Yes and no. Mongolia is safe to visit, but like anywhere, you will have to take some precautions. Especially if you are spending time in nature, you will have to be careful about animals and wild weather. Most countries agree in their assessment that Mongolia is a safe place to visit.

The United States places the country under a Level One travel advisory. This warning is echoed by other countries such as Canada. If there are dangers mentioned, they tend to be minor.

Most incidents affecting tourists are non-violent crimes or other situations that are more inconvenient than they are dangerous. You should watch out for:

  • Bag snatching
  • Pickpocketing
  • Scams
  • Robbery
  • Assault

Outside of the cities, you aren’t in danger of crime, but you are more vulnerable to Mongolia’s wild nature. Mongolia’s steppe continental climate means that it has four seasons, but all in extremes. Winters are bitterly cold and long, lasting from October to March.

Blizzards, snowstorms, and ice are very common. Avoid wandering around outside during a storm as it’s easy to get lost. Meanwhile, summers are very hot and dry, and sometimes have dust storms.

Make sure that you prepare accordingly for the weather to avoid injury or illness. Popular activities when visiting Mongolia include staying with nomads to experience authentic steppe life.

Most people have positive experiences staying with hospitable locals. However, prepare yourself as staying on the steppe obviously won’t have the same luxury or amenities you’re accustomed to at home, including indoor bathrooms.

When booking any adventure tours or homestays, do your research on the tour company. Make sure that it has a history providing the service it claims to provide and that it has good reviews. This is particularly important for riskier activities as some companies don’t follow safety standards.

A final thing to keep an eye on, especially while in the capital Ulaanbaatar, is the risk of protests. Demonstrations in Mongolia aren’t that common, but they can become intense when they happen.

In December 2022, protesters were so angry over a corruption scandal they tried to storm government buildings. If you see a protest forming, stay away from the area just in case things turn violent.