If you don't want to pay for the taxi and don't mind taking a public transport, then go for a bus. The bus stop is situated quite close to the exit from the airport, on your right. It has a sign, you'll notice some minibuses parked there - it's their terminal station, so they spend some time waiting for passengers. Your journey on the bus might take from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours, but it's really cheap - 2UAH ($0.25). Please note that in these local minibuses you are not allowed to put your luggage on the bus seat, even if you pay for an additional ticket.

Flying to Odessa through Kiev
If you want to save some money on the flight and don't mind a bit of travelling, you can fly to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, and then take a train or bus to Odessa. This will give you a wide choice of flights from all world countries. A train from Kiev to Odessa takes 8 hours and costs about $20. A bus will take about 6 hours, the price is the same.

The official site of Kiev Airport: http://airport-borispol.kiev.ua/

Travelling by train.
Ukrainian train system works pretty well. Trains connect all major Ukrainian cities and little towns on the way, they are quite comfortable and the tickets are cheap.

You can choose from 3 different types of tickets:

3rd class ticket is called ПЛАЦКАРТ (plats-kart). It includes a bed in a big common carriage with no separate compartments. It's the cheapest ticket (about $10 from Kiev to Odessa) and a really funny way to travel (students and youngsters might love this). People in carriages like that are very friendly and open, and at the end of the journey you'll definitely have a couple of new friends.

2nd class ticket is called КУПЕ (koo - peh). It's a bed in a separate compartment for 4 persons. Gives you a little bit more privacy and more comfort. Prices are affordable (about $20 from Kiev to Odessa).

1st class ticket is called СВ (es-veh). It's a two-person compartment with much more comfort. Prices are much higher than a second class (about $50 from Kiev to Odessa).

All three types of tickets mean that you get a bed, clean sheets are either included, or a small additional charge. Tea, coffee and other refreshments you can buy from the train conductor. All carriages have toilets.

Direct international trains to Odessa, Ukraine.
If you're a big fan of train travel, you can take a direct train to Odessa from Czech Republic (Prague), Germany (Berlin) and Poland (Warsaw, Krakow, Przemyśl).

Traveling by train within the country
Taking a train within Ukraine is convenient, fast and quite comfortable. You can buy train tickets at the railroad stations or in travel agencies. If you don't speak Russian, you may need some assistance of a Russian speaker, because staff working at ticket offices don't normally speak any English. Recommended security measures: - Don't leave your compartment unattended for a long time, even if you think that your fellow travelers are nice and friendly. Thefts are quite common. - Make sure you keep your money and documents on yourself, in your pockets or in a money belt, even during your sleep. - Store your luggage in special boxes under lower berths. - Don't forget to lock your compartment door during the night time.

The official web site of Ukrainian Railway System: www.uz.gov.ua (all in Ukrainian unfortunately).

Taking a boat to Odessa, Ukraine
You can take a boat from Istanbul to Odessa. See the schedules of the ferry boats here: http://www.ukrferry.com/

Travelling by bus
In some cases taking a bus is more convenient than a train. Buses connect all Ukrainian cities, and depending on the point of your destination they vary from tiny old wobbly minivans to huge, shiny and modern coaches.

Probably the best option for a bus in Ukraine is Autolux: http://www.autolux.ua/ their buses are fast and comfortable, they offer plenty of routes. If you're travelling from Kiev to Odessa on a bus, you can take Autolux bus from Kiev railway station, as well as from Kiev International Airport.

Schedule of other Odessa buses in English

Have a question? Do not hesitate to ask! Email info@ukraine.odessa.ua