Getting Your Bearings
Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia's capital and its transport hub, and it stretches mainly east to west along Peace Avenue, the city's main road, which runs past the south side of Sükhbaatar Square. Two other streets are worth memorising early: Chinggis Avenue, which runs north to south on the east side of the square before veering west in front of the Bogd Khan Winter Palace, and Seoul Street, which branches west from Chinggis Avenue just south of the square.
One practical quirk to plan around: street names are rarely known by locals and mostly appear only on maps and official addresses. Official addresses list the district, the microdistrict and a building number, but because blocks can contain dozens of buildings, addresses are not much help for navigation. The reliable approach is to give directions by landmark and description — for example, "turn right at the first traffic signal west of the State Department Store."
Rail, Metro and Tram
Ulaanbaatar has no metro or tram system for getting around the city. Rail in Mongolia is essentially limited to the Trans-Mongolian line, which links Moscow, Ulaanbaatar and Beijing, so trains are relevant for arriving in or leaving the country rather than for daily movement within the capital. The city's train station sits on Narni Zam road, west of the centre.
If you are arriving overland, note that the main rail station is not the same as the bus terminals, and that long-distance rail journeys in the region can be booked through travel agencies or, for some international routes, at designated hotels.
Buses and Public Transport
Ulaanbaatar has a good municipal bus network that reaches right out to the outskirts of town, and the buses are the cheapest way to move around the city. Fares on the municipal buses are a flat rate, and to use them you need a U card, which can be bought at many kiosks and shops. You load credit onto the card and touch it to the reader when you board.
Beyond the city, buses also connect Ulaanbaatar with the countryside and other Mongolian towns, though intercity buses are old Russian models, often crowded and uncomfortable, and notorious for running late — occasionally by a day or more. Luggage compartments on these buses are very dusty, so keep bags securely closed. Bus stops outside the capital can be hard to locate, since buses often just stop in populated areas.
Intercity services use different terminals depending on direction: buses from Russia and from the west, north and south generally use the New Ulaanbaatar Dragon Terminal, while those from China and the east use the Dragon Tenger Terminal east of the city centre. A third well-known pickup point, near the Botanical Gardens, serves buses to eastern Mongolia.
Pickpocketing is a known problem on Ulaanbaatar buses, and locals often warn visitors about it. The risk is reduced by keeping cash and valuables out of sight, and by being especially careful when the buses are crowded.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are plentiful in the capital and are a straightforward alternative to the buses. The informal system is simply to stand in the street and hold out your arm — usually within seconds somebody will stop to pick you up. This can be quick and reliable, especially in the cold winter, but many drivers speak only Mongolian, so communication can be a problem.
Fares are cheap by international standards, but as a foreigner you should expect to be overcharged, and there is no way to avoid this completely. A good tactic is to carry a small written note showing an amount in tögrög and show the driver exactly what you are willing to pay before getting in. Knowing a few local words — yes, no and some numbers — also helps. Even a fare well above the local rate is usually still only a dollar or two, so use your judgement rather than arguing over small sums.
If you prefer something more formal, there are established taxi companies with English-speaking dispatch, metered rides and text notifications when your car arrives. App-based ordering is also available: the Tino app lets you summon a cab quickly to your location, though you do not enter a destination in the app — you simply order the car and then tell the driver where to go once you are inside.
Walking
Within the compact city centre, walking is a viable option, helped by fairly good bilingual Mongolian and English signage around the main places of interest. Because the centre stretches east to west along Peace Avenue, navigating it on foot is straightforward.
Outside the centre, in the ger districts, it is a different story entirely: the layout is not walkable in the same way, and using a map app becomes necessary to find your way.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN) is the city's main airport, a Japanese-built facility that opened in 2021 and has taken over all domestic and international flights, replacing the old Buyant-Ukhaa Airport. It lies south of Ulaanbaatar, and the drive to the city centre takes roughly 50 to 100 minutes depending on traffic.
You have several options for the transfer:
- Public buses run from early morning until midnight, but taxis and the airport shuttle are generally more reliable.
- Airport shuttle operates on two routes. One runs from the Sükhbaatar Square bus stop, takes about an hour and a half, and charges a higher adult fare with a reduced child fare; coming from the city, the fare is charged when you get off at the airport and can be paid in cash, by credit card or with a U card. That route runs from the city to the airport from early morning until late evening, with additional late-night runs after 23:00 and around 02:00. The second route runs from the 5 Shar bus stop, takes about an hour, costs less than the square route, and runs a handful of times a day.
- Taxis are the most expensive option and prices vary with your destination, so agree on the price in advance. Shared taxis are a cheaper middle ground.
- Hotel shuttles: many of the higher-end hotels offer a shuttle service to and from the airport for a nominal fee, which is often the simplest option if you are staying at one.
Whichever you choose, confirm the fare or ticket price before you set off, and keep some cash on hand in case card payment is not available.