How big is Odessa?
There are about 1.5 million people currently living in Odessa. The whole city with its suburbs is quite big, but the historical center, where all the points of interest are located, is pretty small and you can walk around it within a couple of hours.

When is the best time to go to Odessa?
The city is at its loveliest at May and September. In May the entire place is in blossom, and the air is so full of flower scent that you can feel drunk with no alcohol, just from inhaling it. September is lovely, too - there are not so many people as in the summer, but the weather is still amazing, the sea is warm and the feeling of an outgoing summer makes one's heart tremble.

If you prefer hot summer days, then visit Odessa in the summer time, to enjoy lazy beaches, booming night life and a view of local girls, walking almost naked around the city streets in their tiny shorts and bikini tops.

If you want to take part in a city festival, there are two annual occasions: the 1st of April and the 2nd of September. The 1st of April is 'All Fools' Day' (Jumorina, as it's called here), which is traditionally widely celebrated in the city. The 2nd of September is the City's Birthday. Both holidays usually have a huge carnival and a parade in the city center, ending up with a big open air public concert and fireworks.

And of course, the New Year and Christmas holidays are always a good time to visit, too.

What language do they speak in Odessa?
Odessa is mainly a Russian speaking city. Still, because it was traditionally a multicultural place, with a huge Jewish Diaspora, you can hear a lot of Hebrew on its streets, as well as Greek, Bulgarian, Turkish and other languages; if you come here during busy summertime, be ready to hear almost all world languages around you!

What kind of people live in Odessa?
Historically, Odessa was a really multicultural place. A former Greek colony and a Turkish fortress, Odessa gave home to thousands of Greeks and Turks, whose families continue to live here.

For centuries Odessa was known as a Jewish city. In the year of the official foundation of the city (1794) Jews comprised about 10% of all inhabitants of the area. In Russian Empire Odessa was one of the few places where Jews were allowed to settle down without having to pay enormous taxes to the state. It all lead to the fast growth of the Jewish population. This influenced the city's culture a lot, giving native Odessa inhabitants a habit of using Yiddish words and Jewish humor - which they keep still.

Citizens of Odessa are positive, smiley and really friendly. Be ready to hear a lot of jokes about yourself, though, and some of them might be really blunt! Don't take them seriously, and always answer with another joke - it's a local tradition to answer like that, as well as answer a question with an another question. Like: "Where did you come from?" - "And why do you ask?"

What do people do for living in Odessa?
When you travel to Odessa is a tourist you might have in impression that all the citizens are working in the tourist industry, in restaurants, hotels and shops. It's not actually true. In fact, Odessa is the second biggest center of business in the country after Kiev.

One of the biggest sources of income for Odessa is the sea port. A center of international maritime trade and with a huge passenger terminal, Odessa sea port employs more than 15 thousand people directly working on its territory, and another 100 thousand have work connected to the port in one way or another.

Another important center of trade for Odessa is the huge market located near the city, called "7 kilometer". One of the biggest in Eastern Europe, the market is so big that to find your way some people have to get a map of it. It has its own streets, administrative division and telephone system, and more than 15 thousand of trade and stock objects on its territory. Sounds impressive? Choose a free day and a hundred bucks and just go there to get dressed from head to toes with "genuine" Gucci, Armani and Dolce&Gabbana.

I'm going to visit Odessa. Can I ask you a question?
Of course! If you have any questions about Odessa, just email us to info@ukraine.odessa.ua, and we'll be happy to help you!