Sain baina uu! I’m Takeshi from Tsogto Mongol Horse Riding Tour.
Here are the souvenirs I have brought back from Mongolia that people genuinely loved. At the end I list the shops in Ulaanbaatar where I buy them.
10 Mongolian Souvenirs Worth Bringing Home
1. Felt slippers
Indoor slippers made of wool felt — warm and perfect for winter. Some designs are cute (like the ones in the photo), and there are plainer ones too. They are a classic Mongolian souvenir, and a lot of our guests take a pair home.
I gave some to my mother and grandparents. My grandfather told me he wore them every day, and showed me how worn out they were — he had used the previous pair for about ten years.
Even with holes in the soles, they still look usable. Mongolian slippers are tough!
Where to buy: State Department Store (souvenir floor), felt shops, MIM.
2. Wool socks
In a country where it can reach −40°C, socks are made to be warm. As well as sheep’s wool, you can find socks made from yak wool and from the wool of the camels that live in the Gobi. Most are made with very little chemical processing, so many people with sensitive skin find them fine — but this varies by maker. 100% cashmere socks feel wonderful but are pricey.
Where to buy: State Department Store (cashmere and wool floors), street stalls.
3. Kazakh embroidered bags
I use a Kazakh embroidered bag every day. The embroidery is done by hand, piece by piece, by Kazakh craftspeople, originally from Bayan-Ölgii in western Mongolia. Each pattern has a meaning and carries a prayer of the Kazakh people.
The OTAU workshop in Bayan-Ölgii, where I used to buy them, had closed by 2024. Most of the Kazakh embroidered bags sold in Ulaanbaatar now come from a workshop in Nalaikh, on the edge of the city.
Where to buy: State Department Store (souvenir floor), fair-trade shops, the Flower Center.
4. Sea buckthorn juice
Sea buckthorn (chatsargana) is a “superfruit”, and in Mongolia people drink it warm when they have a cold. It has a distinctive smell but is very nutritious. I recommend the concentrated kind.
Where to buy: State Department Store (ground floor), supermarkets, local shops.
5. Sea buckthorn wine
Yes, there is wine made from sea buckthorn. When it first came out it was so popular that I searched shops all over Ulaanbaatar and found it sold out everywhere. Serious wine lovers may find it a bit light, but as a fun souvenir it works.
Where to buy: State Department Store (ground floor), large supermarkets.
6. Mongolian vodka
Vodka is Mongolia’s drink. It always appears at parties: the eldest person first offers some to the sky, the earth and the fire, and then the cup is passed around in order of age — until the bottle is finished. Just when you think it’s over, a new bottle sometimes appears! If you don’t drink, it is fine to just touch the cup to your lips.
For a souvenir, skip the cheap bottles and choose from the top end. My favourite is Bolor: smooth, and it doesn’t leave you with a headache the next day. It is also what Mongolian friends often bring as a gift when they travel abroad.
Where to buy: State Department Store (ground floor), supermarkets (cheaper), local shops. Check your home country’s customs allowance for alcohol.
7. Golden Gobi chocolate
Golden Gobi is a Mongolian chocolate maker, and its chocolate tastes like a premium brand. Bars are fine, but the big bags of individually wrapped chocolates with Mongolian characters on them are perfect for sharing with colleagues.
Where to buy: State Department Store (ground floor, widest choice), supermarkets (cheaper), local shops.
8. Cashmere scarves
Scarves made from Mongolian cashmere are soft and last for years. I bought them for my mother, sister, grandmother and aunt, and they were a huge hit — they still use them. The natural, undyed colours are especially lovely. Prices vary by colour, and are usually well below what you would pay for the same brands abroad.
The best-known brand is Gobi Cashmere, but others such as Goyo Cashmere are now popular too. To me, Gobi feels classic and Goyo feels stylish; prices and quality are similar, so pick the designs you like.
Where to buy: State Department Store (cashmere floors), the brands’ own stores.
9. Felt horse keyrings
Small horses made of wool felt — cute, and people really do use them on their keys. They are so popular that one year the horses had disappeared from both the State Department Store and the fair-trade shop, though there were plenty of sheep and camels. When I asked why there were no horses, the shop assistant said: “They’ve gone back to the steppe.”
Where to buy: State Department Store (souvenir floor), felt shops.
10. Felt ger keyrings
When the horses had gone back to the steppe, I bought these instead: tiny gers made of wool felt. Someone once asked me if it was a dumpling, so it may not look much like a ger — but it is still a nice little gift.
Where to buy: State Department Store (souvenir floor), felt shops.
Where to Buy Souvenirs in Ulaanbaatar
State Department Store (Nomin)
The biggest department store in Mongolia. Food is on the ground floor and souvenirs are on an upper floor; there are Gobi Cashmere and Goyo Cashmere stores inside. If you only have time for one shop, come here. Cards are accepted.
Wool and felt shops
Shops selling things made of felt. I always buy slippers at one of these.
Flower Center
There is a souvenir shop at the ground-floor entrance on the Peace Avenue side, with Kazakh embroidered bags and more. I go there often. (The money changer that used to be upstairs has closed — for exchange tips see money in Mongolia.)
Galleria Ulaanbaatar
A newer shopping centre in the city centre with a cashmere and felt shop. A little more expensive, but there is a wide range to compare.
MIM
A felt workshop based at a Buddhist temple that supports single mothers. We have run felt-shoe-making sessions there with our guests. They sell lovely slippers like the ones at the top of this article.
Narantuul Market
Mongolia’s biggest open-air market, selling everything from deel robes, riding boots and fur hats to swords, bows, armour and even gers. Prices are the lowest here, but there are overpriced and fake goods, so go with a local if you can. It is safer than it was a few years ago, but pickpockets are still common — keep nothing in your pockets. It is closed on Tuesdays and you need tugrik in cash.
Peace Avenue in the centre is also lined with souvenir shops, so take a stroll and see what you find. More sights in the city: things to do in Ulaanbaatar.
Shopping Before or After Your Ride
At our Erdene Tourist Ger Camp, you can also buy souvenirs, water and drinks in the dining ger (paid in US dollars). Many guests do their Ulaanbaatar shopping on the last day of their trip. Questions? Contact us any time.
