Located on the northern Black Sea coast, various ethnic groups—such as the Scythians—had already settled here in ancient times. Based on archaeological excavations, it is believed that a Greek settlement existed here by the sixth century B.C. at the latest.
The city’s name derives from the Greek colony of Odessos, which is said to have been located in the area. Catherine II founded the city because of its favorable location, which made it possible to build both a naval and a commercial port. The port contributed to Odessa’s global connectivity. The city soon took on a cosmopolitan character due to the influx of people from many parts of Europe. In addition to Ukrainians and Russians, the Jewish, Greek, French, Armenian, Italian, and German communities in the city played a significant role, each influencing the others culturally.

The writer Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin wrote about Odessa: “The city where the air is filled with the spirit of all of Europe, where French is spoken, and where one can read European newspapers and magazines.” Odessa was regarded as a cosmopolitan cultural melting pot well into the 20th century.

Due to a ban on settlement during the Tsarist era, Jews were not allowed to settle in Moscow or St. Petersburg, so many came to Odessa. The city became a magnet for Jewish people from Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe. However, the city’s Jewish heart was lost during World War II in the Holocaust, under Nazi German occupation. By 2017, only 1.2 percent of the population was Jewish.

On February 24, 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine began with the strategic goal of occupying the coastal region and capturing Odessa. Airstrikes were launched against the city as early as the first day. This plan failed due to the city’s determined defense; Odessa remains part of free Ukraine to this day. Russia attacks the city with missiles and drones almost daily.

In October 2025, Ukrainian President Zelensky appointed a military administration in Odessa under the leadership of Serhiy Lysak. This administration works in parallel with the civil administration under the new acting mayor, Ihor Koval.

Odessa is known for its beauty and mild climate. Before Putin’s invasion, the city welcomed three million tourists a year. Since the war began, most foreign tourists have stayed away; only soldiers and people from neighboring regions visit the city to enjoy its seemingly idyllic seaside setting.

Odessa boasts many architectural landmarks, such as several grand hotels, the 19th-century Vorontsov Palace—built in the English palace style—and, of course, the Potemkin Stairs, whose 192 steps lead from downtown to the harbor. Deribasivska Street—named after José de Ribas, the Spanish-born admiral and co-founder of Odessa—is the most popular promenade and a favorite gathering place for locals. 

The city’s landmark is the magnificent opera house, built by the Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer and opened in 1887. It is the creative masterpiece of the two architects. Along the edge of the Old Town, stretching toward the harbor and the sea, are a series of green spaces such as Greek Park, Istanbul Park, and Taras Shevchenko Park. Here, the city’s literary connection is immediately apparent in the park benches shaped like open books.

The Port of Odessa has grown in importance since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. It is vital to the Ukrainian economy and is considered Ukraine’s largest seaport on the Black Sea.

Odessa is located 200 kilometers from Crimea and is easily accessible to ships from Europe. Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 10,500 technology companies and 150 tech firms were based in Odessa. Since the war began, these numbers have increased significantly, with many companies relocating to Odessa, primarily from the eastern parts of the country. Despite the war, the city is thus on its way to becoming “Ukraine’s number one technology hub.”

Odessa is home to Odessa National Mechnikov University, one of Ukraine’s oldest and most prestigious universities, which also includes the Odessa Astronomical Observatory. Other universities include the State Polytechnic University, the State Maritime University, the National Medical University, the K. D. Ushinsky South Ukrainian State Pedagogical University, and the National University of Economics. In addition, there is the Conservatory and several other academies, such as the Odessa Military Academy.

Odessa, also known as the “City of Smiles,” boasts a rich cultural landscape, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is also called the City of Books. Its most famous literary resident in the 19th century was Alexander Pushkin.

Among other things, the city’s significant cultural monuments have been affected by the destruction of the war. In Odessa’s historic center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, several museums were damaged. The Archaeological Museum, the Maritime Museum at the harbor, and the Literary Museum—which was housed in a stately building—were all attacked. The Transfiguration Cathedral, a major landmark founded in 1794 and located on the edge of the Old Town, was also severely damaged.

The Odessa Literature Festival, which had been held since 2015 and attracted international authors annually, was also affected.

Southern Ukrainian cuisine combines influences from many neighboring cultural regions.
Potatoes are frequently used in dishes. The national dish is borscht, a vegetable soup with beets as the main ingredient. The soup originated in Ukraine. Another Ukrainian specialty is vareniki, boiled dumplings with various fillings, such as mushrooms, meat, or potatoes. Fish is also more common here than in other regions of Ukraine.

Town twinning usually arises from similarities in size, infrastructure, and the special characteristics of a municipality. The Mainz–Odessa town twinning is based on solidarity with Ukraine, the city, and its inhabitants, who have been defending themselves against Russian military attacks since 2022.

At first glance, there are major differences between Odessa and Mainz: Odessa is four times the size of Mainz, Odessa is a young city, Mainz is over 2000 years old. Nevertheless, the two cities have many similarities – Odessa and Mainz are a good match. Both regions are considered melting pots of many cultures, languages, and religions. Mainz and Odessa are each part of the largest wine-growing region in their respective countries. Both cities were centers of Jewish life; today, the Jewish community in Mainz has around 1,000 members, including some from Odessa.