Ulaanbaatar Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Ulaanbaatar tours and things to do in Mongolia’s capital and beyond: stand beneath the colossal Genghis Khan equestrian statue, explore the wild scenery of Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, venture into the Gobi Desert, meet nomadic families in their gers, and discover the city’s monasteries and Sükhbaatar Square. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect trip.
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Explore Ulaanbaatar by interest
Whatever brings you to Ulaanbaatar — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Ulaanbaatar
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Genghis Statue
Giant monument.
Terelj Park
Turtle Rock.
Gobi Desert
Sand & fossils.
Gandan Monastery
Golden Buddha.
Zaisan Memorial
City views.
Ger Camp
Nomad life.
Steppe Horses
Riding.
Aryapala Temple
Meditation.
Ulaanbaatar in 3 days
- 1Day 1: statue & Terelj
- 2Day 2: city
- 3Day 3: Hustai horses
- 4Nomads
1 hr awayGenghis Statue
Giant monument.
1.5 hr awayTerelj Park
Turtle Rock.
2 hr awayHustai Park
Wild horses.
Overnight awaySemi-Gobi
Desert taste.
Multi-day awayKharkhorin
Ancient capital.
City awayGandan Monastery
Golden Buddha.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Ulaanbaatar visitor asks before booking.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Warm, green and the best time to travel — peak season.
Late spring (May)
Cool and reviving as the steppe greens.
Autumn (Sep)
Crisp, golden and less crowded — lovely.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Bitterly cold — for hardy travellers and festivals.
For Naadam
The Naadam festival takes place in mid-July.
Best overall
June to September is ideal.
One day
The statue and Terelj.
Two days
Add the city and Hustai.
Several days
Add the Gobi or Kharkhorin.
For nature
Terelj and the steppe.
For the Gobi
A multi-day desert tour.
With kids
The statue and a ger stay.
Guided tours
Tours with drivers are essential for the steppe and Gobi.
City taxis
Taxis and ride apps work within Ulaanbaatar.
On foot
The city centre and monasteries are walkable.
Domestic flights
Flights speed up long trips to the Gobi.
Where to stay
Stay central for the city, or in ger camps out on the steppe.
Tögrög
Mongolia uses the tögrög; carry cash outside the city.
Book tours ahead
Statue, Terelj and Gobi tours sell out in summer — reserve early.
Pack layers
Weather changes fast — bring warm and waterproof layers.
Respect customs
Follow ger etiquette when visiting nomad families.
Sun & wind
The steppe sun and wind are strong — bring protection.
Time Naadam
Visit in mid-July for the Naadam festival.
Summer travel
June to September offers the best conditions.
Statue & Terelj
Day tours sell out in summer — book ahead.
Gobi tours
Multi-day Gobi trips book out — reserve early.
Kharkhorin
Central Mongolia tours fill up — book ahead.
Hustai horses
Wild-horse day tours have limited spots — reserve early.
Naadam
Naadam festival tours book months ahead — reserve early.
Summer
June to August is busiest — book everything ahead.
Statue & Terelj
Around €55–100 for a day tour with transport.
City tour
About €30–55 for an Ulaanbaatar city tour.
Hustai
Roughly €70–120 for a wild-horse day tour.
Gobi tour
Around €150–400+ for a multi-day Gobi trip.
Kharkhorin
About €180–350 for a Kharkhorin multi-day tour.
How to save
Join group tours and combine the statue with Terelj.
Ulaanbaatar through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Warm & green.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak.
- Best for
- Reviving steppe.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cool.
- Best for
- Golden & calm.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lovely.
- Best for
- Festivals.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Very cold.