State Opera & Ballet Theatre

Built by the Russians in 1932, the State Opera & Ballet Theatre is the salmon-pinkish building on the southeast corner of Sükhbaatar Sq. On Saturday and Sunday evenings throughout the year, and sometimes also on weekend afternoons in the summer, the theatre holds stirring opera (in Mongolian) and ballet shows.

One of the best local operas is Three Fateful Hills - sometimes known as the Story of Three Lives - by Mongolia's most famous poet and playwright, D Natsagdorj. Another recommended opera is Uran Khas, written by J Chuluun. Other productions include an exhilarating (but long) rendition of Carmen, plus plenty of Puccini and Tchaikovsky.

A board outside the theatre lists the shows for the current month in English. Advance purchase is worthwhile for popular shows because tickets are numbered, so it's possible to score a good seat if you book early. The box office is open 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 Wednesday to Sunday.