6 Best Sights in Ukraine

Odessa's Archeological Museum is one of the oldest in Ukraine, founded in 1825. Its purpose was to carry out excavations in the northern Black Sea region and preserve its history. More than 160,000 exhibits make up one of the largest collections related to the Black Sea. Some exhibits have information in English.

You can view ship models as well as naval mementos in this museum dedicated to Russia's navy, which had a historically important base here. The museum was a direct result of the scuttling of the entire fleet in Sevastpol's harbor during the Crimean War.

The Odessa Catacombs are a vast, multilevel network of tunnels, the result of stone mining for the construction of Odessa city. To explore the underground part of Odessan history, you'll have to make the trip to the Catacomb Museum (a.k.a. "the Museum of Partisan Glory") in Nerubayskoye, and do so on a guided tour. Just outside the city, the museum tells how during World War II the Ukrainian partisans used these tunnels as a base from which to attack the occupying Nazi troops. Fagot Agency (Rishelievska 4,) offers a guided excursion to the catacombs, which should be booked a day in advance. The Museum shows only a fragment of the underground maze. Many "wild" sections have become a destination for adventure tourists. Touring of the catacombs on your own can be very dangerous.

The Russian playwright Anton Chekhov was drawn to Yalta for the air, which was said to be beneficial for his tuberculosis. He designed both the house and garden and produced a great deal of his literary output here (including the The Cherry Orchard and Three Sisters).

Founded in 1977, the museum was opened to the public in 1984. It occupies a 19th century palace built by the architect Ludwig Otton. The collections located in 24 halls utilize real historical objects to trace the history of literary Odessa. More than 300 writers are represented.

This open-air museum, a branch of the local history museum, contains more than 200 statues of Ukrainian, Russian, and Western fairy-tale characters. Crimean artists, wood carvers, and stonecutters created the pieces. You can stroll among the sculptures when visiting the nearby zoo.