Chinggis Khaan Airport (UBN) to the City

Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN): about 50 km from the city

Ulaanbaatar's gateway, Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN), is about 50 km south of the city. The city is not on the airport's doorstep, so treat the trip to your hotel as part of your arrival-day plan.

There are two ways into town. According to the airport, public buses run to the city 24 hours a day, and official taxis leave from the taxi service counter on the terminal's first floor at set fares. Below: where to buy tickets, fares, what to know by area and how to prepare for a winter arrival.

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24-hour public bus: tickets at the west kiosk or the counter

According to the airport, public buses run to the city 24 hours a day. Whether you land early or late, the bus is an option, which is a real plus at this airport.

Buy tickets at the self-service kiosk on the west side of the terminal's first floor or at the bus and taxi counter. After you clear arrivals, find the kiosk on the west side first; if it is confusing, just buy at the counter.

The bus runs to the Sukhbaatar Square side of the city centre. Check the official information before you go for exact routes, stops, timetables and fares. Pickpocketing is reported at the airport and on city buses, so keep your bag in front of you even while loading luggage.

Official taxi: from the first-floor counter at set fares

With lots of luggage, or to be dropped at your hotel door, 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. Don't follow anyone who approaches you in arrivals; confirming the fare at the counter before you get in is the safest way.

Mongolia's currency is the tugrik (MNT). Carry some small notes for taxis and small shops. Once in the city, follow the embassy's advice: order a call taxi rather than flagging a car on the street, and share the plate number with a companion.

At a glance

Here are the two options side by side, line by line.

• Where: public bus tickets at the self-service kiosk on the west side of the first floor or at the bus and taxi counter / official taxis from the taxi service counter on the first floor
• Hours: the public bus runs 24 hours a day / for taxis, ask at the counter
• Fare: public bus, check the official information before you go / official taxi, about MNT 120,000-170,000 to the city centre (standard or pre-booked)
• To: the public bus runs to the Sukhbaatar Square side (check stops officially) / the official taxi goes to the city centre at a set fare
• Travel time: for both, check the official information before you go; the distance is about 50 km and city traffic can be slow
• Watch out: do not use unauthorized taxi touts

What to know by area

On a first visit, the centre around Sukhbaatar Square is easiest. Government House, museums and theatres are here, the main sights are walkable, and the airport bus also runs to the square.

Peace Avenue, the main east-west avenue, has frequent buses but gets crowded, so watch for pickpockets. The Zaisan area south of the centre is calmer, but you'll need a car to get downtown, so an official taxi is worth considering if you are heading there from the airport.

Ger camps in Terelj National Park are about an hour's drive from the city and are usually reached by hired car or tour vehicle. Check facilities and heating before booking.

A long ride and a winter arrival: allow time

The airport is about 50 km from the city and city traffic can be slow. Keep your arrival day light, and on departure day leave for the airport in good time.

From November to March temperatures stay below freezing, and winter nights can drop below -40°C. 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 an average January high/low of about -16/-26°C.

If you arrive in winter, keep your cold-weather clothing in your hand luggage rather than deep in your suitcase. Air pollution from heating can be heavy in winter, so wear a mask on bad days, and if you land late at night, don't walk alone: take the bus or an official taxi to your hotel.

Arrival-day checklist

Check these before you leave the airport and your first day will go more smoothly.

• Mongolian entry and visa rules can change, so check the official information before you go
• If you take the bus, check routes, stops and fares in the official information before you go, and buy tickets at the west kiosk on the first floor or at the bus and taxi counter
• Take only official taxis from the first-floor taxi service counter and ignore touts
• Carry some small tugrik notes for taxis and small shops
• Pickpocketing is reported at the airport too, so wear your bag in front and don't walk around with your phone in hand
• In winter, keep warm clothing and a mask within easy reach

• Full Ulaanbaatar travel guide →
• How Many Days in Ulaanbaatar? A 4-Day Route with a Ger Night in Terelj →

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