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Mongolia travel guide
Endless steppe, nomad gers and the Gobi Desert.
Mongolia is a vast land of grasslands, mountains and desert, where nomadic herding is still a way of life. Travelers use Ulaanbaatar as a base for road trips to the Gobi, the old capital Kharkhorin and Lake Khövsgöl.
Travel tools
Getting there
Chinggis Khaan International Airport near Ulaanbaatar is the main gateway with flights from Asia, Europe and Turkey. The Trans-Mongolian Railway links Ulaanbaatar with Beijing and Russia.
Best time to visit: Jun–Sep – warm weather, green steppe and the Naadam festival in July.
Tougher months: November to March – extremely cold, especially in Ulaanbaatar, unless you want a winter adventure.
Weather by month in Ulaanbaatar
- -15°J
- -10°F
- -1°M
- 9°A
- 17°M●
- 22°J●
- 24°J●●
- 22°A●●
- 15°S●
- 6°O
- -5°N
- -13°D
Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).
Time zone: Asia/Hovd, Asia/Ulaanbaatar. Compare with your local time.
Visas: in our passport dataset, 67 of 198 other passports can enter Mongolia without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 95 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 36 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.
Background: Visa policy of Mongolia (Wikipedia).
Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-07-29). Read the advisory.
Source and more: Mongolia travel facts on RoamSun
Stay
Most trips to Mongolia are based around Ulaanbaatar, Gobi Desert or Lake Khövsgöl. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.
Typical daily budget: about US$30–50 for a backpacker and US$80–150 mid-range, per person.
Source: RoamSun Mongolia page · Browse hotel guides
Connect
Plug types: C, E. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +976.
Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.
Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun
Do
- Ulaanbaatar (Central · capital): A rapidly changing capital with monasteries, excellent museums and lively cafés.
- Gobi Desert (South · desert): Singing sand dunes, ice-filled canyons and dinosaur fossil sites.
- Lake Khövsgöl (North · lake): Mongolia's 'blue pearl', surrounded by taiga forest and reindeer herders' territory.
- Kharkhorin (Orkhon Valley · historic): Site of the old imperial capital Karakorum and Erdene Zuu Monastery.
- Gorkhi-Terelj National Park (Near Ulaanbaatar · park): Easy-to-reach rock formations, ger camps and hiking trails.
- Altai Tavan Bogd National Park (Far west · mountains): Glaciers, high peaks and Kazakh eagle-hunting culture.
- Khustain Nuruu National Park (Central · steppe): Home to reintroduced takhi, the Przewalski's wild horse.
- Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue (Near Ulaanbaatar · landmark): A giant stainless-steel statue of the great khan on horseback.
Things to do
- Watch Naadam. Cheer on wrestlers, horse racers and archers at the 'three manly games' festival in July.
- Sleep in a ger. Stay with a nomadic family on the steppe and share milk tea and fresh dairy.
- Explore the Gobi Desert. Climb the towering Khongoryn Els dunes and see the red Flaming Cliffs where dinosaur eggs were found.
- Ride a horse across the steppe. Saddle up for a multi-day ride through valleys where horses outnumber people.
- Visit Erdene Zuu. Walk the walls of Mongolia's oldest surviving Buddhist monastery near ancient Karakorum.
- See Lake Khövsgöl. Hike, kayak or ride beside a vast, crystal-clear lake near the Siberian border.
- Meet eagle hunters. Travel to the far west to meet Kazakh hunters who train golden eagles.
- Explore Gandan Monastery. Hear monks chanting in Ulaanbaatar's main monastery and see its giant Buddha statue.
Source: full Mongolia guide on RoamSun
Eat and drink
- Buuz – steamed meat dumplings
- Khuushuur – fried meat pastries
- Khorkhog – mutton cooked with hot stones
- Suutei tsai – salty milk tea
Source: RoamSun Mongolia guide
Money and safety
Currency: Mongolian tögrög (MNT). Currency and plug checker.
Tipping: Not traditional, but tips for guides and drivers are appreciated.
Emergency numbers: 102 police · 101 fire · 103 ambulance.
- The currency is the tögrög (MNT).
- Cards work in Ulaanbaatar, but carry cash for rural areas; ATMs are available in provincial centres.
- Mongolia is generally safe, but pickpocketing is common in busy parts of Ulaanbaatar and on buses.
- Roads in the countryside are often unpaved – travel with experienced drivers and reliable vehicles.
Source: RoamSun Mongolia facts
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Mongolia?
Jun–Sep – warm weather, green steppe and the Naadam festival in July. Very continental, with short warm summers and long, extremely cold winters.
What time zone is Mongolia in?
Mongolia uses Asia/Hovd, Asia/Ulaanbaatar.
Do I need a visa for Mongolia?
It depends on your passport. In our dataset 67 of 198 other passports can enter without a prior visa, 95 need an e-visa or eTA and 36 need a visa in advance. Use the visa checker and confirm with the official government source.
What plug and voltage does Mongolia use?
Mongolia uses plug type C, E at 230 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Mongolia?
The international calling code for Mongolia is +976.
Do you tip in Mongolia?
Not traditional, but tips for guides and drivers are appreciated.
What is the emergency number in Mongolia?
102 police · 101 fire · 103 ambulance.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Mongolia?
Traffic drives on the right.