Jewish Odessa walking tour

Uncover the story of Odessa's Jewry since the city's founding till the end of the 19th century on this 3-hour Jewish Odessa walking tour. Explore the sights related to the Golden Age of Odessa's Jewry.

From the first Jewish settlers to the establishment of the Jewish merchant community to the Haskalah to the first pogroms and the appearance of the Odessa's Palestine committee we tell the exciting story of the Golden Age of Odessa's Jewry. We immerse in the Jewish past through the city landmarks and the Jewish sights. We visit the Great Choral synagogue and the Brodsky temple. A walk through the area of the pogroms lets us uncover one of the darkest periods of Odessa's history. How did Odessa become the cultural center for the Jews? After all, the first Jewish newspapers - in Russian, Yiddish and Hebrew were published here. On top of that, we explore the places described by Jabotinsky in his novel The Five and in the famous The Hare with Amber Eyes.

Itinerary

1. Primorsky Boulevard · 20 min

   We'll talk of Odessa's early Jewish settlers. What attracted them to Odessa? Who were they? Where did they come from? Small craftsmen and traders. Some of them later became affluent merchants and bankers. Like the famous Ephrussi.

2. Odessa Synagogue · 45 min

   We'll see the two temples - the Brodsky synagogue and the Main Choral synagogue. We'll share with you the story of the temples and talk about the two communities: the German Jews and the Orthodox community.

3. Monument to Isaac Babel · 20 min

   The story of Isaac Babel and Odessa's Tales. And who put the monument and why does it look like this?

4. Odessa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater · 10 min

   Described by Ze'ev Jabotinsky in his novel The Five, this Odessa's iconic sight (as well as its predecessor) had a huge impact upon Odessa's Jewry. We'll uncover this during our tour.

What's included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)

What's not included

• Gratuities

Meeting point

Start time

09:00

End point

Languages

In-person guide: German, English

Travellers

• Infant (0–1)
• Child (2–14)
• Youth (15–17)
• Adult (18–90)

Options

• Jewish Odessa walking tourfrom €32.24

  Start time: 09:00

  In-person guide: German, English

Additional information

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Dress code to go inside the synagogue applies. Entrance to the synagogue is restricted during the Jewish holidays and shabbat.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.