Odessa Transportation

The city is connected with all regional centers and major cities by railroads, highways and flights.
The shortest distance to a regional center is 120 km to Mykolayiv, a sea and river port at the Dnipro and the Black Sea.
The longest distance is to Luhansk by railway: about 1,000 km ( 24-hour ride by a passenger train).
It is also a long way to Uzhgorod, the capital of Transcarpathian Region: about 900 km.
Other distances in kilometers:
Kiev – about 500 km;
Kharkiv – 650 km;
Donetsk – 660 km;
Simferopol – 500 km;
Lviv – 800 km;
Sumy – 700 km.

I know this is no surprise to anyone but attempts at rip offs by taxi drivers is thriving in Odessa. I asked a local for info on how much I should pay for a cab ride I was taking. When I asked the cab drivers they would quote me double the 50 grevny that I was told I should pay as a very maximum. One guy asked for 150. Sticking it out though for a little while and eventually I found someone who offered to do so for 50.

There's a cab rank at the top of the main tourist pedestrian street. There's a guy there with grey hair who seems to be the head honcho of taxi corruption. He also seems to be very friendly with the police also. The same police guys that he was talking to tried to extort a bribe out of me walking alone from a bar early in the morning.

There are a zillion buses, trams, mini buses etc that can take you anywhere, even down to the Arkadia night club scene if that is what you are after. 2 grevny 50 flat fare

Tauria Ailines is another flight company in Odessa.
The office is in Cathedral Square.
They also have their own web site:
www.tavrey.com/eng/index.htm

There are multiple options for reaching 0dessa, both from outside & within Ukraine - I have visited 4 times from London, but never boarded an aircraft!
0dessa is busiest port on the Black Sea, with a regular ferry service to Turkey, & in summer it is also possible to visit through the port, via Bulgaria...
There is a very large train station in the city, receiving international services, including a sleeper service, direct from Berlin, which arrives twice-weekly.
Unfortunately, it is rather expensive service, so will only really appeal to diehard train enthusiasts, & is also slow, taking 2 nights to go from Germany>Ukraine (coach from UK>Ukraine does longer distance in less time...)
There are numerous long-distance coaches services direct to 0dessa from many of its Russian-speaking, neighbouring international cities, as well as Berlin; Warsaw; & even London...
ECOLINES operate a direct service from 0dessa>Riga, but unfortunately, unless you have a transit visa for Belarus, it cannot be taken using an EU passport.
My journeys have all boarded a coach direct to Kiev, from London, the most recent experience of which had me in the Ukrainian capital before midday & boarding an AUTOLUX service for 0dessa, an hour later - GUNSEL provide an almost identical service, (for 10Grivna less) leaving an hour later, both of which have you in the Black Sea resort for late evening...
These 2 operators also offer frequent overnight services between the 2 cities, costing between 125-165Grivna (correct as of February 2011)

this is the fastest and the cheapest option available so far - to get to Odesa from Kyiv (Boryspil International Airport, terminal A) for a 1.5 hour for as low as UAH 68 (around $15 one way; all taxes included).

this is a SUPER PROMO price offered by a newly launched budget airline WIZZAIR (all planes are of a Airbus A320 model). to get this lowest price, one has to make a reservation (via internet) at least 2 weeks in advance, as the regular price might be as high as UAH 436 (one way).

the flight from Kyiv-Boryspil departs on 18:55 on M, W, Fr, Su., and arrives in Odesa at 20:10.

the flight from Odesa departs on 20:40 on M, W, Fr, Su, and arrives in Kyiv at 21:50

P.S. unfortunately, wizzair discontinues its flights to Odessa last year.

An overnight train remains the most afordable/safe way to travel in Ukraine.

The train #105 from Kyiv to Odessa leaves at 21:54 and arrives in Odessa at 6:12 am; the return train #106 leaves Odessa at 22:54 and arrives in Kyiv at 7:37. the train is a combination of new and old cars, with price difference in UAH 40 ($5). The newer cars are located in the beginning of the train (#1-10). the price for a one-way second class ticket (a sleeping berth in a compartment for 4 people) is between UAH 120-160 Hr ($15-20). My recommendation is to ask for a ticket in the newer cars which has softer berths and civilized toilets.

You should by tickets well advance if you decide to visit Odessa over the weekend or major holidays city like Odessa Yumorina (Odessa’s Fool Day, April 1) and the City Day (September 1-2). You should by tickets WELL IN ADVANCE if you decide to travel there any time in summer.

The city is connected with the Ukrainian capital and other regional centers by passenger trains.
There are lots of such trains every day.
If you decide to take a train to Odessa, better to choose a compartment car (36 seats in a car and four berths in a compartment).

Close to Odessa to the west is Chisinau (capital of Moldova) which is 5 to 6 hours away, but beware of the Transnistria region, which is between the cities, this is technically in Moldova but is subject to the rules of the local police and wants independance.