From classical music to avant-garde stage shows and rock concerts, the standard of Kiev's cultural entertainment is high, and often still cheap enough for most Ukrainians to enjoy. Listings and ticket information can be found online at www.whatson-kiev.com and www.olvia.com.ua.

Ukraine's National Philharmonic, Volodymyrskyi Uzviz 2 (tel: (044) 278 1697; website: www.filarmonia.com.ua) is of great national pride with its year-round repertoire of classical music.

The Taras Shevchenko National Opera of Ukraine, Volodymyrska 50 (tel: (044) 234 7165; website: www.opera.com.ua) houses the country's most famous opera and ballet company in an exquisite 19th-century building with a grandly ornate auditorium.

Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre, I Franka Square 3 (tel: (044) 279 5991; website: www.franko-theatre.kiev.ua) presents a diverse selection of plays from Bulgakov classics to more modern experimental plays in Ukrainian only.

Cinema is popular in Ukraine, but the indigenous film industry is almost non-existent, so cinema goers heading for even the biggest theatre, Cinema Kiev, Krasnoarmeynskaya street 19 (tel: (044) 251 2199) will really only be able to find dubbed Hollywood blockbusters and Russian box office hits.