UB Friends Hostel is a hostel in downtown Ulaanbaatar, on Jigjidjav Street, and is classed as a two-star property. It offers dormitory-style beds only, in four-bed male, four-bed mixed, six-bed female, eight-bed mixed and four-bed female rooms, with shared bathrooms, balconies and communal kitchens. Facilities include luggage storage, a garden, laundry, a front-desk safe, multilingual staff, and tour and ticket assistance, and an airport shuttle and a train station pick-up can be arranged for a fee. Sükhbaatar Square is about a four-minute walk away.
Location and getting around
This is as central as budget accommodation gets in Ulaanbaatar. Sükhbaatar Square is about a four-minute walk, and within roughly ten minutes on foot you can reach the National Museum of Mongolia and the Chinggis Khan Garden area. In winter, the short distances are a real benefit, since you can reach most central sights in minutes. The railway station is about eighteen minutes by car, and the airport is roughly an hour away, so arrange a pickup in advance, especially for early or late arrivals.
Rooms and facilities
All beds are in shared dormitories, with bunks and shared bathrooms, so this is a place for solo travellers, backpackers and flexible couples rather than families wanting privacy. Rooms have kettles with tea and instant coffee, wardrobes and balconies, and communal kitchens let you cook simple meals and save money.
Staff speak several languages and can help arrange day trips to Terelj, Hustai and the statue complex, which is a useful service for independent travellers. Winter heating in a hostel can be modest, so bring a warm sleeping layer and check the heating arrangements when you book.
Good to know
Breakfast is not mentioned as part of the stay, so plan to eat nearby or use the kitchen. Keep valuables in the front-desk safe and use a padlock on any locker. Light sleepers should bring earplugs, since dorms can be lively. The hostel is a good place to meet other travellers and share the cost of a private day trip or a ger stay, which can cut costs on the most expensive part of a Mongolian trip.
If you want privacy, a private room at a mid-range hotel is a better choice, but for budget and location, this one is hard to beat.
Why stay here
- ✓Dormitory beds
- ✓Shared bathrooms with hair dryers
- ✓Communal kitchens
- ✓Balconies
- ✓Luggage storage
- ✓Front-desk safe
- ✓Tour and ticket assistance
- ✓Airport shuttle for a fee
Good questions
How far is UB Friends Hostel from Sükhbaatar Square?+
The square is about a four-minute walk. The National Museum of Mongolia is within roughly ten minutes on foot.
Does the hostel have private rooms?+
The hostel offers dormitory-style beds only, in rooms of four to eight beds. For a private room, choose a hotel instead.
Can the hostel arrange tours and transfers?+
It offers tour and ticket assistance, and an airport shuttle and train station pick-up for a fee. Arrange transfers in advance, especially for late arrivals.
