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Capital and largest city of Mongolia
Photo: Zazaa Mongolia, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ulaanbaatar (Улаанбаатар) — also Ulan Bator, UB, or in the local language, Khot ("the city") — is the capital and the largest city of Mongolia. With more than 1.6 million residents as of 2023, Ulaanbaatar is home to roughly half of Mongolia's population and serves as the starting point for pretty much all travel around Mongolia.
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Чойжин ламын сүм
These five temples and five arched gates are a unique showcase of religious art and the history of Buddhism in Mongolia, a gem of 20th century Mongolian cultural heritage, and a fine example of Buddhist architecture. The monastery was active until 1938, was inscribed in 1941 on the list of historical and cultural monuments, and became a museum the following year. In the main temple you'll find the sculpture of the Choijin Lama and the embalmed mummy of his teacher, as well as the great coral mask of Begtse, created under the direction of protectors using over 6,000 pieces of coral. Elsewhere in the complex, Yadam Temple and Amgalan Temple contain rare artifacts made by the famous Mongolian artist and sculptor, Zanabazar.
Gandantegchinlen Khiid or Gandan Monastery
The main monastery in the city has services around 10:00 every morning. It is one of the few monasteries in the country that were spared during the Communist purges of the 1930s.
Богд хааны ордон музей
Built between 1893 and 1903 by Mongolian masters, this palace was dedicated to the VIII Bogd Gegeen, head of Tibetan Buddhism and Khan of Mongolia from 1911 until 1924 (the last three years of which were as a constitutional monarch). Upon his death, the palace became the first national historical museum of Mongolia. The museum contains twelve collections showcasing valuable objects and works of art from the 17th to early 20th centuries (notable among which are gilded bronze sculptures by the first Bogd Javzundamba Zanabazar and his school, 19th- and 20th century thangka paintings, a Jugder painting of Ulaanbaatar in 1912, and works by modern Mongolian painter B. Sharav), as well as personal possessions of the Khan and his wife, Queen Dondogdulam..
Чингис хаан Үндэсний музей
This modern museum covers the broad sweep of Mongolian imperial history from early tribal kingdoms up to the beginning of the era of domination by China. There are some English-language explanations, and QR codes for everything else.
IQ Museum
This museum displays,manufactures and exports a wide variety of traditional Mongolian puzzle toys, logic games, handcrafted products, and souvenirs, and has launched over 80 international exhibitions and fairs in 50 countries.
Байгалийн түүхийн музей
The complete fossil of the Tarbosaurus bataar — a close cousin of the larger T. Rex that serves as the centerpiece of this museum's impressive collection — was stolen from Mongolia by American archaeologist Eric Prokopi and auctioned in New York for $1 million. The ensuing news coverage set off an international criminal case resulting in Prokopi's arrest and the return of dozens of dinosaur fossils to Mongolia by the U.S. government, which make up the bulk of this museum's collection. In the former Lenin Museum on Freedom Square, the museum contains a couple dozen other complete dinosaur fossils besides the Tarbosaurus, all of which were found in the Gobi Desert.
Монголын Үндэсний музей
This museum holds the most important artifacts of Mongolia's rich history dating back several thousand years. These include ethnographic displays of various Mongolian tribes, petroglyphs and cave drawings, Turkic monuments, weapons, armor, and various displays from the various eras of Mongolian history: the Hun and Mongol Empires, Chinese rule, the Communist era, and the democratic revolution of 1990. There are displays of self-portraits and personal possessions of Genghis Khan and other great khans of the Mongol Empire. Most displays are in English and Mongolian.
A museum established from a building built by a Soviet merchant. It used to house the embassy of the Tuvan People's Republic and a printing house.
The museum consists of indoor display housed in a building and also outdoor display of fighter jet, missile, tanks etc.
A surprisingly good modern art museum that displays the vibrancy of the local art scene. There are temporary exhibits throughout the year as well as a permanent collection.
Занабазарын нэрэмжит Дүрслэх урлагийн музей
The collection includes items from the Stone Age to the 20th century. Particularly interesting is the collection of Buddhist art from the 17th century and later..
Монголын хүүхдийн урлан бүтээх төв
Монгол Арт Галерейн
Russian House Mongolia
Chinggis Square
The big open space in the center of the city with an equestrian statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar, warrior-hero of the 1921 People's Revolution, as well as a seated statue of Genghis Khan that sits at the door of the Government Palace. Inside the Government House is a small museum with artifacts from the Mongol Empire and a reproduction of Genghis Khan's White Peace Banners of State (the Soviets had the originals destroyed in the 1930s).
Зайсан толгой
A huge Communist-era monument on a hill near the city depicting the Russian and Mongolian heroes who fought together during the First and Second World Wars. Nowadays it is a popular viewpoint where you can see over the whole city. There's also a huge Buddhist statue at the bottom.
монголын үндэсний телевиз
Mongolia's national public broadcaster, operating television and radio services. The headquarters houses its main studios and broadcasting facilities. Access to the building may be restricted and generally requires prior permission or an invitation. It is a recognizable landmark associated with the country's radio and television history. The building has a distinctive Soviet-era appearance, with a large rooftop sign and broadcasting tower that make it stand out in the area. While the interior is generally not open to casual visitors, the exterior may be of interest to visitors interested in media history, urban architecture, or photography.
Гүнжийн Нүдэн Нуур
A winter sports resort offering downhill skiing, snowboarding, lifts, equipment rental, ski and snowboard school, and an onsite restaurant. There's a free bus from the Drama Center (next to the Grand Khan Irish Pub) with departures between 08:00 and 19:30 (frequent service on weekends, more sporadic midweek; check schedule to verify bus times).
The mountain ridge south of town, is a great place for a hike. To get there, take the #7, #33 or #43 bus from in front of the Bayangol Hotel to the south end of the line. From there, the road continues south about 100 m, whereupon you'll come to a checkpoint. Proceed, bear left when the road forks, and you'll soon find yourself in a ger camp with a small stream flowing north. This is where the hiking path itself begins, on the left (east) side of the stream. At the top of the ridge, veer west and proceed through the woods for an easy amble of about two or three hours (you'll come to a high point about 500 m past the turn). At the end of that stretch, you have the option of either branching off to the west or else continuing straight and slightly east to Bogd Khan Mountain (this path is marked with orange paint marks on the trees). That part of the trip is quite long — about 10 km one-way — and more challenging, with varying elevations.
The largest and most famous festival in Mongolia, Naadam is held annually from July 11-13 and consists of competitions in the three traditional Mongolian sports of wrestling, horse-racing and archery. The National Sports Stadium, besides being the main venue for the festival, also serves as the country's main football and baseball stadium as well as a venue for occasional concerts and cultural events.
Mongolia's largest annual outdoor music festival.
Улсын драмын эрдмийн театр
Mostly presents Mongolian plays in drama, musicals, or children's performances. Tickets are sold at the "KACC" office in front....
Home to the world-famous Mongolian contortionists, where most of the world's professional contortionists get their start. The circus also features animals, jugglers, and other entertainment.
National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Mongolia
While visiting Sükhbaatar Square, it may be worthwhile to check out the board in front of this theatre to see if there is an upcoming performance. Most performances are at 17:00 Saturday and Sunday. Local performances may not be great, but are very cheap. Ballet troupes and opera companies from Russia also occasionally visit..
A traditional dance ensemble founded in 1989 that performs dances, music and religious ceremonies for audiences of mostly foreign tourists. Performances last about an hour and are far from the usual tourist schlock: these very skilled artists take their work seriously and have been on tour in the U.S., UK and other countries.
A performing arts museum founded in 1991 presenting the history of Mongolian film and theatre..
Bökhiin Örgöö
Sports complex that is home to the Mongolian wrestling competitions and also hosts music concerts.
Ганзам палас
This venue regularly hosts ice skating show.
Үндэсний соёл амралтын хүрээлэн
Open since 1969, the park today features a steel roller coaster, a Ferris wheel and a castle surrounded by an artificial lake.
Good-quality vegan food. Attached to a Buddhist meditation centre, therefore short opening hours (closes around 9pm).
If you're looking to self-cater they also sell a modest selection of groceries including vegan sausages.
Numerous vegan options including very good buuz.
The best of several Loving Huts scattered across UB.
Similar to the other Agnista but with less of a crowd during lunchtime.
Italian vegetarian restaurant
Burgers, chicken burgers, espresso and baked goods. On Saturday they open at 09:00 and serve a breakfast special of one large waffle with fresh fruit, ice cream, bacon, Mongolian blueberry jam and syrup, plus coffee and other drinks.
The Chinggis Brewery's in-house restaurant, serving German cuisine and (of course) their own locally brewed light and dark beers on tap.
If you want to experience authentic Mongolian cuisine, this is the place. Serves roasted sheep head, roasted ribs, buuz, and dried meat soup. No foreign-language menu or staff, though.
Good selection of American-style coffeeshop fare, including some vegetarian options.
Good pizza, sandwiches, and coffee.
several restaurants in town
Excellent variety and quality for both locals and tourists. Good, clean toilets are an added bonus.
Halal Turkish restaurant
Halal Indian Pakistani restaurant
Halal Indian restaurant
This Halal Chinese restaurant chain has several outlets around the city, which are in Khan-Uul, Songino Khairkhan, Sükhbaatar and two in Bayanzürkh (at Seoul Business Center office building and Sunny Town apartment).
Halal restaurant, part of the Mongolian National University
Extensive menu of both foreign and Mongolian specialties. Beautifully decorated, high-quality food including vegetarian specialties (good tofu!) It's a bit small, but in the summer there is additional outside seating. Reservations are advised.
Mexican-Indian fusion: don't knock it until you taste the spicy chicken masala or crispy taquitos. The prices are higher now than they used to be, but the atmosphere has improved along with it.
Mongolia's first halal-certified restaurant, serves some of the best Indian food in the city. There is another location on the Outer Ring Road in the Impex building.
Jazz-themed restaurant and bar featuring modern decor, international cuisine, and a wide range of beer, wine and cocktails. Regular live entertainment.
A nice little restaurant that turns into a club at night, with good drink specials. Popular with foreigners.
Patrons of this brewpub can choose between the main dining area, the fancy VIP upstairs, or secluded tables in the back. Most weekends have concerts from Mongolian bands. In addition to the house brews served on tap, the more popular Mongolian brands are served.
One of the aforementioned clubs that likes to stay open illicitly past 03:00. Caters to a younger clientele.
A somewhat notorious club frequented by foreigners as well as Asian businessmen.
Night club with two main dance floor on top of an office building.
Enjoy a pastis and have a nice dinner at the only French restaurant in Ulaanbaatar.
Goes for a German brewhouse look (hence the name) and succeeds. This bar is big but usually not noisy. It serves X Beer, a quite tasty local brew.
Closer to an actual Irish bar than most.
A comfortable sports bar and grill with English-speaking staff.
A local coffee franchise with its own roastery and 5 branches. Probably the best coffee to be had in the city.
Korean coffee chain offering Korean-style desserts
another Korean coffee chain.
Korean bakery chain with a good coffee section
Кафе де Лолита
The first and only maid and anime café in Mongolia.
Still UB's most centrally located guesthouse, but the place has gone downhill: where cozy, high-ceilinged, clean and bright rooms once greeted you, you now have small, windowless rooms with noisy refrigerators that wake you up several times a night. There's also no kitchen anymore. The shower, which is in the entrance, is clean, but your privacy is only protected by a translucent glass. English-, Russian-, French-, and Italian-speaking staff are on duty during the daytime only. No credit cards are accepted. Bolod also provides tours at good prices and is known to arrange unique trips involving tank-driving and AK-47 shooting.
Clean and comfortable rooms with breakfast, Internet, hot shower, and use of kitchen facilities included in the price. Centrally located and quiet.
This guesthouse stands out from the rest: rather than the standard setup of spartan dorm rooms with bunk beds, guests are accommodated in roomy gers set up on an airy porch in an excellent central location overlooking downtown UB, only two minutes on foot from Gandan Monastery. Run by a friendly, helpful family, who like most guesthouse proprietors also double as tour operators.
Another cheap and friendly place with free breakfast.
A small and quiet guesthouse comprising a couple of dorm rooms and two fully-furnished one-bedroom apartments, with a pleasant patio out back for picnicking. Friendly staff can organize tours to all parts of Mongolia. Complimentary amenities include breakfast in the morning and tea all day, wireless Internet as well as two wired computer terminals, lockers for guests, secure parking for motorbikes and bicycles, hot showers, and cheap laundry service.
Friendly family-run guesthouse with US$4 dorm beds. Rooms are clean, staff are helpful, and tickets and tours can be arranged without hassle.
A nice and clean, if spartan, guesthouse run by the Lotus Foundation. Staff on duty 24 hours a day. Rooms have no high table except the very small one for the computer — and, importantly, no bedsheet, and the quilt is not washed between clients! The shower room doesn't lock, and is closed by a translucent door. No credit cards accepted.
A modern-styled and lovingly furnished guesthouse run by a friendly German-Austrian couple who speak German, English, and Mongolian; lodging is in the spacious gers outside in the garden. Popular with "overlanders" travelling through Mongolia by car or motorcycle. Oasis' onsite café serves very good Western food including homemade cakes. There's a laundry room and hairdresser at the back of the building.
A well-located and quiet guesthouse with rooms decorated in traditional Mongolian style. The friendly staff speaks English and French, and is headed by a former chef who lives onsite and sometimes regales guests with tasty homecooked meals. They can also arrange tours. Washing machine, breakfast included.
Sunpath is a centrally located, family-operated hostel perfect for foreign visitors offering free breakfast. Laundry service is available for a nominal charge. Kitchen facilities are open to guests. Sunpath's friendly staff organizes tours (having very good contacts with people living in the countryside) and are a wealth of information about Ulaanbaatar and Mongolia in general.
Hostel with fluent English-speaking owners situated just a 15-minute walk or a short bus ride to Sükhbaatar Square. Free breakfast (with a menu that changes daily!) and free tea all day; kitchen facilities are also available for guests who'd like to self-cater other meals. They offer tours of (and can arrange accommodation at) Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, but unlike pretty much every other hostel, they usually lay off the hard sell. Laundry service is available, though it's a bit pricey.
A clean, well-organized, and centrally located hostel that also arranges tours around the country. E-mail ahead for a free pickup from the train station. A light breakfast, tea and coffee are included. There's only a hotplate in the kitchen. Only foreigners allowed. No in-room guests. Staff is not terribly friendly.
Zaya has two locations in the city center, both in newly renovated modern apartment buildings. The place is more suitable for a person looking for a clean and quiet place to sleep than a backpacker looking for a rowdy and noisy dorm. Free wireless Internet in the rooms. They also organize tours.
A nice inexpensive hotel in the city center. The hotel staff speaks little English, but rooms are large and include TV. Bathrooms are shared.
One of UB's leading hotels, with a location among a cluster of major shopping centers and office buildings. 34 rooms of various levels of luxury: deluxe, semi-lux and standard.
Close to the bars and Sükhbaatar Square.
The tallest building in Mongolia. 200 rooms, plus several nice restaurants and bars including a lounge on the 23rd floor with views of the whole city..
Spacious rooms that can be described as "wannabe luxurious".
Корпорэйт зочид буудал
Nice luxurious rooms as well as sauna and jacuzzi.
A ger-style resort in the countryside outside of town. All rooms have sweeping views over the steppes.
A nice hotel on the east side of the city with several good restaurants, including Kara-Khorum with an excellent brunch on the weekends: various meats, fruit, omelet and juice bar, plus caviar and champagne.
One of the only international hotel chains in the city. On the top floor of the MaxMall, near Gandan Monastery. Has all the standard features of a full-service Western hotel, including fitness center, sauna, and office space.
Centrally located high-rise property catering to a mix of business travellers and well-heeled tourists, with fitness club, laundry and shoeshine service, and several onsite restaurants. Rooms are spacious, overlook either Sükhbaatar Square or Ulaanbaatar Park, and their design can be described as a modernized take on traditional Mongolian aesthetic elements. They'll pick you up from the airport upon prior arrangement.
The first modern hotel ever built in Mongolia (in 1961) is showing its age. Nice central location, though.
Улсын Их Дэлгүүр
Formerly a state-owned department store (hence the name), today it is the busiest luxury shopping mall in the city, with everything from groceries to cashmere to TVs sold on all six floors of the building. Check out the fifth floor for the largest souvenir shops in UB.
You'll find several malls, name-brand stores, restaurants, supermarkets, curbside booths, and a movie theater at UB's largest shopping district. Selection ranges from luxury brands down to cheap Chinese imports. Traffic congestion is heavy in this part of the city.
Emart
This subsidiary of the South Korean retailer has three department stores in Ulaanbaatar that offer mostly South Korean and some domestic goods. It has a good groceries department as well. The first store is just north of Chingis Khaan Hotel, the second is in Bayangol district, and the third is in Khan Uul district.
Хүннү Молл
The shopping mall features the display of dinosaur skeleton.
Black Market
The main market for most of the city's residents, Naran Tuul is the place to go to shop like a local. Haggle over cheap clothes, toys, fur hats, vintage Soviet propaganda pins, or anything you can imagine in a vast, partially indoor retail emporium a 10-minute bus or taxi ride from the city center. There are also several slightly more upscale shopping centers just west of the market. Only take a minimum of cash with you in a money belt or inner jacket pocket and leave all valuables at your accommodation, as pickpockets are common here.
One of the larger souvenir shops in the city; a broad selection, but a bit pricey.
A small free-trade shop full of beautiful handmade souvenirs, handbags, and wall hangings.
Used books are bought and sold here. There's even a buyback policy. Selection is mostly but not exclusively English-language.
By train
Direct (if long) journeys are possible from destinations between Moscow and Beijing on the Trans-Mongolian line of the Trans-Siberian Railway.
By car
What few paved roads exist in Mongolia generally go to and from Ulaanbaatar.
By bus
Once in the country, it should not be difficult to find a bus going to UB, at least from larger towns. However, bus stops are difficult to locate, with buses usually just stopping in populated areas.
By taxi
If you stand in the street and hold out your arm, usually within seconds somebody will have stopped to pick you up.
By bus
Buses in UB come in several different varieties.
By foot
Within the quite compact city center, walking is a viable option with fairly good bilingual Mongolian and English public signages all around the places.
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Ulaanbaatar (Sergelen) · International · UBN
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