By rail
Ulaanbaatar, on the Trans-Mongolian Railway
East Asia · Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Mongolia's capital, between monasteries and steppe
Getting there
By air
Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN), ~1 h by road
Best time to visit
June to September — mild summer weather and the Naadam festival in July
Don't miss
Sükhbaatar Square
Gandan Monastery
Zaisan Memorial
Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan
Things to do
Monastery visits
Museums
Throat-singing performances
Day trips to the steppe
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Zazaa Mongolia · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Warm layers, windproof jacket, comfortable shoes
A quieter corner
The giant Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue at Tsonjin Boldog, east of the city
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Ulaanbaatar?
June to September — mild summer weather and the Naadam festival in July. What to pack: Warm layers, windproof jacket, comfortable shoes.
How do I get to Ulaanbaatar?
Fly into Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN), ~1 h by road.
What is there to do in Ulaanbaatar?
Monastery visits, museums, throat-singing performances, day trips to the steppe. A quieter find: The giant Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue at Tsonjin Boldog, east of the city.
What should I eat in Ulaanbaatar?
Buuz dumplings, khuushuur, salty milk tea, mutton dishes.
About Ulaanbaatar
- Riverside
- Mountains
Where it is
Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia, set in the valley of the Tuul River in the north-centre of the country, surrounded by mountains.
History
The city began in the 17th century as a moving monastery camp, which settled at its present site in the 18th century. It was the seat of the Bogd Khan in the early 20th century and was renamed Ulaanbaatar, meaning red hero, in 1924. It has grown rapidly since the 1990s.
People
Mongolian is spoken in Ulaanbaatar, home to a large part of the country's population, and many residents keep close ties to herding families in the countryside.
Known for
- Gandan Monastery
- The Naadam festival
- A mix of gers and tower blocks
- Throat singing
Did you know?
Ulaanbaatar is often described as the coldest national capital in the world.
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