City: Ulaanbaatar
Top Things to do in Ulaanbaatar
What to do and see in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: The Best Sights & Landmarks
Located in the northern part of the country, high above sea level, Ulan Bator is the coldest capital city in the world. The cultural and business center of Mongolia, and a hub connecting the Trans-Siberian Railway with the Chinese rail system, Ulan Bator has become a thriving urban center in one of the most remote locations in the world. Visit the Tibetan-style Gandan Monastery, one of the few buildings in Ulan Bator to predate WWII and one of the few monasteries to survive the Soviet purge.
Restaurants in Ulaanbaatar
1. Chenresig Temple
2. Manzshir Monastery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 39 reviews
Reviewed By chaletaria
Although guide books say this is in Ulaanbaatar, trust me, it is not. You will need to hire a taxi (return), which is best done via your hotel and agreed up front price. It takes 1+ hours to drive there (though it's a scenic drive). The site is very impressive; although ruined (apart from 1 building) it has many ruins and several cave-like decorated meditation niches. The site is a moderately rugged walk uphill (note- no disabled access at all), but worthwhile. Lower down are various outdoor artefacts (giant cauldron, statues etc). The taxi driver will wait for you. Allow at least 2 hours for the site. I’d recommend doing this as a whole day outing.
3. Migjid Janraisig Sum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 183 reviews
Reviewed By lucialtraveler
We visited Gandan monastery. It is walking distance from city center (It is around 1.5 kms). Migjid Janraisag is huge spectacular statue. It was intersting to visit.
4. Genghis Khan Statue Complex
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,550 reviews
Chinggis Khaan Statute complex is situated 54 km from Ulaanbaatar City, with the view of beautiful natural scenery on the bank of the Tuul River, a historical place where Chinggis khan’s golden whip was found. Today, for a memory of the man of the millennium, a 40 meters high stainless steel statue of Chinggis Khaan on a horseback is the largest among the statues in the world. Inside the statue we operate a restaurant, souvenir shop, two museums and conference hall. Visitors can go up the statue using the elevator or the stairs to the head of the horse where they can have a panoramic view of the beautiful landscape.
Reviewed By Rarisang - Melbourne, Australia
We observed many statues in Mongolia, many of Genghis Khan and our guide from Juulchin Tours said they are very popular and more are built every year. This one is certainly impressive - massive on a hillside- glinting in the sun. It really dominates the landscape. We walked up the broken steps to the statue entrance and into a huge lobby with a striking enormous leather Mongolian boot. We went to the basement to look through exhibits of the evolution of gers from ancient times to now and the role of prized large Mongolian dogs - especially in the north to scare off wolves in winter. Then we watched an old video made before the statue was finally completed. Next it was up in a lift to the third floor and walk up narrow stairs before reaching the final steps to the top of the horse's head and a fantastic view across the landscape. Our guide took us there about 10.00am on a sunny autumn morning before the bus loads of tourists arrive and queues develop.
5. Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By dnaleciz - Moreno Valley, United States
Wandering around Ulaanbaatar in the cold, I stumbled upon this very beautiful white building called the Holy Trinity Church. The Holy Trinity Church is a Russian Orthodox church situated on Zhukova street, 55 - a, in Bayanzurkh District. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This Church is the only Russian Orthodox Church in Ulaanbaatar. It is built in the Cross-in-square Russian Revival Style of architectural buildings. Large windows and gold dome and roof are several of the outstanding features displayed by this church. This particular church can trace it roots back to the 1860 and over the years has seen numerous changes. On 22 March 1864 the first priest offered a religious service. This date is considered the beginning of the Holy Trinity parish of Russian Orthodox Church in Mongolia. The church lost it priest in 1867 and the facility was closed. The original Church building was demolished during the 1930s. In 1991 the Russian Orthodox Church was reestablished and the present day building was begun. Construction began in 2005 and lasted until 2009. I had the opportunity to meet one of the priest at this Church and was allowed to visit the interior of the church. Beautiful interior decorated with religious icons and frescos. Extremely peaceful and and solemn. The Holy Trinity Orthodox Church holds services on Saturday and Sunday. It is not a must visit site, but if you are in the area, I would recommend a visit.
6. Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By dnaleciz - Moreno Valley, United States
As one proceeds down Peace Avenue and transitions to AH3 heading for Tov Providence one finds this large red compound with an impressive red brick building that looks like a stone yurt with its circular tent shape and wall of thick felt. A small gold cross adorns the roof of the building. This facility is The Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, a Roman Catholic Church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. the building was designed by Serbian architect Predak Stupar and consecrated in 2003 by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe. The cathedral has 36 semicircular windows and a window in the skylight. They were added by 2005, and were part of a project undertaken by Brother Mark. The windows depict the four evangelists in their symbolic forms: an eagle, an angel, a yak and a snow leopard. The latter two are the local reinterpretations of traditional Christian iconography, which replace the traditional winged bull and a winged lion. It should be noted that there are only about 300 Roman Catholics in the entire county of Mongolia who are served by three churches from the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. The church runs a kindergarten school, English classes, a technical school, soup kitchens, two farms and a care center for 125 disabled children. The Verbist Center has also taken in 120 homeless street children who had previously been living in the city sewer system. The front doors to the church are secured and egress is accomplish by a side door. The interior of the church is painted white with traditional catholic pictures adorning the wall. Pews are made out of wood. A very somber and spiritual place well worth the visit. Two Catholic mass services are conducted each Sunday in Mongolian and English.
7. Dashchoilin Monastery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By Gurgi89
We stumbled on this monastery when exploring the area around the University. Quiet plaza in the center of several ger style temples. There's an antique gift/religious shop nearby.
8. Aglag Buteel Monastery
9. Aryabal Meditation Temple
10. Genghis Khan Square
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 889 reviews
Reviewed By saronic - Zurich, Switzerland
Staying at a nearby hotel I don't know how many times I crossed this square, which definitely marks the center of Ulaanbaatar. Talking about it, one hears two different names for it: Genghis Khan Square or Sükhbaatar Square (which should be the official name again since 2016). Often the flagstone covered place is quite empty, just some individuals crossing it from one side to the other, but there are also some people, who sit down on one of the benches between flowerbeds, which surround the equestrian bronze statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar, the 'Father of the Mongolian Revolution', who died at age 30 in 1923. Action, like wedding ceremonies, can sometimes be seen on the square's north side, in front of the Government Palace's colonnade with the statue of Ghengis Khan in the center, flanked by the one's of his successors Ögedei Khan and Kublai Khan. Interesting on the eastern side of th square are the Central Cultural Palace, the State Ballet and Opera House and the Central Tower skyscraper. Some buildings are traditional, some completely modern like the sail shaped Blue Sky Tower on the south side. On the west are the Central Post Office and the Stock Exchange building among others. At night everything is attractively lit up.
