The Odessa Opera & Ballet Theatre
The Odessa Opera & Ballet Theatre is regarded as one of the finest in the entire world. It was first opened in 1810, but after being gutted by a fire in 1873 was completely rebuilt in a grand Renaissance style and eventually finished in 1887. The Opera House was last renovated in 2007. Thanks to its unique acoustics, the theatre is celebrated to this day as a fantastic venue. This theatre enjoys a busy programme with tickets available from its box office, closed on Mondays.
The Vorontsov Colonnade
The Vorontsov Colonnade sits in front of the Voronstov Palace, which was built between 1827 and 1830 for Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov. It originally began as an Orangery for the palace, where tropical fruits were grown. Now it is one of Odessa's main attractions. It is formed of ten pairs of columns and offers a spectacular view of the bay.
Deribasovskaya Street
Deribasovskaya is Odessa's central street and another of the city's major attractions. Fully pedestrianised, it has become a favourite place for the city's population to take evening walks. The walkway houses the city park, cinema and many shops and restaurants. It was named after Josep de Ribas who was the city's first mayor and lived on the street itself.
The Port of Odessa
The sea port is one of the largest in the Black Sea, and is still an operating commercial port. This is a fantastic stop for tourists wanting to learn more about the role the Port has played in the city's life from the past through to present day. Tourists can take tours overlooking the port via bus and travel onto the water by boat. It is also possible to tour the marine station and in sunny weather make a trip to the Vorontsov Lighthouse.
The Catacombs
Underneath the city lie the Odessa Catacombs, a network of tunnels over three levels which stretch out into the surrounding regions. The result of stone mining, the sandstone used to build the city's houses came from here. Once the mines had been abandoned they were used and widened by smugglers from the city creating the giant labyrinth that exists today.
A very dangerous area, only the most extreme of tourists venture down into the Catacombs.
Other sights to see in Odessa include the Potemkin steps, Preobrazhenskiy Cathedral and the Monument to Duc de Richlieu.