Odessa is the third most populous city of Ukraine and a major tourism center, seaport and transportation hub located on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. It is also the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast and a multiethnic cultural center. Odessa is sometimes called the "pearl of the Black Sea". Before the Tsarist establishment of Odessa, an ancient Greek settlement existed at its location as elsewhere along the northwestern Black Sea coast. A more recent Tatar settlement was also founded at the location by Hacı I Giray, the Khan of Crimea in 1440 that was named after him as "Hacibey". After a period of Lithuanian Grand Duchy control, Hacibey and surroundings became part of the domain of the Ottomans in 1529 and remained there until the empire's defeat in the Russo-Turkish War of 1792. Odessa is a warm-water port. The city of Odessa hosts both the Port of Odessa and Port Yuzhne, a significant oil terminal situated in the city's suburbs. Another notable port, Chornomorsk, 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 Russian and European networks by strategic pipelines.

Airports in Odessa

1. Odessa International Airport (ODS)

Odessa International Airport (ODS) is the fifth largest airport in Ukraine and is based in Odessa. You can fly to 20 destinations with 18 airlines in scheduled passenger traffic. The most frequently departed route is the route to Istanbul (IST) in Turkey with an average of 40 flights from Odesa every week which is 36% of all weekly departures. The most popular domestic destinations are Kiev (KBP) and Kiev (IEV). UIA is the largest airline here by counting the number of departures with around 36 scheduled take-offs every week. The second largest operator from Odesa is Turkish Airlines. The aircraft types with most scheduled flights are the Boeing 737 and the Embraer 19X/17X. The route with the longest flight time from Odessa (ODS) is to Dubai (DXB) and takes about 4h 40min with a Boeing 737-800 (winglets) Passenger/BBJ2.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Odessa?

Traveloka is a traveler flight ticket website where it eases the travelers to find the cheapest flights to Odessa.All you have to do is to insert the information in the box that says origin and destination, and the website will list out the best result for you. You can sort the result with your preferences like the best price, the best service and many more. Now they have developed the application for this website where it's mean that you can access it through your mobile phone. Just put the information and click search after that choose which packages that offer you the best price.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Odessa?

The busiest month for tourism in Odessa, Ukraine is in December, followed by August and October. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months due to excess of tourists, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. If you want to pay in advance, you must make sure that you are available for that specific day because you may not get back your deposit. Tourists are unlikely to visit Odessa in January. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month. The perfect date to go to Odessa is on 23 April to 15 July. This date is ideal for those who want to have perfect weather when traveling there.

The climate in Odessa is warm and temperate. Average temperatures in Odessa vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a low chance of precipitation most of the year. If you are looking for the very warmest time to visit Odessa, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. If dry weather is what you are after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Odessa are August, May, and then April. When can you find snow in Odessa? Weather stations report a right amount of seasonal snow likely to be deepest around January, especially close to early to mid-January. The best time to ski in Odessa is often around February 26th when the fresh powder is deepest.

In Odessa, there is a festival that is held annually. April Fools' Day, held annually on 1 April, is one of the most celebrated festivals in the city. Practical joking is a central theme throughout, and Odessans dress in unique, colorful attire to express their spontaneous and comedic selves. The tradition has been celebrated since the early 1970s, when the humor of Ukraine’s citizens was drawn to television and the media, further developing into a mass festival. Large amounts of money are made from the festivities, supporting Odessa’s local entertainers and shops.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Odessa?

1. Shevchenko Park - Odessa's largest park, Shevchenko Park (previously Alexander Park), was founded in 1875, during a visit to the city by Emperor Alexander II. The park covers an area of around 700 by 900 meters (2,300 by 3,000 feet) and is located near the center of the city, on the side closest to the sea. Within the park, there are a variety of cultural and entertainment facilities and wide pedestrian avenues.

2. Odessa Museum of Western and Eastern – The Odessa Museum of Western and Eastern Art is arguably Odessa's most crucial museum; it has large European collections from the 16–20th centuries along with the art from the East on display. There are paintings from Caravaggio, Mignard, Hals, Teniers and Del Piombo. Also of note is the city's Alexander Pushkin Museum, which is dedicated to detailing the short time Pushkin spent in exile in Odessa, a period during which he continued to write. The poet also has a city street named after him, as well as a statue.

3. City Garden - The City Garden, or Gorodskoy Sad, is perhaps the most famous of Odessa's gardens. Laid out in 1803 by Felix De Ribas (brother of the founder of Odessa, José de Ribas) on a plot of urban land he owned, the garden is located right in the heart of the city. When Felix decided that he was no longer able to provide enough money for the garden's upkeep, he chose to present it to the people of Odessa. The transfer of ownership took place on 10 November 1806. Nowadays the garden is home to a bandstand and is the traditional location for outdoor theater in the summertime. Numerous sculptures can also be found within the grounds as well as a musical fountain, the waters of which are computer controlled to coordinate with the musical melody being played.