Things to do & places to visit in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Located in the northern part of the country, high above sea level, Ulan Bator is the coldest capital city in the world. The cultural and business center of Mongolia, and a hub connecting the Trans-Siberian Railway with the Chinese rail system, Ulan Bator has become a thriving urban center in one of the most remote locations in the world. Visit the Tibetan-style Gandan Monastery, one of the few buildings in Ulan Bator to predate WWII and one of the few monasteries to survive the Soviet purge.

Ulaanbaatar #1 destination in Mongolia 2023. The average rating score is 4.33 based on 8.176 traveler reviews, of 30 attractions. Timezone: Asia/Ulaanbaatar, current date and time: Friday, May 10, 2024, 10:12.

Ulaanbaatar Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in May

59°F - 32°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Cold and breezy

Feels like

17%

Chance of rain

49.0 millimeters

Amount

16.0 mph

Wind speed

50%

Humidity

15.1

Daylight length

5:15 AM

Sunrise

8:22 PM

Sunset

52%

Cloud cover

Jacket

What to wear

Top things to do (23)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Mary & Martha Mongolia (241 reviews)
- Beautiful experience
Friday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops

Fair & Ethical - supporting about 150 Mongolian & ethnic Kazakh artisans from all over Mongolia. From the most simple product to the most high end, QUALITY is key. Artisans and Mary & Martha make a sustainable living and customers buy quality, useful products at reasonable prices. We are the only shop that buys its products before we sell because we want to be fair to artisans and we believe in the products - all other shops pay artisans if their products sell. See more..
5.0 Galleria Ulaanbaatar (95 reviews)
- Such a good place and excellent service!!!
Spent 2-3 hours Shopping Malls

Galleria Ulaanbaatar, located right in the heart of the city next to the main square, is an ideal place for experiencing Mongolia all at once. The largest cashmere store, a souvenir shop and restaurants with excellent food and fantastic view await you. See more..
5.0 Four Holy Peaks (7 reviews)
- Breathtaking Scenery in Silence
Mountains

There are not many places in this world where you can receive pure tranquillity. Here is one! I travelled all across Mongolia with my Yahama XT600E and got lost much! Getting lost in Mongolia is not such a bad thing. If you come here make sure you are very vigilant at all times. See more..
5.0 Mary & Martha Mongolia (241 reviews)
- Beautiful experience
Friday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops

Fair & Ethical - supporting about 150 Mongolian & ethnic Kazakh artisans from all over Mongolia. From the most simple product to the most high end, QUALITY is key. Artisans and Mary & Martha make a sustainable living and customers buy quality, useful products at reasonable prices. We are the only shop that buys its products before we sell because we want to be fair to artisans and we believe in the products - all other shops pay artisans if their products sell. See more..
5.0 Galleria Ulaanbaatar (95 reviews)
- Such a good place and excellent service!!!
Spent 2-3 hours Shopping Malls

Galleria Ulaanbaatar, located right in the heart of the city next to the main square, is an ideal place for experiencing Mongolia all at once. The largest cashmere store, a souvenir shop and restaurants with excellent food and fantastic view await you. See more..
4.5 Genghis Khan Statue Complex (1.558 reviews)
- Impressive and worth a visit
Friday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Monuments & Statues

Chinggis Khaan Statute complex is situated 54 km from Ulaanbaatar City, with the view of beautiful natural scenery on the bank of the Tuul River, a historical place where Chinggis khan’s golden whip was found. Today, for a memory of the man of the millennium, a 40 meters high stainless steel statue of Chinggis Khaan on a horseback is the largest among the statues in the world. Inside the statue we operate a restaurant, souvenir shop, two museums and conference hall. Visitors can go up the statue using the elevator or the stairs to the head of the horse where they can have a panoramic view of the beautiful landscape. See more..
4.5 Gorkhi-Terelj National Park (1.093 reviews)
- Beautiful place to visit
Friday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent More than 3 hours National Parks

GORKHI-TERELJ National Park is considered one of the most beautiful worth visiting places for travelers who wanted to rest in surroundings near UB. If you like adventure activities such as hiking, rafting, horse or camel riding and visiting nomad family and stay overnight in traditional Ger dwelling within short period, this is the real place to fulfill your wishes. See more..
4.5 National History Museum (771 reviews)
- MUST See!
Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM History Museums

This is the Holy Grail of museums for those who research Mongolian Culture. They have artefacts from before Chinggis Khaan, on up through the time of Mongolian Independence. They have a whole floor of National costumes, and there are 6 extant garments from the 12th to the 14th centuries pieced together under glass. There is armor and weapons, ceramics and jewelry. I personally spent 3 hours there but I am a history geek. The bottom floor supposedly has prehistory artefacts but was not open when I went, I plan to go again to see it. It costs 10,000 MNT to get in and another 10,000 to take photos, I paid for it because I took a lot photos and if they see you snapping a lot they will approach you and ask if you bought the permit. It is about 4.00 well worth it if you want lots of photos of the exhibits. I loved this museum and highly recommend it as a cultural outing. See more..
4.5 Hustai National Park (514 reviews)
- The Place to see Przewalski's Horses
Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Spent < 1 hour National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas

This place is approx. 2 to 3 hours' drive from Ulaanbaatar city and is where the wild horses of Mongolia are. You can also see antelopes on top of the hill. Best to have a zoom camera or binoculars as they may be a bit far away. You can spend as much time as you want here if you want to wait for the wild horses to come down from the hill to the stream for water. If you are lucky, they could be already by the stream when you arrive and hence you don't have to wait that long. See more..
4.5 Migjid Janraisig Sum (188 reviews)
- to get some inspiration
Friday: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Religious Sites

standing in front of the Migjid Janraisig statue makes you forget all the traffic-jam and busy life in Ulaanbaatar. it's a special place to try to remember what really counts in life and also feel how we are all part of the same world and need to respect each other. See more..
4.5 Zanabazar Museum of FIne Art (170 reviews)
- Great after the the first floor
Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Art Museums

You will see arts that you have never seen before, anywhere. Beautiful, well-documented in Mongolian and English, a real learning experience. See more..
4.5 National Park Mongolia 13th Century (68 reviews)
- Great introduction to Mongolia's history and wide open spaces
National Parks • Parks

This is a large park where you have to be driven from one outdoor exhibit to the next. It is a great way for first-timers (like me) to get a sense of the history and the richness of Mongolian culture. It's a wee bit corny, but the benefits strongly outweigh that small matter. I see that some tour group is charging $350 and up. That is ridiculous. You can hire a driver and translator for much less, especially when split among a group. Try Montrails Tour--they are fantastic. See more..
4.5 Mongolian State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet (59 reviews)
- Step back in time to enjoy opera and ballet
Ballets • Operas • Theaters

Beautiful, historical, ornate city centre theatre. Any seat offers an almost stage side view. An early evening performance of Swan Lake superbly danced to sublimely played music - enthralling! A not to be missed, totally affordable, cultural experience. See more..
4.5 International Intellectual Museum (49 reviews)
- Very fun museum!
Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

Great way to spend an hour or So on a rainy day. You are taken around with a guide who explains the various puzzles and history. So much to look at! You get to attempt a few puzzles (I failed at all of them). Only wish was to spend a bit more time. The floor with the various chess sets was fascinating and so many to see, but you must be guided at all times See more..
4.5 Mongolian National Modern Art Gallery (41 reviews)
- A Very Good View at "Modern" Art in Mongolia
Friday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Art Galleries

Don't think modern art as in "Abstract" (Though there is some of that). Think art being done recently in Mongolia. This museum has everything from contemporary wood carving to Stalinist era soviet-realism. The mix makes for an entertaining visit even if you are not "into" modern art. All the works are labelled in English as well as Mongolian though the detailed explanations are only in Mongolian. I spent a bit more then two hours at the museum and felt rewarded for my time. It also has a small but nice gift shop. Combine your trip with lunch at Modern Nomads across the street and you will have spent some quality time in UB. See more..
4.5 Manzshir Monastery (39 reviews)
- Much further than you think
Religious Sites

Although guide books say this is in Ulaanbaatar, trust me, it is not. You will need to hire a taxi (return), which is best done via your hotel and agreed up front price. It takes 1+ hours to drive there (though it's a scenic drive). The site is very impressive; although ruined (apart from 1 building) it has many ruins and several cave-like decorated meditation niches. The site is a moderately rugged walk uphill (note- no disabled access at all), but worthwhile. Lower down are various outdoor artefacts (giant cauldron, statues etc). The taxi driver will wait for you. Allow at least 2 hours for the site. I’d recommend doing this as a whole day outing. See more..
4.5 Bogd Khan Uul National Park (37 reviews)
- Safe hiking routes and FRESH air
Spent 2-3 hours National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks

The usual hiking routes are filled with trekkers from age learning to walk to elderly. About 3 hour hike up top as a beginner. The route is slow steep and in the woods so even in the winter it is a spot for all locals an escape from the smog and for fitness. Master fit people can run up in two hours. Well you don't have to go up top to enjoy fresh air. If you want friendly crowd to feel safe then weekends are the time. on weekdays its quiet. See more..
4.5 Chenresig Temple (30 reviews)
- Tibetan chant and prayer wheels
Religious Sites

This temple houses a 25-meter tall statue of the Buddha of Compassion, which replaces the original one that was taken to Moscow and destroyed in 1930. See more..
4.5 976 Art Gallery (27 reviews)
- 976 Art Gallery the place to see modern Mongolian Art
Friday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Art Galleries

976 Art Gallery is the most known contemporary art gallery in Ulaanbaatar city. Since its establishment in 2012, the gallery has been attracting visitors with its high quality exhibitions, events and open discussions organized regularly. Gallery moved twice improving locations and conditions; now it is located in prestigious business area of Ulaanbaatar city - in the first floor of Choijin Suite Building at Jamyan Gun street and changed its name into Art Space 976 , because of the start of new cooperation with Alaqai and Mathias Kuper Galleries. Space includes (1) Exhibition hall and (2) Artworks Stock. All staffs speak Mongolian, English and Russian. See more..
4.5 Aryabal Meditation Temple (22 reviews)
- Peace and quite and amazing views
Friday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 1-2 hours Religious Sites

Visiting in late January with all the snow covering the surrounding mountains was just amazing. There was no one around. I mean NO ONE. It was so peacuful, so quite, the whole place felt like it nelonged to me. Not a single soul expect for me (and my guide). The suspended wooden bridge was a thrill haha Recommend to pay a visit! See more..
4.5 Dashchoilin Monastery (19 reviews)
- Ger temple
Spent 1-2 hours Religious Sites

This is a very interesting monastery with them being in a ger. Other than that it is your usual Buddhist temple. It’s free to wander around. See more..
4.5 Genghis Khan Statue Complex (1.558 reviews)
- Impressive and worth a visit
Friday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Monuments & Statues

Chinggis Khaan Statute complex is situated 54 km from Ulaanbaatar City, with the view of beautiful natural scenery on the bank of the Tuul River, a historical place where Chinggis khan’s golden whip was found. Today, for a memory of the man of the millennium, a 40 meters high stainless steel statue of Chinggis Khaan on a horseback is the largest among the statues in the world. Inside the statue we operate a restaurant, souvenir shop, two museums and conference hall. Visitors can go up the statue using the elevator or the stairs to the head of the horse where they can have a panoramic view of the beautiful landscape. See more..
4.5 Gorkhi-Terelj National Park (1.093 reviews)
- Beautiful place to visit
Friday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent More than 3 hours National Parks

GORKHI-TERELJ National Park is considered one of the most beautiful worth visiting places for travelers who wanted to rest in surroundings near UB. If you like adventure activities such as hiking, rafting, horse or camel riding and visiting nomad family and stay overnight in traditional Ger dwelling within short period, this is the real place to fulfill your wishes. See more..
4.5 National History Museum (771 reviews)
- MUST See!
Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM History Museums

This is the Holy Grail of museums for those who research Mongolian Culture. They have artefacts from before Chinggis Khaan, on up through the time of Mongolian Independence. They have a whole floor of National costumes, and there are 6 extant garments from the 12th to the 14th centuries pieced together under glass. There is armor and weapons, ceramics and jewelry. I personally spent 3 hours there but I am a history geek. The bottom floor supposedly has prehistory artefacts but was not open when I went, I plan to go again to see it. It costs 10,000 MNT to get in and another 10,000 to take photos, I paid for it because I took a lot photos and if they see you snapping a lot they will approach you and ask if you bought the permit. It is about 4.00 well worth it if you want lots of photos of the exhibits. I loved this museum and highly recommend it as a cultural outing. See more..
4.5 Hustai National Park (514 reviews)
- The Place to see Przewalski's Horses
Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Spent < 1 hour National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas

This place is approx. 2 to 3 hours' drive from Ulaanbaatar city and is where the wild horses of Mongolia are. You can also see antelopes on top of the hill. Best to have a zoom camera or binoculars as they may be a bit far away. You can spend as much time as you want here if you want to wait for the wild horses to come down from the hill to the stream for water. If you are lucky, they could be already by the stream when you arrive and hence you don't have to wait that long. See more..
4.5 Migjid Janraisig Sum (188 reviews)
- to get some inspiration
Friday: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Religious Sites

standing in front of the Migjid Janraisig statue makes you forget all the traffic-jam and busy life in Ulaanbaatar. it's a special place to try to remember what really counts in life and also feel how we are all part of the same world and need to respect each other. See more..
4.5 Zanabazar Museum of FIne Art (170 reviews)
- Great after the the first floor
Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Art Museums

You will see arts that you have never seen before, anywhere. Beautiful, well-documented in Mongolian and English, a real learning experience. See more..
4.5 National Park Mongolia 13th Century (68 reviews)
- Great introduction to Mongolia's history and wide open spaces
National Parks • Parks

This is a large park where you have to be driven from one outdoor exhibit to the next. It is a great way for first-timers (like me) to get a sense of the history and the richness of Mongolian culture. It's a wee bit corny, but the benefits strongly outweigh that small matter. I see that some tour group is charging $350 and up. That is ridiculous. You can hire a driver and translator for much less, especially when split among a group. Try Montrails Tour--they are fantastic. See more..
4.5 Mongolian State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet (59 reviews)
- Step back in time to enjoy opera and ballet
Ballets • Operas • Theaters

Beautiful, historical, ornate city centre theatre. Any seat offers an almost stage side view. An early evening performance of Swan Lake superbly danced to sublimely played music - enthralling! A not to be missed, totally affordable, cultural experience. See more..
4.5 International Intellectual Museum (49 reviews)
- Very fun museum!
Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

Great way to spend an hour or So on a rainy day. You are taken around with a guide who explains the various puzzles and history. So much to look at! You get to attempt a few puzzles (I failed at all of them). Only wish was to spend a bit more time. The floor with the various chess sets was fascinating and so many to see, but you must be guided at all times See more..