Things to Do & See in Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar's main sights — Gandan Monastery, Sükhbaatar (Chinggis) Square, the major museums and the Bogd Khan Palace — can be covered in two full days. Most lie within a few kilometres of the centre, but traffic is heavy, so group sights by area and walk where you can.

Gandan Monastery and the city's Buddhist heritage

Gandantegchinlen Monastery, usually called Gandan, is Mongolia's largest active monastery and the centre of the Buddhist revival that followed 1990. Its main temple houses a gilded statue of Migjid Janraisig (Avalokiteshvara) about 26 m tall, rebuilt in the 1990s after the original was removed in the 1930s. Come in the morning to hear the monks chanting.

The Choijin Lama Temple Museum, built in the early 20th century for the Bogd Khan's brother, who served as the state oracle, now stands among modern towers in the city centre. Its tsam dance masks, sculptures and paintings make it one of the finest collections of Buddhist art in the country.

Sükhbaatar Square and the city centre

The central square is officially Sükhbaatar Square; it was called Chinggis Square from 2013 to 2016, and some people still use that name. It is framed by the Government Palace with its large seated statue of Chinggis Khaan, the salmon-pink State Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Central Cultural Palace. The square hosts major public celebrations and is the natural starting point for a walking tour.

Museums worth your time

• National Museum of Mongolia: the best overview of the country, from prehistory and the Mongol Empire to traditional dress and nomadic life.
• Chinggis Khaan National Museum: a large modern museum opened in 2022, devoted to the Mongol Empire and the history of Mongol states.
• Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts: masterpieces by the 17th-century sculptor and religious leader Zanabazar, alongside thangka paintings and later Mongolian art.
• Bogd Khan Palace Museum: the winter palace of the eighth Bogd Khan, Mongolia's last monarch, with its temples, gates and his personal collection, in the south of the city.

Zaisan viewpoint and evening culture

The Zaisan Memorial, a Soviet-era monument on a hill south of the centre, rewards a climb of a few hundred steps with panoramic views over the city and the Tuul River. In the evening, see a traditional folk performance with throat singing, morin khuur music, contortion and tsam masked dance; long-established ensembles such as Tumen Ekh have performed for visitors for many years. Opera and ballet at the State Opera and Ballet Theatre are another good-value night out.

Easy day trips from the city

Gorkhi-Terelj National Park and the Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue at Tsonjin Boldog can both be visited in a day. Khustai National Park, where takhi (Przewalski's horses) were reintroduced, is about two hours' drive to the west.

Practical tips

• Opening hours, ticket prices and photo fees change, and some museums close one day a week; check with each museum before you go.
• Traffic peaks in the morning and evening rush hours, and walking between central sights is often faster than driving.
• At monasteries, walk clockwise, dress modestly and ask before photographing people or interiors.
• Performance schedules vary by season, so confirm times and venues directly with the ensemble or theatre.