How Many Days in Ulaanbaatar? A 4-Day Route with a Ger Night in Terelj

The big picture: city sights plus a night in Terelj

Four to five days suits Ulaanbaatar, and the guide recommends building in one night at a ger camp in Terelj National Park. This plan follows the guide's own route: Day 1 arrival and Sukhbaatar Square; Day 2 Gandan Monastery, the museums and the Zaisan Memorial; Day 3 the Chinggis Khaan Statue and a ger night in Terelj; Day 4 the Bogd Khan Palace Museum before heading to the airport.

The centre around Sukhbaatar Square and Peace Avenue is walkable, but sights outside the city, such as Terelj National Park and the Chinggis Khaan Statue, are usually reached by hired car or tour vehicle. The airport is also about 50 km south of the city, so allow plenty of time on your first and last days.

Each area suits a different kind of stay. These are the areas the guide describes.

• Around Sukhbaatar Square (centre): first visit, sights and restaurants. The main sights are walkable and airport buses also run to the square
• Peace Avenue: shopping, public transport. Lined with department stores and restaurants with frequent buses, but crowded, so watch for pickpockets
• Zaisan area (south of the centre): quieter stays, views. Calmer than the centre, but you'll need a car to get downtown
• Ger camps in Terelj National Park: the Day 3 night. Check facilities and heating before booking

• Full Ulaanbaatar travel guide →
• Incheon → Ulaanbaatar flights →

Day 1: From the airport to the city, Sukhbaatar Square in the evening

Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN) is about 50 km south of the city. According to the airport, public buses run to the city 24 hours a day, and tickets are sold at the self-service kiosk on the west side of the terminal's first floor or at the bus and taxi counter. Check routes, timetables and fares officially.

With lots of luggage, or to go straight to your hotel, take an official taxi from the taxi service counter on the terminal's first floor. They go to the city centre at set fares of about MNT 120,000-170,000 (standard or pre-booked). The airport advises against using unauthorized taxi touts.

After check-in, stroll Sukhbaatar Square, the heart of the city, with a statue of Sukhbaatar, leader of the 1921 revolution, in the middle and Government House facing the square. For dinner, keep it simple with buuz, steamed Mongolian meat dumplings, or khuushuur, flat fried pastries filled with meat. The square is busy, so keep an eye on your belongings.

Day 2: Gandan Monastery, National Museum, Chinggis Khaan Museum, Zaisan Memorial

Start the morning at Gandan Monastery (Gandantegchinlen), the centre of Mongolian Buddhism and home to the giant golden Megjid Janraisig statue. Visit quietly and don't disturb worshippers.

Next, the National Museum of Mongolia traces Mongolian history from prehistory through the Mongol Empire, traditional dress and nomadic culture to the 20th century. In the afternoon, the Chinggis Khaan Museum shows weapons, armour and relics of the Mongol Empire alongside digital exhibits. The National Museum's hours can vary by season, so check officially.

Around sunset, head to the Zaisan Memorial on a hill south of the centre and climb the steps for a view over the whole city. Pickpocketing has been reported here, so watch your bag. City traffic can be slow, so allow extra time when you go by car, and use a call taxi or a ride-hailing app.

Day 3: Chinggis Khaan Statue, Turtle Rock and horse riding in Terelj, a ger night

Today you hire a car and leave the city. First stop is the Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex (Tsonjin Boldog), about 54 km east of the city: a 40-metre equestrian statue with a viewing deck over the steppe.

Then continue to Terelj National Park, about an hour's drive from the city, to see the huge turtle-shaped Turtle Rock and try horse riding. Korea's embassy in Mongolia has issued safety notices about horse riding, so ask for a helmet and other safety gear, and ride only at a pace that suits your experience.

Spend the night at a ger camp inside the park and enjoy the stars. Khorkhog, meat and vegetables cooked with hot stones, is often served at ger camps. Check the camp's facilities and heating before booking.

Day 4 and one more day: the Bogd Khan Palace Museum, plus a 5-day version

On the last day, spend a slow morning in Terelj, then return to the city for the Bogd Khan Palace Museum, the winter palace of Mongolia's last monarch, the Bogd Khan, displaying royal artefacts and Buddhist art.

The airport is about 50 km from the city and traffic can be slow, so leave in good time before your departure. In the city, order a call taxi and share the plate number with a companion.

If you can add a day, stretch the trip to 5 days and split Day 2 in two. You can take the museums at an easier pace, and moving the Bogd Khan Palace Museum earlier means the last day is just a morning in Terelj and an unhurried trip to the airport.

• Day 1: arrival, a stroll around Sukhbaatar Square, buuz and khuushuur for dinner
• Day 2: Gandan Monastery, National Museum of Mongolia, Chinggis Khaan Museum
• Day 3: Bogd Khan Palace Museum, Peace Avenue, the Zaisan Memorial around sunset
• Day 4: Chinggis Khaan Statue, Turtle Rock and horse riding in Terelj, a night at a ger camp
• Day 5: morning in Terelj, then leave plenty of time to reach the airport

Getting around and budget: call taxis, transport cards, tugrik cash

City bus fares are paid with transport cards such as U-money and Ubcard. Pickpocketing on buses has been reported, so keep your bag in front of you. Korea's embassy in Mongolia advises using call taxis rather than cars flagged on the street to avoid fare disputes and crime. Agree the destination and a rough fare before you get in, and carry small notes. A ride-hailing app shows the fare upfront, so there's less haggling; check locally which apps work and how to pay.

Mongolia's currency is the tugrik (MNT). Carry some small notes for markets, small shops and taxis. Don't walk alone late at night, stay with companions, and go easy on Mongolian vodka, which is strong. Per person per day, budget roughly as follows.

• Budget: about MNT 150,000-200,000 (guesthouse, local food, buses)
• Mid-range: about MNT 350,000-500,000 (mid-range hotel, restaurants, taxis; tours extra)
• Comfortable: about MNT 1,000,000+ (upscale hotel, car hire, guide)

When to go: June to August, and what to check before you leave

The guide's pick is summer, June to August. Normals for Ulaanbaatar (WMO city data), 1981–2010, from the WMO World Weather Information Service — National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring of Mongolia (NAMEM), give average highs/lows of about 23/10°C in June, 25/13°C in July and 22/11°C in August, with about 49 mm of rain in June, 68 mm in July and 72 mm in August.

The national Naadam festival is usually held around July 11-13, when flights and rooms fill up, so book early. From November to March temperatures stay below freezing (the average January low is about -26°C), winter nights can drop below -40°C, and air pollution from heating can be heavy. If you go then, pack serious cold-weather clothing and wear a mask on days with heavy air pollution.

Before you go, check your government's current travel advice for Mongolia. Entry and visa rules can change, so always check official information.

• Full Ulaanbaatar travel guide →
• Where to travel in August — steppe and mountains at their summer best →
• Where to travel in July — mountains and cities at their summer best →
• How to choose an airport-to-city transfer →

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