3 Things to do in Ulaanbaatar, the Capital of Mongolia

Last updated on 10 July 2026

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Things to do in Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar is a sprawling collection of old Soviet buildings, concrete structures and a definite lack of trees, but it’s got more stories packed into it than that description gives it credit for.

There are some really interesting parts of the city that we explored during our weekend there (we spent most of our time there at Terelj National Park). There are lots of activities and things to see in Mongolia – it’s an incredible country! – but I wanted to share 3 things to do in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, to get you started: Sükhbaatar Square, the National Museum of Mongolia and the climb up to Zaisan Memorial.

It’s not often you speak to someone who has been to Mongolia before … but here you are, talking to one. *waves* If you’ve been around the blog for a little while, then you may be aware that I used to live in Ulaanbaatar as a kid.

Just a couple of years, mind, but enough for it to be a part of my life in a rather large way.

While I hadn’t been back since I was 6, there are still memories I have of our time there, like going to school, going to the countryside for breaks, and what our inner-city apartment used to be like. It was so great going back to the city when I was there visiting with my dad in 2018, and doing a little reminiscing.

Sükhbaatar Square

The central point of the city is Sükhbaatar Square. It’s a huge open space with a statue of the square’s namesake, Damdin Sükhbaatar, at its core.

On the north side, there is the huge seated statue of Genghis Khaan made of marble, with Ögedei Khaan and Kublai Khaan seated (and a lot smaller) on either end. Behind them is Government House.

The square once held anti-communist protests in the early 1990s (right before we arrived), which eventually led to the Russians moving out of Mongolia.

Now the square is used for concerts and the occasional rally, but mostly a place where tourists come to take photos and locals come to watch their kids ride around on bikes. There was a wedding happening while we were there, which reminded me of the wedding we spotted in Japan.

The National Museum of Mongolia

The National Museum of Mongolia didn’t allow photographs to be taken inside (or rather, it did, but you had to pay more). But it was a great wander through the several rabbit-warren stories of the building.

It’s a great overview of the history of Mongolia, with national dress displayed, old weapons, paintings, and of course, the written history of the country. It’s really interesting and well worth it if you’re ever going to visit Ulaanbaatar.

This monument/sculpture below is located just outside in the courtyard, and is a stunning and moving representation of Mongolia breaking out of the oppression of the communist regime.

Zaisan Memorial and its 612 steps

“Built by the Russians to commemorate ‘unknown soldiers and heroes’ from various wars, the Zaisan Memorial features stirring socialist realism imagery with Soviet mosaics and reliefs, including that of Stalin and Lenin.” – Lonely Planet says it better than I do.

The Zaisan Memorial will make you earn that view: it’s 612 steps from the bottom of the hill to the top, so take the halfway lift from a taxi if your legs would rather not. We climbed at least 200 steps to get to the top from that halfway mark (thanks, taxi driver!), but on the way down it was at least that again, if not more.

You can see the whole of Ulaanbaatar from the top, and the hills surrounding it. Due to pollution and smog, it wasn’t a clear view, but you can get the idea anyway.

Note: In 2024, it was under construction. So be sure to double-check it’s all open again before you make your way there.

Good news if you’re short on time: Sükhbaatar Square and the National Museum of Mongolia are only a five to ten minute walk apart, so you can do both in a single morning. Zaisan Memorial is further out on the edge of the city, so you’ll want a taxi (cheap and easy to grab) rather than trying to walk it.

We spent some time in the big department store (tip: the top floor of the State Department Store is full of souvenirs. Would highly recommend the slippers!), and visited a few places close to where we were staying, including a bookstore.

If you’re heading out of the city at all, be sure to stop and ride a Mongolian camel if you can! That’s also a lot of fun.

Have you been planning to visit Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia? I’d love to hear about it below!

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Got questions?

What is the best time of year to visit Ulaanbaatar?

Summer, from June to August, is the easiest window weather-wise. Ulaanbaatar sits at altitude and gets bitterly cold from November through April (it’s the coldest capital in the world!) so if you want to be outside walking between Sükhbaatar Square, the museum and Zaisan without freezing, aim for those warmer months.

How many steps are there to Zaisan Memorial?

There are 612 steps from the bottom of the hill to the Zaisan Memorial, or around 300 if you get a lift to the upper car park first. Entry itself is free.

How much does it cost to enter the National Museum of Mongolia?

Ticket prices are low but do change, so check the official museum site before you go rather than relying on an old figure. There’s also a small extra charge if you want to take photos inside.

Is a weekend enough time to see Ulaanbaatar?

For the city itself, yes, I think so. Sükhbaatar Square and the National Museum are a five to ten minute walk apart, so you can knock both over in half a day, then take a taxi out to Zaisan for the afternoon. Most people use Ulaanbaatar as a base before or after heading out to Terelj National Park, which is the bit that needs the extra days.