Choijin Lama Temple Museum
Place · Sukhbaatar Square & Choijin Temple
Go mid-morning or mid-afternoon: 45–60 minutes among carved wooden temples built in 1904–1908, ticket about ₮ 10,000–20,000 with a camera fee, and a warm indoor stop on a cold day.
- Built 1904–1908
- Tsam masks
- Warm winter stop
- Go 10:00–16:00
- Bring cash
- Queue: switch at 15 min
- Works with kids
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 8From Nov to Mar pavements are icy and taxis are slow
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Mongolia ↗Check entry rules for your passport on the official government e-visa portal; some nationalities enter visa-free for a limited stay, others need an e-visa.
- Mongolia ↗In a ger: step over the threshold (never on it), move clockwise, receive food and drink with the right hand, and do not point your feet at the stove or the altar.
- Mongolia ↗Plan road trips by hours, not kilometres: paved roads are few, and 100 km of dirt track can take three hours.
- Central Mongolia ↗Ger camps in the countryside run mainly June–September; outside that window, ask what is open before you book.
- Ulaanbaatar ↗From Nov to Mar pavements are icy and taxis are slow: use grip footwear, allow double time and do not plan long walks.
- Ulaanbaatar ↗Traffic is gridlocked roughly 07:30–09:30 and 17:00–20:00: cross-town rides can take three times as long.
More
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, best time to go, opening hours
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours unknown
- Crowds
Quietest around 10:00 or 17:00 · go 10:00–16:00
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Thu · busiest Fri–Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: about ₮ 10,000–20,000 (2026 estimate, check)
- Child: check
- Time to spend
- 45–60 min · up to 75 min if you linger
Best time to go
Quiet on weekdays; groups mid-morning in summer.
Queue rule: switch if the queue passes 15 min; come back when under 5.
By weekday: quietest Mon–Thu, busiest Fri–Sun.
Opening hours
- Note
- Opening hours change by season; not printed here until verified for your date.
- Hours note
- Daily except a closing day; hours vary by season.
Which month is quietest
- Janquiet
- Febquiet
- Marquiet
- Aprlight
- Maybusy
- Junheavy
- Julpacked
- Augheavy
- Sepbusy
- Octlight
- Novquiet
- Decquiet
Quietest Nov–Mar · busiest Jul.
Estimate: desk reasoning from season patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Walk from the square along the avenue, or a short taxi
- Ticket
- on site · official site · bring cash
- Stairs
- Not recorded
- Shoes
- Shoes on; follow signs inside temple halls.
Accessibility
- PartialStep-free entrance · A few steps at each temple.
- NoLifts
- Check firstAccessible toilet · Not confirmed.
- YesRamps · Ask staff about a ramp (check).
- PartialWheelchair · The courtyard is level; temple thresholds are steep.
- PartialStroller · Works in the courtyard.
- YesPlaces to sit · Benches in the courtyard.
Sensory load
- Sensory load2/5 Low
- Peak crowd3/5 Medium
Exposure: medium
What to bring and the rules
- Cash · The ticket desk is likely to take cash only.
- Footwear that suits the rule · On; follow signs in the halls.
- A small bag · Front carry; some halls need bags left at the desk.
- Shoes: On; follow signs in the halls.
- Front carry; some halls need bags left at the desk.
- Lockers or cloakroom (no) None; leave big bags at the hotel.
- Camera fee may apply; no photos of some altars.
- No drones; tripods discouraged.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Bailouts
- heat: Shaded temple courtyards
- cold: Indoor halls; the visit is short
- rain: Halls and covered galleries
Nearest rescue anchor: C — Choijin Lama Temple Museum courtyard (field-verify)
Problem
Red lines
- Ask before photographing masks and altars; a camera fee may apply.
- Walk clockwise; do not touch the exhibits.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
Tickets, prices and entry
Know before you go
- The temple complex was built in 1904–1908 for Luvsankhaidav, the state oracle and brother of the last Bogd Khan.
- It escaped the destruction of monasteries in the 1930s because it was turned into a museum in 1942.
- Ticket about ₮ 10,000–20,000 plus a camera fee (2026 estimate, check).
- The buildings are wood and painted; keep flash off.
- Tsam dance masks and thangka paintings are the highlights.
- It is small: 45 minutes is enough.
Best time of day
Go 10:00–16:00. Plan 45–60 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate; add one level in July–August
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- Buy at the entrance on the day.
- Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
- Bring cash; cards may not be taken (check).
- Adult: Ticket desk
- Camera permit: Same desk
- Child or student: Same desk
- Queues
- Adult: No queue most days.
- Dress code
- Shoes: On; follow signs in the halls.
- Bags & lockers
- Front carry; some halls need bags left at the desk.
- Lockers or cloakroom (no) None; leave big bags at the hotel.
- Photos
- Camera fee may apply; no photos of some altars.
- No drones; tripods discouraged.
- What's closed
- WeeklycheckDays off and winter hours vary; confirm before you go.
- Holidays and Tsagaan SarcheckShorter hours or closed.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Where to buy | Skip-the-line reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | about ₮ 10,000–20,000 (2026 estimate, check) | Ticket desk | No queue most days. |
| Camera permit | about ₮ 10,000–20,000 (check) | Same desk | — |
| Child or student | check | Same desk | — |
| Guide | check | Desk or hotel | Confirm the price first. |
How to do it well
- 1Buy the ticket at the desk and ask whether you need a camera ticket.
- 2Walk clockwise around the courtyard, temple by temple: the main temple, the Mahakala temple and the Maitreya temple.
- 3Look at the Tsam masks and the carved wooden gates.
- 4Leave time for the small shop and the courtyard bench.
Time on site, inside and your plan
Time on site
Minimum
30min
Worthwhile
45min
Typical
60min
p95
75min
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (60 min).
Nothing else in our notes is a short enough walk from here for the time that is left.
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Inside, in order
Main temple and gate
15 minCarved wooden gate and roof.
Tsam masks and dance costumes
15 minPainted masks for the lama dance.
Paintings and thangka
10 minReligious art; no flash.
Courtyard
5 minBenches and a view of the buildings.
Plan this visit
- Crowd on arrival
- light
- Worst while inside
- busy
- Leave by
- 11:0011:00 AM
- Closing buffer
- 330′
Good window: go.
- Closing buffer is measured against a planning close of 16:30. Closing time varies; go before 16:00.
- Crowd levels are a desk estimate by hour, not live data.
Step-free check, who it suits, facilities
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: partly · partlyA few steps at each temple.
- Lifts: no · no
- Accessible toilet: check · checkNot confirmed.
- Ramps: yes · yesAsk staff about a ramp (check).
- Wheelchair: partly · partlyThe courtyard is level; temple thresholds are steep.
- Stroller: partly · partlyWorks in the courtyard.
- Places to sit: yes · yesBenches in the courtyard.
A paved courtyard with steps and high thresholds at the temples.
Step-free route
- 1Come by car to the museum gate.
- 2Stay in the courtyard; temple thresholds are high.
- 3Ask staff about a ramp (check).
- 4Return to the car at the gate.
Facilities on site
| What | Status | Where / note |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | limited | Basic toilets on site (check). |
| Accessible toilet | check | Not confirmed. |
| Lockers or cloakroom | no | None; leave big bags at the hotel. |
| Café or food | limited | Café in the square area. |
| Drinking water | limited | Buy sealed bottles; do not drink tap water. |
| Seating | yes | Benches in the courtyard. |
| Wi-Fi | check | Cafés nearby. |
| Card payment | check | Cash at ticket desks is common; cards at cafés and larger shops. |
Seasons, festivals and night openings
| When | What happens | Effect on your visit | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov–Mar | Winter | A useful warm indoor stop; icy approach. | check |
| Jun–Aug | Summer | More groups mid-morning. | |
| Feb (Tsagaan Sar) | Lunar New Year | Closed or short hours. | check |
“Check” rows move every year; confirm dates on the official calendar before you plan around them.
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit to Ulaanbaatar | good | A compact look at Buddhist art and architecture. |
| Art lovers | good | Masks and paintings. |
| Families with small kids | ok | The masks entertain children. |
| Wheelchair users | caution | High thresholds. |
| Winter visitors | good | Warm indoors. |
Skip it if
- You have seen Gandan and are short of time.
- You dislike incense and dim halls.
Rules on site
- food
- Not inside.
With kids
- with kids
- The masks are a hit; keep voices low.
- child price
- check
Combine with
Combine with
- 8 minSukhbaatar Square — North along the avenue.
- 8 minGuanz lunch streets · eat — Side streets.
- 10 minZanabazar Museum of Fine Arts — Buddhist art (check).
- 15 minNational Museum of Mongolia — More indoor history.
Walk the Sukhbaatar Square & Choijin Temple area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
| Spot | When | Rule on the spot |
|---|---|---|
| Carved gate | Morning | Camera permit may apply. |
| Courtyard with rooftops | Afternoon | No flash indoors. |
Deep dive
Questions, photos, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Is it a working temple?
It is a museum today, with the atmosphere of a temple.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
How much is the Choijin Lama Temple Museum?
About ₮ 10,000–20,000 plus a camera fee (2026 estimate); check at the desk.
How long do I need?
45–60 minutes.
Can I take photos?
With a camera ticket in most areas; not of some altars.
Who was Choijin Lama?
Luvsankhaidav, the state oracle and brother of the last Bogd Khan; the temples were built for him in 1904–1908.
Is it far from Sukhbaatar Square?
About 8 minutes on foot south along the avenue.
Is it open in winter?
Yes, usually on shorter hours; check locally.
Photos
Photos
Choijin Lama Temple Museum Photo: Christopher Michel from San Francisco, USA, CC BY 2.0
Deep dive
Sources
- officialMongolia National Tourism Organization
- secondaryWikivoyage — Ulaanbaatar
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Source: Price
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates. The official site has the current price.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best hour
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The quietest window written into this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.
Source: Bag rating
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Rated for the whole walking cluster, from desk research, not for this entrance.