Ukraine is positioned for great things to come, business is booming, a retail revolution is in full swing and its economic strength is on the rise. Big international brands and leading designers have a presence here, just as they do in all other major European capital cities. There are boutiques catering to a niche market, speciality stores and high-end shops. This consumerism has taken its time spreading to smaller towns and cities but is in force in Odessa. Side by side with the typical handicraft shops of old are swanky new Western-style malls and global store chains.

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Despite all the new glitz and glamour, it is the traditional craftsmanship in jewellery, and ceramics and artwork by the locals that make the most prized buys on a holiday here.

Our Odessa Shopping Guide below will tell you all about shopping in Odessa, from what to buy to recommendations of where to buy it. We also have some general information on what to buy whilst travelling in our Ukraine Shopping Guide. You may also want to take a break whilst shopping in one of the relaxing and good value Odessa restaurants.

Odessa Shopping Guide

An Odessa shopping trip is a joy for any shopaholic. There's a mind boggling variety of things you can buy at so many different prices that you're sure to come away happy. Whether it is branded bags and shoes, lingerie or clothes you are buying, Odessa will not disappoint. There are supermarkets, department stores and grocery stores, which are state run or privately owned. All of these stock local as well as imported goods.

While most shops have traditionally accepted only local currency payments, they are now increasingly open to credit cards like MasterCard, Visa or Euro Card. Look out for the prominent display on the windows mentioning if cards are accepted or check for signage behind or near the cashier before shopping.

The more modern malls and stores stock the latest fashions as well odd items like T-shirts that say USSR on them! There are a number of markets dotted around the city - if you have the time, try and visit them all!

A word of caution if you intend to buy any perishable goods - if you're buying at a state-run store, double check the expiry dates.

Shops in Odessa are open from Monday to Saturday, with Sunday being the weekly holiday. Most stores close for lunch between 1 and 2pm or 2 and 3pm.

Supermarkets

Supermarkets, without which much of the developed world would feel crippled, have made their mark in Ukraine too. They are now as much a part of local life here as anywhere else in the world. International stores like Mega Market, Furshet, Silpo and Billa have all opened here and have a huge following. These supermarkets hold a variety of brands and categories of products all under one roof and this makes them ever so convenient. Locals have taken to this new format of shopping like fish to water and enjoy the quick convenience of shopping. The first few outlets opened up in the 1990s and have continued to multiply since then. Foreign brands are stocked side by side with local products.

Local Handicrafts

Be sure to set aside some money to shop for the exquisite hand made goods like ceramics, woodwork, leather products and even embroidery. Many of these techniques have been interestingly applied to create works of art too. The acclaimed Easter Egg designs or pysanky is made using a stylus and dyes with beeswax. A lot of the artistic tradition is also deeply rooted in the spiritual past of the region.

Odessa is also well known for its beautifully worked textiles, which are believed to be of the highest quality. Speciality food products like caviar as well as some special confectionery and chocolates are famous here. Besides this, drinks like wine, beer and vodka are popular buys.

If you're buying anything like a painting or sculpture that could be of historical significance, it is ideal to get a certificate proving it is not an ancient relic that you are smuggling out of the country.

Shopping in Ukraine

With a stupendous market-size of 48 million consumers, it is no surprise that Ukraine has such great shopping! The malls and local stores alike will leave you spoilt for choice. The farmer's markets remain the best place to see how the locals shop and to check out the freshest produce and some of the loveliest flowers.

A wonderful souvenir of your trip here will be some local art. Whether it is paintings or jewellery or perhaps even ceramics that catch your fancy, do be sure to explore the numerous art stalls, street side art counters and galleries. Wherever possible try and get documentation that will ease the customs process for you. You wouldn't want to be asked to leave your beautiful artwork behind!

Shopping Places

Passage

Passage is a shopping centre which is located at the corner of the main streets of the city in a beautiful building. It connects Deribasovskaya with Preobrazhenskaya. The abundance of different sculptures and decorations will make you feel as if you are in a museum. There is a line of shops here where you may choose various kinds of things.

Address : Deribasovskaya, Odessa, Ukraine.

Odessa Privoz

The Privoz market is one of the largest farmer markets in Ukraine. Fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, cheese, milk, butter, sausages, honey and other various groceries, along with different supplemental articles are sold daily there. The market is famous for plenty of its goods, great prices and notoriously colourful language of local salespeople. An estimate of more than 300,000 visit Privoz daily on good market days

Address : Privoznaya, Odessa, Ukaine.

Athena

A huge and flashy mall located in the multi-storeyed building in the very centre of the city. There is plenty of various shops on different levels as well as small bars where you may have a snack.

Address : Grecheskaya Square 3/4, Odessa, Ukraine.

Gallery

Gallery offers you fresh flowers round the clock, service of experienced florists and designers. You can find over 150 kinds of room plants, accessories and souvenirs.

Address : Preobrazhenskaya 25, Odessa, Ukraine

Phone : (+38 048) 729 48 58

Europe

Europe is a newly built shopping centre located in Deribasovskaya Street, the main street of Odessa. It includes shops of all kinds, a choice of restaurants and fast food possibilities.

Address : Deribasovskaya 21, Odessa, Ukraine

Books' Supermarket

This two-level book store is situated in the centre of the city, offering the widest selection of books in different languages. Here you will find fiction, science, history, psychology, philosophy, art, and children books.

Address : Bunina 33, Odessa, Ukraine

Bookstore Knizhkova Kramnitsya

A cosy small bookshop in the city centre. There you may find amazing photo-albums and different books about Ukrainian culture and history in English. The prices are lower than in stores.

Address : Troitskaya 30, Odessa, Ukraine

Phone : +38 048 724 62 02

Entertainment Shopping Center Na Srednefantanskoy

A convergence of all possible kinds of shops including flashy department stores, several restaurants, cinema-city, a playground for the kids - all within a quick walking distance to each other. Also, there is a luxurious beauty-salon called Pink Panther. Car-parking is free of charge.

Address : 4 Semaforny Lane, Odessa, Ukraine

Basel

Located in the main street of Odessa this shop offers a great variety of exclusive jewellery and watches.

Address : 33 Deribasovskaya, Odessa, Ukraine

Phone : +38 048 726 14 53; +38 0482 35 70 35

Website : http://www.noblesse.com

Crafts Market

Right next to the beautiful Transfiguration Cathedral, the biggest in the city there is an open crafts market. You will find plenty of different souvenirs, water-colours and oil-paintings by local artists, embroideries, pottery, jewellery and semi-precious stones, matryoshka-dolls, and postcards.

Address : Preobrazhenskaya Square, Odessa, Ukraine

Valencia

Fashion jewellery, watches of different brands, gifts can be purchased in this shop.

Address : 36 Ekaterinenskaya, Odessa, Ukraine

Phone : +38 048 786 94 27

Mango

This shop offering women's wear and accessories is very-well known among ladies.

Address : 9 Rishelyevskaya, Odessa

Phone : +38 048 715 51 06

Website : http://www.mango.com

Lubava

This is a wonderful souvenir shop where plenty of popular handicraft stuff, crockery, tableware and ceramics can be found.

Address : 61,Uspenskaya, Odessa, Ukraine

Phone : (+38 095) 289 62 25

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Your Local Connection

Welcome to Odessa!

Meet your local connection in Odessa, Helen, Vicki, Tatiana and the team of Primexpress! We are excited to be onboard with whl.travel, working with nice people and a modern attitude towards tourism! We want to enlighten people about our culture, history, art, etc- and we like to present it in a very artistic way. For example, our tour "Home Visits" offers guests the chance to visit ordinary Odessa people in their apartments, meet their family and converse- isn't it a wonderful way of promoting our local culture?

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