Beautiful Mongolia

Getting to Ulaanbaatar was half the experience. The 11-hour bus ride from Ulan Ude was long, but magical. Go with a friend, so you're not the only person who's amazed by the beautiful mountain scenery, the wandering camels, and the nomadic Mongolian herders on horseback outside of their tradition round felt homes. The city itself has several must-sees: The Gandantegchinleng Monastery, the largest Buddhist Monastery in all of Mongolia, Sukhbaatar Square, and the Bogd Khaan Palace. Don't forget to go shopping. Definitely, check out the State Department Store, it has everything you could ever need: groceries, clothes, souvenirs, books...

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

There's plenty of buses and vans around, but everything is within walking distance of Sukhbaatar Square. My guidebook told me the Bogd Khaan Palace was too far to walk, but if you've got a little time and energy, it can easily be done.

This centrally located hostel is fabulously clean. Most rooms have two sets of bunk beds and the shared bathrooms have hot water. Breakfast and free Internet access are included in the $5 per night price. The owners are very knowledgeable and happy to help you find something to do or organize a group trip. An ATM is right across the street and the hostel will arrange free pick up from the train station.

Once a working Buddhist temple, the Choijin Lama temple, is now a museum. Admission is only $2. Then you are free to wander the grounds, entering the buildings to see the Buddhist artifacts inside. The temple is in the middle of the city, but it is very quiet (when I went, I was the only one there), the perfect way to really experience the Buddhist flavor of this place.