Things to Do in Ulaanbaatar

Overview of Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar is the largest city and largest urban environment in Mongolia. Far to the north at a high altitude, it’s the coldest capital city on Earth. The city is defined by influences of the Khans, Soviet-styled structures, broad plains, nearby mountains and small shopping centers.

 Located in the Tuul River valley, Ulaanbaatar was originally a pilgrimage site for plain nomads adhering to Mongolian Buddhism, eventually evolving into a permanent settlement in the 1800s. However, the religious structures along with the region were largely purged when the city was industrialized following the arrival of the Soviet Union.

Modern Ulaanbaatar is a large, modern city built alongside native Mongolian culture. The rise of Genghis Khan and his descendants is a large theme in the region. Statues of the Khans, their steeds, nomadic lifestyle and spirits accent the city.

Advice for Visiting Ulaanbaatar

Plan Your Meals

Vegetables and fruits are relatively rare in Mongolia.  The country primarily eats pastries, meat products, heavy milks, rice and canned foods. Those with a restrictive vegetarian or vegan diet may need to plan out meals and shopping well in advance.  

Bring Sunglasses

Mongolia’s sun is harsh and hyper reflective on various surfaces during cloudless days.  It can be searing, especially during cloudless, snow-covered days.

Stock Up on Water

Though Mongolia often feels chilly, the high altitude and extreme dryness of the region can cause dehydration. In the hotter regions or in the summer, this is doubly true.

Factor in Altitude Adjustment Time

Give yourself time to adjust. Ulaanbaatar is at a high altitude. If you’re flying in from a lower region, give your body a couple of days to recalibrate to the new height.

Expect Little English

English is somewhat rare outside of the tourist sector and translators are a bit difficult to use.  Be prepared to spend some extra time miming or getting help from semi-fluent locals.  There are quite a few people here who speak Russian or Chinese.

Navigation

Getting around Ulaanbaatar is pretty easy with decent public transportations.  But going beyond the city into the surrounding countryside is terribly challenging.  The roads are not generally well-marked, the distances are amazingly vast and public transport is virtually non-existent.  Tours and personal vehicles or domestic flights are the mainstay for tourists.  

Beware Dust and Pollen

Mongolia is the recipient of South Korean fund designed to forest the dry plains to prevent the enormous dust storms. These dust storms can cloud Mongolia and other nations, including South Korea. People with repertory issues may have trouble breathing without a proper mask.

Shortlist Things to Do in Ulaanbaatar

The Central Mongolian Museum of Dinosaurs – A small and wonderful museum displaying the in-depth fossil record of Mongolia.

Mongolia Natural History Museum (previously known as the National Museum) – This venue has a focus on ancient and modern mammals that are unique to the steppes of Mongolia.  

Fine Arts Zanabazar Museum – A small museum which displays impressive Mongolian cultural artworks

State Department Store – A large shopping center which specialized in Mongolia-native goods.

Dashchoilin Monastery – A red-green-and-gold yurt-styled monastery within the city which has numerous rotating prayer wheels.

Horned Owl Bar – A small, owl-themed bar within the city.

Sükhbaatar Square – The large central plaza in Ulaanbaatar which has a wealth of statues depicting famous Mongolian leaders including Ghengis Khan. 

Throat Singing Shows (Khöömei) – A local art form native to Mongolia, this singing style involves using a form of circular breathing to continually make sustained notes.

The Zaisan Memorial – Located to the south of the city, this memorial honors allied Mongolian and Soviet soldiers killed in World War II.

 Gandantegchinlen Monastery – This large palace was repaired and restored in the 1990’s as an active monastery of worship.

Bogd Khan Palace Museum – The Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan is a converted temple-space-and-museum. The complex has six temples which were originally occupied by the brother of Choijin Lama Luvsankhaida.

Narantuul Market – A somewhat removed shopping area where locals can find many outfits, including fabrics in the traditional Mongolian pattern.

In-Depth Description – Things to Do in Ulaanbaatar

The Central Mongolian Museum of Dinosaurs

This small museum located in the central area of Ulaanbaatar is dedicated to Mongolia’s paleontology heritage. The highlands of the Mongolia steppe, vast tundra and deserts are home to some of the most complete ancient fossils in the world. Famous dinosaur skeletons, including the Velociraptor, Minotaurasaurus and Protoceratops.

Mongolian Natural History Museum

A museum in Ulaanbaatar which displays many of the natural flora and fauna native to Mongolia. The museum’s exhibits and research branches include departments of paleontology, anthropology, geology and more.

The Museum is especially famous for it’s dinosaur exhibits, the most notably being a Tarbosaurus skeleton and nest of Protoceratops eggs.

Fine Arts Zanabazar Museum

A small museum which displays impressive Mongolian cultural artworks. The museum specializes in fine art preservation ranging from the 18th to the 20th century. Additionally, the museum works in partnership with the UNESCO to better express Mongolian heritage.

The museum is full of tapestries, examples of the famed Naadam Festival, various sculptures, pieces of Mongolian jewlery, painting, traditional Buddhist relics and more.

State Department Store

A large shopping center which specialized in Mongolia-native goods. This mall area is a landmark in the center of town, reportedly one of the most luxurious stores in Mongolia. The shop stocks international brands alongside specialized Mongolian-produced products, such as cashmere and camel-leather clothing. The tourism souvenir shop can be found on the 5th floor, along with decent views overlooking the city.

The shopping center is also home to various services, such as tailors and gold smiths. There’s a large, popular food court with Western food options as well.

Dashchoilin Monastery

An red-green-and-gold yurt-styled monastery within the city which has numerous golden, rotating prayer wheels. This temple area is small, so visiting only takes about fifteen minutes or so. It is far less touristy than other temples in Ulaanbaatar.

The Dashchoilin Monastery is a Buddhist religious center constructed to look like a traditional Mongolian ger (yurt). The temple is an active place of worship with caretaker monks and citizens arriving for daily prayers. Like most temples in Mongolia, visitors are expected to be respectful and walk through in a clockwise direction.

Horned Owl Bar

Also known as Horned Owl Food Symphony, this is a small, owl-themed bar within the city. The location is centrally located, close to other shopping and restaurant areas and well-priced. The cafe serves several traditional Mongolian pastries inside the comfy café.

Sükhbaatar Square

The large central plaza in Ulaanbaatar which has a wealth of statues depicting famous Mongolian leaders including Ghengis Khan. The square was named for Mongolian’s revolutionary hero Damdin Sükhbaatar after his death in 1923.

The large open plaza is home to some of Mongolia’s most impressive statues, official buildings and historical sites. There are also statues dedicated to Ögedei Khan and Kublai Khan of the Khan dynasty.

Throat Singing Shows (Khöömei)

Mongolian throat-singing is one of the most distinct forms of music in the world with a long heritage tied directly into the Mongolian people. Singers utalize a special form of circular breathing to continually make sustained notes. This creates a low “dual” sound accompanied by traditional instruments.

Traditionally, throat-singing was used to lure wild animals close, calm semi-domesticated animals, lull children to sleep, speak to spirits of holy locations and summon shamanic and Buddhist entities. There are many performances in Ulaanbaatar demonstrating this style, both professional and communal. However, the most famous is the Tumen Ekh Ensemble show.

The Zaisan Memorial

Located to the south of the city, this memorial honors allied Mongolian and Soviet soldiers killed in World War II. The memorial is a semi-circular series of painting depicting friendship between the USSR and Mongolia. Images include Mongolia’s bid for independence, the defeat of Japan’s Kwantung Army, the defeat of Nazi Germany and an homage to Jugderdemidiin Gurragchaa, the first Mongolian to reach space.

 Gandantegchinlen Monastery

This large palace was repaired and restored in the 1990’s as an active monastery of worship. The Tibetan name translates to the “Great Place of Complete Joy.” Mongolian Buddhism is a unique blend of religions, intertwined with shamanic practices native to Mongolia.

Gandantegchinlen Monastery was one of the only ancient Buddhist monasteries to survive Soviet rule in Mongolia. Most other structures were dismantled when the Soviets made efforts to purge Buddhism and other religions from the nation. This monastery is one of the largest, operating religious structures in Mongolia.

Bogd Khan Palace Museum

This museum, palace and temple area is an irreplaceable aspect of Mongolia’s national identity. Many of the Palace’s features date from Bogd Khan’s tumultuous reign following the collapse of China’s Qing Dynasty. The spiritual leader and theocratic ruler Bogd Khan was petitioned and pressured by Russia, Japan and China, all of whom tried to increase their influence over the region.

The museum is now home to various unique artifacts, including silk appliquйs, thangkas, weapons, printing blocks, religious artworks and cultural texts.

Narantuul Market

A somewhat removed shopping area where locals can find many outfits, including fabrics in the traditional Mongolian pattern. The open-air market space is also called the “Central Market” or “Black Market” due to it’s trade of counterfeit items during the Soviet era.

In modern times, the market sells a vast variety of goods for travel through the Mongolian steppes. Aside from clothing, there’s also camping equipment, fishing gear, military surplus attire, horseback equipment, Soviet antiques, Mongolian artifacts and general tools.

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