Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia and the coldest national capital on earth, a high-altitude city of about one and a half million people where Buddhist monasteries, Soviet-era monuments and glass towers sit beside ger districts on the hillsides.
This guide starts with Gandan Monastery, Sükhbaatar Square, the Chinggis Khaan National Museum, the Bogd Khan Palace Museum and the Zaisan Memorial viewpoint, then adds the day trips that make Mongolia unforgettable: the 40-metre Chinggis Khaan statue, Gorkhi-Terelj National Park and Turtle Rock, Hustai National Park and its wild Przewalski's horses, and a night with a nomadic family in a ger. It also covers a throat-singing and folk show, the Naadam festival, which is held only in July, and longer journeys to the Mini Gobi dunes, Kharkhorin, the Orkhon Valley, the Gobi and Lake Khuvsgul. Eight hotels run from a five-star on Olympic Street to a central hostel, and the guide is candid about winter, when temperatures fall far below freezing, some ger camps close and the reward is empty temples and snowy steppe.
Gandan Monastery
Gandantegchinlen is Mongolia's most important working Buddhist monastery, a hillside complex of temples, prayer wheels and a gilded 26-metre Avalokiteshvara statue. Morning chanting is the reason to go, and the winter quiet makes it feel more intimate.
Chinggis Khaan National Museum
A domed, eight-floor museum behind Sükhbaatar Square that traces Mongolian history from the early steppe empires through the age of Chinggis Khaan. It is warm, well laid out and the best indoor choice on a freezing day.
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park and Turtle Rock
Granite outcrops, a river valley and pine slopes about ninety minutes from the city, with the famous Turtle Rock and the Aryabal meditation temple. In winter it turns snowy and quiet, with dog sledding and horse rides instead of summer crowds.
Sükhbaatar Square (Chinggis Square)
Ulaanbaatar's central plaza is dominated by a seated Chinggis Khaan and the Parliament House, with an equestrian Sükhbaatar at its heart. It is free, always open and the natural place to begin any walk through the city.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Gandantegchinlen is Mongolia's most important working Buddhist monastery, a hillside complex of temples, prayer wheels and a gilded 26-metre Avalokiteshvara statue. Morning chanting is the reason to go, and the winter quiet makes it feel more intimate.
FreeUlaanbaatar's central plaza is dominated by a seated Chinggis Khaan and the Parliament House, with an equestrian Sükhbaatar at its heart. It is free, always open and the natural place to begin any walk through the city.
A domed, eight-floor museum behind Sükhbaatar Square that traces Mongolian history from the early steppe empires through the age of Chinggis Khaan. It is warm, well laid out and the best indoor choice on a freezing day.
The Winter Palace of the last khan of Mongolia is a walled complex of painted temples and a European-style residence packed with royal treasures. Snow leopard skins, taxidermy and ceremonial robes make it a memorable, quirky stop.
FreeA Soviet-era memorial on a hill south of the city, with a circular wall of murals and the best free panorama of Ulaanbaatar. Climb the steps for the view, or ride up most of the way and save your breath.
Granite outcrops, a river valley and pine slopes about ninety minutes from the city, with the famous Turtle Rock and the Aryabal meditation temple. In winter it turns snowy and quiet, with dog sledding and horse rides instead of summer crowds.
A 40-metre stainless steel Chinggis Khaan on horseback stands on the steppe at Tsonjin Boldog, with a museum underground and a viewing deck at the horse's head. It is the easiest big sight outside Ulaanbaatar and an obvious pairing with Terelj.
Spend a night in a felt ger with a herding family or at a camp, with stove warmth, milk tea and a sky full of stars. In winter the experience is rawer and far quieter, and it needs a good operator and serious clothing.
The place to see takhi, the wild Przewalski's horse, living free on open steppe about two hours from the capital. Winter is a good time to look, because the herds come down to the river and the marmots are asleep.
Mongolia's national festival of wrestling, archery and horse racing is held every July, so there is nothing to see in November. This page is for planning a future summer trip around the biggest event of the Mongolian year.
An hour of throat singing, horsehead fiddle music, dance and contortion is the easiest evening culture in Ulaanbaatar. Tumen Ekh is the best-known ensemble, though winter schedules shorten and venues change.
A ribbon of sand dunes, camels and open steppe about three hours west of the capital, the easiest taste of Gobi scenery you can reach without leaving Ulaanbaatar for days.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$$Sukhbaatar District (Olympic Street)
A 290-room five-star on Olympic Street with an indoor pool, sauna and steam room, four restaurants and two bars, an eight-minute walk from Sükhbaatar Square. The capital's polished splurge, and a warm refuge in a freezing winter.
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$$$Chingeltei (near Gandan Monastery)
A 169-room hotel on Sambuu Street, four minutes on foot from Gandan Monastery, with a spa, sauna, steam room and gym and free parking. Dependable mid-range comfort in the busy Chingeltei district.
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$$$Tokyo Street (university district)
A 116-room upscale hotel on Tokyo Street with the Mandarin restaurant, a bar, a gym, free parking and an on-site shopping mall, near the National University and the national museums. Solid four-star value on the university side of the centre.
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$$Peace Avenue (downtown)
A mid-range hotel on Peace Avenue with a terrace, garden, restaurant, bar, gym and free parking, an eleven-minute walk from Sükhbaatar Square. Good-value comfort with a leafy outlook.
Check rates →Downtown (near Sukhbaatar Square)
A dorm-style hostel in downtown Ulaanbaatar, a four-minute walk from Sükhbaatar Square, with communal kitchens, balconies, luggage storage and tour and ticket help. The budget pick for solo travellers who want to be central.
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$$$Central Ulaanbaatar (near Sukhbaatar Square)
A glass tower shaped like a sail beside Sükhbaatar Square, with a sky lounge and some of the best city views in Ulaanbaatar.
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$$$Central Ulaanbaatar
A reliable international-brand hotel in the centre of Ulaanbaatar, handy for the square, museums and shops, with consistent standards for first-time visitors.
Check rates →Central Ulaanbaatar
A modern business-style hotel in the city centre with a familiar brand and straightforward rooms, good value for a short stay close to the sights.
Check rates →What to book ahead, how to get around Ulaanbaatar, how many days you need, how the city sights and day trips fit together and what to expect if you visit in the cold season.
A neighbourhood guide to Ulaanbaatar hotels: how the central square, the Gandan area and the university side differ, and which of our five hotels suits your budget and plans.
A three-day plan for Ulaanbaatar that puts the city sights on day one and two and a day on the steppe on day three, with notes on pacing, transport and what changes with the season.
What to eat in Ulaanbaatar: the dumplings, noodles, soups and milk tea that make up Mongolian cooking, what to expect at a family ger, and how to order and behave at the table.
A season-by-season guide to visiting Ulaanbaatar: what summer, autumn, winter and spring are really like, when Naadam happens and which sights and day trips work in each season.
How to choose between the main day trips from Ulaanbaatar: distances, what each one offers, how to combine them, and when a day is not enough and a night in a ger is better.
