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Ulaanbaatar

Mongolia travel guide

What to see in Ulaanbaatar

The capital, with Gandan Monastery, Genghis Khan Square and dinosaur museums.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 5 must-see places
  • Best time: from April to October
  • Typical food: Khuushuur
Photo: Zazaa Mongolia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Ulaanbaatar highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Gandan Monastery

    With a giant Buddha.

  2. Sükhbaatar Square

    With the statue of Genghis Khan.

  3. National Museum

    The history of the nomads.

  4. Bogd Khan Palace

    Home of the last king.

  5. Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue

    A giant, on the outskirts.

Day trips from Ulaanbaatar

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

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When to travel to Ulaanbaatar

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Ulaanbaatar are from April to October. If you can, avoid from November to March (extreme winter).

  1. Jan with strong warnings
  2. Feb with strong warnings
  3. Mar with strong warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov with strong warnings
  12. Dec with strong warnings
  • from November to March

    Extreme winter

    Temperatures of –30 °C or lower; many ger camps close.

    What to do: The best time is June to September, with Naadam in July.

Typical food of Ulaanbaatar

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Ulaanbaatar from your kitchen).

Khuushuur
Photo: Sivserver · CC BY-SA 3.0

Khuushuur

Flat meat pasties fried in oil, the most popular snack at Ulaanbaatar’s stalls and the star food of the Naadam festival in July.

  • Serves 4
  • 1 h

Ingredients

  • 300 g flour
  • 150 ml water
  • 400 g minced lamb or beef
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Salt and pepper
  • Oil for frying

How to make it at home

  1. Make a dough with the flour, water and a pinch of salt, and leave it to rest for 20 minutes.
  2. Mix the meat with the onion, garlic, salt, pepper and a little water.
  3. Roll out 12 cm rounds of dough, put filling on one half and fold into a half-moon.
  4. Flatten them with your hand and pinch the edge to seal.
  5. Fry them in hot oil for 3 minutes on each side, until golden.

The trick: They’re eaten hot, with cabbage salad and milky tea.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: a ger or a Mongolian restaurant. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Mongolia guide.

Frequently asked questions about Ulaanbaatar

What to see in Ulaanbaatar?

Gandan Monastery, Sükhbaatar Square, National Museum, Bogd Khan Palace and Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue.

What to see in Ulaanbaatar in one day?

Don’t miss Gandan Monastery, Sükhbaatar Square, National Museum, Bogd Khan Palace and Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

What’s the best time to travel to Ulaanbaatar?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Ulaanbaatar are from April to October. If you can, avoid from November to March (extreme winter).

What day trips can you take from Ulaanbaatar?

Terelj from Ulaanbaatar.

What is the typical food of Ulaanbaatar?

Khuushuur. Flat meat pasties fried in oil, the most popular snack at Ulaanbaatar’s stalls and the star food of the Naadam festival in July.

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Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.