What Apps Are Useful in Ulaanbaatar?
The most useful apps for travelers in Ulaanbaatar are Google Maps and MAPS.ME for navigation, UBCab for taxis, UBCab Eats for food delivery, UB Smart Bus for public transport, and JET or U-GO for short electric scooter or bike trips. TAPA is useful for flights and other travel bookings, while Toki combines several local everyday services in one app.
If you are traveling outside Ulaanbaatar, downloading offline maps before leaving the city is especially useful because mobile coverage can become limited.
1. Google Maps — Best for Everyday Navigation
Best for: Finding hotels, restaurants, attractions, ATMs, shops, and directions Google Maps should be one of the first apps you use in Ulaanbaatar. It provides walking and driving directions, live traffic information, business listings, reviews, photos, and public transport information.
It is particularly useful when looking for places such as:
- Your hotel
- Sukhbaatar Square
- Restaurants and cafés
- Museums
- Shopping centers
- ATMs
- Pharmacies
- Nightclubs and lounges
- Bus stops
One important feature for Mongolia is offline maps. Google allows users to download selected map areas before losing internet access. Download Ulaanbaatar and any countryside regions you plan to visit while you still have good Wi-Fi.
2. TAPA — Useful for Flights, Hotels, and Travel Bookings
Best for: Booking travel within Mongolia and beyond
TAPA, also known through the Tapatrip platform, is different from the other apps on this list. It is a travel-booking platform rather than a city transportation app. Its current platform offers bookings for flights, hotels, local transport, and other travel services. The mobile app advertises access to hundreds of airlines and a large international hotel inventory.
It may be useful if you need to arrange:
- Domestic flights
- International flights
- Hotels
- Some bus or train travel
- Other travel services
This makes TAPA more useful for planning the next stage of your Mongolia trip than for moving between Sukhbaatar Square and your hotel.
3. JET — Electric Scooters for Short Trips
Best for: Short-distance electric scooter rides
JET is a shared electric scooter service available in Mongolia. The idea is simple: find an available scooter in the app, scan its code, start your rental, and complete your journey according to the service’s parking rules. JET launched its Ulaanbaatar scooter service in 2023 and its app continues to list Mongolia among its operating markets. It can be useful when your destination is too far to walk comfortably but too close to justify sitting in traffic in a taxi. However, Ulaanbaatar traffic can be intense. Use shared scooters only when you are comfortable with local road conditions and always follow current traffic and parking rules. The service is naturally much more practical during warmer months than during Mongolia’s winter.
4. U Money — Useful for Public Transport
Best for: Checking U Money public transport card information
U Money is connected with Ulaanbaatar’s public transportation payment system. Its app allows users to check U Money card balances and view transit-related information. Ulaanbaatar changed its public transport payment system in 2025, while the existing U Money system remained in use alongside newer payment options. For a short visit, you may not need every feature of the U Money app. But if you expect to use city buses frequently, it is useful to know what U Money is and how it relates to public transport.
5. UBCab — Best Taxi App in Ulaanbaatar
UBCab is one of the most important local apps for international travelers in Ulaanbaatar. It works as a ride-hailing service and also connects users with delivery, car rental, and other services. UBCab says its platform serves users in Ulaanbaatar and across Mongolia. Instead of standing beside the road looking for a taxi, you can request a vehicle through the app and use your destination on the map.
That is particularly useful when:
- Arriving at or leaving your hotel
- Going out at night
- Traveling with luggage
- Visiting attractions outside the walkable city center
- You do not know the Mongolian name of your destination
- The weather is too cold for a long walk
Traffic in Ulaanbaatar can make even short journeys take longer than expected, so allow extra time when ordering a car. UBCab also offers an Express delivery service if you need to send an item across the city.
