Odessa, Ukraine

Known as the ‘Pearl of the Black Sea’ or ‘The Hero City’, Odessa is one of Ukraine’s most remarkable locations. It was established by Catherine the Great in the late 18th century and she imagined Odessa to be her St Petersburg. In time, a great city emerged with beautiful neoclassical buildings and statues built on a grid of avenues.

Art has also played an important part in Odessa’s heritage and culture – Pushkin was exiled here and the world-famous Potemkin Steps featured in one of cinema’s most revered films, The Battleship Potemkin by Sergei Eisenstein. Odessa has lost none of its charm, energy or beauty.

It is a green and beautifully planned city with tree-lined boulevards, long beaches and leafy parks. At the centre is Deribasivska Street, where you will find an array of shops, stalls and street entertainers.

Visitors to the city can explore many architectural delights such as the Potemkin Steps, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, Primorsky Boulevard, Odessa City Hall and a wealth of fabulous museums.