley. In most of trams and trolleys there is a person who's "patrolling" the tram/trolley and collecting the money. Just give him/her the money, you'll instead receive a ticket and the change if necessary. There is no need to validate the ticket, unlike the other big Ukrainian cities like Kyiv and Lviv, you just have to buy the ticket on board, and there are no inspectors checking your tickets and issuing fines. In some of the trolleybuses (definitely in numbers 1 and 2) there is no one going and collecting the money from you, so you have to exit through the front door and pay the driver. In such a case you may get onto the trolleybus through any of the doors, but exit only through the front. Tip: you may try to avoid tram number 5 in the summer, it gets VERY crowded, as it takes all the tourists to and from the beaches, and it goes also through the main city market. It might be a good idea to use this tram in the colder times of the year. Mini-buses called "marshrutkas" are the main source of transportation in the city, as they cover a lot more ground than the system of public transportation. They are all private and nowadays most of them cost 2.50 UAH (0.30 USD), you pay the money to the driver when you exit the marshrutka. There is also no schedule for marshrutkas and they also do not stop only on the marked stops. Basically, you can stop a marshrutka anywhere, provided it is not illegal to stop in that area, by waving your hand in front of the driver. You can also exit by saying where you need for the marshrutka to stop. Thus it requires some knowledge of Russian or active engagement of other passenegers into the solution of your problem. You may try to find the suitable marshrutka, tram or trolley on the website [6], which is unfortunately only in Russian. If you know the name of your street in Cyrillic and can use Google Translate, you may just manage that. By car It is somewhat difficult to get around Odessa by car, because there is a lack of signs. You will see some "Kyiv" or "Airport" signs, but just from time to time. Buy a map before you get in. Nevertheless, you can drive your own car in the whole city, including the city center. There are no restrictions in the driving areas and parking places can be found even in the center. There are no parking machines and sometimes you may wonder whether the place is free to park. Don't worry, you may park you car unless there is a sign that prohibits it. If the parking area is not free, you will be approached by a guy demanding some 5-10 hryvnas from you. You may try negotiating a lower price, but usually not lower than 5 UAH, if you indicate you will be parked for a short time, like 30-60 minutes for example. By taxi Most taxis in Odessa are operated as "car-calling services". So you have to call the number and the car will come for you. Some of the numbers for the taxi are: Taxi "Pantera-Express" +38 (0482) 342000 "Euro-Taxi" +38 (048) 777-4-555, +38 (0482) 333-400 Taxi "Prometey" +38 (0482) 355355 Taxi Optimalne, +380 93 332 4444 (mobile) The phone operators might not at all speak English, so try at your own risk or ask your Ukrainian friends to call a taxi for you. The usual price for the taxi is from 25 to 50 UAH, sometimes up to 80-100 if you travel to the outskirts of the city. The alternative taxi option is to raise your hand on the crowded street and wait for a taxi to stop. You need to understand the majority of taxis in Odessa are not marked in any taxi colors. There is also a long-time tradition of "carpooling" for money, you raise and wave your hand on the street and any car can stop and ask you where you want to go and how much are you willing to pay. Many drivers thus can save some money on their way to work, or even earn some extra money in their free time. It is usually quite safe, although, as always, exercise caution, always negotiate the fee beforehand and remember that people may try to rip you off because you are foreigners and do not speak the local language. See A typical Street in the old town of Odessa The most interesting thing to see in Odessa is the old town itself. The city was once the center for trade for the Russian Empire as well as an intellectual and artistic centre prior to the revolution and during the Soviet Union. Much of the grandeur of the city dates from the period before the Soviet takeover and subsequently Odessa shows its age. The economic hardships that befell the city falling the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992 have left vast portions of what was a magnificently wealthy old city in a state of total disrepair. The old city though is quite clean and feels very safe so it makes for a good two days worth of casual unguided wandering particularly with the wide tree lined avenues and large open parks. In the much smaller and better kept part of the old town there is a large and beautiful Opera house and some very nice parks. There is also one main street leading through the centre that is vibrant with people selling street goods to tourists. If you're looking for a nice route in a city center, try go from Grecheskaya square through Gavannaya st., then onto Gogolya street, in the end of which turn right and you will see Tyoschin bridge (Mother-in-law bridge). Walk through the bridge and take a stroll along the Primorskiy boulevard. In the end of the boulevard you'll see the city hall. Turn right and go up to the Opera House, from where you can get to Deribasovskaya street. It's especially beautiful in the evening. Museums Also there are many interesting museums in Odessa. Museum of Western and Eastern Art, (Muzey Zapadnogo i Vostochnogo Iskusstva). Perhaps the most interesting. You can see paintings by Aivazovsky and Caravaggio (as of 9-1-09 no Caravaggio) and other famous artists. Literature museum, at the very beginning of Lanzheronovskaya street. Features a 100 year walk through the history of Odessa in literature. Maritime museum, just between the Opera House and Literature museum. Houses a history of Marine Fleet. Archaeology museum, just around the corner from the literature museum. Picture gallery, at the very beginning of the Sofievskaya Street. Once a palace of Prince Pototskiy, features a huge collection of Russian artist paintings. Museum of the cinema [7] at 33 French Boulevard. With more then 10,000 works on display, the museum is a testimony to the history and cinematic activity in Odessa. Here you can find historic materials, from the invention of cinema, to the postmodern, digital and avant-garde. Odessa region museum, established since 1956, describes the history of region from the Dark Ages (from the 12th century) to present days. Has a few exhibitions and present halls. Is situated in the center of the city, in the former palace of Novikov. Do Panoramic view of the Primorskiy Boulevard and the Potemkin Stairs Walk along the Deribasovskaya street, it has a very colourful pedestrian part, especially at summer or early autumn evening time. Walk along the Primorskiy Boulevard (bul'var), is also very good promenade place. In the middle of the Primorsky Boulevard, you will find a monument dedicated to Duke Rechelieu, one of the founders of Odessa. From this point you can walk down the famous Potemkin Steps, to the Primorskaya street to the Marine Terminal, where a lot of buses and trolleybus #10 stops Instead of walking up or down the Potemkin steps, it possible to use the funicular. (Which is back in operation as of October 2011). If you turn 180 degrees from Potemkin Steps, you will see a Catherine Square, where you can take a short walk to. This square features a recently erected a monument to Catherine the Great, who is also one of the founders of Odessa. Yekaterinenskaya Street: Walk on it a few blocks from its very beginning. A first couple of block is full of greenery, elegant houses where on a first floor there is either a restaurant or some store. In two blocks it intersects with Deribasovskaya street. Opera House, [8]. Go to the opera house for $20 or less. You can get very good tickets already for 100 UAH (€10), don't buy the cheaper ones because of restricted visibility. Odessa opera was called "the best opera in the world" by Ferdinand Fellner, and it's definitely a must see in Odessa.  edit Odessa Philharmonic, Bunina street, [9]. Go for a concert to the beautiful historic building of National Philharmonic Theatre. The tickets from 80 UAH.  edit Dolphinarium Nemo, [10]. Mainly a paradise for children, but also for adults if you are a fan of these majestic marine mammals. The tickets for the show with dolphins cost 100 UAH (€10), and you can buy also the swimming with dolphins or dolphinotherapy (more costly). It is on the beach Lanzheron, take the tram No. 28, or trolleybus No. 2, and then walk to the right.  edit Odessa Beaches Most of the city waterfront, except the port territory, forms a beach zone. All of the beaches are located at the eastern edge of Odessa. The most popular beaches are the following: listed according to their distance from city center. Lanzheron - is closest to the city centre, located just underneath the Shevchenko Park. Reachable by tram #28, as well as by trolleybuses #2 or #3, then a short walk is needed. The dolphinarium is located nearby. Otrada - is slightly farther from the city centre than Lanzheron. It is the closest to the centre among the beaches located under the French Parkway (Francuzskij bul'var). Otrada is easily reachable by tram #5, 3 stops from the railway station and 5 stops from the intersection with Preobrazhenskaya Street, which is the major transportation artery of the city centre. Dolphin - is in 3 more tram stops past Otrada. Chkalovski - two nudist beaches located between Dolphin and Arcadia, near the Chkalovski sanatorium. The smaller first one is wildish with strange bathers and lots of rocks. The second, 500m further on, is bigger and frequented by many families with a nicer atmosphere. Little sand, mainly pebbles. Arcadia - is the most popular beach and tourist place with a few restaurants, bars, discos, night clubs and other entertainment. Even though it is farther then Otrada and Dolphin, it is easily reachable from centre. Arcadia is the last stop of tram #5, as well as of trolleybuses #5 and #13. Both tram and trolleybus #5 go towards the city centre passing the railway station. Trolleybus #5 goes into the heart of Odessa. Malibu - is a beach at Luzanovka neighborhood, easily reachable by numerous bus routes which link the city centre with the Poselok Kotovskogo section of Odessa. Malibu is the cleanest beach on the sea shore with excellent service similar to ones in Arcadia. Buy Go to the Privoz market by the station - one of the biggest in the ex-USSR. Lots of cheap vegetables and fruits. Try the pakhlava - the Ukrainian version of baklava. Eat There are lots of cafes and restaurants in Odessa, with more and more opening each year. The prices are quite affordable, if you come from the west. Expect to pay 70-100 UAH for a lunch in a cafe and around 200 UAH in a restaurant. Some restaurants can be of course very expensive, so take a look at the menu before ordering. In the warmer times of the year you can find lots of outdoor sitting areas in the cafes, with blankets usually available to keep you warm in the evening. The 'fast food' on the street is tasty and if you don't speak Russian or read Cyrillic is much more accessible as you can just point at what it is you want. Menus are usually only in Russian, but you may try to ask for an English menu for you (ask in Russian for "menu po angliyski"). If they don't have one, either have an idea of what you want before you sit down or be prepared to randomly pick something from the menu. It's possible that waitresses can also speak basic English, try to ask for recommendations. Food from street vendors, especially at the open air markets, should be approached with the same caution as you would display anywhere. It can be fantastic, or not. There are many supermarkets in Odessa that have high quality foods that you can buy as an alternative. There are several McDonald's restaurants in the city (str. Deribasovskaya 23, Privokzalnaya square 1a). Generally, if you're looking for a place to eat, try to pick one in the city center that looks nice but not too expensive. There are lots of places for what could be called "middle class" with enjoyable atmosphere and good food, but random picking can of course lead to bad food and bad service. Tavernetta, [11]. New Italian restaurant with delicious home made pasta on Ekaterinska street.  edit Pivnoy Sad, [12]. Very cosy restaurant, actually a brewery, set in City Garden. Plus excellent live music if you're lucky enough and you don't get the local radio.  edit Olio Pizzeria, [13]. Nice pizzeria with pleasant design in the very heart of the city. Good prices, pizzas from 50 UAH.  edit Kompot, Deribasovskaya 20, [14]. 8am to 11pm. Good food and very nice decoration. Sit upstairs if you can. They also have tables outside.  edit Avoid eating Oriental or Indian in Odessa. They mostly don't have good cooks, the food you get is not authentic and priced heavily. Drink The beer served in the south of Ukraine is outstanding and goes excellently with the hearty food. In the words of one not so impartial citizen of Central Europe who visited the country, 'Hey, this is as good as Czech beer!?!' A beer in a restaurant will usually cost around 2-3 USD for local beers and 4-6 USD for imported brands. There are several breweries in the area nearby Odessa, but they are usually not very popular in the restaurants. However, there is a small restaurant-brewery right in the "City Garden" near Deribasovskya, their beer is rather good and they have an English menu. Just look for a sign that says Hausbrauerei (German for Home Brewery) and tell them you just want to have a drink at the bar unless you want to have dinner there of course. Long-lasting traditions of wine production in neighbouring Moldova and Crimea make Odessa an excellent place for wine lovers. Must taste: Negro de Purcari, Pino and famous sweet Kagor from Moldova, Massandra Portwine and Muscat from Crimea. In the big supermarkets and in shops with alcoholic drink specialization you can find a full assortment of alcoholic drinks from beer to absinthe and from local brands to world famous brands. In non-alcoholic drinks here is a large quantity of various brands (foreign: Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Fanta, Sprite, BonAqua etc.; national: Obolon', Bon-Boisson, Prem'era, Kuyal'nik, etc.; local: Kristall, Green Star, Dana, etc.). The nightlife of Odessa is concentrated in the 'Arcadia' district, some 8 km away from the city center. In Odessa you have to pay to enter a club, the rates are around 70-80 UAH as of June 2011, but can be higher in particular clubs. A taxi to Arkadia should cost 30-40 UAH; beware of the taxi drivers who are waiting for you when you leave Arkadia at night, their tariffs are super-high and they can be rude and intimidating. Call a taxi or walk 500 meters further where you can negotiate a much lower price. To get from Arkadia at night to the central part of the city would be 30-40 UAH, to Tairovo or Cheremushki - 50 UAH. Club Ibiza, Arcadia, [15]. Big club in the center of Arcadia. Cover charge 150 UAH, draft beer 25 UAH.  edit Captain Morgan, 30, Zhukovskogo str, [16]. One of the only 'clubs' in the city centre. Good for a drink, but go to Arcadia for the real parties. Cover charge 50 UAH, draft beer 25 UAH.  edit Sleep Accommodation is plentiful in Odessa and ranges from renting a small room from a local resident to registered hostels, to the more expensive hotels. Budget If you enter by train you will be immediately approached by one of the many locals in an attempt to get you to rent a room from them. This may end up being a small not so well constructed (but basically clean) one room structure located in their garden. It may also not come with a shower with running water, instead consisting of a small outdoor cabinet with a tank located above it that your host will fill with hot water upon request. Additionally the local accommodation will most likely have a squat toilet. For those uncomfortable with using a squat toilet the facilities at the McDonald's near the train station make for a good substitute. Note that nobody speaks English or German (even the most basic talk). This makes the negotiations very difficult! In July/August most budget hotels are fully booked. The total price for your garden residency will usually not exceed 10 USD and in the summer it is more than sufficient. The hostels in the city can be booked online or try your luck and just drop in. Mini Hostel Odessa, Bunina St., ☎ +380984891934 (bookings@minihostelodessa.com), [17]. Centrally located backpacker hostel in the very center of Odessa. Safe and secure, with free WiFi, lockers, linen, coffee and tea. Free train tickets to our hostels in Kiev and/or Lviv if you stay min. 7 days in our hostels in Odessa, Kiev, and Lviv. English and German speaking reception 24/7. The hostel opens on April, 24. Dorm beds from €10, private rooms from €34.  edit TIU Front Page Hostel, 42 Kobleskaya St, Top floor, ☎ +390671837347 or +380968344074 (tiu.frontpage@gmx.com), [18]. Large centrally located backpacker/traveller hostel. Safe and secure. Large kitchen & common areas. Free WiFi, lockers, linen, coffee/tea. 3 showers and 3 WCs. Hot water. English speaking reception 24/7, all year. Dorm beds from €11, private room €35.  edit Zirka Hotel, 70 Uspenskaya St, ☎ +380 487222343 (res@hotelodessa-ukraine.com, fax: +380 48724011), [19]. checkin: 12.30; checkout: noon. Economy rooms have no windows, just 'artificial light'. Many clients book rooms for an hour or two in the late evening, so expect to see prostitutes entering around midnight and leaving soon after. $25 - double room.  edit Mid Range Hotel OK Odessa, (South of center but close to the beach. Tram #5 travels from the main bus station past the train station roundabout to Arcadia, right by the hotel), [20]. starting 370 UAH (~€36) - up to 2800 UAH (~€274).  edit St. Paul Church House, Novoselskogo, 68, ☎ +38-048-777-32-64 (guests_lut@ukr.net, fax: +38-048-777-32-64). A house operated by the German Lutheran Church in Odessa. They rent nice rooms to travelers, when they are not occupied by visitors of the church. Double room: €40.  edit Hotel Passage, ул.Преображенская 34, ☎ +38-0 8-0482-37-52-01. 8-067-489-08-52 (fgt@inbox.ru), [21]. Historic hotel at a very central location. 250-870 UAH.  edit Ukraine Accommodation, Deribasovskaya, 12, ☎ +38-048-741-17-18 (office@ukraine-accommodation.com), [22]. checkin: 13:00; checkout: 12:00. The high class mini hotel in Odessa on Deribasovskaya street. Fully furnished comfortable apartments with kitchen, bath tub, WiFi internet and daily maid service. Free airport pick up. Their low-end rooms are fairly expensive for what they offer. 55$ for a pseudo-clean room with no shower curtain, toilet paper, or wifi.  edit Apartments Odessa Apartments, Afina Center (Grechskaya Square, 7th floor, office 745) (20m from Deribasovskaya Street), ☎ + 3-8067-708-55-01 (info@odessaapts.com), [23]. checkin: 13:00; checkout: 12:00. Fully serviced private apartments next or on Deribasovskaya Street. Simple studios accommodating 1-2 people starting from $40 up to $250 for luxurious 4 bedroom units designed for large groups. Featured also are coastal properties in Arkadia and other city beaches. High end properties feature jacuzzi, outdoor patios, saunas, etc. $50-350.  edit Odessa Apartments in Apart-Hotel Paradis, 18, Sadovaya street, ☎ +38-098-21-55-623 (Paradis@odessa-visit.com), [24]. checkin: 13:00; checkout: 12:00. Contemporary furnished apartments with all modern amenities, air-conditioning, high-speed internet, fully stocked kitchens and jacuzzi tubs. 45-110 USD (double).  edit If you need your laundry done while you're in the city, try STIRKIN, ☎ +380976224005 (info@stirkin.od.ua), [25]. 8am - 8pm.  edit, a laundry pick-up and delivery service with an English version of the website and a special English-speaking phone line. Stay safe Always carry your passport (or a good colour photocopy) with you. Immigration slips are no longer issued or used. The police in Odessa, as in all of Ukraine, are notoriously corrupt and constantly on the look out for tourists to harass with the aim of fining them for breaking some imagined rule or law. Use common sense and caution around rowdy groups and drunks in the city, unless you speak good Russian. Be very careful in the Arkadia district at night, as it might be not safe in the darker areas. Try to be with someone who knows the clubs and the places and speaks Russian. Get out Train departures timetable If you're looking for comfortable travelling, buy a ticket for a train to Kyiv called "Chornomorets". It is an 8-hour overnight train which is very new and comfortable. You can spend a day in Kyiv and come back to Odessa on the same overnight train. Tickets 150-200 UAH one-way. Timetables can be found at train departures timetable [26]. Pan-European train schedules can be found at [27] If you are going to Crimea, there is a 15 hour overnight train ride costing somewhere around 10 USD (2 persons sleeper 25 USD, very nice!). If you buy your ticket on the day you are leaving (not recommended) there is one group of cashier windows where you buy your ticket in the train station. If you buy your ticket on any other day (i.e. at least one day in advance) there is a completely separate group of cashier windows where the ticket must be purchased. As the lines can take longer than 90 minutes make sure you are in the right one. The seller probably won't speak much English. In Simferopol you can take a trolleybus to Yalta via Alushta. The beaches on Crimea in summer are awfully crowded and the beach resorts are very noisy. Its better to go to East Crimea on the Sea of Azov. For those who want to go to Chişinău, there are several buses daily leaving from the Central Bus Station (list here on the website [28]). Cost 70-80 UAH. Most buses cross at Palanca to avoid Transnistria. In case of this the trip takes about 6h. There is now also one Odessa-Tiraspol-Chişinău train per day, departing Odessa at 5pm arriving at Chişinău at 10.20pm. Cost 85 UAH. Daily busses are available to and from Bender and Tiraspol, Transnistria. As of 2011, travel through Transnistria by bus or train has become easier due to an agreement on entry and exit stamps with Moldova. Exit stamps from Ukraine are now recognized by Moldovan authorities as a de-facto entry stamp. Instances of bribery and corruption from Transnistrian border officials have dropped significantly in the past year. This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!