Gogolfest Returns with La Fura dels Baus

This year Gogolfest will host a performance from the cutting edge Spanish theatre company

For all of you unlucky souls who will have to remain in Kyiv over the summer, take heed of all of the stuff everyone else is missing out on. From swimming pools, to go carts, to curling and more, Kyiv’s complexes are full of fun stuff to keep you entertained for hours. You may even find that you don’t want to go home!

It’s 07.00, Sunday morning, and while 99% of Kyiv citizens are dreaming away, I am already on the metro making my way to Heroiv Dnipra. I will be windsurfing today, and there is nothing that could possibly ruin that. Unless, that is, there is no wind…

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: surfing in Kyiv is hardly possible. But I’m talking about windsurfing – which is something different altogether – and for that we have everything we need.

According to the Kyiv Sanitary Service, there’s only one free beach in Kyiv that meets all the necessary requirements, and that’s the Kids’ Beach in Hydropark. And while there are literally tonnes of other sandy bits where you could throw down a towel and claim as your own for a few hours, free spots that have been deemed acceptable number only four. Nonetheless, they’re ready to be checked out and deemed acceptable by the sun-worshipping Kyiv public, so without further ado, we give you Kyiv Beaches: some of the best sand in town.
When we say that these spots have been deemed acceptable, we mean that the quality of water has been tested, they’ve got bins for garbage (that could use a little paint), and there is probably a place for you to change.

While many people may think otherwise, curling is an interesting sport. It takes a lot of skill to slide the stone down the ice with the right amount of weight, and to know when to sweep and not to sweep. Okay, so as spectator sports go it’s not exactly extreme motocross, but it’s always looked like a lot of fun to play. So when I hear that the new Dream Town mall down in Obolon has a curling rink, I get a few lads together and off we go to give it a try.

May holidays, with their nice and shiny weather, are here and there’s plenty of ways to ensure they do not go to waste. You can go clubbing and partying, lap up some culture courtesy of the latest exhibitions, or hit the cinemas to see some of the hottest new releases. But considering the beautiful spring weather that we are most happily currently experiencing, perhaps the best option is to spend your time outside. And what better way to do that than to grab your bike, that piece of metal and wheels which has been peacefully resting the whole winter long, and go cycling!

Covering distances of up to 50km , we’ve compiled a few routes for you to take out your long lost love and work up a sweat. There is no special preparation needed: Just time, perhaps a water bottle or two, and an open mind. 

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Kyiv is a great nightlife city. It’s got everything you could ever want in terms of theatres, clubs and wee-morning-hour haunts. Once you get out of Kyiv, however, the scenery changes and out pop a great number of places to hangout while being outdoorsy. With such a rich countryside, there is no stopping the wide open spaces you’ll uncover, making Ukraine in general a great al fresco place to live as well. While routes for hiking and spots for camping have yet to really catch on, we’ve gone in a few different directions looking for various locations to escape the concrete jungle.

Rock climbing is a physically and mentally demanding activity and one that always tests the strength, endurance, agility and balance of anyone brave enough to give it a shot. While it can be quite dangerous without the proper knowledge of technique and use of specialised equipment, here in Kyiv we’ve got a number of different facilities that will help you out with all of your climbing needs; making it easy, fun and safe to go as high as you dare!

With spring almost in full swing, we here at What’s On thought we would head out to paint the town – literally.

It’s been a long bleak winter, in more ways than one, but spring is finally here and the skies are blue, so it might be time to think of losing a kilo or two that has sneakily accumulated on your waistline over the winter months. Here are our suggestions for some fun and healthy activities that won’t cost the earth.

Swimming
This exercises every area of the body and comes without the risk of any stress or damage.  Swimming really gets you in shape. Your legs, arms, chest and stomach are all given a good work out, especially if you vary your stroke, and it’s excellent aerobic exercise as well. If you’re the brave type, you can just head down to the Dnipro and jump in, but if you’re a little more cautious you might want to try one of the city’s many public pools. An hour of swimming followed by a good hot shower, and you’ll feel fresh as a spring daisy, and be in better shape for it. It’s great fun for the whole family.