Planning a trip to Mongolia and want to explore its capital quickly? To make sure you don't miss the essentials, we recommend spending two days there. But then, what should you do in Ulan Bator in two days? Discover our itinerary with the must-see attractions of the city.

Day 1: discovering the must-sees of downtown

For this first day, we suggest staying in the heart of the city.

Stroll through downtown and see Genghis Khan Square

Downtown Ulan Bator is easy to explore on foot. Begin your journey at Genghis Khan Square. Formerly called Sukhbaatar Square, this impressive square is characterized, at its center, by a statue of Damdin Sukhbaatar, the revolutionary hero who proclaimed Mongolia's independence.

Around the square, you will discover several emblematic monuments of the city:

• The parliament and its glass facade where you can see a colossal statue of Genghis Khan presiding in front of the building accompanied by statues of Mongolian horsemen;
• The Palace of Culture, which houses the national gallery of modern art and several cultural institutions;
• The Mongolian State Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet with its coral-pink colors, which offers a classical repertoire of international and Mongolian plays and operas.

Learn more about Mongolian history at the National Museum of History

Just a few steps from Genghis Khan Square, don't miss the National Museum of History of Ulan Bator. Housing beautiful collections of nomadic and sacred art, craftsmanship, and domestic and technical objects over 3 floors, the museum allows you to trace the country's history, from prehistory through the Soviet period, not forgetting the creation of the great Mongol empire by Genghis Khan. A wonderful introduction to Mongolia's history at the start of your stay.

Marvel at the Choijin Lama Museum

Next, head south of Genghis Khan Square to discover the Choijin Lama Museum. Once a place of worship of great importance, it houses a set of 5 temples built in the early 18th century. These were dedicated to Choijin Lama Luvsankhaidav, the younger brother of the eighth Bogdo Khan.

Converted into a museum in 1938, the site displays a rich heritage of Buddhist artifacts that disappeared during communist repression. Among them are paintings by Ts. Zanabazar, masks embroidered with corals for the Tsam dance ceremony, bronze statues of gods depicted in erotic poses, silk tankas, and many more...

Visit Gandantegchinlen Monastery

Formerly known as Gandan Monastery, the Gandantegchinlen Monastery is a Tibetan-style Buddhist monastery and one of Mongolia's most important Buddhist monasteries. Several hundred monks reside there.

You can see temples as well as the famous statue of Megjid-Janraiseg (a bodhisattva, a wise man who guides people along the path of truth). This 26.5-meter-high statue, adorned with gold and 2,286 precious stones, was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama in 1996 after being rebuilt following the dismantling of its first version by Soviet troops.

Allow 30 minutes of walking to get there from Genghis Khan Square.

Have a drink at the Blue Sky Tower

Facing Genghis Khan Square, you won't be able to miss the Blue Sky Tower. At 105 meters tall with 25 floors, it is Ulan Bator's highest tower. Built in 2009, it is characterized by an all-glass and steel architecture and represents modern Mongolia. Inside, it houses apartments, a luxury hotel, offices, conference rooms, and several restaurants.

We recommend having a drink or dining at the Blue Sky Lounge, the only restaurant in the tower located on the 23rd and 24th floors where you can enjoy a stunning view of the city.

Attend a traditional Mongolian show at Tumen Ekh

What better way to end the day than to attend a show? To do so, head to Tumen Ekh where you can watch a traditional Mongolian show. On the program: a concert with traditional instruments, traditional songs, and a dance show including the shaman's ritual dance and the Tsam dance (the masked dance).

Note: the show runs daily from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in summer. In winter, performances are less frequent.

Day 2: Discovering the surroundings of the city

On this second day of exploration, we suggest leaving downtown to discover points of interest around Ulan Bator.

Visit Naran Tuul Market (Black Market)

What better way to immerse yourself in local culture than visiting a market? To start the day, we suggest heading to the Naran Tuul Market, also known as the Black Market.

Open throughout the day (except Tuesdays), this market is located on the outskirts of the city (approximately 40 minutes' walk from downtown). You will find absolutely everything there: groceries, furnishings for yurt accommodation, traditional clothing, textiles (cashmere), and horse-riding equipment...

Good to know: don't carry anything valuable with you when visiting. The market is known for the presence of many pickpockets...

Visit the Museum and Palace of Bogd Khaan

Once you finish exploring the market, you can head to the Museum and Palace of Bogd Khaan. You can get there by taxi (15 minutes from Naran Tuul Market) or on foot (50 minutes from Naran Tuul Market).

This is one of the most important monuments in Mongolian history and architecture. Built between 1893 and 1903, the complex is divided into two parts:

• the Summer Palace with its 7 temples and Chinese-style pagodas;
• the Winter Palace built by Russian architects in a European style which served as residence for the eighth Buddhist leader of Mongolia, Bogdo Javzandamba Agvaanluvsan, and his wife, Queen Dondogdulam

Take in the views from the top of Zaisan Hill

End your time in Ulan Bator by heading to the must-see Zaisan Hill and its memorial. The Zaisan Memorial is a Russian memorial built by the Soviets to commemorate Russian soldiers killed during World War II.

Perched atop a hill, it features a colorful mural depicting the friendship between Soviet and Mongolian peoples. At the summit of the memorial, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Ulan Bator and the Tuul River.

To reach Zaisan Memorial, allow 35 minutes on foot or less than 10 minutes by taxi from the Museum and Palace of Bogd Khaan.

Florine Dergelet