The Best Hotels in Ulaanbaatar
From a five-star luxury stay at the Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar to great locally-owned, proudly Mongolian options. These are the 8 best hotels in Ulaanbaatar.
- October 2, 2022
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Mongolia’s capital city Ulaanbaatar sits 1,350 meters (4,430 ft) above sea level and is infamously known as the coldest capital in the world thanks to temps that can drop to -40 degrees come winter.
Even with temperatures that give people chills just thinking about them, nearly 1.5 million people call Ulaanbaatar home.
The city is notoriously misunderstood, with a hard to miss Soviet past butting up against a bright and shiny modern future as evidenced in the architecture and ever expanding infrastructure, now is an exciting time to visit this developing metropolis.
When booking a trip to Mongolia, you’ll most likely fly into the newly built Chinggis Khaan International Airport 50 kilometers outside of Ulaanbaatar. Most Mongolia tours begin and end in Ulaanbaatar for this reason.
Booking a hotel in Ulaanbaatar before or after your tour is a pretty common practice and most travelers don’t really know where to start in this booking process. The information below is meant to help and guide you in this endeavor.
Below you’ll find information on the best neighborhoods to stay in as well as our recommendations on the best hotels in Ulaanbaatar for every budget and travel preference.
Where to Stay in Ulaanbaatar by Neighborhood
Most hotels in Ulaanbaatar are centered around the neighborhoods of Sukhbaatar and Chingeltei, which are two of the best areas to stay in if it’s your first time visiting Ulaanbaatar.
Since both neighborhoods are centrally located, you can walk the city easily and you won’t have to worry about taking a taxi in most cases.
Additionally, Bayangol and the Gandan Monastery District, a small area within Bayangol centered around Gandantegchinlen Monastery, the top place on our best places to visit in Mongolia list, are two other great neighborhoods to stay in. Both areas are within walking distance of popular places to visit in the city such as the State Department Store, Seoul Street, and the Ulaanbaatar Railway Station.
Sukhbaatar
Named after Damdin Sukhbaatar, the founding member of the Mongolian People’s Party and leader of the Mongolian partisan army that helped bring independence to Mongolia in 1921, staying in Sukhbaatar is as central as it gets in Ulaanbaatar. It also happens to be the neighborhood where you’ll find the State Palace, the Presidential and Parliamentary offices, as well as several embassies, the UN office, World Bank, Asia Foundation, and offices of political parties such as the Democratic Party and the Mongolian People’s Party, as well as the University of Mongolia. It’s a well-developed part of the city center with plenty of places to eat, shop, and people watch.
Hotels in Sukhbaatar:
- Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar
- Blue Sky Hotel and Tower
- Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel
- Novotel Ulaanbaatar
- Hotel Nine
Chingeltei
Chingeltei’s location north of Peace Avenue includes sights like the Central Dinosaur Museum of Mongolia, Natural History Museum, Chinggis Khaan Museum, State Department Store, Mongolian National Museum, and the Fine Arts Zanabazar Museum. This is the second busiest area of the city center and also where you’ll find some of Ulaanbaatar’s best coffee shops, restaurants, and bars.
Hotels in Chingeltei:
- Holiday Inn
Gandan Monastery District (+ Bayangol)
Bayangol and the smaller Gandan Monastery District within Bayangol offer a more residential, more local, feel than the other neighborhoods we’ve mentioned. Bayangol is a great neighborhood to stay in if you’re arriving or departing Ulaanbaatar by train from the Central Railway Station, or if you’re looking for a cheaper side of the city to eat, sleep, and explore. Here you’ll find more fast food casual options at lower prices.
Hotels in Gandan Monastery District and Bayangol:
- Ramada
- Nomado Boutique Hotel
Popular Ulaanbaatar Travel Guides
Prepare for your Trip:
The 8 Best Hotels in Ulaanbaatar
- Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar: the best five-star hotel
- Blue Sky Hotel and Tower: the best views
- Novotel Ulaanbaatar: the most comfortable
- Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel: the most central
- Holiday Inn: the best value
- Ramada: when you’re arriving/departing by train
- Hotel Nine: the best locally owned
- Nomado Boutique Hotel: the quirkiest and proudly Mongolian
Shangri-La Hotel Ulaanbaatar: Best Five-Star Hotel
As the best five-star hotel in Ulaanbaatar, the Shangri-La is an obvious choice if you prefer the best.
It’s a place to be and be seen. Especially in the hotel’s lobby area where they serve tea, coffee, and snacks while international businessmen and politicians take meetings throughout the day.
With an international five-star standard of service, booking a room here is always an experience. The rooms are spacious and just what you’d expect from a five-star hotel, and the adjoining Shangri-La Complex is home to shopping, an impressive fitness facility, and some of the city’s best bars and restaurants.
What’s Nearby: Shangri-La Mall, Sukhbaatar Square, Chinggis Khaan Museum, Choijin Lama Temple and Museum
Read my honest Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar Hotel Review before booking.
Blue Sky Hotel and Tower: Best View
Staying at the Blue Sky Hotel and Tower puts you right in the city center. Overlooking Sukhbaatar Square and central to just about everything, the hotel itself is a landmark of the city with its signature sail shape.
The top floor restaurant is known for its views overlooking the city, and the downstairs Wall Street Restaurant serves some of the best cocktails in the city.
What’s Nearby: Sukhbaatar Square, Shangri-La Mall, Chinggis Khaan Museum, Mongolian National Modern Art Gallery
Novotel Ulaanbaatar: Most Comfortable
Novotel’s colorful exterior, downstairs beer hall, and clean and spacious rooms are what make staying here easy and stress-free. Walk to Sukhbaatar Square within minutes or swim laps in the pool to ease away your jetlag, the hotel understands that flying halfway around the world is no joke.
Grab a coffee from the coffee shop in the hotel’s lobby or play pool in the adjoining beer hall, the hotel has everything you need so you can experience Ulaanbaatar without ever even needing to step foot outside.
What’s Nearby: National University, Sukhbaatar Square, Embassy of the United States, Chinggis Khaan Museum
Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel: Most Central
It isn’t just the location that draws guests to the Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel, it’s the amenities. With a spa, two restaurants, and free parking, the value of a room here speaks for itself.
On the same street as the hotel you have great shopping, people watching, and some of the city’s best museums and theaters – pop across the street to the Mongolian National Modern Art Gallery or around the corner to the State Opera and Ballet Theater.
What’s Nearby: Gobi Cashmere Store, Mongolian National Modern Art Gallery, Sukhbaatar Square, Chinggis Khaan Museum
Holiday Inn: Best Value
Our personal go-to hotel in the city, the Holiday Inn Ulaanbaatar is the best value for your cash.
With some of the most comfortable beds in town (and we’ve tried them all), the rooms at the Holiday Inn are bright and well thought through with built in desks, plenty of plugs, and – most importantly – blackout curtains.
Walking outside, the hotel is within walking distance of some of Ulaanbaatar’s best coffee shops, restaurants, and bars, including Green Zone, Route 22, Tuul Niche Garden, Dan Japanese Sushi, Ulaanbaatar Coffee Culture, and more.
What’s Nearby: Gandantegchinlen Monastery, Mongolian Natural History Museum, Ulaanbaatar Railway Station, State Department Store and Beatles Square
Ramada: Closest to the Railway Station
Ramada’s rooftop restaurant, 17 floors of rooms, and in-room bathtubs are all reason enough to book a room at the hotel.
The hotel’s location in Bayangol makes it convenient for travelers arriving via train into Ulaanbaatar’s Central Railway Station and also means you’re conveniently close to Ulaanbaatar’s famous nightlife on Seoul Street.
Food options in this area are also notoriously cheap and affordable compared to the other neighborhoods.
What’s Nearby: Ulaanbaatar Railway Station, State Department Store, Gandantegchinlen Monastery
Hotel Nine: Best Locally Owned
With a unique Mongolian feel, Hotel Nine is a great way to support a local company and try out something different when staying in Ulaanbaatar.
The rooms are simple but accommodating and the front desk staff is always ready to answer questions about exploring the city streets outside.
Spend an evening at the ground-floor Double Shot coffee shop turned bar restaurant where you’re sure to be the only the foreigners in the place.
What’s Nearby: Sukhbaatar Square, National University, Chinggis Khaan Museum
Nomado Boutique Hotel: Quirkiest and Most Fun to Stay At
Quirky rooms, a restaurant buzzing with locals, and a location near Gandan Monastery, Nomado Boutique Hotel is a vibrant and welcome addition to Ulaanbaatar’s hotel landscape.
Our recommendation is to book one of the Premium Double Rooms – these are the coolest rooms in the hotel with their Genghis Khan and Japanese cherry blossom artwork, claw-footed bathtubs, and Japanese-style toilet seats.
What’s Nearby: Ulaanbaatar Railway Station, State Department Store, Gandantegchinlen Monastery
How Safe is Ulaanbaatar?
We get this question all the time. Is Mongolia safe? The short answer is, yes.
Ulaanbaatar is like any other city in so many ways. There are good parts and bad parts. Like anywhere, it comes down to being aware of your surroundings.
Watch your pockets and backpacks in places popular with tourists. And, be respectful when going out for a night on the town. Alcohol escalates situations that could otherwise be avoided.
Author: Breanna Wilson
Hi! Sain uu! I’m Breanna, an American travel writer and adventurer living in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for more than 5 years. I’ve written for and been featured in Condé Nast Traveler, CNN, Forbes, and the New York Times, among others. Read more of my Mongolia travel articles here.
More Ulaanbaatar Travel Guides
- Ulaanbaatar Travel Guide – essential travel tips for first-time visitors
- 24 Hours in Ulaanbaatar – how to navigate the city if you’re only here for one day
- The Best Restaurants in Ulaanbaatar – where to eat out
- The Best Day Trip from Ulaanbaatar – Head out to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park and the Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue for the day
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