Picturesque, distinctive Odessa is considered one of the tourist centers of Ukraine. For whatever purpose travelers come here, they do not miss the opportunity to stroll along Primorsky Boulevard, look at Privoz and drink a glass of beer in the famous "Gambrinus". So, how to get to Odessa by public transport - quickly and economically.
Budget option - by train
The easiest way to get to Odessa is by train, which departs from the Kievsky railway station in Moscow. You will have to spend about a day on the way. However, this option is preferred by most travelers as it allows you to get to your destination for relatively little money. Other advantages of the train are also obvious: on the train you can sit, lie, read, drink tea, communicate with fellow travelers and generally have a great time.
There are no direct trains from St. Petersburg to Odessa. The easiest way for residents of the northern capital is to get to Moscow, and from there go to Odessa. Another option for traveling by train is with a change in Vinnitsa.
Airplanes to Odessa
How to get to Odessa by plane? For several years now, there have been no direct flights between Moscow and Odessa. Some air carriers recommend flying to Odessa with transfers. This option is suitable for those who want:
- get to your destination faster;
- do not monitor your luggage during the trip;
- do not spend more than a dozen minutes on customs clearance.
The easiest way is to choose a flight via Minsk. The flights are operated by the Belavia carrier. Docking takes about an hour, so you won't be able to walk around the capital of Belarus at the same time. But who can put to choose tickets with a longer connection?
It is also easier to fly from St. Petersburg to Odessa via Minsk. The flight will take about four hours. The flight to Odessa via European cities - Prague, Warsaw, Riga will cost a little more. If you have a Schengen visa, then you can even go to these cities for a few hours for a snack or sightseeing. Such trips are more often chosen by those who have free time.
How to get to Odessa by bus
For those who did not travel much by bus, this route to Odessa is not suitable for several reasons: the duration of the journey; lack of comfortable conditions. But many tourists choose this particular way to get to Odessa because of its budget.
On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from Moscow, from the Novoyasenevskaya bus station, buses belonging to the Ukrainian company Tourist leave for Odessa. Travel time is over 22 hours. Buses make stops at the Troebortnoye-Bachevsk checkpoint (1 hour each), Kiev and Uman (10 minutes each). You can get to Odessa directly by bus and from the city of St. Petersburg. Several companies are responsible for transportation there - the same Ukrainian "Tourist" (from the northern bus station Murino) and the Baltic "Ecolines" (from the Vitebsk railway station). On the way from St. Petersburg to Odessa, buses also make several stops so that passengers can stretch their legs a little.
If time permits …
Asking the question “How to get to Odessa?”, Remember that you will have to spend several not very pleasant hours on the border with Ukraine. Experienced travelers recommend not to travel directly, but to take a detour, that is, to enter the territory of Ukraine, for example, from the side of Belarus. Border guards are loyal to visitors from Belarus, and passing border and customs control turns into a simple formality. It is easy to get to the cities of Belarus from Moscow or St. Petersburg by any transport, and from there it is also easy to get to Odessa.
