Mongolia is a country of natural beauty, with vast grasslands, deserts and majestic mountain ranges. It is also home to a well-preserved nomadic culture and traditions. The capital, Ulaanbaatar, is the most modern city in Mongolia and provides a convenient travel infrastructure for tourists visiting the country.
1. Mongolia Quick Facts
Language Mongolian
Religion Lamaism
Currency Mongolian Tugrik (MNT, ₮)
Visa 90-day visa-free agreements External Visa required.
Power Plugs 230V, 50Hz, (C, E Type)
Capital Ulaanbaatar
ATM When you withdraw cash from an ATM, a fee is usually added to the amount you withdraw, usually around 1%.
Use card
Paying by credit card is very convenient and many places only accept credit cards. Since the Tugrik is a specialty currency, you may find that you pay less in fees by using a credit card than by exchanging money.
Useful APP
Google Maps
2. Packing for your trip
Air plain Ticket
Dollar Flight Club has made it easier and cheaper to buy flights to the Airport.
SIM card
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices.
New member one-time use 15% discount coupon
10% discount coupon for multiple use by all members.
Pacsafe Pro safe 800 Luggage Lock
Good protection against snatchers or impulse thieves.
Universal Power Adapter
One of the most essential but most forgotten items in your travel gear? A power adapter!
Travel insurance
Prepare for risky situations Travel insurance can be a big help in the event of an emergency
GoPro HERO11
If you want to capture your own memories of your travels, GoPro is the way to go. It’s small, has great image quality, and is easy to carry around
3. Transportation
You can use buses or taxis to get around town. Locals in Mongolia often use private vehicles instead of taxis, paying a flat fee based on distance. However, we recommend hiring a taxi or using a local driver to get around.
Taxis cost ₮ 1,500 per kilometer, and call-taxis cost an additional ₮ 1,500 as a call fee. Call-taxi numbers are 1900-1950, 1900-1991, etc.
Within the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, city buses operate, including electric and regular buses. Buses in Ulaanbaatar come in a variety of colors, including red, yellow, and blue, and sometimes express buses are also used as local buses, but the color of the bus doesn’t matter much.
They cost the same as regular buses: ₮ 500. (Electric buses cost ₮ 300.) You buy, charge and use a transport card called an umoney.
Umoney cards can be purchased from street vendors at bus stops; they cost ₮ 2,500 and allow for transfers within 30 minutes.
For local travel, you can use public transportation, including domestic flights, trains, and intercity buses.
4. Safety
Contact Embassy of the Republic of Korea:
There is no terrorism risk in Mongolia, but the country’s unstable politics have led to occasional civil unrest. There are also a number of crimes against taxi drivers and passengers, including robberies, street robberies, and pickpockets, and crimes against foreigners tend to occur in nightclubs, near hotels and department stores, and on the street. Outside of the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, other provincial cities have good security compared to the capital.
Emergency Calls
Police: 102
Ambulance: 103
Fire departments: 101
5. Climate
Mongolia has a cold, dry, temperate climate with an average temperature of -3°C(27°F). As a result, it’s not uncommon to see temperatures above 20°C (68°F) during the day and below 10°C (50°F) at night in the summer, especially from November through February, when temperatures drop to 0°C (32°F) and snowfall is common. Winter lows can reach over -30°C (-22°F). In spring and summer, the weather can also change rapidly, with sudden snowstorms.
6. price
Groceries, including meat, are inexpensive, but fruit is expensive due to the Mongolian climate. Transportation is very cheap, and eating out is generally inexpensive.
Gasoline (1 liter): ₮ 2,700
McDonald’s Combo Meal: ₮ 15,000
Water (1.5 liters): ₮ 1,600
Milk (1 liter): ₮ 3,600
7. Travel precautions
When traveling by bus, be aware of pickpockets and take care of your personal items.
Consider health and safety: Water and food hygiene are important in Mongolia, as are safety considerations when driving long distances or climbing mountains in the vast plains and desert areas.
Respect for the natural environment: Mongolia is a pristine place, and it’s important to be mindful of the impact of your activities on nature. Properly disposing of trash, protecting forests, and preserving biodiversity are also important.
Respect for culture: Mongolia’s culture is unique and diverse. You need to have an attitude of respect and understanding of each other’s culture by interacting with the locals. You also need to be careful as cultural clashes can occur in Mongolia due to inappropriate dress or attitude.
In the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, hotels, large shopping malls, etc. have clean and well-equipped restrooms, but outside of the capital, you will need to use conventional toilets. In the grasslands, where there are no porta-potties, you may have to make do behind rocks or trees.
8. Etiquette & Service Tip
In Mongolia, touching the head is considered impolite, and when wearing traditional Mongolian clothing, the customary greeting is to bow at the waist.
Mongolian nomads use their fingers to point when slaughtering livestock, so even when pointing at people, you should use an open palm, palm up, and be careful not to knock on the table, as this is considered an invitation to a life-and-death fight. Tapping a child on the buttocks or shoulder is considered disrespectful and should be avoided.
If you accidentally step on someone’s foot, you should offer a handshake. Otherwise, it could be mistaken for a challenge to a duel.
Tipping
Tipping in Mongolia is generally not required. When eating at a restaurant, the service charge is already included in the price of the food, so there is no need to tip. Tipping a guide or tour guide is also not expected, but if you feel the service was particularly good, it’s worth considering a small tip to show your appreciation.
9. Holidays
2024 National Public Holidays:
1 Jan Mon New Year’s Day
10 Feb to 12 Feb Sat to Mon Tsagaan Sar
8 Mar Fri International Women’s Day
23 May Thu Buddha Day
1 Jun Sat Children’s Day
11 Jul to 15 Jul Thu to Mon Naadam Holiday
16 Nov Sat Chinggis Khaan’s Birthday
26 Nov Tue Republic Day
29 Dec Sun Independence Day
2025 National Public Holidays:
Wednesday, 1 January : New Year’s Day
Saturday to Monday, 1 March to 3 March : Tsagaan Sar
Saturday, 8 March : International Women’s Day
Sunday,1 June : Children’s Day
Wednesday, 4 June : Buddha Day
Friday to Tuesday, 11 July to 15 July : Naadam Holiday
Friday, 21 November : Chinggis Khaan’s Birthday
Wednesday, 26 November : Republic Day
Monday, 29 December: Independence Day