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Place · Sukhbaatar Square & Choijin Temple

Choijin Lama Temple MuseumЧойжин ламын сүм музей

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.

go at hour · 10:00–16:00admission: unknownNot field-verified
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Key facts

Time on site
45–60 min
p95 75 min
Price
about ₮ 10,000–20,000
bring cash
Hours
unknown
see note below
Best time
10:00–16:00
quietest window
28″ bags
No
Sukhbaatar Square & Choijin Temple: forbidden
Getting there
Walk from the square along the avenue, or a short taxi
  • 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.
Hours unknown
Map & directions
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Directions
From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Plan

Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes

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

Quietest 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
Directions Add to a day →

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

Weather here, next 7 days

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Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Time on site

minutes

Minimum

30min

Worthwhile

45min

Typical

60min

p95

75min

Opening hours change by season; not printed here until verified for your date.

Tickets & entry

2026 estimate · check the posted board
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

Official site ↗

Queues
  • Adult: No queue most days.
Dress code
  • Shoes: On; follow signs in the halls.

What to wear: dress-code checker

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.

TicketPriceWhere to buySkip-the-line reality
Adultabout ₮ 10,000–20,000 (2026 estimate, check)Ticket deskNo queue most days.
Camera permitabout ₮ 10,000–20,000 (check)Same desk—
Child or studentcheckSame desk—
GuidecheckDesk or hotelConfirm the price first.

Inside, in order

45 min without detours

  1. Main temple and gate

    15 min

    Carved wooden gate and roof.

  2. Tsam masks and dance costumes

    15 min

    Painted masks for the lama dance.

  3. Paintings and thangka

    10 min

    Religious art; no flash.

  4. Courtyard

    5 min

    Benches and a view of the buildings.

Plan this visit

saved in this browser only
Time inside
Crowd on arrival
light
Worst while inside
busy
Leave by
11:00
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.

How to do it well

  1. 1Buy the ticket at the desk and ask whether you need a camera ticket.
  2. 2Walk clockwise around the courtyard, temple by temple: the main temple, the Mahakala temple and the Maitreya temple.
  3. 3Look at the Tsam masks and the carved wooden gates.
  4. 4Leave time for the small shop and the courtyard bench.

On the ground

Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work

Getting in

Stop
Walk from the square along the avenue, or a short taxi
Exit
—
Ticket
on site · official site · bring cash
Stairs
unknown
Shoes
Shoes on; follow signs inside temple halls.

Crowds and switching

Crowd clock
Quiet on weekdays; groups mid-morning in summer.
Sensory load
2/5
Exposure
medium
Queue rule
Switch if the queue passes 15 min; come back when under 5.

Bailouts

  1. heat

    Shaded temple courtyards

  2. cold

    Indoor halls; the visit is short

  3. rain

    Halls and covered galleries

Nearest rescue anchor: C — Choijin Lama Temple Museum courtyard (field-verify)

Step-free check

wheelchair: caution
  • 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

  1. 1Come by car to the museum gate.
  2. 2Stay in the courtyard; temple thresholds are high.
  3. 3Ask staff about a ramp (check).
  4. 4Return to the car at the gate.

Combine with

nearest first
  1. 8 minSukhbaatar Square — North along the avenue.
  2. 8 minGuanz lunch streets · eat — Side streets.
  3. 10 minZanabazar Museum of Fine Arts — Buddhist art (check).
  4. 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 today

Sun times for today load in your browser.

SpotWhenRule on the spot
Carved gateMorningCamera permit may apply.
Courtyard with rooftopsAfternoonNo flash indoors.

Red lines

  • Ask before photographing masks and altars; a camera fee may apply.
  • Walk clockwise; do not touch the exhibits.
More on the groundFacilities · Seasons · Who it suits · Skip it if · Rules on site · With kids

Rules on site

enforced at the gate or by guards
food
Not inside.

With kids

kids: okstroller: caution
with kids
The masks are a hit; keep voices low.
child price
check

Facilities on site

WhatStatusWhere / note
ToiletslimitedBasic toilets on site (check).
Accessible toiletcheckNot confirmed.
Lockers or cloakroomnoNone; leave big bags at the hotel.
Café or foodlimitedCafé in the square area.
Drinking waterlimitedBuy sealed bottles; do not drink tap water.
SeatingyesBenches in the courtyard.
Wi-FicheckCafés nearby.
Card paymentcheckCash at ticket desks is common; cards at cafés and larger shops.

Seasons, festivals and night openings

WhenWhat happensEffect on your visitDates
Nov–MarWinterA useful warm indoor stop; icy approach.check
Jun–AugSummerMore groups mid-morning.
Feb (Tsagaan Sar)Lunar New YearClosed or short hours.check

“Check” rows move every year; confirm dates on the official calendar before you plan around them.

Who it suits

TravelerFitWhy
First visit to UlaanbaatargoodA compact look at Buddhist art and architecture.
Art loversgoodMasks and paintings.
Families with small kidsokThe masks entertain children.
Wheelchair userscautionHigh thresholds.
Winter visitorsgoodWarm indoors.

Skip it if

  • You have seen Gandan and are short of time.
  • You dislike incense and dim halls.

Deep dive

Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources

Questions and answers

answered by Voykit editors · dated
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.

Answers come from Voykit editors, not from other travellers.

Nearby

Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.

Sources