Ulan Bator Weather in March

March feels like winter

March is spring on the calendar, but Ulaanbaatar still feels wintry. Days hover around freezing, and nights can drop to -13°C. February is colder, and April brings a clear warm-up, so March sits in the middle of the cold season's tail. Rain is scarce, but icy patches and cold winds can make walking uncomfortable. If you can choose, May to June and August to September are much better bets.

Don't let the cold keep you indoors all day. You'll get about seven hours of sun a day, so sightseeing still works. Spend time at the National Museum of Mongolia or Gandan Monastery, then warm up over a bowl of buuz, steamed dumplings. Bogd Khan Mountain trails can be slippery, so save longer hikes for warmer months.

Holidays and quiet streets

March brings a few dates worth knowing. International Women's Day on March 8 is a public holiday in Mongolia, and March 18 is Mongolian Military Day, though celebrations may be modest from a visitor's point of view. Tsagaan Sar, the lunar new year, sometimes falls in March, but its date changes each year. If it does, expect family visits and some businesses to close.

The upside is space. If you hate crowds, March is a quieter time to see Sükhbaatar Square than the summer peak. It's also low season, so stays may cost less. The trade-off is that you'll spend less time outdoors enjoying the city.

Make the cold work for you

Plan short walks between indoor sights rather than spending a whole day outside. The State Department Store is a handy stop near central sights, with cafés where you can take a break from the chill.

Travelling with kids? Keep an indoor visit ready for the afternoon, when the cold can wear everyone down. For a local food stop, try khuushuur, a fried meat pastry, at a Mongolian restaurant near Sükhbaatar Square. You'll find little rain to deal with, but long waits outdoors are where the cold really bites.