Cheap flights from Krakow to Ulaanbaatar

April is the cheapest month for this route, and spring fares stay reasonable on most carriers. Summer is peak: July and August fill up with travellers heading to Mongolia, while the winter months are quiet but very cold at the destination. Midweek departures from Balice usually cost less than weekend ones. Book a few months ahead, because connecting options are limited and the good routings go first. Keep an eye on Polish school holidays and the Christmas and New Year window, when demand out of Krakow jumps.

Every option on this route is a connecting one, so the airline you pick decides where you change planes. Lufthansa, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Austrian, LOT Polish Airlines and Turkish Airlines are full-service carriers: fares normally include a checked bag on the long leg, and your connection is protected when it sits on one ticket. Air Dolomiti and HOP! mostly fly the short feeder legs into bigger hubs, while Fly Dubai and Braathens Regional Aviation sit at the leaner end, where baggage and seat choice often cost extra. Etihad Airways routes you through the Gulf, which adds flying time but can bring the fare down. Check the baggage rules for each leg before you pay.

Most international arrivals land at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, the newer field on the edge of Ulaanbaatar. Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport is the older one and sits nearer the centre. Neither is within walking distance of downtown, and traffic in the Mongolian capital gets heavy at peak hours. Official taxis and shuttle buses run into town; agree the fare before you set off, or arrange a hotel transfer. If you land late, confirm that your transfer is still running, and change a little local currency before you leave the terminal.

Currency

MNT (₮)

Power sockets

Type C, E · 220 V

Language

Mongolian

Emergency number

101, 102, 103

Driving side

right

Calling code

+976

Internet domain

.mn

Population of Ulaanbaatar

1.4 M (2015)

Time zone

UTC+08 (Asia/Ulaanbaatar)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check that your departure airport is Balice, and leave enough time for the drive from the city centre.
• On a connecting itinerary, keep both legs on one ticket so a delay does not strand you at the transfer hub.
• If you book the legs separately to save money, plan a generous buffer and find out whether you must collect and re-check your bags.
• Confirm the baggage allowance for every leg, since leaner carriers charge for a checked bag on the short hop too.
• Check entry rules for Mongolia well before departure, and make sure your passport has enough validity left.
• Book early for spring travel if you want the April fares, and avoid the summer peak unless your dates are fixed.