Mongolia Weather in January

Scare Precipitation

Average Precipitation: 3mm (0.12 in)
Average Rainy days: 3 days

The precipitation, in the form of snow, is scare, so the climate of Mongolia in January is pretty dry. When you wake up in the morning, you might find your throat sore and itchy and your voice low and hoarse after the whole night living in the hotel room with the heating supplied. You might even get a nosebleed, caused by the low humidity. That is why the hotel that provides air humidifiers in its rooms will be more preferred. 

Even though the snowfall is not large in amount and often light, you are able to appreciate the wonderful scenery of snow-covered mountains and the vast white grassland since the snow doesn’t melt away because of the low temperature. 

Short Daytime but with Bright Sunshine

Sunrise: 8:28  - 8:47  
Sunset: 17:28  - 18:07 
Daylength: 8h40m - 9h39m
Average Sunlight Hours: 6 hours per day

January is one of the months with the shortest daylight hours in Mongolia, but luckily, most days are clear and sunny, which is a comfort for people “struggling” in cold winter. Considering the early sunset and severe coldness, some attractions would be closed earlier, like Genghis Khan Museum which is closed at 5 p.m. in winter, 3 hours earlier than that in summer. It reminds visitors to check the opening time and schedule their itinerary in a more appropriate way. After the sunset, having a delicious dinner and resting in the warm hotel room are suggested. 

Is January a Good time to Visit Mongolia?

To be honest, it is not a good time to visit Mongolia. The primary reason must be the severe coldness. Moreover, the grassland is snow-covered and so barren that as if there is no plant ever existing in this land, let alone the flocks of goats and herds of cattle. Yurts, a kind of special folk houses in Mongolia visitors tend to favor, might be too cold to live in during this period.

However, every coin has two sides. The coldness scares away most visitors, leading to a much smaller number of visitors and bringing down the travel cost to some extent.

Besides, there actually are some winter-only activities and breath-taking views in this period. The snow scenery in Mongolia is wonderful both for the cities like Ulaanbaatar and grazing districts like Khalkha where most areas are covered with snow. You will feel like living and walking in the snowflake kingdom of fantasy just as the Queen Elsa in the movie “Frozen”. What’s more, various winter activities are accessible to visitors, for instance playing snowball with friends on the snow-covered grassland, ice fishing and skating on the Lake Khövsgöl. But after staying outside for some time, you should get into the car and turn on the car air conditioner to warm up yourself. 

What Should Visitors Wear in January in Mongolia?

The first dressing principle for visitors travelling there in January is to keep yourself as warm as possible.  

Clothes: 
Inner layer: A soft long-sleeved T-shirt and long johns should be dressed as the inner layer, and the one made of cotton is a good choice to absorb your possible sweat when you feel a little hot indoors and keep your skin dry. 

Middle layer: For the middle layer which functions as heat preservation, diverse choices are available for you, such as heavy sweaters, thick knitwear, padded shirts and hoodies for the upper body. Thicker woolen long johns might be in necessity for the lower body, though they are less popular among visitors.

Outer layer: You can wear long and heavy down coats that cover your knees and lower legs, and wind-proof material for the shell of downcoast is the best to shield yourself from cold winds. Warm jacket pants with fleece lined will enable you to have the warm lower body.

If you feel hot when you stay indoors where the heating is supplied, you can take off your outer coats.

Shoes: Snow boots are necessary. Fleece-lined walking boots or padded sneakers are suitable choices, too. No matter what kind of shoes, they should be anti-slip and thick socks are indispensable.

Accessories: It is suggested to keep your head, neck and hands always warm by wearing hats, scarves and gloves. You might also need to stick some warm pastes when you go outside. Considering the low air quality caused by coal-powered heating system, masks should also be worn for your health. 

Tips for Visiting Mongolia in January

1. If you plan to visit Mongolia in January of 2026, indoor activities in Ulaanbaatar are more favorable since the heating system works efficiently, and you will feel warmer while visiting Genghis Khan Museum and Mongolian National Museum indoors.
2. Check the open time of scenic spots in advance in case that they are closed because of extreme coldness. 
3. The heating system is supplied only in cities like Ulaanbaatar, while in local tribes and grazing districts in the countryside, people still adopt traditional methods to keep warm by stove, thick clothes, and carefully designed Mongolian yurt. It is not as warm as living in hotels with the heating.
4. Considering the dryness caused by little snowfall and the heating supplied indoors, skin-care products, including hand cream, facial cream and oil, are suggested to keep your skin moisturized.
5. After walking outside for a while, a cup of warm Kumiss (a kind of mild wine made from mare milk) will help you get rid of coldness.
6. If you don’t have thick enough clothes or your suitcase has limited space, you can go shopping at State-owned Department Store when you arrived at Ulaanbaatar.
7. Clothes of bright colors will make you more eye-catching in the photos taken under the snow background where white is almost everywhere. 

January Weather of Major Mongolia Cities