by Esfir Muratalieva
Mongolia is one of the coldest countries in the world. Especially in winter, many people do not know where to go and have fun. Being an international student myself, I was very interested in finding new places to diversify my student days. And during these 3 years of stay in Mongolia, I found the top 5 places where you can go and experience extraordinary emotions.
1) Coffee shop with cats (Instagram @catcafecotton)
Catcafecotton is the only coffee shop in Ulan Bator where you can drink a cup of hot coffee and spend time with cats. Incredibly cute, it’s not for nothing that they say that pets are people’s best friends. They feel everything and calm you down well. The pleasant atmosphere of the coffee shop: design, convenience, hot drinks, different breeds of cats and all this makes you feel such peace. Of course, there you need to follow a certain set of rules and they hang on the walls, and a special person monitors this. For example, if the cat comes up on its own, then you can pet it and play with it, but if the cat is sleeping, then under no circumstances should you touch it. Also, each cat has its own book with a history, you can study in more detail about their breed. This coffee shop idea is very unusual and attracts many people. I advise you to go and enjoy!
Entrance costs 20K tugriks (without coffee).
2) Unusual store ArtLag (Instagram @artlag.official)
I can call Artlag an unusual store, because they sell a lot of interesting things that you won’t find in any other store. Almost all things are made and created by hand: a variety of dishes, accessories and clothing (Mongolian and modern). There you can even find out whose work it is and make a custom order. The beautiful and seemingly magical atmosphere and design makes this place very impressive. The specialty of this coffee shop is also that it is home to a white fluffy dog and the same cat. They are very friendly and come for hugs. There are also talking parrots there, but they are not particularly fond of people, but they are very beautiful. And the most interesting thing is that there is a small table where you can order a cup of coffee and create your own; they can provide you with felt-tip pens and or paints. It would seem like an ordinary store, but there is so much unusual inside. Go and see for yourself!
3) Michelle Expo City
If you want to feel the atmosphere as if you are in another country, try different dishes and take a variety of photographs, then this is the place for you. It is a big building with a variety of coffee shops, bars and restaurants in different styles like: cowboy, k-pop, Japanese, sports, billiards, street style and so on… The designs will really surprise you and you can have a good time with your friends.
4) Sky Resort
This is the largest ski resort in Ulaanbaatar. Situated on the slopes of Mount Bogd Khan, it is 13 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar. Artificial snow production equipment is installed here, so you don’t have to worry about snow melting. There are 9 ski slopes for skiing, snowboarding and tubing for children. There are also 4 lifts that provide transportation for guests. For the local Mongols, this is already a common pastime every winter. But for visitors and students this is a feeling of extraordinary drive. If you want to enjoy the ski slopes surrounded by picturesque scenery, Sky Resort is a great place to do it!
5) Farmhouse Retreat – Terelj (Instagram @farmhouse_retreat)
This is a great place to relax an hour’s drive from the city. Why do I highlight this place in contrast to other vacation spots? It’s a greenhouse. In this greenhouse there is a cafe at reasonable prices. And you are surrounded by unusual plants everywhere. Even in the winter cold, you can feel like summer has arrived. Pleasant atmosphere, design, sweet grandma serving, just can’t help but melt your heart. In the same place there is their hotel, in the form of a hut with small toilets and a funny design. Outside there are yurts and one miniature, glass and rectangular house. The prices for each of them are different, from 150-350 thousand tugriks. Go, enjoy and breathe some fresh air!
Enjoy life, look for new hobbies, places to stay in the cold. Don’t let the weather stop you from new adventures!