Odessa Tourist Traps

  The Duke, Maritime Boulavard, Odessa
by hunterV
 
  • The Duke, Maritime Boulavard, Odessa
      The Duke, Maritime Boulavard, Odessa
    by hunterV
  • Bas reliefs at the Duke, Maritime Boulavard
      Bas reliefs at the Duke, Maritime...
    by hunterV
  • Bas reliefs at the Duke, Maritime Boulavard
      Bas reliefs at the Duke, Maritime...
    by hunterV
  • The Duke, Maritime Boulavard, Odessa
      The Duke, Maritime Boulavard, Odessa
    by hunterV
  • Soviet souvenirs, Odessa, Ukraine
      Soviet souvenirs, Odessa, Ukraine
    by hunterV
 

Most Recent Tourist Traps in Odessa

Sort by: Most recent | Most helpful

Write a Review
Buying Soviet Souvenirs
hunterV profile photo

4.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

hunterV 2528 reviews
Soviet souvenirs, Odessa, Ukraine
4 more images

There are numerous vendors at The Duke in Maritime Boulevard (Primorsky Boulevard) offering you lots of souvenirs including those dating back to the Soviet times.
I would describe it as a trap because lots of foreigners are attracted by the good-looking Soviet orders made of silver and guilded ones dating back to the times of the World War II.
The problem is that they are sold freely for $10-$15 a piece like the one on the picture - the Order of the Patriotic War, First Class;
But you can hardly take them home through our strict customs at the airport for according to the Ukrainian legislature they belong to historical values and may not be taken across the stateborder...
My American friend whom I saw off at the airport had to give me three orders back hoping to be able to take them home some day later...When?...

Unique Suggestions: Buy some simple badges and not orders that belong to historical values.
If you still have them, try to make an innocent face passing the Ukrainian customs at the airport red lane, especially after your baggage has been X-rayed and your souvenirs have been discovered. They will be confiscated without any ceremonies...
Just smile it off...
Just remember the soldiers and officers had to fight for those orders during the whole war...

Fun Alternatives: buying some simple badges and souvenirs

Updated Oct 1, 2011

Related to:
 Budget Travel
 Business Travel
 Family Travel

Was this review helpful?

Book In Advance
Enzyme_X profile photo

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Enzyme_X 378 reviews

When we arrived in Odessa, first we wanted to find a place to sleep. We checked in our guide-book for some reasonable priced hotels and went to see what they can offer. To our surprise and disappointment and concern all were full. Then we tried at some local tourist office where the lady told us it won't be easy to find a place to stay just for that day but for some 5 days.

Unique Suggestions: If you want to stay in Odessa in summer, make sure you book in advance or you'll end up wandering around searching for a free bed.

Fun Alternatives: Luckily we found a place to stay. Check my hotels & accomodations tip.

Written Aug 7, 2005

Related to:
 Spa and Resort
 Beaches

Was this review helpful?

Canal grids
fipsi profile photo

3 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

fipsi 51 reviews
Missing canal grids (c) Gerold Pawelka

Watch out for missing canal grids in Odessa. Especially at night they can be dangerous tourist traps ;-)

Unique Suggestions: Cry out loud.

Fun Alternatives: At night only go the same streets you already took during daylight.

Written Aug 31, 2004

Related to:
 Backpacking
 Budget Travel
 Business Travel

Was this review helpful?

Top 3 Hotels in Odessa

Odessa

 7 Reviews and 23 Opinions  I have been to this hotel several times (last time beginning of May 2009) and I know already why... 

 Hotels in Odessa

Black Sea Hotel (Chernoye More)

 5 Reviews and 69 Opinions  Hotel is comfortable and convenient located. I stayed here in 2003 and was quite satisfied. Not very... 

 Hotels in Odessa

Londonskaya Hotel

 3 Reviews and 69 Opinions  I loved it. This place was reasonably priced, and had everything available to me (except a... 

 Hotels in Odessa

The Place

Reviews and photos of Odessa attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Odessa sightseeing.

Experience Odessa
  Share your Travels  
 

The People

76 Members Live Here
 
Our Members Say
 profile photo

 Watch out for missing canal grids in Odessa. Especially at night they can be dangerous tourist traps ;-) Cry out loud. At night only go the same streets you... 

76 members live in Odessa

 

Questions and Answers

ALEX267 profile photo

Q:  Good Morning to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any idea about Odessa Ukrain?? I am planning a bussines trip for a week. Any suggestion... 

IndianPacific profile photo

A: The famous stair down to the maritime terminal, well-known from the movie "Potemkin", I believe it was, is rather deteriorated but still worh visiting. There are lots of... 

Read 4 Replies

postQuestion_button

Top Odessa Writers

1

The Capital of Humor

hunterV profile photo

 In 1834 when the resort of Odessa was only beginning to develop I.Vitsman, a resort doctor, said, "Located on the hills, washed by the Black Sea from the south and the west, surrounded by steppes... 

2

The Southern Capital of Ukraine

om_212 profile photo

  The Southern Palmira, the Black Sea Pearl, the small Paris, all these names have been attributed to Odesa. According to European standards, Odesa is a relatively a young city. Founded in 1794 by...... 

3

La plus méditerranéenne des villes d'Europe

Klod5 profile photo

  Odessa can be considered like the most Mediterranean of the cities of Europe of the East.  

4

The pearl of the Black Sea

fipsi profile photo

 The Russian Empress Katherine II the Great founded Odessa in 1794 which means it is quite a young city. It is named after the ancient Greek colony Odessos erroneously believed to had been once... 

5

Odessa on the Black Sea

bilgeez profile photo

 Odessa sits on the Black Sea and is a diamond-in-the-rough. It is a large city (2 million inhabitants) that is still reacclaimating to a capitalist economy after 75+ years of being in the Soviet... 

View all rated pages

View newest pages

Build your own Odessa page