Travel - January 9, 2025

25 Places to Go in 2025 Spotlight: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

January 9, 2025

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United Airlines will start flights to Mongolia in May 2025, making it the only airline based in the United States to fly to the country. The seasonal service will operate from Tokyo-Narita International Airport (which United has direct flights to from various cities in the US) to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital city. There’s a reason why United is opting to fly to Mongolia: the country’s tourism numbers are on the rise.

In August 2024, 437,000 foreign tourists visited Mongolia in the first seven months of the year — an increase of 25 percent over the same period last year. The country’s campaign to draw foreign visitors, “Welcome to MonGOlia,” seems to be doing its job with an ambitious goal to attract no fewer than 1 million annual visitors.

Time your visit to coincide with the Naadam Festival in July, which features a spectacular display of Mongolian wrestling, horseracing, and archery. Explore Gandantegchinlen Monastery, a serene oasis of Buddhist practice, or delve into history at the National Museum of Mongolia. Fuel up with traditional dishes like buuz (steamed dumplings), khuushuur (fried meat pastries), and tsuivan (noodle stew). Ulaanbaatar has a range of accommodations, from international hotels like the Shangri-La to cozy guesthouses and traditional ger camps on the city’s outskirts.

While the city of Ulaanbaatar has its own attractions, the vast uncrowded spaces of the Gobi desert, Altai Mountains, and the Mongolian steppes offer the most appeal for those who are open to outdoor adventures like trekking, horseback riding, and camping.