Odesa was founded in the late 18th century by Russian Empress Catherine the Great. Ever since its foundation Odesa was home for multicultural and multinational crowd. People from all over Europe came to this city to make their fortune here, thus the city’s patchy and rather tatty appearance. Those who know what a conventional port-city is and feel comfortable to live in one, would definitely find many pros of living in Odesa.
Odesa has busy cultural life, which, however, tends to slow down during winter. Many popular musical and gastronomical festivals are taking place in Odesa attracting many international guests. Foreigners would definitely feel themselves comfortable here, as the many locals (especially younger generation) speaks English, restaurants and bars are offering English language menus as well as English-speaking staff. Odesa travel agencies run regular city tours with English speaking guides.
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Odesa is an ultimate Ukrainian destination for holidaymakers and regular party crowd with its sandy beaches, warm climate and dozens of beachside nightclubs. The city gets really busy and loud during summer, which can be a con of living in Odesa for those who value calm and slow-paced lifestyle. However, if you are more of party-animal Odesa is definitely your perfect location to stay in Ukraine. An evening at Arkadia is a must when in Odesa and this is definitely the city’s most popular must visit place. The central part of the beach is almost entirely occupied by beach clubs, which have pools and double as nightclubs after sunset.
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The beach is the key to many great summer vacations - luckily Odesa has many to offer. Dolphin, Arcadia, Riviera, Luzanovka, Otrada, Chayka and Chernomorka are among other most popular Odesa city beaches. With their cons and pros, these beaches are likely to be crowded and rather pricy during summer months.
In case you are looking for tranquility and comfort even during high summer season try to visit some of the secret Odesa beaches located outside city center (Kryzhanovka cottage rentals, Katranka beach, Nova Dofinovka village). Beloved by locals, these sandy stretches are off the tourist track, and brimming with character.
The gastro scene in Odesa is booming. With numerous restaurants opening each new summer season the selection of options for eating out is impressive. If you are a foodie and a well-mixed drinks enthusiast, Odesa is one of the best cities to move to in Ukraine.
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The cost of living in Odesa can be considered as one of its cons. All the prices tend to grow drastically with the beginning of the summer season and arrival of thousands of tourists. The rental prices for apartments and houses are also high comparing to other big Ukrainian cities.
Photo source: shutterstock.com, Fitz Bar Odesa Facebook Page.
