How to Safely Visit Ulaanbaatar’s Black Market
Known as Naran Tuul, Ulaanbaatar’s Black Market is as far away from the tourist traps – and local – as it gets. Here’s what you need to know when you visit.
A-class dad jokes aside, the Black Market is about as authentic as it gets, with locals, especially those from the countryside and the districts surrounding the city, coming in to stock up on goods of every sort.
While the name itself might suggest something more ominous, the market – a sprawling (and I mean sprawling) spread of vendors hawking just about everything you could imagine – from leather goods and boots to electronics and housewares to knives and equestrian supplies to everything you’d need to build your own ger and everything else in between, the market will no doubt overwhelm you, but it will certainly mesmerize you as well.
Some of my personal favorite finds include reindeer fur-lined winter boots, the most beautiful of summer deels (traditional Mongolian garments) in arrays of prints and varying degrees of detail, to cashmere underlayers, mink hats, and pocketknives.
It’s a one-stop-shop and the best people watching you’ll find anywhere in the city, meaning it’s one of those places that shouldn’t be missed when you have a few free hours. Add in that it’s also certainly the best souvenir shopping out of anywhere around, especially when it comes to selection and pricing, and you have one of Ulaanbaatar’s best kept secrets.
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Shopping at the Black Market
There are two areas when it comes to the market – one unofficial vendor area outside the gates and one official vendor area inside the gates. While both areas will be packed with vendors year-round, inside the gates is where you’ll find the good stuff.
Like all markets, all around the world, haggling is part of the process. But don’t expect Mongolians to budge too much when it comes to pricing. And don’t start this process unless you’re certain you want to buy whatever you’re looking at. Things here are already going to be fairly priced (for the most part), and keep in mind that this isn’t Southeast Asia where things are dirt cheap – Mongolia can be expensive thanks to the need to import everything and highly skilled local craftsman being hard to come by – so don’t feel too ripped off when you hear a deel going for a few hundred thousand MNT, for example.
The market is open everyday except Tuesdays from 10:00 to 19:00. I recommend visiting the market around 12:00 for the best experience.
How to Stay Safe When Visiting
In between all of your browsing and exploring, don’t forget to be aware of pickpockets. Especially since you’ll (most likely) be carrying a wad of cash with you.
Which brings me to my last and final shopping tips – make sure you do bring cash with you, vendors here will only accept cold, hard MNT (and maybe the odd USD or euro, but that is entirely up to the vendor to decide).
Make sure you stop at an ATM or cash exchange before you go, I would not recommend trying to find or exchange cash here.
The market is absolutely free to enter – do not let a local try to convince you otherwise.
Getting to the Black Market
If you’re staying in the city center, I recommend taking a taxi to the Black Market. Otherwise, the walk will take 60 minutes.
Taxi drivers will all know the Black Market by the local name, Naran Tuul. The drive takes about 15 minutes, depending on traffic, from the State Department Store.
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.
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