Very little information is available on things one can do while on their visit in Odessa. On the surface, Odessa is a city with wild nightlife and while that is true it also offers a wide variety of other fun activities all of which are available for your enjoyment. So with great pleasure we are pleased to present Odessa Activity Guide - Most fun In Odessa with Clothes on!
The biggest dolphin in all of Former Soviet Union is now open in Odessa. Along one of the city's biggest beaches sits year round open dolphin display that rivals most of its peers in Western Europe. This is the only year around open Dolphinarium in all of Ukraine and its retractable roof allows for open area performances in the summer and indoor shows during the winter. Each night features a variety of shows, all involving dolphins as well as sea lions. Certain nights feature laser light shows, theme parties and other interesting displays. Some nights even feature Russian pop bands that often create shows that are synchronized with Dolphin's movements. Services such as swimming with the dolphins, photos with animals and private parties are all available. Nemo also features a kids cafe as well as souvenir store. Costs usually range from 20UAH on weeknights and 30UAH for weekends. Kids get inside at discounted rates.
The expanse of water slides and its rural setting just outside of Odessa's city line make it the perfect place to escape and relax. Are you brave enough to take on the twisting dragon tubes or throw yourself into the void of a black hole? Whether you've got the guts or not, you'll still have a great day at Odessa 's only Aqua Park. Cafe inside the park can quench your thirst as well as serve a warm meal one you are tired of the rides. Admission is 60 UAH for 3 hours of fun. Group discounts are available.
Odessa's Zoo is uniquely located in the absolute center of the city, right next to Privoz and just a short walk away from the main train station. Animal collection is quiet extensive for Ukraine, with over 200 different animals and the only zoo in all of Ukraine which is home to Indian elephants. One of the new elephant addition has even been appropriately been named Duke. Separate section of the zoo is home to its wide variety of birds as well as exhibition of wild insects. The premises contain a large cafe which even has outdoor seating close to the animals during the summer. The zoo is open year around, with summer hours being 9am to 8pm and during the winter 9am to 5pm. Cost of admission is only 5 UAH and free for children under 5 years.
"Banya" or Sauna as the translation would have it, is one of Russia's older traditions and you can find all types of modernized Saunas all over Odessa. There are literally over 100 different Saunas in Odessa each offering either a niche service or something special that separates them from the rest. Odessa's saunas range from small 4 people maximum to capacities which can handle over 30 people at the same time. Most tend to be 6 - 10 persons range and can be rented out by a single party typically for only $10 - $20 per hour. The cost does not include food or drinks which are readily available through waiter service at virtually all of Odessa's saunas. For a complete list of Saunas in Odessa please visit Odessa Saunas. Unfortunately, a listing in English is not yet available.
Just a few minutes walk away from Deribasovkaya street, sits an unassuming building which is home to Odessa's circus. Built in 1894, the original building is home to nightly performances for kids and adults alike. Odessa's circus can hold up to 2300 people and features nightly shows displaying everything from animal acts to clumsy clowns.
Odessa is filled with casinos varying from small to relatively large, although Las Vegas it is not. Most of the larger casinos are located in the center, some of the main ones being El dorado and Mandarin. All in all there are over 30 casinos in Odessa, but not all feature table play. The main ones such as the ones listed above, feature most games found in North America such as Roulette and BlackJack. Further, some of the nightclubs will allocate a portion of their space to Casino games, one of the main ones being Visa Vis located on Deribasovskaya Street.
Where else can you find a track filled with beat down, raggedy characters smoking cheap Moldovan 'papirosi', shouting Russian obscenities at the horses over 1 UAH bets? At Odessa's Hippodrome of course. All jokes aside though, the Hippodrome can provide a solid half a day's worth of entertainment as it occasionally features Soviet made auto races and various other forms of racing aside from Horses. Best start at 1 UAH and follow the standard Russian Hippodrome system which you will just have to figure out on your own.
