Mongolia Travel Guide: Self-Guided City Walks

Mongolia is a landlocked country between Russia and China, known for its open steppe, mountain ranges, Gobi Desert and enduring nomadic culture. The country is worth visiting for the way its landscapes and history remain closely connected: wide horizons, herding traditions, horse culture and the legacy of the Mongol Empire all shape the experience of travelling here. Neywo has a free audio guide for Mongolia, covering 1 city, 36 narrated places and 3 walking tours.

What to see and do in Mongolia

Experience the Mongolian steppe

Mongolia is shaped by movement across open country. Much of the country lies on the Mongolian Plateau, where grassy steppe extends between mountains in the north and west and the Gobi Desert in the south. Around 30 percent of Mongolians are nomadic or semi-nomadic, and herding remains an important part of the country’s character.

The landscape is not simply empty scenery. It is the setting for a culture built around movement, livestock and changing conditions. Horse culture remains central to Mongolia, making the steppe an essential part of understanding the country.

Discover the Gobi Desert

The Gobi occupies Mongolia’s southern regions. The name comes from a Mongol word meaning “desert steppe”, a useful description of these arid rangelands. Although the landscape can appear sparse, it still supports camels, including Bactrian camels.

The Gobi is also a fragile environment. Overgrazing can make the land even drier, turning desert steppe into a stony desert where even Bactrian camels cannot survive. Its importance lies not only in its scale, but also in the relationship between climate, grazing and the communities that depend on the land.

Explore Ulaanbaatar

For an introduction to Mongolia’s history and culture, start in Ulaanbaatar, the country’s capital and the only Mongolian city currently covered by Neywo. Its audio guide includes 36 narrated places, with highlights such as the Choijin Lama Temple, Fountain Square and the Chinggis Khaan National Museum.

The city offers a useful contrast with the country’s open landscapes. In Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s religious history, modern public spaces and connection to the legacy of Genghis Khan come together in a concentrated urban setting.

Follow the story of Genghis Khan

Mongolia’s history is strongly associated with Genghis Khan, but the story begins earlier, with generations of nomadic peoples and powerful confederations on the plateau. In a period of disorder, the chieftain Temüjin united Mongol tribes stretching from Manchuria to the Altai Mountains.

In 1206, he founded the Mongol Empire and became known as Genghis Khan. The empire later became the largest contiguous land empire in history. His grandson Kublai Khan conquered China proper and established the Yuan dynasty.

The empire’s history is central to Mongolia, but it is only one part of the country’s past. After Yuan rule collapsed, the Mongols returned to their homeland and experienced centuries of factional conflict. A visit to Ulaanbaatar helps place this history within Mongolia’s wider cultural landscape.

Learn about Mongolia’s religious history

Tibetan Buddhism spread through Mongolia centuries after the era of the Mongol Empire. Its influence can be seen in the country’s religious heritage and in places such as the Choijin Lama Temple in Ulaanbaatar.

The temple is among the city’s notable narrated places on Neywo. Together with other historic sites, it offers a way to explore how Mongolia’s traditions changed over time while remaining connected to the country’s older cultural identity.

Understand modern Mongolia

Mongolia’s more recent history follows another major transformation. After the Qing dynasty fell, Mongolia declared independence and later achieved actual independence from the Republic of China. It then became a Soviet satellite state, and the Mongolian People’s Republic was founded as a socialist state.

In 1990, a peaceful democratic revolution opened the way to a multi-party system, a new constitution and a market economy. Modern Mongolia is therefore the result of a long transition—from nomadic confederations and empire through foreign influence and socialism to an independent democracy.

The best cities to visit in Mongolia

At present, Neywo covers one Mongolian city: Ulaanbaatar. It is the country’s main urban destination in the guide, with 36 narrated places and 3 walking tours. The city is a practical starting point for exploring Mongolia’s historical story, from Tibetan Buddhism and the Mongol Empire to the country’s modern democratic era.

Outside the capital, Mongolia’s defining experiences are spread across its vast territory: the grassy steppe, northern and western mountains, and the Gobi Desert in the south. The country’s scale and sparse population are part of what makes travelling through it distinctive.

Download Neywo and explore Mongolia at your own pace

Download Neywo to explore Mongolia with 3 walking tours in Ulaanbaatar, covering 36 narrated stops. The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages, so you can explore the city independently while keeping its history and landmarks in context.