Under $100: Odessa, Ukraine

Odessa, Ukraine, is a beautiful city with many things to see and do, but you won’t always find it on lists of places around the world you need to visit. Even if you find yourself here for just a day, it’s definitely worth exploring.
Start out by making your way to the Potemkin Stairs, often considered the symbol of Odessa. This grand staircase serves as the entrance point from the sea and contains 192 steps to the top. Though it might sound a little droll at first, once you arrive you’ll be delighted to find the stairs create a fantastic optical illusion. You’ll see what we mean.

Potemkin Stairs © Andrey Shevchenko | Dreamstime

For breakfast, Kompot is a favorite among both locals and tourists and has a pretty extensive breakfast menu, but the true delights here are the teas. Nothing in here should cost more than $10 for a meal, unless you’re a heavy eater.

Kompot is already located on the busy Deribasovskaya Street, so now is the perfect opportunity to shop among the many stores and stalls lining the road. The goods here range from cheap trinkets to high fashion, so how much you want to spend is up to you. We recommend not going over $30.

When you’re done shopping, it’s time to discover the underworld. At least Odessa’s version of it, that is. The city is home to the world’s largest network of underground catacombs, more than 2,500 of them. You can’t access them all, but you can pay a visit to the Museum of Partisan Glory, which is full of interesting artifacts. Entrance is only a few bucks, so spend $5 and have a peek.

Deribasovskaya Street © Evgeniy Fesenko | Dreamstime

For lunch, make your way over to Dacha, a restaurant set amongst an old Soviet summerhouse serving delicious eats with just the right amount of portions for a light lunch. A plate here will cost you between $10 and $20.

Spend the afternoon strolling along Primorsky Boulevard, an open-air exhibit showcasing some of the city’s most picturesque architecture. Then for dinner dine at Rozmarin, a kosher restaurant celebrating the area’s rich Jewish heritage. It’s quite affordable and won’t run you more than $15 per plate.