Overview
Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia's capital and its only real international gateway, a fast-changing city where Soviet-era squares and Buddhist monasteries meet a ring of open steppe. Most UK travellers pass through on the way to the Gobi, the Terelj mountains or the Naadam Festival, though the city itself earns a day or two. There are no direct flights from the UK, so every trip involves at least one connection. This page shows live fares, so check the price charts on this page as you plan.
Best time to fly to Ulaanbaatar
Summer, from June to August, is the peak: warm days of 20 to 25°C, clear skies and the Naadam Festival from 11 to 13 July, which is also the busiest and dearest time to travel. Late May, September and early October offer much better value and quieter sights. Winter is genuinely harsh, as Ulaanbaatar is the world's coldest capital with January lows below minus 25°C, so fares fall but you will need serious cold-weather kit. The When to book chart above shows how prices move through the year.
Airlines and routes
No airline flies nonstop between the UK and Ulaanbaatar, so a connection is unavoidable. The most convenient one-stop choice for most travellers is Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, with feeder flights from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh. MIAT Mongolian Airlines, the national carrier, operates long-haul services from Istanbul and Frankfurt that pair well with a short European hop. Air China via Beijing and Korean Air via Seoul are other sensible routings. Expect roughly 13 to 16 hours from London including the connection, and a little more from Manchester.
Things to do in Ulaanbaatar
The centre is compact, so you can cover the highlights in a day or two before heading for the countryside.
- Gandantegchinlen Monastery: Mongolia's largest working Buddhist monastery, home to a towering gilded statue of Migjid Janraisig.
- Chinggis Khaan Square: the civic heart of the city, framed by the Government Palace and its huge seated statue of Chinggis Khaan.
- National Museum of Mongolia: a first-rate walk through nomadic life, the Mongol Empire and the turbulent 20th century.
- Gorkhi-Terelj National Park: an easy day trip for granite crags, ger camps and the colossal Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue.
- Zaisan Memorial: a hilltop Soviet-era monument with the widest views over the city and the surrounding valley.
At Chinggis Khaan International Airport (ULN)
Mongolia's main airport opened in 2021 and lies about 50 km south-west of the city in the Khoshig Valley. A dedicated expressway keeps the drive to roughly 45 to 55 minutes in normal traffic. Official airport taxis and pre-booked hotel transfers are the easiest option, while a scheduled airport bus runs into the centre for far less. If you are landing late at night, arrange your transfer before you fly.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Ulaanbaatar
- Book ahead for summer: the best one-stop routes fill months out for June to August and around Naadam, so aim for two to four months' notice.
- Travel in the shoulder season: May, September and October are usually well below mid-summer prices.
- Keep your dates flexible: midweek departures and shifting a day or two either way can move the fare, as the When to book chart above shows.
- Compare the hubs: check Istanbul, Beijing and Seoul routings side by side, as the cheapest connection changes through the year.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders can currently enter Mongolia visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, but this has been granted on a temporary basis, so check the FCDO travel advice before you book. Your passport should have at least six months' validity remaining. The currency is the Mongolian tugrik (MNT), and cash is still essential away from major hotels and city-centre restaurants. No vaccinations are required for entry, though a travel clinic or your GP can advise on routine jabs, and you should pack for large day-to-night temperature swings.
