Winter
Dec → Feb-13 to -7°
nights -23 to -20°
- 1 rainy days · 4 mm
- 8.3 h of sun
When is the best time to visit Mongolia?
- Jan-12°not recommended
- Feb-7°not recommended
- Mar2°not recommended
- Apr9°not recommended
- May16°fair
- Jun22°recommended
- Jul24°recommended
- Aug21°recommended
- Sep16°recommended
- Oct7°fair
- Nov-3°not recommended
- Dec-13°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Mongolia, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -12° | -23° | 8 h | 2 mm | 1 d | |
| February | -7° | -20° | 9.4 h | 4 mm | 1 d | |
| March | 2° | -10° | 10.7 h | 9 mm | 2 d | |
| April | 9° | -3° | 11.2 h | 21 mm | 6 d | |
| May | 16° | 2° | 12 h | 33 mm | 8 d | |
| June | 22° | 9° | 12.1 h | 66 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| July | 24° | 13° | 11.2 h | 96 mm | 13 d | ✓ |
| August | 21° | 10° | 11.1 h | 96 mm | 12 d | ✓ |
| September | 16° | 4° | 9.8 h | 42 mm | 8 d | ✓ |
| October | 7° | -4° | 9 h | 14 mm | 4 d | |
| November | -3° | -12° | 7.8 h | 10 mm | 4 d | |
| December | -13° | -21° | 7.4 h | 5 mm | 2 d |
The four seasons in Mongolia, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Ulaanbaatar) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May2 to 16°
nights -10 to 2°
- 5 rainy days · 21 mm
- 11.3 h of sun
Summer
Jun → Aug21 to 24°
nights 9 to 13°
- 12 rainy days · 86 mm
- 11.5 h of sun
Autumn
Sep → Nov-3 to 16°
nights -12 to 4°
- 5 rainy days · 22 mm
- 8.9 h of sun
Book early for June to September
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Mongolia, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 16h of daylight, in December 8h24, a difference of 7h36.
8h48Jan
10h09Feb
11h45Mar
13h35Apr
15h08May
16hJun
15h39Jul
14h17Aug
12h30Sep
10h44Oct
9h11Nov
8h24Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Ulaanbaatar" (47.89°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Mongolia, month by month
EventsTsagaan SarJanuary to FebruaryNaadamJulyGolden Eagle FestivalOctoberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: May, September
- Towns & culture: April, May, June, August, September
- Long days: May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Mongolia, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- January to FebruaryTsagaan Sar
The lunar new year closes shops and fills the yurts with family visits and steamed dumplings.
- JulyNaadam big crowds
On 11 and 12 July, wrestling, archery and horse races ridden by children, in Ulaanbaatar and in the provinces.
- OctoberGolden Eagle Festival big crowds
In Ölgii, Kazakh hunters launch their eagles from the ridges on the first weekend of October.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended-12°-23° at night
- 2 mm · 1 d
- 8 h
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended-7°-20° at night
- 4 mm · 1 d
- 9.4 h
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended2°-10° at night
- 9 mm · 2 d
- 10.7 h
Low season, lower prices
April
Not recommended9°-3° at night
- 21 mm · 6 d
- 11.2 h
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair16°2° at night
- 33 mm · 8 d
- 12 h
Low season, lower prices
June
Recommended22°9° at night
- 66 mm · 11 d
- 12.1 h
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended24°13° at night
- 96 mm · 13 d
- 11.2 h
High season, book early
August
Recommended21°10° at night
- 96 mm · 12 d
- 11.1 h
High season, book early
September
Recommended16°4° at night
- 42 mm · 8 d
- 9.8 h
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair7°-4° at night
- 14 mm · 4 d
- 9 h
Busy, without the crush
November
Not recommended-3°-12° at night
- 10 mm · 4 d
- 7.8 h
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended-13°-21° at night
- 5 mm · 2 d
- 7.4 h
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: -12 °C at the warmest of the day, -23 °C at night. Hardly any rain (2 mm over 1 day). Expect 8 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Deep winter: -7 °C at the warmest of the day, -20 °C at night. Hardly any rain (4 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 9.4 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Deep winter: 2 °C at the warmest of the day, -10 °C at night. Hardly any rain (9 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 9 °C at best, -3 °C at night. Rain stays light: 21 mm over 6 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.2 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 16 °C at best, 2 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (33 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 12 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (66 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 12.1 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (96 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.2 h a day on average. High season: book early.
August. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (96 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. High season: book early.
September. Cool: 16 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (42 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.8 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, -4 °C at night. Rain stays light: 14 mm over 4 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Deep winter: -3 °C at the warmest of the day, -12 °C at night. Rain stays light: 10 mm over 4 days. Expect 7.8 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: -13 °C at the warmest of the day, -21 °C at night. Hardly any rain (5 mm over 2 days). Expect 7.4 h of sunshine a day. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Mongolia?
June to September: over these months, recorded highs range from 16 to 24 °C, with 11 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Ulaanbaatar).
Which month should you avoid in Mongolia?
April: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 21 mm over 6 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Ulaanbaatar).
What is the hottest month in Mongolia?
July, with 24 °C on average in the afternoon and 13 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Ulaanbaatar).
What is the coldest month in Mongolia?
December, with -13 °C at best during the day and -21 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Ulaanbaatar).
What is the driest month in Mongolia?
January: 2 mm over 1 day of rain, against 96 mm in July, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Mongolia?
June, with 12.1 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Does it get cold at night in Mongolia?
The gap between day and night reaches 14 °C in May: 16 °C in the afternoon, 2 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When is the best time to hike in Mongolia?
May, September: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Ulaanbaatar), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Mongolia guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
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