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Ulan Bator

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Ulaanbaatar

Exploring Mongolia will be challenging if you love fantastic nature, heritage, and architecture. Ulaanbaatar must be on the list of must-visit destinations in Mongolia. The information below will help you understand what kind of area Ulaanbaatar is. Then, you know that exploring Ulaanbaatar is one of the best things you must try immediately.

Travel Tips for Ulan Bator

What you need to know before traveling here

Getting Around Ulan Bator

A guide to Ulan Bator's local transportation

Bus
Taxi
Train

Buses are one of the main transportation systems in Ulaanbaatar and are even considered the cheapest way to explore this area. So far, 21 bus companies operate up to 1,200 buses for 79 routes in Mongolia, including Ulaanbaatar. The companies even developed an application so passengers can track buses and find bus stops.

Practical Tips for Ulan Bator

Things to prepare and best way to visit

What is the Weather Like in Ulaanbaatar?

The weather in Ulaanbaatar varies depending on the month. For example, June, July, and August are warm in this place. The sky is also clear and blue during summer in this area. It can be the reason why you will see tourists walking around Ulaanbaatar during these months. These months are the peak season. Ulaanbaatar is a little bit cold during April and May since it is the end of winter. This is when wildflowers start to bloom. October is the peak of winter in Ulaanbaatar, so it will be freezing there.

What are the best attractions in Ulaanbaatar?

Seasonal Festivals Ulaanbaatar people love to celebrate some festivals depending on the season. For instance, they have various snow sports festivals in winter. You can also see the Nadaam Festival, which is listed as one of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage sites. Historical Statues You will see so many historical statues in Ulaanbaatar. Chinggis Khaan Statue is one of them. You can check this statue in front of the Parliament House on the central square. Just go to Sukhbaatar Square, and you will see another historical statue, the Damdin Sukhbaatar Statue. He declared Mongolia’s independence from China in July 1921. You can even see a huge Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara Statue, known as the tallest indoor Buddha statue in the world. Historical Buildings Mongolians respect their history and culture, so they have cared for historical buildings for many years. Specific historical buildings, such as the Choijin Lama Monastery and Gandan Khiid Monastery, attract tourists to Ulaanbaatar.

What are the Must-Try Foods in Ulaanbaatar?

Huushuur Huushuur is a traditional Mongolian dish that is also popular in Ulaanbaatar. It is a fried pastry filled with meat. Local people often mix sheep or beef meat with onions for the filling. They also serve this traditional dish during the Naadam Festival in July. There is no need to worry if you don’t eat meat because Huushuur is also filled with vegetables, such as potatoes, cabbage, and kimchi. Tsuivan Tsuivan is a fried noodle dish. This traditional Mongolian dish is unique because the locals make the noodles themselves. They fry the homemade noodles with sheep or beef meat and onions. Some people also mix the noodles with horse meat. Khorkhog Exploring Ulaanbaatar will be incomplete without trying Khorkhog. It is an authentic Mongolian barbeque and challenging enough to eat. Khorkhog consists of sheep and goat meat and vegetables. The original recipe uses potatoes, carrots, turnips, onions, and garlic. Local people will put all the ingredients in a large pot and pour some water over them. The unique part is that they also put some hot rocks on it. Best of all, you are about to try Genghis Khan’s favourite dish.

Where Should I Stay in Ulaanbaatar?

Go to specific locations, such as Bayanzurkh, Chingeltei, and Bayangol, if you want to stay in Ulaanbaatar for a little bit longer. The locations serve you with hotels and comfortable rooms to stay with good services and facilities. The hotels in these areas are also affordable enough for tourists. Staying in the hotels around these locations allows you to easily access some public areas and destinations you want to explore.

What Should I Know Before Visiting Ulaanbaatar?

People in Ulaanbaatar love meat, especially goat, sheep, and horse meat. Before ordering, ensure that you understand the menu. If you are vegetarian or don’t eat meat, find another menu. Check the month you go to Ulaanbaatar since it relates to the items you must bring. Say you are about to visit this place from June to August. It means you must bring more T-shirts, swimsuits, and sunscreen because the weather is hot here. On the other hand, you must bring jackets and other items to keep yourself warm when visiting Ulaanbaatar in October since it is winter.

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Travel Tips for Ulan Bator