Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia and its only large city, home to roughly half of the country's population; it sits on a plain in the Tuul River valley, ringed by mountains. At its centre stand Sukhbaatar Square, the Government Palace and the Chinggis Khaan statue in front of it; a few streets away, Gandan Monastery, the Choijin Lama Temple and the Bogd Khan Palace tell the Buddhist past. For a Turkish reader Mongolia has a particular meaning: the Bilge Kagan and Kul Tigin inscriptions, the oldest known texts in Turkic, stand in the Orkhon Valley about 400 kilometres west of Ulaanbaatar. Within an hour of the city, the rocky valleys of Terelj National Park and the giant Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue are the first stops for seeing the steppe.
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See flights to Ulaanbaatar →When to visit Ulaanbaatar
June to August is the easiest period: days are mild, evenings cool and the steppe is green. The Naadam Festival in mid July (wrestling, archery and horse racing) is the city's busiest time, so accommodation should be booked early. May and September are quiet but cool, and night temperatures can drop below freezing. Winter is long and very harsh: in January the temperature often falls below minus 20 degrees, and air pollution from coal stoves rises in the city. Even in summer, keep a warm layer to hand for Terelj and steppe trips.
Things to do in Ulaanbaatar
Gandan Monastery
Mongolia's largest and most important Buddhist monastery was founded in the mid 19th century and was one of the few not closed during the Soviet era repression. The main temple holds the Migjid Janraisig (Avalokiteshvara) statue, about 26 metres tall. In the morning you can listen to the monks chanting; the courtyard has prayer wheels and pigeons. It is within walking distance of the city centre, and an hour is enough.
Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue
About 54 kilometres east of Ulaanbaatar, at Tsonjin Boldog, the stainless steel statue is the largest equestrian statue in the world at 40 metres and opened in 2008. Legend says it stands where Chinggis Khaan found a golden whip. A lift inside takes you up to the horse's head, where a viewing deck looks out over the steppe. The visitor centre in the base has a small exhibition on the Xiongnu period and the Mongol Empire. It fits into the same day as a Terelj trip.
Terelj National Park and Turtle Rock
Gorkhi Terelj National Park, about an hour and a half by car from the city, is a valley of granite outcrops, pine forest and open pasture. Its symbol is Melkhii Khad, Turtle Rock, a giant granite block shaped like a turtle; a path climbs from nearby to the Aryapala Meditation Temple. The valley has traditional ger camps where you can stay a night, go horse riding and visit nomadic families. It is at its best in summer.
Zaisan Memorial
On a hill in the south of the city at the foot of Bogd Khan Mountain, the Soviet era memorial was built in 1971 for the Soviet and Mongolian soldiers who died in the Second World War. Mosaics on the circular wall at the top depict Soviet Mongolian friendship. Reached by a flight of steps, the hill is the best viewpoint over the Tuul River and the whole city, and is a favourite for photographs at sunset. It is a short taxi ride from the centre.
Choijin Lama Temple Museum
A few minutes' walk from Sukhbaatar Square, the temple complex was built in the early 1900s for Luvsankhaidav, the State Oracle and brother of the last Bogd Khan, and has been a museum since 1942. Its five temples display Buddhist statues, tsam dance masks and works from the school of the 17th century sculptor Zanabazar. The traditional roofs among the rising modern towers are one of the city's most photographed contrasts. The Bogd Khan Palace Museum nearby fits into the same half day.
National Museum of Mongolia
Just west of Sukhbaatar Square, the museum tells the country's story from prehistory to today in chronological halls: Stone Age finds, objects from the Xiongnu and Göktürk periods, a section on the Mongol Empire, traditional dress and the inside of a ger. For Turkish visitors the Göktürk period hall is of particular interest; the original Orkhon inscriptions raised for Bilge Kagan and Kul Tigin stand about 400 kilometres west of the city at the Khosho Tsaidam Museum in the Orkhon Valley, seen on a long day trip or with a night in Kharkhorin. Two hours are enough for the museum.
Flights from Turkey to Ulaanbaatar
Nonstop flights to Ulaanbaatar from Turkey leave Istanbul Airport on Turkish Airlines; the route runs year round several times a week, the flight takes about 8 hours and departs in the evening to arrive the next morning. The Mongolian carrier MIAT also flies directly between Istanbul and Ulaanbaatar, and connections from other Turkish cities go via Istanbul. Flights land at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, opened in 2021, about 50 kilometres south of the city centre; the drive takes around an hour in normal traffic and longer at rush hour. An express bus line to Sukhbaatar Square, taxis, hotel transfers and car hire are the main options.
Ulaanbaatar FAQ
How many days do you need in Ulaanbaatar?
Two days are enough for the city centre, Gandan Monastery, the museums and Zaisan; allow another day, ideally with a night in a ger camp, for Terelj National Park and the Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue. Adding the Orkhon Valley and Khosho Tsaidam takes two more days because of the long drive. A week therefore shows the region comfortably.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Chinggis Khaan International Airport is about 50 kilometres south of Ulaanbaatar city centre; the drive takes around an hour in normal traffic and can stretch to two hours at evening rush hour. An express bus line runs from the airport to Sukhbaatar Square, and taxis, hotel transfers and hire cars are also used.
Do Turkish citizens need a visa for Mongolia?
Under the agreement between Turkey and Mongolia, Turkish citizens can enter visa free for tourism for up to 30 days; the passport should be valid for at least six months from arrival. Different rules apply to stays longer than 30 days. It is worth confirming the current rules with the Mongolian Embassy in Ankara before travelling.
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