One of the main seaports of Ukraine is considered the port of Odessa. It is located in the southern part of the country, on the Black Sea. Odessa is the third city in the state in terms of population (950 thousand people).
The article tells about the history of this city, as well as places of recreation, swimming and sunbathing (beaches), which attract those who want to spend a summer vacation on the Black Sea coast.
History of the city
From the fifth century BC, the territory of the future city was inhabited by ancient Greek tribes. In the V-XV centuries, at different periods of the Middle Ages, this region was ruled by the Golden Horde, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Crimean Khanate.
The convenient geographical location of the area gave the foundation to Empress Catherine II in 1794 on the site of the Turkish-Greek settlement Odessos, which from 1791 began to belong to the Russian Empire, found a military and commercial port, and rename the city.
From then until now, the official name of the modern regional center of Odessa region is the city of Odessa. Starting in the second half of the 20th century, industry and urban infrastructure began to develop here. The city is gradually becoming the tourist center of Ukraine, on the territory of which (235 km²) beach areas have been created for active recreation of indigenous people and guests.
General characteristics of beaches
The length of all beaches located within the city is more than 20 kilometers and has an area of 42.5 hectares. Of these, 27 hectares are artificial beach areas of sand and pebbles.
In addition to landscaped in Odessa, there are wild beaches for outdoor activities. We will also talk about them in the article. Since 2007, on the initiative of the leadership of the Kiev region, in the 11th station of the Big Fountain (one of the resort resort zones popular among holidaymakers), a beach specially created for people with disabilities began to function.
Beach "Gold Coast"
Guests of the city, using tram number 18 (you need to get to the 16th station of the Big Fountain) or minibus number 215, 223, can see the beautiful coastline and relax on the beach with amazingly clean fine sea sand. It is called the "Golden Coast". A small beach area is located next to the promenade and is a landscaped area for outdoor activities.
The beach in Odessa "Zolotoy Bereg" has several restaurants and a variety of cafes, where vacationers will be offered a menu of Mediterranean cuisine. The area is equipped with sun loungers, changing rooms and a rental office. There you can use pedal boats and diving equipment. There is a separate section of the beach area, where rides for children of any age are installed.
Four hotels with international service conditions are located near the Zolotoy Bereg beach in Odessa: Villa Pini, Asiya mini-hotel, Uyutny hotel and Katran hotel complex. According to tourists, the only drawback when visiting this beach area is the long distance to the main attractions of the city.
Luzanovka - Odessa Beach
In the Suvorov district of the city, between the village of Kotovsky and the central part of the city, there is the resort area Luzanovka. In 1819, at the direction of the Russian Emperor Alexander I, the lands of this region were transferred to the disposal of Thomas Luzanov (major general from infantry).
After some time, he built his estate in the village. It was named after the owner of the mansion. A few years later, the whole area, which later became an urban neighborhood, was named after this name.
In 1924, on the territory of Luzanovka, the Wellness Camp “Solar Camp” was organized for street children of Odessa region. 32 years later, the opening of the international republican pioneer camp "Young Guard" took place in the microdistrict.
In this regard, urban infrastructure began to develop. Now this area is considered one of the best resort. Here is the beach of the same name - "Luzanovka" (Odessa). It has a length of 1.5 kilometers.
It is equipped in such a way that along the entire beach line there is a park area and vacationers have the opportunity to have a meal in nature.
It provides a rescue station, a medical emergency room and a police station. Part of the beach is reserved for attractions for children and adults. In the area of the beach area, vacationers can rent housing in the private sector, where the cost of rent, compared with Arcadia, is lower, but under the same conditions. Rest in the Luzanovka microdistrict is quite suitable for a beach holiday for couples with children of any age.
You can appreciate the beaches of Odessa on the photo. It becomes clear that Luzanovka is a popular place for families. According to tourists, there is a wide line of sand, and for children there is a large amusement park. Also, guests of the city note that in this place there are ballot boxes, a cafe with delicious food. As tourists say, there is only one minus in the rest here - the fact that the beach is far from the city.
Arcadia Beach: description of the place
Arcadia Beach in Odessa is famous among young people for its night discos, restaurants and cafes located along the first coastline.
The territory of the future sights of Odessa in the XIX century was a rocky shore, which was not adapted for a beach holiday.
In those days, the director of the Belgian horse-riding agency (horse-drawn railway) was businessman Emil Cambier. The Belgian drew attention to the seaside ravine, which can be used for walks and the beach. To implement his idea, he lengthened the route of the skate to this beam. And after some time, the construction of the first restaurant and infrastructure began.
Thus, it is believed that Cambier is the founder of the beach, which was named "Arcadia". By the way, this is the name of one of the areas of the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula Peloponnese, praised by poets as a paradise created by nature.
Since 1910, the route of electric trams that replaced the skates connected the city center with the Arcadia beach area. After the revolutionary events of 1917, all the cottages of the magnates of the Russian Empire were transformed into sanatoriums. Then the construction of summer playgrounds, entertainment clubs of various directions begins and the beach area is being improved.
In 2014, the last restoration of the resort area was carried out, after which an entertainment and shopping complex called "Arcadia City" was opened.
Now in Arcadia there are the most popular night dance clubs Ibiza, Ithaka, Western. In addition to dances, there are performances of famous artists of foreign and domestic pop. For children, special rides are equipped on site.
Tourists like the Arcadia beach, and they note the developed infrastructure and service. But the prices here are quite high. Therefore, only wealthy people can afford to relax here, as many tourists say.
How to get to Arcadia?
Near the beach there are hotels for vacationers. There is also a large selection of private sector apartments. The main advantage is the close distance from the central part of the city. You can get here by using tram number 5, trolleybus number 5, 13 or minibus number 115, 129, 168.
Langeron Beach
The second most popular among the indigenous population and visitors of the city is considered to be the Langeron beach in Odessa.
The name was obtained due to the location in the XIX century on its territory of the former cottage, which belonged to the Russian officer, Governor-General of New Russia Alexander Langeron (French emigrant). The only surviving architectural structure is the arch. It was built in 1830 as a front entrance gate.
In 2013, the building was restored using photographs of that time and is considered a local architectural monument. On the territory of the beach area there are several restaurants and various cafes, rental points, a rescue station and a medical emergency room.
The main attraction of Langeron is the Nemo Dolphinarium. It is located on the left side of the beach. It is a modern architectural building, in which there is an auditorium where daily shows are held with the participation of trained bottlenose dolphins and other marine mammals.
On the territory of the Nemo Dolphinarium, you can also visit the oceanarium with marine and freshwater inhabitants from around the world. Langeron is connected to the central part of the city by trolleybus routes No. 2, 3 (to the Shevchenko Park stop). You can also take a minibus number 20, 203, 233.
This beach, according to people, is the most spacious for relaxation. But every year hundreds of thousands of tourists relax here. Although in late spring and early autumn it becomes not so crowded here. As vacationers say, at the Langeron you can have a good time with the kids. There are no disadvantages on this beach. The only thing that some tourists noted is that thefts happen here.
A few words about the wild beaches of the resort town
The official beaches of Odessa (their photo is presented in the article) have services that periodically check the bottom of the beach area for safety, rescue points on the water, medical points and other services for the safety of vacationers.
All this is not on the wild beaches. Visiting the latter has now become mostly popular with the indigenous people. On these wild beaches of Odessa there are no rental points and food. And instead of bilateral berths (piers) there are blocks of natural seashell.
All these smooth surfaces of the sea coast created by nature are located on the territory between Arkadia and Otrada (rural area of the Baltic region). The most popular beaches are: "Dog", "Russia" and "Chkalovsky".
Wild beaches: "Doggy", "Russia" and "Chkalovsky"
The wild beach in Odessa “Sobachiy” attracts vacationers by the fact that on its small territory there is a forest glade. On it you can have a picnic and make a bonfire for cooking barbecue.
You can get to one of the beaches of Odessa from the French Boulevard (a boulevard named after the official visit of Emperor Nicholas II of France). If you walk along the aforementioned boulevard past the high-rise building to the Santorini cafe, then you can see behind it a view of the spacious wild beach "Russia".
This area once belonged to the Rossiya sanatorium. Now in its place are the cottages. And the beach of Odessa, which is considered wild, has become a favorite vacation spot, due to its features. On one side is a rocky cliff, and on the other, a natural rocky wall.
Odessa Chkalovsky beach is located next to the Chkalov sanatorium and, like many wild ones, has its own peculiarity: it was chosen by amateur nudists. This place for Odessa residents has become as popular as the Odessa Opera House or the Potemkin Stairs. You can get to the Chkalovsky beach by any minibus that goes along Shevchenko Avenue to the Sports Palace stop.
About "Chkalovsky" and the beach "Russia" city guests leave positive feedback. Here you can relax well and inexpensively. But one does not have to think about any additional services in these places.
How to get to the nudist beach?
Some people tend to get an even tan on their entire body and for this they sunbathe, dropping all their clothes in specially designated places. Usually they visit the territory of wild beaches. Such tanning lovers are called nudists.
The first nudist beach was created on the island of Rab (an island in Croatia located in the Kvarner Bay). Therefore, the birthplace of this movement is a state in the south of Central Europe - Croatia.
In Odessa, the official pebble beach for nudist lovers is located between the Dolphin and Arcadia resort areas (tram number 5 to the stop "Chkalov Sanatorium"). The nudist beach in Odessa is a coastline 30 meters wide. Note that in the season there is quite crowded.
Where else can you sunbathe nudists?
Nudist beaches are also available in other places in the Odessa region: Karolino-Bugaze (a village in the Ovidiopolsky district, located 40 km from the city). A great place for lovers of sunbathing in the nude is located in the small town of Yuzhny (45 km from the city). The nudist beach is located on the right side of the central urban beach area. You need to go towards the natural spring.
Tourists reviews
Vacationers in Odessa note that an amazing city with its attractions, a large number of beach areas for every taste and the hospitality of the indigenous population leaves pleasant memories for a long time. There are no minuses in the rest in these places, or they are not remembered by tourists at all.
Little conclusion
Now you know the best beaches of Odessa, photos of many of them are presented for clarity in the article. We hope that this information was interesting and useful to you. Enjoy your stay!