Tips on Odessa Warnings or Dangers – Stay Safe!

Odessa Warnings and Dangers

A port city, located in southern Ukraine, Odessa is a cultural city home to an opera and public ballet. Although abundant with life, there are some dangers and warnings for travelers going to Odessa. Below, we have created a short list of warnings when visiting Odessa.

Walking Downtown

The sidewalks in Odessa are in a sorry state of disrepair. If you are walking in the city, especially in the lesser traveled inner city blocks, be mindful of the sidewalks. Many of the curbs and concrete slabs are crumbling and filled with large holes. Pay particular attention when walking at night in the dark to not trip and stumble.

Drinking Water

The municipal tap water is not suitable for people to drink. For this reason, always purchase bottled water. In Odessa, bottle water is available as both still water and soda water. The still water is usually bottled with a light blue cap, while the soda water has a dark blue cap.

Busy Areas

Pick-pocketers are abundant in Odessa. Make sure that when you are in a busy area to always watch your purse or bags. Busy streets, subways, and busses are a perfect area for pick-pocketers to target tourists. When walking through busy areas, always make sure to never keep your wallet in your back pocket.

Counterfeit Goods

While it is true that Odessa has some great prices on goods for sale, this mostly holds true to handmade arts and crafts. Odessa has several counterfeit goods that are available for purchase. It is a safe assumption that if you see Western products and brands at very low prices, they are most likely counterfeit. There is a reason why Odessa is so famous for its bargain prices.

Driving and Parking

Driving in Odessa can go one of two ways. Either people drive extremely slow and are overly cautious, or there are people who are very dangerous drivers with excessive speeding. Parking in the city is also an issue.  Often, drivers will drive over the curbs of sidewalks, endangering passing pedestrians, to create a make-shift parking space. While the Odessa police have heavily cracked down on this infraction, handing out hefty fines to offenders, the practice still happens quite regular during busy times in the city.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about warnings and dangers in Odessa.