Why Go? If Mongolia’s yin is its pristine countryside, then Ulaanbaa-tar (UB) conforms nicely to its yang. An enormous city of pulsating commerce, wild traffic, sinful nightlife and bohe-mian counter-culture, the Mongolian capital elicits as much shock as it does excitement. The contrasts within the city can be exasperating too: Armani-suited businessmen rub shoulders with mohawked punks and del-clad nomads fresh off the steppes. One minute you’re dodging the path of a Hummer H2 and the next you’re mystified by groaning Bud-dhist monks at Gandan Khiid. It’s a wild place that bursts into life after slumbering through a long winter. This cha-otic capital is not the easiest city to navigate, but with a little patience, travellers can take care of all their logistical needs, watch traditional theatre, sample international cuisine and party till three in the morning. This ever-changing city may be the biggest surprise of your Mongolian adventure.
%011, 021, 051, 7035 / PoP 1,287,100 / AreA 1368 sq km
Ulaanbaatar Улаанбаатар
When to Go
Early Jun Get giddy on Chil-dren’s Day and then run the Mon-golia Marathon.
Mid-Jul The city comes to a halt for Naadam and its wrestling, archery and horse racing.
Aug Lounge at street cafes and swill beer during the last throes of summer.
F DNOSAJJMAMJ
Ulaanbaatar°C/°F Temp
-30/-22
-20/-4
-10/14
10/50
30/86
20/68
0/32
0
0.8/20
2.4/60
4/100
3.2/80
1.6/40
Rainfall inches/mm
Best Places to Eat¨¨ millie’s Café (p80)
¨¨ Namaste (p81)
¨¨ mongolians (p82)
¨¨ rosewood kitchen + enoteca (p79)
Best Places to Stay¨¨ Lotus Guesthouse (p73)
¨¨ Zaya’s Hostel (p75)
¨¨ Hotel Örgöö (p74)
¨¨ Best Western Tuushin Hotel (p75)
Sights .......................... 58Activities .......................71Courses ........................71Festivals & Events ....... 72Sleeping....................... 73Eating ...........................77Drinking & Nightlife .... 82Entertainment ............. 84Shopping ..................... 87Information .................90Getting There & Away ......................... 92Getting Around ............ 95
#_
©Lonely¨Planet¨Publications¨Pty¨Ltd
Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar H
IGH
LIGH
TS
57
6 00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
66
66
66
666
66
66
66 66666
6
000
000
000
000
660000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
66
66
66
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
#£
##
#
#
#ÿÿ
#
#
þ
þ
##
#
ææ
æ
#÷
#â
#
#
ï
#
#
#›
#
#
Ø
Ú
3/4
MIC
RO
DIS
TRIC
T
Dun
d G
ol
Selb
e G
ol
Naa
dam
Stad
ium
Bui
lder
'sSq
uare
Seou
l St
Ikh Surguuliin
Gudamj
NamyanjugiinGudamj
Magsarjavjiin Gudamj
Chingisiin Örgön Chölöö
Choimbolyn Gudamj
Juul
chin
Gud
amj
Chin
gisi
in Ör
gön
Chöl
öö
Ikh Toiruu
Dam
dinb
azar
yn G
udam
j
Zaisan Gudamj
Amarsanaagiin Gudamj
Zalu
uchu
udyn
Örgö
n Ch
ölöö
Olympiin Örgön Chölöö
Ard
Ayus
h Ör
gön
Chöl
öö
Nar
ny (S
un) G
udam
j (Te
ever
chid
iin G
udam
j)
Dun
d G
ol G
udam
j
Baga Toiruu (east)
Mah
atm
a Gh
andi
St
Peac
e Av
e (E
nkh
Taiv
ny Ö
rgön
Chö
löö)
Unes
co G
udam
j
Trai
nSt
atio
n
Nom
ads
Off
ice
Arc
hery
Stad
ium
Asr
al &
Kun
chab
Jam
pa
Bud
dhis
t Cen
tre
Gob
i Cas
hmer
eFa
ctor
yO
utle
t
LG G
uest
hous
e
Voy
age
Hot
el
Nar
an T
uul
Mar
ket
Gen
eral
Off
ice
of B
orde
rPr
otec
tion
Ank
le-b
one
Sho
otin
gA
rea
Bus
Sto
p fo
rG
aach
urt
Nat
iona
lA
mus
emen
tPa
rk
Inte
rnat
iona
lR
ailw
ay T
icke
ting
Off
ice
Nationa
lGarde
nPa
rk
Hus
tai N
atio
nal
Park
Off
ice
Win
d of
Mon
golia
976
Gal
lery
Dom
estic
Rai
lway
Tick
et O
ffice
Air
Chi
na
Frie
nds
Mon
golia
nLa
ngua
ge S
choo
l
See
Cent
ral U
laan
baat
ar M
ap (p
60)
See
Sans
ar M
ap (p
70)
Kaza
khst
an E
mba
ssy
(300
m);
Attil
a Bi
ke S
hop
(1km
); Bu
ddha
Par
k (1
.3km
);
(1.5
km);
Sky
Reso
rt (1
0km
)
Drag
on
(2
.2km
)
Oasi
s Caf
é &
Gues
thou
se (1
.5km
);Ba
yanz
ürkh
(2.2
km);
Tsai
z Zak
h (3
km);
Nala
ikh
(32k
m);
Tere
lj (7
7km
)
01km
00.5mile
s#e
#2
Win
ter
Pala
ceof
the
Bog
dK
han
#1
#7
#3
Gan
dan
Khi
id
Nat
iona
l Mus
eum
of M
ongo
lia
Nat
iona
lAc
adem
icD
ram
a Th
eatr
e
D
D
D
#›
#›#6
#4C
hoiji
n La
ma
Tem
ple
Mus
eum
Bea
tles
Squa
re
#5Za
isan
Mem
oria
l
1 W
alk
the
pray
er c
ircui
t ar
ound
Gan
dan
Khiid
(p
67),
the
coun
try’
s la
rges
t m
onas
tery
.
2 W
onde
r at t
he e
ccen
tric
co
llect
ion
of c
urio
s an
d
arte
fact
s at
the
Win
ter P
alac
e of
the
Bogd
Kha
n (p
69).
3 T
ake
in a
per
form
ance
of
trad
ition
al d
ance
and
mus
ic
at th
e N
atio
nal A
cade
mic
Dr
ama
Thea
tre
(p84
).
4 S
tep
back
in ti
me
with
a
tour
of t
he C
hoiji
n La
ma
Tem
ple
Mus
eum
(p65
), an
an
cien
t rel
ic s
urro
unde
d by
m
oder
n do
wnt
own.
5 A
mbl
e up
the
step
s at
Za
isan
Mem
oria
l (p7
0) fo
r sw
eepi
ng v
iew
s of
the
city
.
6 C
hill
out o
n Be
atle
s Sq
uare
(p67
), th
e su
mm
ertim
e ha
unt o
f
fash
iona
ble
yout
h, s
kate
rs a
nd
trav
elle
rs.
7 W
eave
thro
ugh
Mon
golia
’s
anci
ent p
ast a
t the
Nat
iona
l M
useu
m o
f Mon
golia
(p59
).
Ula
anba
atar
Hig
hlig
hts