Kiev	Odessa	Crimea	Western Ukraine
	Culture and Events
Kyiv hosts some great performances in a range of artistic fields, from opera and ballet to classical music and art exhibitions. The best part is that you can visit such high-quality events for much less than in the rest of Europe. Students really have it good with their discounts. Films are usually dubbed in Russian without English subtitles, so unless it's a Jackie Chan movie it may be hard to follow the plot. Some cinemas show recently released films in English. Prepare to book tickets at the desk as you would for a baseball or football match, as you will be asked to choose a particular seat - and you may pay a little more for the upper-deck.

National Philharmonic , Volodymyrs'kyi uzviz 2, (M) Maidan Nezalezhnosti, tel. 278 16 97, www.filarmonia.com.ua. A beautiful building with beautiful music played regularly inside.

Art galleries Akvarel , Kostyol'na 6, (M) Maidan Nezalezhnosti, tel. 279 14 38. > Open 12:00 - 18:30. Closed Mon. Atelier Karas , Andriivs'kyi uzvlz 22A, (M) Kontrak-tova Ploscha, tel. 238 65 31. Come into this 19th century building on famous Kyiv street to find a collection of contem¬porary art of Ukraine. > Open 10:00 -18:00.

Collection , Pankivs'ka 8, (M) Universytet, tel. 287 37 66. > Open 10:00 -19:00. Closed Mon.
Gallery 36 , Andriivs'kyi uzviz 36, (M) Kontraktova Ploscha, tel. 278 29 85, www.gallery36.org.ua. Open 11:00 -18:00. Closed Mon.
Grifon , Kostyol'na 6, (M) Maidan Nezalezhnosti, tel. 270 70 84. Paintings, sculptures, mini tapestries and more. > Open 11:00 - 19:00. Closed Mon.
Irena Artema 35, (M) Luk'yanivs'ka, tel. 424 74 93, fax 424 74 92, www.irena. mci.kiev.ua. Modern art from Ukraine and abroad. Open 10:30 - 19:30.
L-Art Andriivs'kyi uzviz 2B, (M) Kontraktova Ploscha, tel. 425 03 20, www.lartgallery.com. A collection of second half of the 20th century Soviet art. > Open 11:00 - 19:00. Closed Sun.
Mystetskyi Arsenal Sichnevoho Povstannia 28, tel. 254 50 86, artgallery@dpma.com.ua. Open 11:00 - 19:00. Closed Mon.
Maysternya, Artema 1-5, (M) Zoloti Vorota, tel. 272 05 47. > Open 10:00 -18:00. Closed Tue.
Mystets , Chervonoarmyis'ka 12, (M) L'va Tolstoho, tel. 234 40 06. > Open 11:00 - 18:00. Closed Sun.
Mystetskiy Kurin' Pyrohova, (M) Universytet, tel. 233 58 75. > Open 10:00 - 19:00.
PidWall , lllins'ka 9, (M) Kontraktova Ploscha, tel. 425 21 54. > Open 16:00 - 20:00. Closed Mon, Sun.
Silver Bells 1-4, Sichnevoho Povstannia 18/29, (M) Arsenal'na, tel. 254 57 77. > Open 09:00 - 18:30, Sat 12:00 - 16:00. Closed Sun.
Sofia-A , Velyka Zhytomyrs'ka 29A, of. 2, (M) Zoloti Vorota, tel. 272 25 46, www.sofia-a.com. > Open 11:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon, Sat, Sun.
Soviart , Andriivs'kyi uzviz 22A, (M) Kontraktova Plos-cha, tel. 425 22 19. > Open 11:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon.
Tryptych, Andriivs'kyi uzviz 34, (M) Kontraktova Ploscha, tel. 279 07 59, fax 279 83 85. Contemporary decorative art. > Open 10:00 - 19:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon.
Tvorchist (Creation), Andriivs'kyi uzviz 34A, (M) Kontraktova Ploscha, tel. 278 39 53. Amateur and folk arts. > Open 12:00 -19:00. Closed Mon, Sun.
Cinemas
Butterfly Moskovs'kyi prosp. 6, (M) Petrivka, tel. 53139 77, www.kino-butterfly.com.ua. > Tickets 10-35Hr.
Butterfly Deluxe Gorkoho 50, (M) Respublikans'kyi Stadion, tel. 206 13 20, www.kino-butterfly.com.ua. Tickets 10-55Hr.
Butterfly Ultramarin , Uryts'koho 1A, (M) Vokzal'na, tel. 206 03 50. > Tickets 20-45Hr.
Kinopalats , Instytuts'ka 1, (M) Maidan Nezalezhnosti, tel. 278 72 23, www.kino. kiev.ua. > Tickets 10-35Hr.
Kinopanorama , Shota Rustaveli 19, (M) Palats Sportu, tel. 287 11 35/287 30 41, www.kinopanorama. com.ua. > Tickets 10-25Hr.
Kyiv , Chervonoarmiys'ka 19, (M) L'va Tolstoho, tel. 234 73 81/251 21 99/234 33 80, www.kievkino.com.ua. > Tickets 10-35Hr.
Kyivs'ka Ros , Artema 93, (M) Luk'yanivs'ka, tel. 486 74 74, www.kievrus.com.ua. Ukraine's biggest screen, and one of Europe's largest, at 26m x 11m. Also a cafe, bar and billiards. > Tickets 10-35Hr.
Odesa , Peremohy prosp. 3, (M) Universytet, tel. 496 15 11, www.kinoodessa.com. This is the only cinema in Kyiv that shows movies in original language which is most of the times English. There is always one film in original shown for a week at 18.00. > Tickets 10-36Hr.
Ukraina , Horodets'koho 5, (M) Khreschatyk, tel. 279 63 01, www.kino-ukraina.com.ua. The swankiest and therefore naturally most expensive cinema in town, and that goes for the popcorn, too. The first two showings of the day are a mere 10Hr, though. > Tickets 10-46Hr.
Zhovten , Kostiantynivs'ka 26, (M) Kontraktova Ploscha, tel. 425 89 09, www.zhovten-kino.kiev.ua. Special women's and kid's clubs with reduced prices meet on weekends. Tickets 10-25Hr, sofa for two spectators 60Hr.
Circus
Circus, Peremohy pi. 2, (M) Universytet, tel. 486 39 27. Tickets 10-35Hr. > Shows Thu, Fri - 19:00; Sat, Sun - 13:00 and 17:00.

Theatres Cafe-Theatre Koleso , Andriivs'kyi uzviz 8, (M) Kon-traktova Ploscha, tel. 425 05 27/425 04 22, fax 425 14 36, www.koleso.teatr.kiev.ua. The audience is invited to participate in the humorous, folklore-based programmes staged in this cafe setting. > Tickets 20-50Hr. Drama and Comedy Theatre on the Left Bank , Brovars'kyi prosp. 25, (M) Livoberezhna, tel. 517 89 80. Commonly known as Kyiv's top experimental theatre, it specialis¬es in the works of dramatic Ukrainian and foreign playwrights, ranging from comedy to drama. > Tickets 15-30Hr.

Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre I.Franka pl. 3, (M) Khreschatyk, tel. 279 59 91, www.franko-theatre.kiev.ua. The Theatre was built in 1898. Since 1926, the theatre troop, which is named for a famous Ukrainian writer, Ivan Franko, has been performing there. The repertoire consists of classical, music and drama performances. The performances are in Ukrainian.
Kyiv Academy Doll Theatre M.Hmshevs'koho, 1A, (M) Maidan Nezalezhnosti, tel. 278 04 99. This theatre replaced an old movie house near Yevropeis'ka ploscha. There are two halls in the thearte: the large hall on the first floor hosts up to 300 guests, the small one on the second floor hosts up to 100. The repertoire includes a wide variety of clildren's shows and ticket prices are very reasonable.
Kyiv Theatre of Operetta, Chervonoarmiys'ka 53/3, (M) Respublikans'kyi Stadion, tel. 287 36 50/287 26 30, kiev-operetta.kiev.ua.
Lesya Ukrainka Russian Drama Theatre , B.Khmel'nyts'koho 5, (M) Teatral'na, tel. 234 42 23, www.rusdram.com.ua. This tradition-rich Russian venue was established in 1926 and is often referred to as the theatre of the human soul'. Performances are in Russian language.
Taras Shevchenko National Opera of Ukraine , Volodymyrs'ka 50, (M) Zoloti Vorota, tel. 234 71 65/279 11 69, www.opera.com.ua. Home of the country's most famous opera and ballet company. Located on Theatre Square, so named because the City Theatre was on this site from 1856 until 1901, when it was replaced by the opera.
Plastic Drama Theatre Shovkovychna 7A, (M) Khreschatyk, tel. 253 93 83, ktpd.ho.com.ua. Tickets 15-20Hr.
Puppet on-Strings Theatre Sahaydachnoho 29/3, (M) Poshtova Ploscha, tel. 417 30 58. Traditional tales of local and international origin are given new interpreta-tions in these puppet productions.
Taras Shevchenko National Opera of Ukraine , Volodymyrs'ka 50, (M) Zoloti Vorota, tel. 234 7165/279 11 69, www.opera.com.ua. Home of the country's most fa-mous opera and ballet company. Located on Theatre Square, so named because the City Theatre was on this site from 1856 until 1901, when it was replaced by the opera.
Young People's Theatre , Lips'ka 15/17, (M) Arsenal'na, tel. 253 62 19, www.tuz.kiev.ua. >Tickets 8-15Hr.
Concert halls
Andriivs'ka Church, Andriivs'kyi uzviz 23, (M) Kon-traktova Ploscha, tel. 278 58 61/486 54 90.
FreeDom Frunze 134, (M) Petrivka, tel. 468 40 68.
House of Organ and Chamber Music , Chervonoarmiys'ka 77, (M) Respublikans'kyi Stadion, tel. 526 31 86, www.organhall.kiev.ua. Different classical concerts are hosted inside turn-of-the-century, Gothic-style St. Nicholas' Cathedral.
National Musical Academy , Horodetskoho 1-3/11, (M) Khreschatyk, tel. 279 12 42/279 07 92.
National Philharmonic , Volodymyrs'kyi uzviz 2, (M) Maidan Nezalezhnosti, tel. 278 16 97, www.filarmo-nia.com.ua. A beautiful building with beautiful music played regularly inside.
Palace of Sport Sportyvna pl. 1, (M) Palats Sportu, tel. 246 74 06. Various rock and pop acts, both Slavic and international, play this venue.
The International Centre of Culture and Art 'Oc-tober Palace' , Instytuts'ka 1, (M) Maidan Nezale-zhnosti, tel. 279 15 82.
Ukraine Palace, Chervonoarmiys'ka 103, (M) Palats Ukraina, tel. 247 24 76. A Slavic star is simply not a star if he hasn't performed here, which means you haven't lived in Kyiv if you haven't seen a show here... if, of course, you're into Slavic music.
Where to get tickets
Tickets to most major events are available from:
Central box office, Khreshatyk 21, (M) Khreshatyk, tel. 278 76 42, www.ctk.kiev.ua.
Olvia , Metrograd mall (from Rohnidyns'ka str.), (M) Palats Sportu, tel. 501 25 20/501 25 28, www. olvia.com.ua. > Open 09:00 - 18:00.
Football
The Ukrainian football championship looks to be coming back to Kyiv, with Dynamo Kyiv clear at the top of Shakhtar Donets'k as we go to print.

Artists from all over the country come to Kyiv with their arts and crafts, meaning that you can often find great bargains on souvenirs, if you shop around. A number of street traders will charge more at this time of year: whatever you buy make sure you know how much it costs elsewhere. Every year thousands of people fill Andriivs'kyi Uzviz, looking for bargains or simply enjoying the atmosphere. The crowd is usually so huge that just crossing what is a barrow street can take ten minutes. It's all part of the fun, however. Khreschatyk, Maidan Nezalezhnosti, and European Square will all be dotted with different sized stages and will host a variety of performances; they will also have plenty of places to eat and drink. At the end of the day there are fireworks and concerts way past midnight in the city's central squares.
Whatever you do on Kyiv Day, wear your most comfortable walking shoes, dress appropriately for the weather conditions (it can still be changeable at this time of year), and enjoy yourself. It will be the best memory you will take home from Kyiv.