Potemkin Stairs

The Potemkin Stairs are a monumental staircase in Odesa, Ukraine, connecting the harbor to the city center on the hilltop. The design follows classical principles, with the upper width narrower than the lower and ten flat landings interrupting the steps.

Prince Mikhail Vorontsov commissioned three architects to build the stairs between 1837 and 1841 to create access from the harbor to the city. The structure originally served as an important route for trade activities and passenger movement between sea and land.

The stairs appear in many films and photographs and serve residents as a backdrop for wedding portraits and walks overlooking the water. Visitors often come here to recreate the famous scene from the 1925 film and enjoy the wide view from the upper end.

The stairs can be climbed in any weather, but rainy days make the steps slippery and require more caution during ascent and descent. A funicular runs parallel to the side and offers a convenient alternative for those who wish to avoid the climb.

The steps create an optical illusion through the varying width of the landings, so from the harbor one sees only the ten platforms. Those standing at the top, however, perceive only the steps without the interruptions in between.

Location: Odesa

Inception: 1825

Architects: Francesco Boffo, Avraam Melnikov, Charles Michel Potier

Official opening: 1841

Architectural style: classicism

GPS coordinates: 46.48854,30.74199

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:58