Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar in December
🌤️ Cool seasonCold and mostly dry. Watch for hazy air and snow & ice risk.
🎒 Pack: winter coat, gloves & hat · N95 mask for hazy days
Why December scores 5.9What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort5.5
- !Cold (-14°C highs / -23°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point -22°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~4 mm rain)
- Air quality3.1
- !Unhealthy (PM2.5 ~65 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards8.5
- !Snow & ice: Average low -23°C
- Safety baseline8.0
- ·Normal precautions
| Dec | Jun | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 5.9 Fair | 9.4 Excellent |
| Season | 🌤️ Cool season | 🌤️ Cool season |
| High / low | -14° / -23° | 23° / 10° |
| Rain | 4 mm | 47 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt -22° | dew pt 5° |
| PM2.5 | 65 µg/m³ | 11 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Ulaanbaatar weather-station normals. Rainfall: Ulaanbaatar weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
Other public holidays: National Freedom and Independence Day (29 Dec)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Nature calendarBlossoms, leaves & seasons in Ulaanbaatar
- Snowy daysIn DecemberTypical datesSnow likely Sep–May (most in Dec: ~11 days)
Average number of days with snowfall at Ulaanbaatar.
Source: Ulaanbaatar weather-station normals (national weather service, via Wikipedia climate table)
Explore UlaanbaatarEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyMongolia's capital and the gateway to the steppe, known for Buddhist monasteries, the national museum and as one of the world's coldest capitals.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year)Date variesLunar calendar — usually February, date moves each year
The Mongolian Lunar New Year, a major family holiday.
Why go: Many businesses close for several days.
Where: Homes and monasteries
Naadam FestivalEvery year11–15 July every year
Mongolia's national festival of wrestling, horse racing and archery.
Why go: Opening ceremony tickets and accommodation sell out; the horse races are held outside the city.
Where: National Sports Stadium and around the city
Golden Eagle FestivalDate variesUsually late September or early October
Kazakh eagle hunters compete with trained golden eagles.
Why go: Flights to Ölgii sell out; book early.
Where: Bayan-Ölgii province, far western Mongolia (flight from Ulaanbaatar)
Gandan Monastery
Mongolia's main active Buddhist monastery, with a tall standing Avalokiteshvara statue.
💡 Morning chanting is a good time to visit.
Chinggis Khaan Square (Sükhbaatar Square)
The main square in front of Government House with a large Chinggis Khaan statue.
National Museum of Mongolia
Covers Mongolian history from prehistory through the empire to the modern era.
Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue
A giant stainless steel statue of Chinggis Khaan on horseback about an hour east of the city.
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
A park of granite rock formations and valleys, with ger camps, about 1.5 hours away.
Zaisan Memorial
A Soviet-era hilltop memorial with views over the city.
Buuz
Steamed dumplings filled with mutton, eaten especially at Tsagaan Sar.
💡 Local cafés (guanz)
Khuushuur
Fried flat pastries filled with minced mutton.
💡 Guanz and Naadam food stalls
Khorkhog
Mutton cooked with hot stones in a sealed container.
💡 Ger camps and countryside trips
Suutei tsai
Salty milk tea served with most meals.
💡 Everywhere
Airag
Fermented mare's milk, mainly available in summer.
💡 Countryside and markets, July to September
Cashmere
Mongolian cashmere scarves and sweaters.
💡 Cashmere factory outlets and department stores
Felt products
Handmade felt slippers and decorations.
💡 Craft shops
Morin khuur souvenirs
Miniature horse-head fiddles, Mongolia's national instrument.
💡 State Department Store and souvenir shops