Potemkin Stairs, Odessa (must see)

The Potemkin Stairs are among Odessa’s most recognizable landmarks, symbolizing the city’s link between the sea and the urban centre above. Completed in 1841, this grand staircase was originally designed by Italian architect Francesco Boffo to connect the port with Primorsky Boulevard. Comprising 192 steps and extending 142 metres in length, the stairs were ingeniously constructed to create an optical illusion: when viewed from the bottom, only the steps are visible, while from the top, only the landings appear—emphasizing the sense of monumental ascent or descent depending on one’s direction.

Originally called the Boulevard Steps, the monument gained worldwide fame in 1925 after its dramatic portrayal in Sergei Eisenstein’s silent film Battleship Potemkin, where a scene of a baby carriage tumbling down the steps became an enduring symbol of revolutionary cinema. This cinematic moment immortalized the site and gave the stairs their modern name, linking Odessa forever with Soviet film history and global culture alike.

Visitors climbing the Potemkin Stairs experience more than a feat of engineering—they walk through layers of Odessa’s history. Bronze plaques mark key points, and midway up, sweeping views of the harbour unfold, framed by classical balustrades and ornamental lamps. The nearby funicular, added in the early 20th century and rebuilt in recent decades, offers an alternative route to the top for those preferring a leisurely ride.

At the summit lies the elegant Primorsky Boulevard, lined with historic buildings, statues, and cafes, while at the base, the bustling port stretches toward the Black Sea. Together, they capture the spirit of Odessa—majestic, cinematic, and always connected to the sea.