Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar is pretty much everything you don't imagine Mongolia to be, with its antiseptic concrete sprawl and shiny glass towers, unending neighborhoods of Soviet-style blocks, and relentless demand for growth. It's brazen, bright, huge, and loud, with designer stores and brand-new retail complexes aplenty.

But, whether it's in the 19th-century palace of Bogd Khaan, built by Mongolian craftsmen, the interesting National Museum of Mongolia, the broad squares where residents speak, or in the shadow of Genghis Kahn's magnificent monument, there's a certain rough appeal to be discovered beneath the brilliant lights.

The huge city of Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia's capital, as well as its cultural, administrative, and commercial core. It is home to about half of the country's inhabitants. The city is a bizarre yet fascinating blend of urban and nomadic life, located in the aptly titled Valley of the Golden Cradle, at the confluence of the Selbe and Tuul Rivers.

• Location: Mongolia
• Timing: Open all day
• Famous for: Genghis Kahn's magnificent monument
• Entry Fee: Free
• Best Time To Visit: between April and August.