Arrival & Transport

Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN)

The new international airport of Mongolia (opened in 2021) is located 52 km southwest of Ulaanbaatar — a modern structure that starkly contrasts with the surrounding steppe. From Germany, there are delightfully good connections:

• MIAT Mongolian Airlines: Direct flights from Berlin and Frankfurt to Ulaanbaatar — about 8 hours, no transfers! The fastest and often cheapest option. In the off-season from around 450€ round trip, in the peak season (July) up to 1,000€.
• Turkish Airlines: Via Istanbul — good connections, often affordable. Total travel time: about 12–14 hours.
• Korean Air / Asiana: Via Seoul (Incheon) — comfortable, but a longer detour. Total travel time: 14–16 hours.
• Aeroflot: Via Moscow — historically the classic route. Total travel time: 10–12 hours.

Flight Prices (Guidelines from Germany)

From the Airport to the Center

Airport Bus: Regular buses to the city center (about 2,500 MNT / 0.70€, travel time 1 hour). Taxi: 80,000–100,000 MNT (21–26€), travel time 45–90 minutes depending on traffic. Agree on the price beforehand or order via a taxi app (UBCab).

The Ultimate Alternative to Flying

The Trans-Mongolian Railway is a variant of the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway and one of the great train journeys of the world. The route Moscow → Ulaanbaatar (via Irkutsk and Lake Baikal) takes about 4.5 days and passes through the Russian taiga, past Lake Baikal, and then into the endless Mongolian steppe — an experience that surpasses flying in every way, if you have the time.

Routes & Times

The moment when the train crosses the Russian-Mongolian border and the landscape suddenly changes — from the dark taiga to wide, open steppe with herds of horses on the horizon — is one of the most magical travel moments Asia has to offer. The train has sleeping compartments, a dining car (with increasingly Mongolian food as you get closer), and an atmosphere that harks back to another era.

Jeep Tours — the Standard Means

Outside of Ulaanbaatar, there are no public transportation options that tourists can use effectively, and only a few paved roads. The standard for all trips to the steppe, the Gobi, and the north: an off-road vehicle with driver and guide.

• Organized Tour: Guide + driver + jeep + food + ger camps. From 50–80€/day per person (for 4 people). All-inclusive, you don't have to think about anything.
• Self-organized: Rent a driver with a jeep (from 100€/day + fuel), guide separately (from 40€/day). More flexibility, but more organizational effort.
• Vehicles: The Russian UAZ Furgon (the green military vehicle) is the workhorse of the steppe — robust, repairable with wire and pliers, but uncomfortable. The Toyota Land Cruiser is more comfortable, but more expensive and less common in the countryside.

Horses & Camels

Exploring Mongolia on horseback is the ultimate experience. Multi-day riding tours (3–14 days) through the steppe, with overnight stays with nomadic families. From 70€/day including horse, packhorse, guide, cook, and ger accommodation. In the Gobi: camel riding through the dunes (day rides from 20€).

Domestic Flights

Aero Mongolia and Hunnu Air serve important domestic routes: UB → Dalanzadgad (Gobi), UB → Mörön (Khövsgöl), UB → Ölgii (Altai). Prices: 100–200€ one-way. The flights save you days on dusty tracks, but the journey is often part of the experience — seeing the endless steppe from the jeep window has its own charm.

In Ulaanbaatar

In the city: Buses (500 MNT, chaotic but cheap), taxis (meter or app UBCab) and if necessary on foot (the center is compact). Rental cars are possible, but the traffic in UB is hair-raising — leave the driving to the professionals.