City & Gandan Tour
Monastery, square and markets.
MongoliaIShowSpeed streamed here
Ulaanbaatar
The world's coldest capital — a Soviet-bloc skyline beside gers and monasteries, gateway to the endless steppe.
- Metro population
- 1,700,000
- Country
- Mongolia
- Region
- Asia
Overview
Why visit Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar is the world's coldest capital — winter nights drop below -30°C — and one of its strangest: Soviet apartment blocks stand beside white gers (yurts), a monastery ringed by prayer wheels, and a skyline that appeared in a single nomadic century.
Sükhbaatar Square anchors the centre beneath a giant Chinggis Khan statue, and the Gandan Monastery's 26-metre gold Buddha keeps the country's Buddhist heart beating after decades of suppression.
Speed's 2025 tour streamed from Ulaanbaatar — the Mongolia episode became a fan favourite for the horse culture and sheer strangeness. The real destination is out the window: the steppe, the Gobi and nomad camps begin where the roads end.
Things to do
Top things to book in Ulaanbaatar
Popular tours and tickets. Compare prices and book ahead to skip the lines.
Genghis Statue & Terelj
The giant horse plus ger-country valleys.
Gobi Extension
Dunes, dinosaurs and nomad camps.
Naadam / Folk Show
Throat-singing, contortion and horse culture.
Plan your trip
Compare prices for Ulaanbaatar
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Side by side in Ulaanbaatar
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Fun facts
Things you didn't know about Ulaanbaatar
- 01
World'S Coldest Capital
Winters drop below -40°C — the coldest capital city on earth.
- 02
Half The Country
Around half of Mongolia's 3.4 million people live in Ulaanbaatar.
- 03
The Ger Districts
Yurt neighbourhoods spread across the hillsides — nomads who settled.
- 04
The Giant Buddha
Gandan's Migjid Janraisig statue stands 26.5m — rebuilt after Soviet destruction.
- 05
Chinggis Square
Sükhbaatar Square's marble palace holds a seated Genghis Khan statue.
- 06
The 40-Metre Khan
A 40m stainless Genghis on horseback — the world's largest equestrian statue — stands an hour east.
- 07
Red Hero
'Ulaanbaatar' means Red Hero — the name dates to 1924.
- 08
Air Pollution Crisis
Winter coal-smoke from the ger districts makes it among the world's most polluted capitals.
- 09
Naadam
July's festival of wrestling, horse racing and archery is the national holiday.
- 10
Gobi Gateway
The desert's dinosaur cliffs and singing dunes start a day's drive south.
Random Ulaanbaatar fact
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FAQ
Quick answers about Ulaanbaatar
Where is Ulaanbaatar located?
Ulaanbaatar is in Mongolia, in Asia.
What is the population of Ulaanbaatar?
The greater Ulaanbaatar area is home to about 1,700,000 people.
What is Ulaanbaatar famous for?
Ulaanbaatar is famous for the world's coldest capital, the Gandan monastery, and the gateway to the Gobi and steppe nomad country.
Did IShowSpeed stream from Ulaanbaatar?
Yes — IShowSpeed streamed from Ulaanbaatar on his 2025 Mongolia leg — the horse culture made it a fan-favourite episode. See his full world tour map.
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