Odessa is 200 years old, patterned after Marseilles. It's a historically commercial city. Romantic city with an interesting classical architecture, music and songs.
Famous Russian musicians like David Oistrach, Emil Guilels and others started their musicial education at one of twenty music schools of Odessa.
Odessa is a city of cheerful, smiling, open-hearted people, full of humor.
It's a city with the longest catacombs in the world. Catacombs quite different from those in Paris, Rome or Egyptian Alexandria. It's the beloved city of the great Russian poet Alexander Poushkin.
Enjoy yourself, the biggest port on the Black Sea.
Welcome to Odessa!
The city of Odessa is a comparatively young city but the territory where it is located,the Nothern Black Sea coast is rich in history.
Starting from the 7th a.c. side by side with the Greek colonies -the first Slav and Scythian settlements arose. From ancient times the favourable geographical conditions attracted different invaders.
In the 14-15th centuries on the basis of old-Russian nationality there were developed three fraternal East-East slav nations : Russians,Byelorussians and Ukrainians.
The 15th century up to the end of the 18th century Turks were controlling the Nothern Black Sea Coast. In the course of several Russian-Turkish wars this area was liberated by
Russian and Ukrainian troops headed by the Russian general Alexander Suvorov.
Cathrine the Great (the second) empress of Russia issued an edict to build a port and a city on the liberated territory. The best architects,construction engineers and sculptors were invited to this Southern place from St.Petersburg, France, Italy to construct the city. So the date of origin of Odessa is September 1794.
Odessa today is a big educational and cultural center and it is also a health-resort.
The population of the city is over one million and is a multinational city.
There are six big theaters, 100 high schools and 14 Universities and academies and over 100,000 students. In Odessa there is a number of research centers. One of them is the research centre of eye Diseases founded in 1936 by academician Filatov who was the pioneer to transplant the eye cornea. His name is well known throughout the world.
MONEY - Ukrainian national currency is the Hryvna. You may not leave the country with Ukrainian currency, so be sure to spend them or exchange them into hard currency before you leave. United States Dollars and the German Mark are the most commonly acceptable foreign currencies.
Traveler's checks are not widely accepted, but can be cashed at a couple of banks.
Currency Exchange - You can buy Hryvna at locations throughout the city. You should change money at your hotel or official exchange offices. Do not change money on the streets or with private individuals.
Credit cards - Credit cards are not widely accepted. Some major hotels acccept credit cards but be sure to ask first. AMERICAN EXPRESS credit cards are not accepted in Ukraine. There are also a few hard currency stores, banks, restuarants and casinos where you can use your credit cards.
Operating hours - Business and public offices normally work an eight hour day.Monday through Friday closing for lunch between 1.00 and 2.00 p.m.Most banks are open to the public from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 a.m. There are several food shops with round-the clock working day and without without any day-off.
Leaving Ukraine - When you leave Ukraine you will be asked to present the customs declaration and the entry pass that you received upon entry.
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