Mongolia: The capital and other cities

About Mongolia 

• Mongolia has a vast land area of 1.5 million square kilometers. Its population is close to 3.5 million people, making Mongolia one of the least densely populated countries in the world.
• The vast majority of the country’s citizens are of Mongolian descent; a small number of citizens have Kazak origins.
• Buddhism is widely practiced in Mongolia, and Christianity, Islam and Shamanism are all accepted religions.
• Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital, is also the country’s most popular tourist destination.
• Mongolia’s winters are generally long and cold. Therefore, if you’re traveling around the country, it is useful to bring supplies.
• The official language of the country is Mongolian. Many citizens also speak Russian due to Mongolia’s long-standing ties with the Soviet Union. In addition, English is widely spoken throughout the country.

Where is Mongolia?

Mongolia is in eastern Central Asia. It is a landlocked country bordering Russia to the north and China to the south.

Getting to Mongolia

Turkish Airlines operates direct flights from Türkiye to Genghis Khan International Airport (UBN) in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. Flights take approximately 8 hours. The Ulaanbaatar city center is approximately 49 kilometers from the airport and accessible via taxis or express buses, which run 24 hours a day.

Don’t waste time and visit the Mongolia flights page to start planning your trip!

The capital and popular cities of Mongolia 

Home to about a third of the country’s population, Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, featuring a compelling mix of traditional Mongolian culture and modern urban life. In particular, the city center reflects this juxtaposition. Some of the highlights of Ulaanbaatar include the following.

• Gandantegchinlen Monastery is a major tourist attraction in both the city and the country. One of Mongolia’s largest and most important buildings, this Buddhist monastery houses the massive Megjid-Janraiseg statue, which stands about 25 meters tall. The monastery was built in the early nineteenth century and is still active.
• Choijin Lama Temple Museum is also a popular tourist destination in Mongolia. Built in the early 1900s, this former Buddhist temple complex is now a museum housing more than 6,000 unique objects, including Mongolian Buddhist sculptures and paintings. 
• Add the National Museum of Mongolia to your itinerary when visiting Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar. Established in 1924, this important museum depicts the history and heritage of Mongolia through numerous exhibitions and artifacts. 
• The Bogd Khaan Palace Museum, set in the former residence of the Bogd Jebtsundamba Khutuktu, the spiritual leader of Buddhism in Mongolia, is regarded as one of the most significant monuments of Mongolian history and architecture. Visitors can learn about a variety of religious and cultural objects through the museum’s exhibitions.
• Genghis Khan, the founder and first ruler of the Mongol Empire, is a pivotal figure not only in Mongolian history, but in the history of Europe and Asia. The 40-meter-tall Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue commemorates Genghis Khan, who conquered the world on horseback. Visitors can access the statue’s observation deck via an elevator.
• The Genghis Khan National Museum is also an important cultural attraction in the country. Opened in 2019, the museum houses a large collection of artifacts and objects related to Mongolian kings and nobles and their lives. There’s also a gift shop.
• Do include Gorkhi-Terelj National Park on your Mongolia travel itinerary. One of the most beautiful and accessible places to observe the country’s vast landscape up close, the park is also an important habitat for animals. Activities such as camping, horseback riding and archery – in the heart of the steppe – are available. 
• Sukhbaatar Square, in the city center, is home to the equestrian statue of Sukhbaatar, the country’s national hero. The square is also near many important buildings, including the opera house, and is a popular social gathering spot for local residents and visitors.  

Karakorum

About 360 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar and near the modern city of Kharkhorin, Karakorum, Mongolia’s 13th-century capital, draws visitors with its distinctive landscapes and deep history. The ancient city, established by Genghis Khan in 1220, is set within the borders of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site encompassing a wide area on both sides of the Orkhon River. The Orkhon Inscriptions, which contain the oldest known Turkic texts, are also located nearby. Other notable sites within the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape include the following.

• Erdene Zuu Monastery is the earliest surviving Mongol Buddhist monastery and a popular destination for tourists and architecture buffs. The 16^th-century monastery is surrounded by a wall of 108 stupas –  the number 108 is considered sacred in Buddhism.
• The Orkhon Inscriptions, the world’s oldest known surviving Turkic writings, are carved into two large monuments. Now part of the collection of the Museum of Khushuu Tsaidam, about 50 kilometers north of the Erdene Zuu Monastery, the inscriptions refer to and commemorate two Turkish princes, Kül-Tegin and his brother Bilge Kagan. These inscriptions mark a turning point in Turkish history and literature. (The Tonyukuk (Bain Tsokto) inscriptions are located near the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar). 
• Set on a mountainside overlooking a hill, the Tövkhön Monastery is one of Mongolia’s most important cultural symbols. Established in the mid-1600s, the monastery is still active and features structures dating from the 17^th and 18^th centuries. 

Erdenet

Erdenet, in the Orkhon province, is the second-largest city in Mongolia and a copper mining center. Founded in the 1970s, the city is around 370 kilometers from Ulaanbaator and offers attractions such as local markets, as well as the Friendship Monument, the massive Buddha statue, and examples of 1970s Soviet-style architecture.

Dining in Mongolia

Meat is a key component in Mongolian cuisine, mainly due to the country’s long, cold winters and relatively low agricultural production. Some of the country’s signature dishes include the following.

• Buuz (steamed dumplings filled with lamb or beef)
• Khorkhog (goat or lamb meat cooked in a jug with hot stones)
• Boodog (a whole marmot or goat cooked by hot stones placed inside the body)
• Khuushuur (deep-fried meat pie)
• Borts (air-dried meat, similar to jerky)
• Guriltai shul (noodle soup with meat)
• Mongolian milk tea (a hot beverage of milk steeped with green tea and toasted millet)

Note: We suggest checking ahead of time, if possible, to ensure that the meat used in various dishes is suitable for your dietary needs.

When to visit Mongolia

If you’re planning a trip to Mongolia, do consider the country’s climate. The winter months are extremely cold; depending on your itinerary, we recommend visiting the country between May and December. Visitors with health issues should note that medical intervention options in the country are limited.

Practical information about Mongolia

• Capital of Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar
• Official language of Mongolia: Mongolian
• Mongolian currency: Mongolian Tugrik
• Type of plugs and sockets used in Mongolia: C/E type plug and socket