ARTEM VASIUTA

The Ukrainian Essence of Odesa

For many years, the Ukrainian pages in Odesa’s history were left untold. Today, the average Ukrainian knows that Odesa is Ukraine — but can recall few facts to back up this statement. Sound familiar? Then I invite you to explore the Ukrainian chapters of Odesa’s history with me!

What this tour is about:

We’ll talk about when and how Ukrainians first appeared in this region.
We’ll discuss prominent Ukrainian cultural figures such as Lesya Ukrainka, Ivan Franko, Maria Zankovetska, Marko Kropyvnytskyi, and others.
I’ll show you the location of a secret UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army) hideout during the occupation of Odesa.
We’ll explore the contributions of Ukrainian architects, scientists, philanthropists, and politicians.
And that’s just a few of the fascinating stories you’ll hear on this tour!
Tour type: walking tour. Duration: 2.5 hours.

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Odesa City Tour of the Historic Center

This city, inhabited for over 2,500 years, has such a rich and multifaceted history that it cannot be summed up in just a few paragraphs. Famous names, grand architecture, funny and thrilling Odesa stories — all of this is worth exploring with a professional guide.

We’ll visit Odesa’s most iconic must-sees: Cathedral Square, Passage, Deribasivska Street, the Opera House, Catherine Square, parts of Primorsky Boulevard, the Mother-in-Law’s Bridge, and the Vorontsov Palace.
I’ll also show you the little-known details that often go unnoticed — the smallest street in Odesa, cat monuments, murals, and hidden courtyards.
Highly recommended if this is your first time in Odesa or if you’ve never taken a guided tour of the city.
Tour type: walking tour. Duration: 2.5 hours.

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Catacombs under Hradonachalnytska Street: 14 meters beneath Moldavanka

he underground labyrinths beneath Odesa have such a long and diverse history, it’s a shame they’re mostly known only for partisan activity during the Romanian occupation…

What we’ll see and talk about:
A section of the longest catacomb network in Europe;
Who, when, and why quarried shell limestone beneath Odesa;
Centuries-old inscriptions on the underground walls;
An underground water well and the legends associated with it;
Stories of Odesa’s smuggling past and Masonic secrets.
I’ll be waiting for you down in the depths!
Duration: 1.5 hours.

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Trading Odesa: From Provincial Bazaar to Global Brand

Odesa’s famous markets, major trade port, fleet, and entrepreneurial spirit are well known. But are you familiar with Odesa-born global brands, and stories of spectacular bankruptcies and remarkable success?

On the tour, we’ll learn:
Which areas of the port were used for maritime trade during the time of Ottoman Khadzhibey;
What clever strategies Odesa merchants used to avoid losing profits;
Where the city’s first commercial court was located;
How Odesa endured the loss of 90% of its merchant fleet during the Crimean War;
What the Odesa coat of arms reveals about the city’s trading power;
What was sold in 19th-century shopping arcades like Palais Royal, the Wagner building, and other Odesa passages;
Who was the top ambassador for Arthur Anatra’s sports gear brand;
How Fanconi, owner of a famous café at the corner of Katerynynska and Lanzheronivska Streets, went bankrupt;
Who produced the best sweets and alcohol in Odesa, and what remains of those brands today.
And that’s just a taste of what you’ll hear!
Tour type: walking tour. Duration: 2.5 hours.

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Odesa Beer Traditions: Tasting Tour

Friends, I invite you to my author tour “Odesa Beer Traditions,” featuring a tasting of the best local and European brews available in the city.

You’ll learn:
How beer brewing began in Odesa;
What beer restaurants were like in the past;
How quality beer was brewed in a city with limited drinking water;
Which breweries still operate today;
Which historical figures loved drinking beer in Odesa;
And most importantly – where you can find the best beer spots in the city today.
The tasting will feature top European beers and/or local craft brews.
(You can opt out of the tasting if you wish.)
Note: the cost of drinks is not included in the tour price.
Tour type: walking tour. Duration: 2.5 hours.

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Courtyards Beyond Deribasivska: Non-Touristy Odesa

What are Odesa’s courtyards really like? Cozy, colorful, full of laundry lines and cats, kids playing, and all-knowing grandmothers…
But above all — they’re unique! You won’t find two courtyards or entrances alike in Odesa.

Join me on a tour through the most interesting ones!
Our route runs through the less touristy part of Odesa’s historic center — including Lev Tolstoy, Nizhynska, Spyridonivska, and Novoselskoho Streets, and surrounding blocks.

We’ll see:
Courtyard “wells” that run through entire blocks;
Antique wooden gates;
Narrow wrought-iron and wide marble staircases;
A recently uncovered century-old pharmacy advertisement;
The courtyard where young Serhiy Koroliov — father of Soviet space exploration — once climbed the vines.
And of course, you’ll hear many stories about the buildings and their inhabitants.
Book this tour and immerse yourself in Odesa!
Tour type: walking tour. Duration: 2.5 hours.

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Secrets of the Legendary Moldavanka

What image do we have of Moldavanka? A criminal district in Odesa with a Mishka Yaponchyk in every courtyard and constant turf wars? A place where there was nothing but gangs, shootouts, and neglect?

But Moldavanka is much more than that!
After two months of research — walking routes, studying archives and memoirs — we’ve discovered that Moldavanka is a very multifaceted area.

Here, Babel placed his famous characters: Benya and Dvoira Krik, Monya the Artillerist, and Lyubka the Cossack;
Here are the very same dovecotes from his stories;
In the same era as Mishka Yaponchyk, the area was home to schools and cinemas;
Marshal Rodion Malinovsky, once just a local street kid, spent his youth here;
This is where legendary figures like Mykhailo Zhvanetsky and Illya Ilf were born;
Moldavanka was originally a fairly prosperous neighborhood!
This tour will definitely reveal the true spirit of Odesa — far from the tourist trail. You have to see it to believe it!
Tour type: walking tour. Duration: 2.5 hours.