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Travel to Moldova – Tips + 12-day itinerary

By Joan Torres 3 Comments Last updated on May 8, 2024

Nestled between Ukraine and Romania, the former Soviet Republic of Moldova is one of the least visited countries in Europe, if not the least. 

The country, however, is worth the trip: tremendously exotic as per European standards and, after spending more than two weeks around the country, I have written this compelling travel guide containing everything you need to know travel in Moldova , including travel tips and a complete 12-day Moldova itinerary.

Going to neighboring Ukraine as well? Read: Ukraine travel guide

In this Moldova travel guide you will find:

Table of Contents

• Travel insurance
• Best time to travel
• How to get in
• 10 Cultural facts
• Moldovan cuisine
• How to get around

Day 1, 2 – Chisinau

• Day 3 – Day trip to Curchi & Orhei
• Day 4 – Day trip to a winery

Day 5, 6 – Transnistria

Day 7, 8 – gagauzia, day 9, 10 – saharna.

• Day 11-12 – Soroca
• More information

our recommended travel insurance for Moldova

IATI Insurance is the most versatile insurance for any destination, including Moldova.

🇲🇩 Introduction: Why going on a trip to Moldova?

Moldova is a bit of a special destination. 

If you travel to Moldova with the objective of visiting UNESCO-listed Heritage sites, I am afraid you have come to the wrong place because there are none here.

Traveling in Moldova isn’t about checking out dreamy European architecture but the best things to do here range from hanging out in a ghost country named Transnistria to visiting other separatist regions like Gagauzia, loads of Soviet Heritage and basically, discovering the most traditional European country.

Honestly, this isn’t a destination for the average traveler but it is one of those places which will only satisfy those who travel with an open mind, willing to get immersed in the country’s history, both recent and past, as well as their political situation. 

This is the ultimate off the beaten track destination in Europe. 

For more inspiration, read all my unusual reasons to travel to Moldova

🪪 Visa for traveling to Moldova

Moldova is in Europe but, as you may know, it doesn’t belong to the EU, so different visa rules apply. 

However, up to 103 nationalities, including all high-GPD countries (see the full list here ) can get a free visa on arrival valid for 90 days within a 180-day period. 

If you are not from one of the lucky countries, you may be able to get an e-visa, and I suggest you visit the Moldovan MFA’s website .

🚑 Travel Insurance for Moldova

As always, don’t forget to travel to Moldova with proper travel insurance, and I recommend you to get IATI Insurance for the following reasons:

• All types of plans: from families to backpackers and senior citizens
• Covers both short-term trips and 1-year long trips.
• Readers of this blog can get a 5% exclusive discount

📚 Best books for traveling in Moldova

Romania – moldova travel guide by lonely planet.

It is a bit outdated, from 2007 but, unfortunately, it is the only complete travel guide to Moldova.

Eastern Europe travel guide by Lonely Planet (2019)

Otherwise, if you are traveling all around the region, you could also get the generic Eastern Europe guide, which includes one chapter about tourism in Moldova.

⛅ Best time to travel to Moldova

Best season for backpacking in moldova:.

Mid-September to mid-October. Why? It is harvest season, and wine is one of the main reasons to come to Moldova. You are likely to see how they produce wine, plus the Moldovan wine festival takes in the first week of October.

Winter (from November till February)

Sure, you can visit then but it will be freaking cold with not much going on.

Spring (March to June)

I think spring would be the second-best time to come, as the weather will be pleasant and landscapes will be covered by blankets of flowers. When I visited in September, everything was pretty brown and dry.

Summer (July and August)

High season and hot but I believe it would also be a good time to come. More travelers to hang out with.

Read my travel guide to Kiev

🛫 How to get to Moldova

There are different ways to get to Moldova:

How to travel to Moldova by plane

Chisinau International Airport has a good range of flights connecting with different European cities like Warsaw, Munich, Kyiv and especially Bucharest. I always search for flights on Skyscanner . but you can also check Moldavia Air ‘s website.

How to travel to Moldova by land border

Moldova shares a border and endless entry points with both Ukraine and Romania:

• Ukraine: If coming by land, most people will go from Odessa to Chisinau, either by train or bus, the train being the faster option. You can book your tickets on the official Ukrainian Railway website but remember to type Kishineu , the correct Russian transliteration. However, if you check out the map you will see that there are endless entry points to choose from and I suggest you pick the one closest to your location and destination. For example, after my trip to Moldova, my plan was to head to the Ukrainian Carpathians, so I took a marshrutka from Soroca to a northern city named Briceni, from where you can get a direct bus to the Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi. That border crossing is also very convenient for those wanting to go to Lviv. Read my Ukraine travel guide .
• Romania: Again, many entry points to choose from but most travelers will just take the overnight train from Bucharest to Chisinau. Travel Tramp has written about it in this post .

Remember to get travel insurance for Moldova I strongly recommend IATI Insurance as it has COVID-19 coverage + 5% discount Get exclusive 5% discount if purchasing via this link

🕌 10 Facts about Moldova, Moldovans, and Moldovan culture

1 – The Republic of Moldova is a former Soviet country – It joined the USSR in 1940 and declared its independence in 1991.

2 – Before, it used to be part of Romania – Well, their history is, of course, more complicated than that but, before joining the USSR, present Moldova was a region named Bessarabia, which belonged to Romania but was ceded to the Soviets as a consequence of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact  in 1940.

3 – Therefore, Moldova is a real Romanian/Soviet blend – Moldovans are culturally Romanian but, since the Soviets ruled here for more than 50 years, Russian culture is strongly present in all aspects of life, from their cuisine to the architecture and even their national psyche. 

4 – Romanian is the official language – Moldovan is basically Romanian, which is a Romanic language from the same family as Catalan, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese. However, most Moldovans also speak fluent Russian, including the young generation, unlike happens in Georgia .

The educated young generation in Chisinau can speak English apart from that, communicating with the locals other than in Russian can be a struggle. 

5 – It has 2 separatist regions – On the one hand, you have Transnistria, a breakaway territory inhabited by Russians that declared their independence from Moldova in 1992. Basically, it is a country not recognized by the UN. For more information, read my Transnistria travel guide .

Moreover, you also find a region named Gagauzia, mostly inhabited by Gagauz people, a Turkic ethnic group that converted to Christianity. Gagauzia also declared independence from Moldova but, for different reasons it just became an autonomous region. For more information, read the relevant section of this guide.

6 – Around 94% of Moldovans are Orthodox Christians – And between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church, there is a big dispute over which is the national church of the country. 

7 – Their national animal is the aurochs – Which is an extinct species of cattle and the symbol that appears in their flag. 

8 – It is a wine country – From epic wine cellars to endless wine bars, wine is an essential part of Moldova’s culture and one of the main reasons to travel to Moldova . In the rural part of the country, everybody has a vineyard in their garden and produces home-made wine from its grapes; and you will be likely to taste it if staying in a local guest house.

9 – It is the poorest country in Europe – According to the World Bank , the GDP per capita of Moldova in 2018 was only 3,189.4USD. To give you an idea, Romania’s was 12,301USD and Spain 30,523USD. 

10 – Corruption and bribes are a problem – Moldova is one of the most corrupt countries in Europe and you will notice it as you soon as you step in the country, as the custom’s walls are filled with anti-bribery warnings. 

🍲 Moldovan food: what is it like

Moldovan cuisine is hearty and, whereas most national dishes are essentially Romanian with a local twist, Russian flavors and their dill-based dishes are highly present in all restaurant menus. 

In fact, the cheapest places to eat will always be in those self-service Soviet canteens which you can find all over the former Republic, and which all serve the same food, from Kazakhstan to Belarus .

Filled pastries, a large variety of soups and heavy meat-based dishes often served with polenta, which is like corn couscous, is what Moldovan cuisine is mostly about, but they also have plenty of vegetarian appetizers. 

Must-try dishes during your trip in Moldova:

• Placinte – This is the most traditional and common snack in Moldova, typically found in all bakeries but some restaurants also serve it for lunch. It is a pastry usually filled with cheese and available in many different shapes and sizes.
• Zeama – Traditional chicken soup normally eaten for lunch.
• Limba Soacrei – Translating to m other-in-law’s tongue , these are eggplants stuffed with walnut paste, similar to the ones you find in Georgia . Funnily enough, both countries claim their recipe is the original one.
• Sarmale – The classic vine or cabbage leaves stuffed with rice and meat which you can find in a big bunch of neighboring countries.
• Mamaliga – Perhaps, the most traditional dish in the country, mamaliga is corn porridge, usually served with pork, cheese and sour cream on the side.
• Coltunasi – Classic dumplings which you can find in all Eastern European countries, with different names, shapes and sometimes filling. In Moldova, they are usually filled with bryndza (cheese) but the most unique ones I found were filled with sour cherry, typically eaten for dessert.

💰 Money in Moldova

In Moldova, they use the Moldovan Leu (MDL) and, approximately,

1 USD = 17.80 MDL

Note: In the breakaway territory of Transnistria, they use a different currency. For more information, read all my practical tips to visit Transnistria

Paying by card and ATMs – ATMs are plentiful all over the country and most shops will accept credit cards, including in smaller towns. However, do have some cash with you when you get out of Chisinau, as not all places will accept credit cards.

Exchanging money – Like in all non-euro countries in Europe, finding offices where you can exchange money is always easy, especially in Chisinau.

How much does it cost to travel in Moldova?

Whereas it is not nearly as cheap as Asian countries, Moldova is still a budget country as per European standards. These are the prices of the most typical things:

• Budget Hostel: 100-150MDL (6-8€)
• Double room in a budget hotel: 400-500MDL (20-25€)
• Double room in a mid-range hotel: From 600-800MDL (30-40€)
• Local meal: 40-60MDL (2-3€)
• A 3-course meal in a mid-range restaurant: 100-200MDL (5-10€)
• A glass of local wine: 20-30MDL (1-1.50€)
• A glass of wine in a fancy place: 60-80MDL (3-4€) 
• Marshrutka from Chisinau to Tiraspol: 37MDL (around 2€)
• Marshrutka from Chisinau to Orhei: 20MDL (1€)
• Short taxi rides in Chisinau: 40-50MDL (2-2.50€)

🛺 How to get around Moldova

If you are backpacking in Moldova, the easiest way to travel around the country is by marshrutka , as distances aren’t particularly long and you just have so many options all day long.

Train – There is a train line in Moldova but it is not that convenient unless you are traveling to places outside of Moldova like Odessa or Bucharest.

In Chisinau – You can get in a trolley bus for as cheap as 2MDL (10 cents of €) and, by taxi, I recommend you download Yandex, which is like the Russian Uber.

Hitchhiking – Very easy, as this a common practice among locals but, usually, the driver will expect a fee, which tends to be not higher than the price of a local marshrutka ride to the same destination.

📍 12-day Moldova Itinerary or how to spend 10 days traveling in Moldova

Most travelers will just spend a few days in the country, mostly sticking to Chisinau and Transnistria.

However, with all the photos from this Moldova itinerary, here’s hoping to convince you to spend longer.

Moldova Itinerary Map – Things to do in Moldova

Unfortunately, Chisinau is often perceived as the ugliest capital in Europe, competing closely with Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. 

The capital is gray, mostly composed of Soviet buildings and overall, there isn’t much to do besides checking out some concrete and some not very exciting museums. 

Although I fully agree that Chisinau isn’t the place to visit mind-blowing architectural buildings, plus I am not the most museum-friendly person, Chisinau has some pretty cool Communist Heritage to check out, it is a great base to do some excellent day trips and there are plenty of wine bars where to have some good fun.

Best things to do in Chisinau

Triumphal Arch & Cathedral Park – The main landmark in the city is a not very triumphant Arc de Triumph. I am just kidding, but most triumphal arches across the globe tend to be massive, but not this one. Anyways, Chisinau’s Triumphal Arch was built to commemorate Russia’s victory against the Ottomans at the beginning of the 19th century.

Lenin & Karl Marx statues – Except in Belarus , where the Old Fellah can be seen all over the country, today, Lenin statues are getting harder to see but, in Chisinau, just across Valea Morilot Park, you can find one along a Karl Marx bust.

Read: Weird things to do in Belarus

Chisinau Circus – I have seen many Soviet Circuses around the former Soviet Republics but the one in Chisinau is particularly amazing. Today, the circus remains closed and, unfortunately, by the time I was there, there was no way to get in, but some people did, and here you can some pictures from the inside .

Central Market – A traditional Eastern European market filled with very friendly Moldovans, especially the ladies from the indoor dairy section. 

Saint Theodor Church – There quite a few churches to visit in the city but for me, this one was the most beautiful. 

If you are interested, in this post you can more things to do in Chisinau, including all museums, parks and other landmarks.

Where to stay in Chisinau

Backpacker hostel – Amazing Lonika Hostel – Probably, the best hostel in town. Amazing stuff, location, and a pretty cozy place. The best option for backpackers.

Guest House – Home Sweet Home – A pretty cool guest house with very comfortable rooms and an epic breakfast.

Apartment – Sweethome Deluxe – A 1-bedroom apartment with a panoramic view of the city center that can accommodate up to 4 people.

Day 3 – Day trip from Chisinau: Curchi & Orhei Vechi

On your 3rd day, you may wanna check some important Christian sides: Curchi and Orhei Vechi.

They aren’t in the same place though, so if you are traveling by public transportation and want to visit both in one day, you should wake up early.

Curchi monastery

Curchi is a small rural village home to a monastery named Curchi which, in my opinion, was the most beautiful I visited when I traveled in Moldova.

The monastery was founded in the 18th century but then it was used as a psychiatric hospital during the last three decades of the USSR.

They re-opened it in 2005 and, since then, it’s been under ongoing renovation. 

How to get to Curchi – First, you need to take a marshrutka to Orhei town, located 50km north of Chisinau. They depart from the Central Bus Station and cost a bit more than 20MDL. The intersection to Curchi is just 5 or 6km before Orhei and I recommend you get off there and hitchhike the remaining 10km to Curchi. Alternatively, there are also marshrutkas running between Orhei and Curchi but they don’t leave that often.

BONUS! Visit Tabara village – If you have some time to spare, there is a village 8km west of Curchi named Tabara. I personally walked all the way there and, on the way, I passed through a few very traditional villages which were pretty interesting to see. Once you reach Tabara, there is no need to go back because if you continue walking over the hills, you get to a road that leads directly to Chisinau, and where you can hitch a ride.

Orhei Vechi

Orhei Vechi, meaning Old Orhei , is one of the top attractions in Moldova, an archeological and ecclesiastical complex containing 2,000-year old ruins, a cave monastery, a modern monastery and quite a few archaeological sites scattered all over the place.

The views you get from the hill are pretty awesome and, if you come in spring or summer, the fields will be covered by fully grown sunflowers and many different colors. 

Visiting the complex is free and it takes around 2 hours to visit the main sites.

How to get to Orhei Vechi from Curchi – If you are following my Moldova itinerary, you will go from Curchi and, for that, you have two options. The easiest way would be taking a marshrutka to Orhei and, from Orhei, take a second marshrutka to Butuceni, the village where Orhei Vechi is. This option seems convenient but these are small villages and buses don’t run that often. Your second option should be more fun and that is by hitchhiking.

How to get to Orhei Vechi from Chisinau – If you want to get there from Chisinau, you have two different options. If you are lucky, you may find direct marshrutkas to Butuceni, but you only get a few per day. Otherwise, take the one to Orhei and get off at the intersection towards Orhei Vechi, around 10km before. At the intersection, walk for a few hundred meters until you find the bus stop to Butuceni.

Day 4 – Day trip from Chisinau: Visit a winery (I personally went to Asconi winery)

All right. 

If you travel to Moldova, it means that you are probably looking forward to some wine tasting, am I right?

Moldova is filled with loads of wineries, from all sizes.

Cricova, Purcari, and Milestii Mici are the biggest, most famous and visited by tourists, especially the last one as, apparently, it holds the largest cellar in the world, composed of 200km of underground tunnels. 

However, I didn’t go to any of those. I didn’t because I know what visiting this kind of winery is like. They are monster corporations that produce wine on a giant scale and all they offer is an overpriced wine tasting tour and a visit to their most industrial facilities. 

Side note – Visiting the biggest and famous wineries isn’t the way to experience the wine culture in Moldova, but you need to go to the rural areas and see how they produce it in the traditional way (if you come in harvest season). Alternatively, you can stay in a local guesthouse, where you are likely to be offered homemade wine.

Instead, we decided to go to a middle-sized one: Asconi winery .

By the way, this article contains a list of lesser-known wineries in Moldova .

We went there because it has an amazing outdoor restaurant packed with local people, serving traditional homemade food. Dishes were inexpensive, so was the wine, and we made our own wine tasting. It was an excellent half-day trip from Chisinau. 

We also did the tour but, as we expected, it was rather disappointing – they all are – and we would have preferred to just go to the restaurant. 

How to get to Asconi Winery – From Central Bus Station in Chisinau, you need to get a marshrutka to a village named Puhoi and get off a couple of kilometers before. It is a 30km journey.

Milestii Mici and Cricova can be easily visited on a day trip from Chisinau. Purcari, on the other hand, is quite far from Chisinau but if you have your own car, it is doable in a day.

Welcome to the largest Soviet open-air museum, the Soviet theme park of Transnistria. 

Like I said before, Transnistria is an unrecognized country within Moldova and, for many, the highlight of traveling to Moldova. 

Actually, in my opinion, if you only have 2 or 3 days to travel in Moldova, Transnistria should be your top priority.

I will not talk a lot about it because I already wrote a full travel guide but, long story short, Transnistria is mostly inhabited by pro-Russian people who didn’t want to belong to pro-Romanian Moldova, so they self-declared their independence shortly after the fall of the USSR. 

Today, Transnistria can easily be visited on a day trip from Chisinau, but I recommend you stay over for one night at least, as there are plenty of exciting things to see. 

Best things to do in Transnistria

• Tiraspol – The capital and where you find the Soviet theme park.
• Bender – Home to a fortress and a large Communist Heritage.
• Sucleia – A village where you find an epic monastery inhabited by Transnistrian monks.

Transnistria requires a separate visa, has its own borders, currency and many peculiarities. My guide to visiting Transnistria contains everything you need to know about it.

How to get to Transnistria (Tiraspol)

Easy. Marshrutkas to Tiraspol leave continuously from the Central Bus Station and one ticket costs 37MDL. It is a 2-hour journey.

Where to stay in Transnistria

Best Backpacker Hostel –  Like Home Hostel  – The best backpacker hostel in town is run by a lovely local family, has a garden, a good location and vibes. 

Best Budget Hotel –  Elektromash Hotel  –  Good quality budget rooms in a hotel which also has a kitchen.

Best mid-range hotel –   Hotel Russia  – If you want a more comfortable stay, this hotel is the best value-for-money mid-range option in town.

For more information, read my Transnistria Travel Guide

Have you ever heard of Abkhazia? Abkhazia is another unrecognized country located in today’s Georgia. Check out my travel guide .

After our 3-day visit to Transnistria , we decided to head to Gagauzia to get to know the famous Gagauz people everybody was talking about. 

Gagauzia is an autonomous region within Moldova which also attempted to become independent in 1991 but then, when Moldova started to pay more attention to their rights as a minority, they agreed that Gagauzia would become an autonomous region within Moldova.

Still, visiting Gagauzia really feels like a different place than Moldova.

First of all, the Gagauz are ethnically Turkic people who converted to Christianity.

They speak Gagauz, a Turkic language particularly close to Turkish, but they are also pro-Russian – they actually had a referendum in 1991 to decide whether to remain part of the USSR or not, and the YES won – and use the Cyrillic alphabet.

I am not sure which language prevails, Russian or Gagauz, but what I know for sure is that many Gagauz don’t speak Romanian.

Actually, whereas most Moldovans are easily granted Romanian passports, Gagauz people aren’t and, funnily enough, they do get Bulgarian passports because, according to a Gagauz I met, their culture is particularly close to Bulgarian. 

Therefore, Gagauz people are a pro-Russian Turkic group who converted to Christianity and are culturally Bulgarian. It’s pretty fucked up but Europe is fucking awesome.

If you are traveling in Moldova, it is definitely an interesting spot but something you need to know is that there isn’t much to do here other than learning about the Gagauz people, so I think this is a place to be visited only by the most intrepid and curious travelers or those who are heading or coming from Romania, as Gagauzia is on the way.

Meeting English-speaking locals can also prove challenging, and we barely did, but we were very lucky that, in a village named Besalma, I met a local lady who spoke impeccable English and invited us to her house and gave us some good insights about the region over a cup of coffee and some pastries. 

This is an excellent photo essay from The Guardian about the region.

Things to do in Gagauzia

Gagauzia is a big region. I spent 2 days there and visited the following places:

Komrat – The capital of Gagauzia, and a very Soviet town, you will see. Again, there isn’t much to do here other than visiting the town’s church and to check out the Soviet stuff, especially the  kvass tank stalls.

Chirsova – Chirsova is a town where you find a small winery whose main facilities are inside a very old-fashioned Soviet building. You can visit it in the morning but, if not, you can go to the winery’s shop where you are likely to see some locals drinking local draft wine. In the shop, they sell the whole range of Chirsova wines. We bought the best and most expensive they produce, a Merlot Reserve from 2010 and only cost 30MDL, around 1.50€. All right, it wasn’t a very good wine but seriously, for 1.50€ a bottle, I have never tasted anything better. By the way, because some people get confused, this is Chirsova, not the famous Crisova winery .

Besalma – 20km south of Komrat, you find a lovely rural village home to a wood-made windmill, a real icon of Gagauzia. The windmill however, is in a pretty bad shape and, apparently, it is been like this for years. In Besalma, you can also visit the National Gagauz history and ethnographic Museum .

Where to stay in Gagauzia

Astoria Hotel – There aren’t many options in Komrat, and we stayed here because it was the cheapest but if you are only 1 person, it isn’t that cheap.

How to get to Gagauzia

We went to Komrat from Tiraspol, which was a long and tiring 4-hour journey but you can easily go from Chisinau South Bus Station. 

In Saharna, you find a pretty colorful monastery which also turns out to be the top pilgrimage place in the country.

Any Moldova travel guide out there will always tell you that the monastery is the ultimate and only reason to visit Saharna but during our visit, we discovered that there was an even better reason.

Meeting Liuba. 

The fact is that, when we were traveling in Moldova, we wanted to spend some time in an authentic rural village.

While doing some research, we discovered that, in an off the beaten track village named Saharna, besides the monastery, there was a brand-new homestay with no reviews and not very nice photos but still, we decided to give it a try.

The homestay, however, wasn’t really in Saharna but in Saharna Nova, a very rural village, 5km beyond and, upon our arrival, there was a woman waiting outside who greeted us with: Buenas tardes!

It turned out that the host, Liuba, was an old woman who had lived for more than 10 years in my hometown area, in several places around Girona province (Spain), including Selva de Mar, Platja d’Aro and Girona city.

She could speak impeccable Spanish, understood Catalan and knew everything about my hometown and culture.

Being able to have some real conversations with someone from that area was very rewarding but also, Liuba was a kind-hearted woman who made our stay very enjoyable, fed us with delicious home-made food and, since we visited her during harvest season, she even took us to her neighbor’s to see how they collect grapes and produce wine.

The monastery was great to see but seriously, the main highlight of this area is hanging out at Liuba’s house and enjoying real rural Moldova.

I dare say that this was our best Moldova traveling experience.

How to stay in Liuba’s place

Liuba’s guest house is called Casuta de Linga and you can book it through this link .  

How to get to Saharna & Saharna Nova

From the Northern Bus Station in Chisinau, you need to take a marshrutka to Rezina and, from there, a second marshrutka to Saharna, which leaves you next to the monastery. Saharna Nova is around 5km after that and your best bet would be hitchhiking. 

Day 11, 12 – Soroca

Soroca was our last stop in Moldova before traveling to the Ukrainian Carpathians. 

There are two reasons to stop in Soroca when you travel in Moldova: one is to check out their Medieval fortress from the 15th century and the other is to get to know one of the largest communities of Romani people, more commonly known as gypsies.

Soroca is, in fact, a gypsy city, and a peculiar one, because here you find the Gypsy Hill, which is an upper neighborhood full of extravagant and ostentatious mansions, composed of glittering columns and shinning roofs, built with the purpose of showing their success after years of discrimination. 

We didn’t spend much time in Soroca, so we just walked around the neighborhood for a while but this is an excellent write-up of a traveling family who met the Gypsy King of Soroca . Yes, he exists.

Things to do in Soroca

Soroca Castle – Located at the shores of the Dniester river, this Medieval castle is the best in the country. 

Gypsy Hill – Explained before, and it is a short walk up from the city center.

Dniester river – The city is located at the shores of the Dniester river, the other side being Ukraine. Near the castle, there is a very rudimentary ferry that can take you to the other side. Since most nationalities have visa-free for both countries, you could just cross and spend a couple of hours in Ukraine , even though I am not sure if there is anything to do in the border village.

Where to stay in Soroca

Villa de Nord – One of the very few options and the cheapest in town probably. The owner, however, was a pretty nice lady who spoke very good Italian.

How to get to Soroca

If you are coming from Chisinau, there are loads of buses leaving from the North Bus Station. 

If you are following my Moldova itinerary, so you are going there from Saharna, you will first need to go back to Rezina and then take the marshrutka towards Balti, but you need to get off at the intersection before Floresti (say you are going there). At the intersection, just wait for the marshrutka that goes to Soroca.

Conclusion of travel in Moldova

When I told travelers I met on the road that I was planning to spend two weeks traveling in Moldova, most of them didn’t understand why one would spend so much time in a country where there isn’t much to do.

Well, as you could see in this 12-day Moldova itinerary, the country’s main attractions are slightly different from what a normal holiday would be but, once again, if you travel with an open mind, I am pretty sure you won’t get bored at all. 

❗ More information for backpacking in Moldova

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

All guides and articles for traveling in Moldova destination

• Transnistria Travel Guide
• Unusual Reasons to Visit Moldova

Travel guides to former Soviet countries

• Georgia Travel Guide
• Ukraine Travel Guide
• Travel Guide to Tajikistan
• Belarus Travel Guide
• Azerbaijan Travel Guide
• Travel Guide to Kyrgyzstan
• Uzbekistan Travel Guide
• Kazakhstan Travel Guide

Wow ! These guides are really super?. Thank you so much

Came across this blog as i was researching more about Moldova and how i can make my itinerary. Am planning to make a lifetime trip to Moldova.

HOW CAN YOU HELP ME IN GETTING MY THE ITINERARY. IF YOU DONT MIND SHARE THESE ONE AS I SEE ITS WELL DETAILED AND INFORMATIVE. NEED A DOWNLOADABLE DOCUMENT TO ASSIST IN MY EVISA PROCESSING TOO.

Hi, there’s a detailed itinerary on this very same post: https://againstthecompass.com/en/travel-moldova-itinerary/#9

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Moldova Travel Guide

Last Updated: September 2, 2023

Moldova, a small, land-locked Eastern European country tucked between Ukraine and Romania , is one of Europe’s most overlooked destinations. It sees just over 300,000 visitors each year and is one of the least visited destinations in the world. Compared to European hotspots like Spain and France, which each welcome over 80 million visitors each year, Moldova is relatively untouched and undiscovered.

Composed of rocky hills, dense forests, and a historic wine region, Moldova is a country that surprises. Sure, if you visit expecting the UNESCO Heritage Sites and epic world wonders of Western Europe you’ll likely be disappointed.

However, if you keep an open mind, learn about the country’s turbulent history, and get off the beaten path, I’m confident you’ll have an amazing (and affordable) trip.

This travel guide to Moldova can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your time in this underrated destination!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Moldova

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Moldova

1. Explore Chisinau

Chisinau is Moldova’s capital and the gateway to the country for most visitors. Here you can find classic (and grim) Soviet architecture (as well as 1950s Brutalist architecture), beautiful Soviet mosaics, plenty of green spaces and cafes, lots of interesting museums, and fun nightlife. Wander around the center and visit the Triumphal Arch, built in 1840 to symbolize the Russian victory over the Ottoman Empire. Check out the Nativity Cathedral, designed by Abraham Melnikov, with its impressive Russian Neoclassical interior complete with an enormous dome and exterior columns supporting the facade. If you want to relax, head to Stefan cel Mare Central Park where you can grab a coffee, wander around, take in the scenery or read the day away on one of the benches.

2. Check out Bender

Bender (also known as Bendery in Russian as well as Tighina in Romanian) is located on the western bank of the Dniester River near the Bendery–Tiraspol bridge just one hour from Chisinau. This city is under de-facto rule by the breakaway state Transnistria (which has an ongoing ceasefire with Moldova so it’s safe), which declared independence from Moldova in 1990. Visit the impressive Turkish Ottoman Fortress from the 16th century that remained for centuries under rule by Romanians, Russians, and Moldovans for 25 rubles.

3. Sample the wine

Moldovan wine is considered to be some of the best in the world (it’s the 11th largest producer in Europe and 20th in the world). In fact, one-quarter of the country works with wine in some way in this tradition that dates back to 3000 BCE. In 2017, the government of Moldova actually declared wine a food so it could be sold in stores after 10pm. Every year in October, the capital holds a wine celebration. Balti, Codru, Purcari, and Cahul are the four main wine regions. Expect to pay around 175-350 MDL for a winery tour (including samples).

4. Tour Tiraspol

Tiraspol is the largest city in the breakaway Transnistrian republic (and the second-largest in all of Moldova). Located on the eastern bank of the Nistru River, the city itself remains largely unchanged from the Soviet era. However, there are tons of Soviet monuments you can visit near the Palace of the Soviets. There is also a huge memorial at Glory at Suvorov Square in commemoration of World War II, the Soviet-Afghan War, and the Transnistria War (1990-1992). If you’ve done enough sightseeing, head over to the award-winning Kvint Cognac distillery.

5. Explore Transnistria

Transnistria is located between Moldova and Ukraine and a breakaway state since its independence from Moldova in 1990 before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Visit the capital of Tiraspol and check out the colorful Noul Neamt Monastery with its classic Russian Orthodox style and beautiful blue domes. With almost 500,000 people and spanning just over 4,000 square kilometers, Transnistria has its own president, national flag, and even its own currency. Random spot checks by the Russian military can occur so make sure you have your ID. One important thing to note is that Tiraspol Airport isn’t allowed to have international flights so you can only arrive by bus or train from Ukraine or Moldova.

Other Things to See and Do in Moldova

1. relax in naslavcea.

Naslavcea village is one of the most picturesque spots in Moldova (the locals call it the “Switzerland of Moldova”). Located in the northernmost part of the country and on the banks of the Dniester River, there are tons of mountainous hiking trails and viewpoints, and caves here. If you want nature, this is the part of the country for you!

2. Explore the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia

The Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia is located in the southern part of Moldova. It declared independence from Moldova in 1991 and is a fascinating place to learn more about the Gagauz people, who make up 70% of the population here. Head for the capital Comrat and visit some of the city’s museums to learn how this region came into its own. The National Gagauz History Museum and the Ethnographic Museum both shed light on the region and culture and how this autonomous territory came to be (it’s currently in a truce with Moldova, though they have warred in the past). They also have some of the oldest (and largest) wineries in all of Moldova.

3. Visit Orheiul Vechi

Located 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Chisinau, this is an archaeological and ecclesiastical complex. Also known as Old Orhei, it’s a cave monastery home to ruins and cave paintings that date back more than 2,000 years. The monastery is still in use and the monks maintain the site as well as the nearby Orthodox church. Dress respectfully as this is a place of worship.

4. Tour the National Archaeology & History Museum

Opened in 1983, there are over 263,000 items in this collection. They have a 2,000-year-old fired-clay Sarmatian urn shaped like a ram, an entire floor devoted to the Soviet era, sculptures that date back to 4 BCE (they’re the oldest objects ever found in the Bessarabia region), and weapons and armor that date to the 5th century BCE. Admission is 10 MDL but admission is free on the last Saturday and Sunday of the month.

5. Wander the open-air market

Piata Central is an open-air market located in the heart of Chisinau. It spans several blocks and you can find pretty much everything here, from fresh produce to clothing to souvenirs and trinkets. Most of the products here are locally produced so look out for things like raw honey, wine, and brandy. Remember, in Moldova prices are always negotiable so don’t be afraid to barter. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 7am-6:30 pm.

6. Explore the Bendery Fortress

Built during the Ottoman era, this massive 16th-century fortress had the sole purpose of protecting the area from invading Russian forces. With spectacular views of the Dniester River, the grounds surrounding the building are just as impressive as the fortress itself. For decades during the occupation by the USSR, the fort was used as a military base and was off-limits to the public. Today, you’re free to walk the ramparts and explore the narrow tunnels of the fort as it’s intact and well-maintained. Admission is 25 MDL and tours start at 75 MDL.

7. Find Moldova’s Little Prince statue

The Little Prince is a well-known character from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s book Le Petit Prince . The statue can be a little tricky to find thanks to its size (it’s less than 4 inches tall) but it can be found standing on a metal fence in Valea Morilor Park by the lake (it replaces one of the spheres in the fence posts). The concept behind the artwork is that each of the spheres is a representation of each of the planets in the novel. The Little Prince is standing on top of his home planet of asteroid “B-612.”

8. Relax in the oldest park of Moldova

Stefan cel Mare Central Park (Stephen the Great Central Park) is the oldest park in Moldova. The park is a perfect example of landscape gardening from the 19th century. There’s a huge central fountain surrounded by flowers and manicured shrubs and the walkways are lined by trees. Spanning 17 acres, the park has monuments and sculptures dedicated to important figures in Moldova’s history, such as poet and playwright Alexander Pushkin and Prince Stephen the Great. There is also a monument and mass grave for Soviet soldiers who died during World War II.

9. See Soroca Fortress

This fortress was one of the many strongholds of Stephen the Great in 1499. Located in the present-day city of Soroca, it was used to defend the region from the Ottomans, and later from the Russians in the 18th century. The castle has a distinctly Western European design, which has left historians to believe that architects and engineers from the west were brought to the region to help with its design and construction. Built in a circle, the castle has four massive stone towers and curved walls to better resist projectiles. There’s a spacious central courtyard and numerous loopholes for firing weapons. The walls are 3 meters (10 feet) thick and there are several areas for artillery. It’s currently closed for renovations.

10. Visit the Military Museum

Located in the capital, this museum has a sobering and insightful exhibition on Soviet repression during the occupation. It illuminates the forced famines, deportations, and slave labor used by the regime. There are videos, photos, dioramas, and newspaper articles that bring the era to life. Most of it isn’t in English, however, it nevertheless offers insight into just how horrific conditions were under the USSR. Admission is 10 MDL. Closed Mondays.

11. See the Triumphal Arch

Known as the Holy Gate, the Triumphal Arch is a monument in the center of Chisinau. Dating back to the 1840s, it commemorates Russia’s victory over the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War (1828–29). Standing 13 meters (43 feet) tall, it’s sort of like a mini Arc de Triomphe.

Moldova Travel Costs

Accommodation – Hostel dorms are your cheapest option in Moldova, starting at around 250 MDL per night for a 10-20-bed dorm. Free Wi-Fi and kitchens are pretty standard and a few hostels also include free breakfast. There aren’t a lot of options here when it comes to hostels so be sure to book early.

Budget hotels start around 700 MDL per night. Expect your accommodation to be comfortable but a little outdated in its decor. TV, coffee/tea, and free breakfast are all pretty standard.

Airbnb is really only available in Chisinau and Tiraspol, although there are a few places in Balti. Private rooms start at 600 MDL per night but average 800-1,000 MDL. For an entire home or apartment, expect to pay a minimum of 770-1,300 MDL per night (though it’s more likely to be 2,000 MDL or more unless you book early).

For anyone traveling with a tent, wild camping is free and safe on public land. Just use common sense and avoid staying too close to someone’s house, pick up all your trash, and leave everything as you found it.

For a basic plot at a campground without electricity, expect to pay around 150-200 MDL. There are only a handful of sites around the country, however, making wild camping the easier (and cheaper) option.

Food – Influenced by Russian, Romanian, and Turkish cuisine, in Moldova the portions are large and the food is incredibly affordable. Beef, pork, potatoes, and cabbage are the most common staples here. Mamaliga (a cornmeal porridge), ghiveci (lamb/goat stew), and branza (brined cheese) are just some of the popular local offerings.

For an inexpensive meal of local cuisine, expect to pay at least 120 MDL. Fast food (think McDonald’s) can only be found in the capital. A combo meal costs 100 MDL.

Sandwiches cost around 60 MDL. Pizza can be found in a few of the larger cities for as little as 90-100 MDL for a medium. Asian food (such as Chinese or Thai) can only be found in the capital. Expect to pay around 80-110 MDL for a meal.

A three-course meal at a restaurant serving traditional cuisine costs 225 MDL. If you’re on the go, try placinte , a cheese-filled pastry that can be found at bakeries and cafes around the country.

Expect to pay between 25-40 MDL for a beer at the bar or cappuccino at a cafe. A bottle of wine costs just 70 MDL.

If you are planning to cook your own food, a week’s worth of groceries costs around 400 MDL for staples like meat, pasta, rice, and seasonal produce.

Backpacking Moldova Suggested Budgets

On a backpacker budget of 700 MDL per day, you can stay in a hostel dorm, cook a few meals and eat a few meals out, limit your drinking, take public transportation to get around, and do mostly free activities like hiking. If you camp, you can cut this down to around 450 MDL.

On a mid-range budget of about 1,800 MDL per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb, eat out for all your meals at cheap restaurants, enjoy a few drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, and do more paid activities like visiting museums or taking a wine tour.

On a “luxury” budget of 2,900 MDL per day or more, you can eat out anywhere you want, drink more, rent a car to get around, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in MDL.

Moldova Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Moldova is a relatively cheap country but, if you’re looking to save some money, here are some added ways to cut costs:

• Take a free walking tour – Chisinau and Tiraspol both have free walking tours led by local guides. They’re a good way to get introduced to the city and its history and culture. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!
• Wild camp – If you really want to save money in Moldova, wild camping is perfectly legal and safe on public land.
• Cook your own meals – Book accommodation that has a kitchen so you can cook your own meals. Buying groceries may not be as glamorous as going out to eat, but it does save you money.
• Stay with a local – Staying with a local via Couchsurfing is a great way to save money and connect with a local who can share their tips and advice. There aren’t a ton of hosts here, though you can likely find one in the capital if you look in advance.
• Walk everywhere – All of the major cities in Moldova are quite walkable, so skip the public transportation if you want to save. Skip the taxis too!
• Enjoy the free spaces – There are plenty of free parks as well as many free hiking trails around the country. Save your budget and enjoy the outdoors!
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Moldova

In general, hostels are few and far between in Moldova. Here are some of my favorite places to stay in Chisinau and Tiraspol:

• Amazing Ionika Hostel (Chisinau)
• Like Home (Tiraspol)

How to Get Around Moldova

Bus – Chisinau has three bus stations that link every city and region in the country. Departures don’t necessarily occur on time and the roads can be a little bumpy. Minibusses (usually with 15 or so seats) are the fastest way to get around, although larger coach buses are a little safer since they generally travel at slower speeds.

The two-hour journey from Chisinau to Tiraspol costs around 50 MDL. You can reach pretty much any city in the country from the capital for under 150 MDL.

Train – Trains in Moldova are reliable and safe, albeit a little outdated (they are mostly older Soviet-era trains). While buses run more often and are more affordable for domestic travel, trains are a good choice for anyone looking to travel to nearby countries.

The overnight train to Bucharest, Romania takes 9 hours and costs 510 MDL. Cabins with beds (and bedding) are available for longer journeys.

Flying – There are no domestic flights within Moldova.

Car rental – Car rentals can be as low as 500 MDL per day for a multi-day rental. You need an International Driver’s Permit (IDP), as well as proper insurance, as the roads here are far from ideal.

For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

When to Go to Moldova

If you’re planning to hike and get out into nature, April-May or September-October are the best times to visit as everything is either in bloom or the leaves are changing color. Autumn is also when the vineyards harvest their grapes. Expect temperatures around 10°-15°C (50-59°F).

The high season is July and August. This is the most popular time to visit. During these months the temperatures rise and there are slightly more tourists around. Expect daily highs between 20-27°C (68-81°F).

Winter is from November to March and temperatures drop to around -4°C (23°F). Almost no tourists visit during the winter (the Soviet cities look particularly grim in the gray winter weather). I’d skip a winter visit if you can avoid it.

How to Stay Safe in Moldova

Violent crime against tourists is rare in Moldova, however, scams and pick-pocketing are common in the cities, especially around high-traffic areas in Chisinau such as bus stations. If someone strikes up a conversation with you trying to sell something or if young children approach you, be on alert — their accomplice is likely reaching for your wallet while you’re distracted.

ATM scams are also common here. Whenever possible avoid using ATMs on the street to withdraw money. Only use ATMs within banks to be safe.

Crimes of opportunity are the most common danger here so as long as you keep your valuables out of sight you likely won’t have any trouble. This applies to crowded buses and trains too.

If you’re worried about getting ripped off, you can read about common travel scams to avoid here.

If you rent a car, make sure you leave no valuables in it overnight. Break-ins are rare but they can occur so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

If you experience an emergency, dial 903 for an ambulance and 902 for the police.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Moldova Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Moldova Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Europe and continue planning your trip:

The Perfect 7-Day Croatia Itinerary

The 6 Best Hotels in Copenhagen

The 6 Best Hotels in Florence

The 7 Best Hotels in Madrid

The 6 Best Hotels in Vienna

The Best Walking Tours in Barcelona

Get my best stuff sent straight to you, pin it on pinterest.

• Where To Stay
• Transportation
• Booking Resources
• Related Blogs

The Ultimate Moldova Travel Guide

Updated May 2024 ,   The Ultimate Moldova Travel Guide was originally written in May 2018

You’ve arrived, this is off the beaten track Europe! Landlocked and sandwiched nicely between Ukraine and Romania, with a breakaway territory to boot- this is Moldova. Moldova is one of the least visited countries in all of Europe (San Marino and Lichtenstein seem to be the only lesser-visited countries).

But why go if no one else is? That’s part of the beauty. You won’t find hoards of tourists here, the wines are some of the best in Europe,  ancient monasteries tucked away in caves , the people friendly, the capital is lively & bustling, your money will take you far as Moldova is a relatively inexpensive destination, and you can even take a step back in time to the Soviet-era with a visit to  Transnistria .

I have now visited Moldova twice: once in 2012 and again in 2017, which is a bit unusual as most who visit Moldova do so to tick it off the list with no intent to ever return. Oddly enough I quite enjoy my time in Moldova whether I’m exploring monasteries tucked into cliff-sides, cheersing glasses of wines with new Moldovan friends, eating as many langos at the bazaar I can possibly fit in my mouth, hiking across the rolling hills of Moldova’s countryside, making friends with Transnistrians using my limited Russian language skills, or just wandering the streets of Chișinău.

The blog posts I have come across about Moldova (there are very few!) seem to really fixate on the opinion that it is boring, ugly, harsh, and poor. Of course, if you don’t like the peculiar and utilitarian designs of Soviet architecture you’ll find it ugly if you don’t take the time to befriend a few Moldovans and really try to explore the place you’ll likely find it boring, and well, there’s no hiding that Moldova isn’t the wealthiest nation (however, it’s not the world’s poorest either… just Europe’s).

One difference I noticed from the span between my two visits is that Moldovans seem to be more hopeful about their country’s future than they were in 2012. So if you have a penchant for orthodox churches, meeting friendly locals, sparkling wine, Soviet-style architecture, and breakaway territories you should probably make that trip to Moldova.

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Moldova has had strong ties to Romania throughout history, which traces back to the 1350s when the Principality of Moldavia was founded. The Principality of Moldavia encompassed much of the land that modern-day Moldova (as well as Romania) sits on.

Nearly 200 years later Moldavia would be incorporated into the Ottoman Empire until the early 1800’s when one of many Russo-Turkish Wars would see that Bessarabia is annexed to the Russian Empire. Bessarabia accounts for what is largely modern-day Moldova.

By November 1917 Bessarabia became the Moldavian Democratic Republic and briefly had independence before uniting with Romania in March of 1918. In 1940 Moldavia would be annexed yet again, this time from Romania to the USSR. Moldova remained a republic of the Soviet Union until the dissolution of the USSR in 1991.

On August 27, 1991, Moldova officially declared independence from the Soviet Union. By March of 1992 fighting intensified between Moldova and the region of Transnistria, which would later become the Russian-backed separatist region.

A cease-fire was declared on July 21, 1992, and from that point forward Transnistria has operated as a de facto independent republic called the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. This still to this day remains unresolved.

So that is a half-arsed speedy version of the history of Moldova. If you want a better explanation of the history of Moldova, you could  purchase this book .

Practical Information

The official currency of Moldova is the  Moldovan Leu , abbreviated:  MDL . You can easily withdraw leu out of the ATMs around the country or exchange foreign currency at banks. At the time of writing ( May 2024 ) the current exchange rates are:

• $1 USD = 17.63 MDL
• €1 EUR = 19.12 MDL
• 1 RON = 3.84 MDL
• ₴1 UAH= 0.46 MDL
• ₽1 RUB = 0.19 MDL

In the breakaway region of Transnistria, the  Transnistrian Ruble  is the official currency, abbreviated  PRB . Since Transnistria is not recognized as a country (except for in Abkhazia, Republic of Artsakh {formerly  Nagorno-Karabakh }, and South Ossetia), its currency is not of any use outside Transnistria.

Make sure to exchange any leftover Transnistrian Rubles to another currency before departing, apart from maybe a few souvenir Rubles. In 2014 composite plastic coins were introduced in the 1, 3, 5, and 10 ruble denominations. As of  May 2024 , the current exchange rates are:

• $1 USD = 16.10 PRB
• €1 EUR = 17.40 PRB
• ₴1 UAH = 0.41 PRB
• ₽1 RUB = 0.17 PRB
• 1 MDL = 0.88 PRB

For the most up to date exchange rates on the Transnistrian Rouble check the Bank Pridnestrovia website .

The official language in Moldova is Moldovan, but standard Moldovan is essentially identical to Romanian. Regionally recognized languages include Gaugaz and Ukrainian. Russian is widely understood for the obvious reason that Moldova was a republic of the USSR.

In the region of Transnistria Russian is the main language, but Moldovan and Ukrainian are spoken as well. English is becoming a more popular foreign language among younger Moldovans to learn at school (as well as French), but you will find it helpful to at least know a few words and phrases in Moldovan/Romanian or Russian.

How long to visit Moldova

Moldova is nice and small, making it easy to hit the highlights in a short amount of time. In one week you can easily take in Chișinău, a winery or two,  Orheiul Vechi , as well as pay a  visit to Transnistria . In two weeks you could add on visits to Soroca and the north of Moldova as well as the Gagauz region.

Best time to visit Moldova

The most popular time to visit Moldova is in July & August with wine tours, hiking, and camping in full swing, but be warned- it’s really hot! May & June, as well as September, can be pleasant months to visit with warm weather.

October tends to start getting chilly but it is a popular time to visit as the National Wine Day Festival kicks off the first weekend of the month. November-March can be downright cold but will give you a chance to see the country blanketed in frost, and surely you’ll be hard-pressed to run into other tourists.

Need more convincing? Read:  10 reasons to visit Moldova

How to get around in Moldova

The most common way to travel around Moldova is by minibus (marshrutka), these are 15 passenger vans that leave when full and you just tell the driver when you want to get off. Buses connect most cities in Moldova as well, they are just a little slower than travel by marshrutka.

It is possible to hire taxis to get around in Moldova. Note that the capital, Chișinău is the main hub for travel in Moldova.

How to get to Moldova

By plane, train, or bus. Flights connect Chișinău with Moscow, Bucharest, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Vienna, Warsaw, and several other European cities. There are daily trains connecting Moldova with Romania (Bucharest) and Ukraine (Odessa & beyond).

By bus, you can reach Moldova from many cities in Ukraine and Romania as well as Russia. The most frequent bus journeys are to Odessa, Brasov, Moscow, and Kiev. Of course, if you have your own vehicle you can drive yourself to Moldova.

Passport holders from the EU, CIS, USA, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Canada, Japan, S. Korea, Hong Kong, Chile, Ecuador, Israel, Singapore, Seychelles, Malaysia, Turkey, and several non-EU European countries can enter Moldova for up to 90 days visa-free.

Entering Transnistria will require you to obtain a migration card, which you can get on arrival at the border. Read more on the  Transnistrian Migration Card here .

Where to go in Moldova

The most common places for travelers to visit in Moldova are Chișinău,  Orheiul Vechi , and  Tiraspol  (Transnistria). The underground wine cellars of Cricova and Mileștii Mici are also popular destinations and easy day trips from Chisinau. If you have the time and want to veer off the beaten path in Moldova (which is easy!), try the colorful city of Soroca, Comrat- the capital of semiautonomous Gaugazia, and the lavender fields of Cobusca Nouă . 

Chișinău & Around

Chișinău is the capital and largest city in Moldova, with the majority of attractions that most tourists to Moldova visit within a day trips distance.

Chișinău has a reputation for being boring, grey, depressing, and dingy. But take the time to explore the city, sample the restaurants & bars, hang out in the leafy green parks, and make some local friends and you’ll find the capital anything but boring. You’ll stumble across many of the city’s attractions along B-dul Ştefan cel Mare (Chișinău’s main avenue) and nearby.

A few things to see while in Chișinău include: Cathedral & Ştefan cel Mare Park, Arc de Triomph, Ciuflea Monastery, Piata Centrala, Rose Valley Park, The Artisan Market, Valea Morilor Park, St. Teodora de la Sihla Church, Riscani Park, Moldova National Opera & Ballet Theater, Botanica Park, National Archaeology & History Museum, Pushkin Museum, Military Museum, and the National Ethnographic & Nature Museum.

Make sure and try out some local foods and hit up some of Chișinău’s best restaurants and bars while you’re in the city. Some tasty restaurants to try out are  Vatra Neamului ,  Propaganda Cafe , and  La Placinte .

My favorite spot for quick local foods is from the food stalls at Piata Centrala. Make sure to try the brânză langos and cartofi langos with a glass of cvas.

If you’re in need of a place to stay in Chisinau try the Hostel City Center if you’re on a budget or the Radisson Blu Leogrande Chisinau if you’re looking to splurge.

Check Out Chisinau Tours

• 2 Day Chisinau & Moldova Foodie Tour

• Price: $164.19
• 3 hour Chisinau City Group Bike Tour

• Price: $45.00
• Private Half Day City Tour of Chisinau

• Price: $122.51

Orheiul Vechi

Orheiul Vechi  is an Eastern Orthodox Monastery built into a limestone cliff along the Raut River, just a short marshrutka ride from Piata Centrala in Chișinău. Make sure and grab a marshrutka signed for Butaceni or Trebujeni, as the ones signed for Orhei, will take you to the town of Orhei which is quite far away. You can easily make a half-day trip of Orheiul Vechi from Chișinău, learn how you can visit for 53 MDL on public transport in my  How to Visit Orheiul Vechi Guide .

For those that don't want to deal with the hassle of getting to Orheiul Vechi on their own, you can  book a tour of the monastery here .

If you would like to stay in the countryside out here try  Villa Roz  or  Krolichya Ferma  in nearby Trebujeni, or  Resedinta Rotundu  in Butaceni.

Check out my  guide on how to get to Orheiul Vechi

Day Trips To Old Orhei

• Tour of Orheiul Vechi & Curchi Monastery

• Price: $185.00
• Walking Tour of Molovata & Old Orhei

• Price: $114.93
• Old Orhei & Kurki Monastry Tour

• Price: $170.50

Cricova is a town 15 km north of Chișinău, famous for its underground wine cellar and winery of the same name. The tour of the wine cellars is well worth the trip out here. Tours are about an hour long and run from 10 am to 9 pm for 350 MDL per person, with a special early morning 9 am tour Monday through Friday for only 185 MDL per person.

For an extra 150 MDL each you can bring home a souvenir of 1 bottle of sparkling wine and 1 bottle of red or white wine. Make sure and call ahead of time to schedule your tour at +373 (22) 453659 . You can have your hostel/hotel call you a taxi from Chișinău, a taxi should not cost more than 115 MDL each way (expect to pay 400-450 MDL for a taxi roundtrip that waits for you).

If you want to book a full package including transport, cellar tour and tasting  click here .

For those wanting to spend the night out here in Cricova, check out the newly opened and stylishly modern  Hotel Gio Wine .  Vila Family  is a great option for those on a smaller budget.

Cricova Wine Tours

• Cricova Tour from Chisinau

• Price: $66.94
• Chisinau Tour + Cricova Winery

• Price: $119.98
• One Day Bike Tour to Cricova

Mileștii Mici

Mileștii Mici is a former mine turned Guinness World Record largest underground wine cellar. Mileștii Mici is located in Ialoveni, about 11 km southwest of Chișinău.

The hours are M-F 9 am- 5 pm, Sat. Sun. and holidays after 5 pm. A guided tour will cost 200 MDL per person on weekdays, and 300 MDL per person on weekends and holidays. Wine tastings start at 310 MDL per person and include a guided tour of the cellars.

Call  +373 22 382 333  to schedule a tour or tasting.

Milesti Mici Tours

• Bike Tour to Milestii Mici

• Milestii Mici Tour

• Price: $64.41
• Milestii Mici + Tiraspol

• Price: $236.18

Cobusca Nouă

Cobusca Nouă is a village just 35 km southeast of Chișinău known for its lavender crops that look like all those beautiful photos you see in France, just better because you'll likely have them to yourselves! If you're looking to stay close to the village you can stay in nearby  Anenii Noi .

Northern Moldova

If Moldova is rarely visited, then Northern Moldova is about as far off the beaten path as you can get in Europe. The lovely cities of Bălți and Soroca are two of the main draws to this region of Moldova. Of course, there are numerous wineries in the region as well.

Moldova's second-largest city after Chișinău, and nicknamed the 'Northern Capital'. Highlights in Bălți include St. Nicolas Church, Children's Park, Ştefan cel Mare Monument, and the Ethnographic Museum. A good option to sleep is at the  Elite Hotel .

The main attraction in Soroca is the Soroca Fortress built between the 14th and 16th centuries. Other attractions include the Candle of Gratitude and the Museum of Soroca History and Ethnography.

Another feature of the city that draws in tourists is Gypsy Hill. Roma people (an ethnic group often referred to as Gypsies) have built elaborate and colorful mansions along this hilltop with the influence of famous buildings like the Bolshoi Theatre and St. Peter's Basilica. Soroca sits perched on the banks of the Dniester River.

Try  Central Hotel  if you're planning to spend the night in Soroca.

Ungheni is known to be one of Moldova's most beautiful cities. Ungheni sits rights on the border with Romania, only separated from the Romanian city of Ungheni by the Prut River. Make sure to pay a visit to Frances Park and the numerous churches scattered about the city.

Gaugazia & Southern Moldova

Comrat/Komrat

The capital of Gagauzia. Highlights of Comrat include Lenin's Square, Cathedral of St. John Baptist, Gagauz History Museum, Gaugaz Cultural Museum, Gagauz Bazaar, Gaugazian Art Gallery, and the Gagauz National Theatre. Comrat will be the easiest place to be situated in order to explore the rest of Gagauzia.

For accommodation, check out  Caral .

The main attraction in Purcari is, of course, Chateau Purcari Winery. Boating, bicycling, fishing, and hiking are a few activities to do in the area aside from the winery. To arrange winery tours call  +373 60 121 221 .

If you'd like to spend the night at the winery set in the Southern Moldovan countryside near the Dniester River you can  book a stay here .

The far southwestern exclave of Gagauzia. Vulcanesti is rarely visited. Check out the House of Culture as well as several monuments, churches, and memorials scattered about the town.

Transnistria Tours

• Private Tour of Tiraspol from Chisinau

• Price: $217.23
• Cricova Winery and Tiraspol Tour

• Price: $247.54
• Day Trip to Transnistria from Odessa

• Price: $290.48

Moldova Travel Budget

Moldova is one of the cheapest destinations to visit in Europe, especially with the opening up of several hostels in the country in the last few years. If you're looking to keep costs low try staying in hostels, or even  Couchsurfing , eating at bazaars and local eateries, traveling by marshrutka, and trying to self-tour as much as possible.

$25/410 MDL per day

Staying in hostels or couchsurfing, dining at local eateries, traveling by marshrutka.

$50/825 MDL per day

Staying in midrange hotels, dining in midrange restaurants, taking a winery tour here and there.

$100/1655 MDL+ per day

Staying in comfortable hotels, taking tours, eating in finer restaurants.

What to pack

Traveling in Moldova won't require any special items. Summer can get stifling hot so I'd recommend a  lifestraw water bottle  to reduce your plastic waste.

For women, make sure and pack a scarf, because you will need to cover your hair when entering orthodox churches.

You can also pick up a copy of  Lonely Planet's Eastern Europe  if you're looking for a travel guide, but it is very, very limited. I'd recommend just purchasing the Moldova chapter in ebook form if you do want the guide unless you plan to travel more of Eastern Europe.

Have Any Questions About This Moldova Travel Guide?

Ask any of your Moldova travel-related questions in the comments section below.

More Posts from Moldova:

Transnistria Travel Guide

10 Reasons To Visit Moldova

How To Get To Orheiul Vechi, Moldova

6 thoughts on “the ultimate moldova travel guide”.

Thanks for this article. I am going to Moldova tomorrow for four days and this article helped me a lot. 🙂

Good to hear, I hope you enjoy Moldova!

what an excellent overview! thank you. i’m debating a visit in may or june and this has given me some nice insight.

Thanks, good to hear! I hope you enjoy if you make it to Moldova

Thank you for the post. The section of Chisinau was very intesting, i will visit it soon my self. The visa info was also handy.

I hope you enjoy Moldova, I always have a great time when I return

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Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

The world is finally waking up to the charms of this little nation wedged between Romania and Ukraine. Moldova was famously dubbed the world's least happy place in a bestselling book in 2008, but today it's better known for its unspoiled countryside and superb wine tours. As one of Europe’s least visited countries, Moldova retains a measure of roads-less-travelled charm. But that’s changing quickly as budget flights from Western Europe take off.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Orheiul Vechi

The archaeological and ecclesiastical complex at Orheiul Vechi (Old Orhei), about 50km north of Chişinău, is an important historical site and a place of…

Tipova Cave Monastery

The fantastic Tipova Cave Monastery is built into cliffs that tower some 200m above the Dniestr River's right (west) bank, in the tiny village of Tipova…

Bendery Fortress

This impressive Ottoman fortress, outside the centre near the Bendery–Tiraspol bridge, was built in the 16th century and saw keen fighting between Turkish…

Soroca Fortress

This gloriously solid behemoth on the Dniestr dates to the late 15th century and the reign of Moldavian Prince Ştefan cel Mare. It was built on the…

Cave Monastery

The most impressive sight at Orheiul Vechi is the Cave Monastery, built inside a cliff high above the gently meandering Răut river. It is marked by a…

Nativity of Christ Metropolitan Cathedral

The main highlight of the Parcul Catedralei is the city's main Moldovan Orthodox church, dating from the 1830s, with rich interior frescoes. The bell…

National Museum of Ethnography & Natural History

The highlight of this massive and wonderful exhibition is a life-sized reconstruction of the skeleton of a dinothere – an 8-tonne elephant-like mammal…

Army Museum

Occupying one end of the Centre of Culture and Military History, this once-musty museum now hosts a moving exhibit on Soviet-era repression. Stories of…

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First timer’s guide to Moldova: info from a local

First timer’s travel guide to Moldova from a local.

Moldova is a small country in Eastern Europe, and, frankly, we can’t boast about a huge number of tourists coming here. We don’t have huge palaces and castles, or museums of international significance, but we have something else: nice and cosy places in nature, old monasteries and fortresses, soviet architecture, all kinds of wine and delicious food.

So here is a short travel guide to Moldova for those who will visit it for the first time with useful information on many travel aspects.

If you have any other questions, comment please and I will add them to this guide.

Guide to Moldova: before you come

Visa policy of moldova.

If you are a citizen of European countries, former Soviet republics (excluding Turkmenistan), the USA, Canada, Australia, some Latin American and Asian countries, you don’t need a visa to travel to Moldova.

Citizens of all countries on the African continent and the majority of Asian states are required to have a valid visa to enter Moldova. You can see here the list of countries exempt from obtaining a visa and the countries whose citizens need one.

I have to add that we don’t have many diplomatic missions outside Europe, you can see the list here , but we have an e-visa service available. More about it here .

To Moldova by train and plane. And bus 🙂

Moldova is a landlocked country, and there are several ways to get here.

Of course, the most convenient way is by plane. We have our local airline called AirMoldova and it operates direct flights to many European countries. Italy is the most popular destination here, they fly to 5 cities there. Istanbul with Moscow and St Petersburg are other popular destinations. You can easily see the list of cities they fly to on the main page when you select the flight, and the list isn’t very long. Fly One is another local airline, but AirMoldova is my personal preference.

In addition to AirMoldova, many European airlines fly to Chisinau, like Austrian Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines, TAROM, LOT Polish Airlines, etc. Wizz Air operates some routes between Chisinau and some European destinations.

If you are in Romania, Ukraine, Russia or Belarus, you can travel to Moldova by train, as we have routes from specific cities. Just keep in mind that it will take quite a lot of time. Check the routes here . Keep in mind, because of the current situation some routes were suspended.

The same is for travel by bus. It is long but much cheaper. We have many routes to the nearby Romania and Ukraine, some routes to Bulgaria, Russia, Czech Republic, Germany, Turkey, etc. Just check this link to see the available routes.

The websites of the bus and railway stations allow buying tickets online.

Languages spoken in Moldova

The official language of Moldova is Moldovan/Romanian . Why two? Because language issues are quite important here, and, while Moldovan and Romanian are almost identical, if you ask people around, the answer will depend on the person. A bit of history to try to explain the situation.

Many centuries ago modern Moldova was a part of the larger Principality of Moldova. In 1812 after a war between the Ottoman and Russian empires the territory between the Prut and Dniester Rivers was ceded to Russia and got the name of Bessarabia. Some parts of Bessarabia became part of Ukraine, and the remaining part became modern-day Moldova. What remained of the Principality of Moldova – after Bessarabia was ceded to Russia – became part of modern Romania.

It means that in both Romania and Moldova people speak pretty much the same language, so the issue whether it is Romanian or Moldovan is more a political one.

Another language spoken in Moldova is Russian , which is quite understandable considering that Moldova was under the Russian Empire and later Soviet rule for a couple of centuries. Many speak it or understand to some level, but some people may frown when they hear Russian.

It is a bit hard for me to judge whether there are many people speaking English. I am sure you can meet some young people in the center of Chisinau, but I wouldn’t expect much. Still, I know that foreigners usually manage anyway.

Moldovan money

Our currency is Moldovan leu or MDL (the abbreviation of Moldovan leu). Roughly, 1 EUR is 19,3-19,4 MDL, and 1 dollar is about the same, 19,3-19,4 MDL.

Only our currency is accepted in the country, so you can exchange your money at dozens of exchange bureaus around the city. Just be careful as some of them may charge commission. One of the best exchange bureaus in Chisinau is Deghest on 43 Banulescu Bodoni Street .

If you don’t trust exchange bureaus, go to banks, of which we have plenty. Usually they have different rates, so you will have to walk around a bit to find the best ones. I would say that in this aspect all the banks are reliable, just take the usual precaution measures.

Cash or cards?

I would say, both. There are plenty of places accepting cards like restaurants, shops, supermarkets, but you will need cash to pay for bus tickets, food from markets and kiosks, in some shopping centers and, maybe, museum tickets, as the entrance fees are quite low, around 1 EUR.

When you travel outside Chisinau and any other bigger cities, I would advise to have cash mostly.

Guide to Moldova: when you are in the country

Tourist information center.

Whether I want it or not, I have to admit that we still have a lot of work to do to create a proper tourist infrastructure. From time to time I hear news about our officials creating maps of tourist landmarks or offering buses to specific places, or some other initiatives, but I don’t see a lot of progress.

You can read countless blog posts by other travellers to get an idea about what Moldova offers, but when in the country, go to the tourist information center on 83 Stefan Cel Mare Boulevard in Chisinau. The center is in the same building as the town hall, so you won’t miss it. You can get maps here and learn about the tourist landmarks of Moldova, and, from what I hear, they can help you with organising tours to wineries. From time to time they offer free walking tours of Chisinau. Just peek in for some useful information.

Places and cities to visit in Moldova

Though we lack many usual tourist attractions, we have plenty of places to visit and things to do. Below is a short list of interesting places in Moldova.

Cities to visit in Moldova

• Chisinau, the capital city of Moldova. I have a comprehensive guide on local public transportation including ways to get to the city from the airport and things to do in Chisinau .

• Balti, the Northern capital of Moldova.
• Orhei with the famous Orheiland amusement park.
• Soroca with its fortress and gypsy town.
• Transnistria with Tiraspol and Bender for a fortress and Soviet architecture.
• Gagauzia with Comrat and Ciadir-Lunga with their own culture, food and wine.

Fortresses in Moldova

• Soroca Fortress
• Bender Fortress

Monasteries to visit in Moldova

• Rock Monastery in Old Orhei

Natural wonders

• Codru Reserve
• Duruitoarea
• Padurea Domneasca Reserve
• Plaiul Fagului Reserve
• Old Orhei (Orheul Vechi) where the Raut River creates a stunning bend

• Limestone hills in Edinet District
• Any place at the Prut and Dniester Rivers

Other places of interest in Moldova

• Manuc Bey Mansion in Hincesti
• Soldanesti nuclear shelter

How to move around Moldova

There are some things to consider when it comes to travelling in Moldova. If you plan to visit major cities only (the ones I mention above) you can use our interurban buses. We have plenty of them and they drive to almost all towns in the country. For routes, schedules and prices check this website . You can buy tickets online here as well.

I assume you will have Chisinau as a base, and what you have to consider is that we have many bus stations in the city. For example, as a rule (but not always), buses depart from Gara de Nord , or Northern station, to the destinations in the north of the country. Gara Centrala or central station is for places in the center of Moldova, and Gara Sud-Vest or South-Western station is for the south of the country. So when you book your tickets click the blue i button to see the route. As a rule, the buses stop in the villages on the way to their final destination, but you will have to notify the driver.

If you want to see some other places I mentioned above, like some monasteries and natural wonders, I guess a car would be better. So, if you can, better rent one. Thus you won’t have to search for buses going there, as in many cases there won’t be any. And it is much more comfortable 🙂

Another way would be to find a local tourist agency, usually they organise 1-day tours, to monasteries and wineries mostly.

Hitchhiking works as well, just take general precautions. Sometimes drivers even wait at the bus stations looking for passengers.

Of course, you can book a taxi as well, but, despite them being cheaper in Moldova than, say, in Europe, you may end up paying quite some money. Anyway, it is worth calling them and asking.

Moldovan wine

Did you know that Moldova is one of the twenty biggest wine producers in the world? I think that considering the size of our territory we have quite many wine-producing centers 🙂 They are mostly located in the center and south of the country, but the most famous ones, like Milestii Mici and Cricova , are relatively close to Chisinau.

In Moldova you can taste any kinds of wine possible: red, white, rose, sparkling (champagne), young and old. And brandy, it is called divin in Moldovan/Romanian. We have Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Aligote, Saperavi, Pinot Noir, Rkatsiteli and less known to international visitors local varieties like Fetească Neagră, Fetească Albă, Fetească Regală and Rară Neagră. There is wine to satisfy any taste 🙂

As we are proud of our wine, every year we celebrate it during the so-called Wine Day . In Chisinau it takes place in the beginning of October, and, a bit later, in Gagauzia as well.

You can buy wine in any supermarket, prices vary greatly, so just walk around. Keep in mind that it is illegal to sell alcoholic drinks after 10 PM in Moldova.

Wineries to visit

• Castel Mimi
• Chateau Vartely
• Milestii Mici
• Vinuri de Comrat

Moldovan cuisine

Our cuisine is quite hearty: we have a lot of meat dishes, roasted and fried, as, for example, sausages like mici and mititei, frigarui (barbecue), friptura (a kind of stew).

We love soups, I think our preference goes to borscht (though it’s not a Moldovan invention) and zeama (soup with home-made noodles and chicken stock). We add a liquid to soups that makes them sour and more delicious, in my opinion 🙂

Placintas and invirtitas are popular foods. It is pastry with different fillings like cottage, cow or sheep cheese, pumpkin, cabbages, potatoes, meat sometimes, but my favorite ones are with sour cherry.

We are proud of our sarmale: it is rice with meat wrapped in cabbage or grape leaves. Quite often the same filling goes to stuff bell peppers as well.

Mamaliga is another specialty. It is a kind of porridge made of corn flour and is usually served with cheese and tocana (roasted or fried meat).

And we love pickles! The vegetables we pickle depend on the region of the country, usually it is tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, cabbage, eggplants. In some places people pickle apples and watermelon.

We adopted many Slavic and, naturally, Soviet dishes, in addition to the borscht above, like meat jelly (racituri), smetannik cake, vinegret, olivier and herring salads, etc.

For dessert have our cake Cusma lui Guguta, baba neagra and baba alba, or plums stuffed with walnuts.

That’s all for now 🙂 Do you have any questions?

More on Chisinau, Moldova:

• 10 good reasons to visit Moldova
• Is there vegan and vegetarian food in Moldova?
• Top cities to visit in Moldova

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THE ULTIMATE MOLDOVA TRAVEL GUIDE: Where to Go, What to See, and What to Know + 4 Day Moldova Itinerary

Salut dragii mei! (Hello, my dears!)

Before I traveled to Moldova this summer, I had no idea what was waiting for me. Ironically, I was born in a country that borders Moldova (Ukraine), but didn’t know anything about my southern neighbor! 

I had no idea that it was one of the best undiscovered wine destinations in Europe. It didn’t occur to me that it was full of green nature, beautiful landscapes, lavender fields, and waterfalls. And I definitely didn’t know that it was home to a “country within a country” — or rather, a country that doesn’t technically exist!   

Even though Moldova is the least-visited country in Europe, it won’t be for long — once you visit Moldova, you’ll want to tell everybody about it. ;)

Let’s check it out!  

🇲🇩 Moldova is perfect for … 🇲🇩

Budget travel – Soviet architecture – Wine tasting – Unique churches – A Hidden gem in Europe

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE TRAVELING TO MOLDOVA

When to go to moldova.

The best time to visit Moldova is in the spring, especially during April or May. Temperatures are moderately warm, there are fewer tourists, and the countryside is full of green hills and color. 

Spring : Pleasant temperatures hovering around 15 to 18 C.  

Summer : Also a good time to visit, especially if you are planning to make your way to Odessa to enjoy the beaches. 

Fall : August to October – Starting to get chilly but still a nice time to visit, especially if you can come during the wine festival in November. 

Winter : November to mid-February. Temperatures fall – and so does snow. Many places in smaller towns are closed for the winter. 

HOW MUCH TO BUDGET FOR MOLDOVA

Moldova is a very budget-friendly country. In fact, it’s one of the cheapest countries in Europe!

I would recommend budgeting around $25 to $35 per day as a starting point, which includes accommodation, food, and entrance to tourist attractions. 

Here are the averages prices you can expect to pay for accommodations, food, and transportation in Moldova. 

Hostels: Less than $10/night for a bed in a dorm room Hotels : $30 to 35 per night

Food : about 120 MDL( $7 per lunch, including entree and drink) Coffee : around 20 MDL ($1.15 USD)

Bus from Chisinau to Old Orhei , about an hour drive: 26 MDL ($1.50 USD) Taxi in Chisinau : Around 40 MDL ($2.50 USD) for a taxi from the airport to the center Bus ticket in Chisinau : 2 MDL ($0.12 USD) 

Tourist attractions : Less than $5 per attraction – most tickets usually cost $1 or $2 USD

GETTING HERE // HOW TO GET TO MOLDOVA

The easiest way to get to Moldova is by taking a flight. There are dozens of airlines that fly directly to the capital airport, Chisinau (KIV), including budget airlines like WIZZ. The national airline, Air Moldova, flies from 30+ destinations in Europe.  

Compare prices and buy airline tickets to Moldova here 

You can easily get here by taking a bus to Chisinau from neighboring countries. 

I took the bus from Chernivtsi (Ukraine) to Chisinau and it took about 7 hours. There are busses to other major cities in Moldova, such as Balti, Tiraspol, and more. 

For people who want to explore and travel around Eastern Europe, there is a popular overnight train that goes from Kyiv to Chisinau. Other popular routes include Odessa – Tiraspol – Chisinau. 

HOTELS // WHERE TO STAY IN MOLDOVA

Hotels in Moldova can be hit or miss, so it’s really important to pay close attention before booking. Since tourism in Moldova isn’t as popular as in other countries (it’s one of Europe’s least visited countries!), you might encounter hotels that haven’t been updated since the USSR, staff that don’t speak English, or amenities that are common in typical hotels. However, don’t let this scare you! There are also plenty of hotels that are quickly being updated to accommodate tourists, which means that you can score an amazing hotel at a great price. 

One unique thing to do in Moldova is stay at a Pensiunea (sometimes called a Resedinta or a Pensiunea agroturistică ). This is a sort of agricultural-style guesthouse/bed and breakfast where everything is decorated in a traditional style, the food is made fresh every day from the nearby garden, and it feels like you’re staying at your Moldovian grandmother’s summerhouse. :) 

I had the chance to stay at one of these accommodations in Orhei and loved it – in fact, it was one of the highlights of my trip! If you’re interested in learning more, I’ve written about it below. 

TRANSPORTATION // HOW TO GET AROUND MOLDOVA

Since Moldova is a compact country, it’s easy to get around – both inside a city and between cities. 

BUSSES : There are plenty of busses that go between cities. This is your best option if you are planning to go beyond the capital – for example, if you’re planning to do a day trip from Chisinau or travel between different cities in Moldova. Busses are cheap, plenty, and you might have interesting company on the ride. ;) 

TRAINS : Trains in Moldova exist, but they’re very slow and infrequent. Your best bet is either taking an intercity bus or renting a car. 

TAXI : If you want to quickly get between Point A and Point B, taking a taxi is a great idea. I used a taxi in Chisinau since they were cheap and readily available – Yandex Taxi was the best, but iTaxi is great too if you like to have options. 

CAR RENTAL : I rented a car to get from Chisinau to Orhei and was extremely surprised at how well the whole experience turned out. The roads were in excellent condition, cities were clearly marked, and if you get hungry, you can pull over and buy a snack from the grandmas selling fruit on the side of the road. ;P 

WHAT TO PACK FOR MOLDOVA

Moldova is pretty standard when it comes to packing, since it has well-defined seasons and the clothing associated with it (dresses in the summer, jackets and jeans in the fall, etc.) 

However, there are a few special items that I recommend packing for your trip to Moldova:

✔ Pickpocket-proof Purse : Although Moldova is a safe country, it still has a problem that’s common in many places: pickpockets. I recommend a small purse, like this one , that is slash-resistant and has zippers.

✔ A Large Scarf : For ladies planning to visit any of the churches or monasteries in Moldova, don’t forget your scarf ! It’s a requirement to wrap a scarf around your head before entering a church. Some churches offer free scarves to tourists, but it’s a good idea to have one with you just in case there aren’t any available.

✔ “Nice” Clothing : If you’re planning to go on a winery tour (more on that later!), you’ll want to wear nice clothing to really stand out in photos. This means a cute dress for ladies and a nice shirt/slacks combo for gentlemen .

✔ A Warm Jacket : Speaking of wineries… If you’re planning on visiting an underground winery, I highly recommend taking a warm jacket or cardigan . The temperature down there is always a stable 50 F (10 C) and it can get pretty chilly! Throw over a warm cardigan and beat the cold. :)

✔ Wine Bottle Protector : Ok ok, last part about wineries, I promise! There’s probably a high chance you’ll want to buy a few bottles of wine after your wine tour – make sure they arrive in once piece by packing them in these useful pouches . 

✔ Comfortable Shoes : The terrain in Moldova can be hard on your shoes (and feet). Make sure you pack a comfortable pair of walking shoes, especially if you plan to visit Old Orhei or do some hiking. I wear these Adidas Superstar shoes and love them.

✔ Plug Adapter : Moldova has C and F outlets – Make sure your electronics can be charged by bringing these plug adapters along. I’ve been personally using this set for 4 years and highly recommend them!

Start Your Trip to Moldova in the Capital That’s Frozen in Time

Since most travelers usually start their trip to Moldova by taking an airplane or train into the country’s capital, Chisinau, this is where our itinerary will also start.

For first-time travelers, I recommend one to two days in Chisinau . If you’re in a rush, it’s compact enough to see in one day, but I recommend two to get a taste of authentic Moldova. 

There are plenty of tourist attractions in Chisinau that will fill up your day, including parks, museums, cafes, and more. Since it’s not a huge city like Paris or Moscow, you can really take your time and explore: grab a pastry from a bakery, sit in the Stefan Cel Mare park, and do some people watching. :) 

On another note, Chisinau is perfect for fans of Soviet architecture and history, especially since most of the city was rebuilt after being bombed in World War II. You can find classical Stalinist buildings almost anywhere you look, such as the Parliament, and other remnants of the Soviet Union at the Victory Memorial and the Eternal Flame. 

If you’re really interested in diving deep into the country’s history, I recommend going on a guided tour: most tours are budget-friendly, the tour guides speak excellent English, and you’ll finally know what the heck is going on in that huge mural near that one church. 

I recommend this Chisinau Walking City tour , which is a perfect introduction to Moldova and its capital.

If you want an in-depth look into Chisinau, I also recommend booking a specialized tour (Cold War, Jewish history, bike tour, etc) – in that case, I highly recommend Nicolai as a guide . :) 

WHAT TO DO IN CHISINAU

Start at the Triumphal Arch & Cathedral Park Arcul de Triumf & Parcul Catedralei 

Get to know Chisinau by starting your day at the Triumphal Arch , which is also coincidentally where locals meet each other — hey, it’s a convenient spot in the center and hard to miss! The Arch was built in 1840 to commemorate the overthrow of the Ottoman Turks by the Russian Empire in 1828 and remains a national symbol to this day. 

From here, you can also walk to Cathedral Park , which is behind the arch. It’s a lovely little square where you can sit and people watch (or wait for Google Maps to load so you can go to the next point 😉). 

Ștefan cel Mare Central Park

Located diagonally across Cathedral Park, Stefan cel Mare Park is the oldest park in Moldova and a nice spot to hang out. In the front of the park, you’ll see a large statue of Stephen the Great (Ștefan cel Mare as the locals call him), which is one of the most important figures in Moldova’s history.

Get to Know The Country at the National Museum of History of Moldova Muzeul Național de Istorie a Moldovei

The National Museum is, in my opinion, one of the best places in Chisinau and the perfect place to get acquainted with the history of Moldova. It has more than 250,000 exhibits detailing the history of the country, from ancient times to the royal family, to the USSR and finally to today. 

If you’re into architecture, you’ll love the gorgeous rooms and the ornate decorations. I think I spent a half hour just staring at the ceiling (in a good way!) and the beautiful details.

Budget 10 MDL ($1 USD) for a ticket and about 2 hours to walk through the entire museum. As a bonus, all of the signs are in English, and the employees also give you a little piece of paper with extra details when you walk into a room. 

National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History Muzeul Naţional de Etnografie şi Istorie Naturală

if not for the exhibits inside, go just to see the gorgeous building, which looks like it could have been transported from Morocco or Oman. There’s also a lovely garden.  

Admire the Architecture at St. Teodora de la Sihla Church Biserica Sfânta Teodora de la Sihla

Sure, Chisinau has plenty of interesting churches, but the St. Teodora de la Sihla Church is my favorite thanks to its gorgeous Byzantine architecture and blue roofs. 

Walk on the City’s Main Pedestrian Street, Yevgeniy Doga Street Strada Eugen Doga

Like any good Eastern European city, Chisinau has its own pedestrian street called Eugen Doga (named after a famous composer). Although it’s a fairly small street, there are plenty of cafes, restaurants, and breweries here. Don’t forget to take a photo of the “Sculpture of Lovers” statue.  

Central Market Piata Centrala

The central farmers market in Chisinau. It’s similar to what you would see in bazaars in other Eastern European countries and there are plenty of kiosks selling fresh fruit, vegetables, local types of cheese, and more. If you plan to visit this market, bring lei with you, since not many Moldovan grandmas accept credit cards here. ;) 

 Stroll along the Waterfront at Valea Morilor Park Lacul “Valea Morilor”

Just a little outside the center of Chisinau is the Valea Morilor Park. This huge complex is loved by locals and is an especially great place to visit during the summer, when the weather is nice and the activities are in full swing. Kids will love the theme park (Aventura Park). There’s also the gorgeous winding staircase, Scara Cascadelor, and the smallest monument in Moldova that features the Little Prince. 

FUN FACT: Moldavian archaeologists recently discovered the fragments of a mammoth skeleton at the bottom of the lake in Valea Morilor Park. 

Chisinau Railway Station Gara feroviară din Chișinău

Normally I don’t put stations on my itinerary, but how could you pass up this cheerful pink station? Just take a look at the Google photos – isn’t it so cute? 😊

If you’re planning to travel from Chisinau onward, there’s a high chance you’ll go through this station. It has daily and/or weekly departures from Chisinau to Bucharest, Kiev, Moscow, Minsk, Warsaw, Saint Petersburg, and Odessa. There are also many trains each week to neighboring Romania (Bucharest, Iasi, and so on), as well as daily service to Tiraspol. 

If you’re planning on visiting other countries after Moldova, I have a section on that as well – scroll to the very bottom or Ctrl + F “ Where Should I Travel After Moldova? ” to find it. :) 

WHERE TO EAT IN CHISINAU

As with most capital cities, there are so many places to eat in Chisinau no matter your budget, location, and taste. From hipster cafes to traditional Moldovan restaurants and everything in between, here are some of the places that I’ve personally eaten or have asked locals about. 

Propaganda Cafe – This is a can’t-miss in Chisinau! The cafe can be a little hard to find if you’re not familiar with the street, but once you’re inside, you’ll be glad you found it. The entire cafe is decorated like a Soviet house, complete with vintage Lenin posters and old USSR knickknacks. 

Besides being very aesthetic and fun to look at, the food here is phenomenal. I had the syrniki (cottage cheese pancakes), Napoleon cake, and a smoothie. The Napoleon was my favorite dish because it tasted exactly the way my grandma bakes it. Likewise, the service was friendly and helpful.  

La Placinte – La Placinte serves traditional Moldovan food, such as meat, dumplings, mamaliga, desserts, etc. in a cute ethno-style restaurant. There are half a dozen locations in Chisinau, all conveniently located near the center. 

Tucano Coffee – If you’ve been missing your daily dose of Starbucks, check out its Eastern European counterpart ;) This colorful and cheeky cafe chain can be found all around Chisinau with cute names like Brazil, Jamaica, and Costa Rica – a nod to coffee-producing countries where they source from.  

Creme de la Creme – If you’re walking along the pedestrian street (Strada Eugen Doga), you’ll come across this cute French-style cafe. There’s a nice selection of cakes and coffee, as well as outdoor seating.  

Gastrobar – Like the name says, this gastronomic-style restaurant has trendy dishes and a lovely atmosphere to boot. As a bonus, they’re open late. 

Zaxi – Upscale sushi and cocktail restaurant with stunning views from the terrace. 

Carpe Diem – All of the locals that I met recommended this as the palace to go for wine, and they’re right: Carpe Diem is a hybrid wine store and wine bar with excellent service. The employees there helped me pick out a wine and even gave a small degustation so I knew how it tasted before I bought it. If you don’t have time to go to a winery, definitely go here! 

WHERE TO STAY IN CHISINAU

MY TOP PICK

For my trip, I stayed at Wine Hotel, which, personally, I think is one of the best accommodations in Chisinau. Where else do you get one glass of wine for free per day? ;) 

The rooms are large and spacious with modern amenities, plus they have a lovely panoramic view of the city from the balcony. 

The hotel also has a wine bar / restaurant where breakfast (included in the rate) is served daily. This is perfect for traveling Moldova on a budget, since you get a delicious meal and won’t need to waste time finding a breakfast cafe. 

There are only a few rooms at Wine Hotel, so the service is personalized for each traveler. When I was checking out and going to Old Orhei, the manager even sent a security guard to load my luggage into the rental car. 

Finally, with a hotel being called Wine Hotel, they need to live up to their expectations, right? And they did exactly that: every day, guests can choose one of three different wines and receive a complimentary glass. The staff were also extremely knowledgeable and advised me which wines to buy when I went shopping for souvenirs. 

Reserve Wine Hotel on Booking.com

MID-RANGE HOTELS IN CHISINAU

Tulip Residence & Spa

This Thai-style hotel has charming decor, a delicious breakfast buffet, and clean rooms. As a bonus, there’s also a spa, massage, and hammam compex on-site. 

Reserve Tulip Residence on Booking.com

Hotel Chisinau

If you ever wondered how it felt like to be a tourist back in the USSR, here’s your chance. 

I stayed at the Hotel Chisinau on my way back from Old Orhei because I needed something budget-friendly and close-ish to the center. The rooms aren’t the most modern, but if you’re looking for the total Soviet experience, stay here. ;)

Reserve Hotel Chisinau on Booking.com

Casa Daca Boutique Hotel

A cute boutique hotel (there are only 18 rooms!) decorated in a minimalistic style with hints of traditional Moldovan elements. Centrally located and near plenty of museums, restaurants, and cafes.

Reserve Casa Daca Boutique Hotel on Booking.com

Zentrum Hotel

Centrally located, with friendly staff and spacious rooms. Zentrum was one of the most-liked hotels from the tourists that I talked to while I was in Chisinau.

Reserve Zentrum Hotel on Booking.com 

Mon Ami Villa

A sweet little hotel, Mon Ami is a perfect option because of two things: the cozily-decorated rooms, and the delicious and complimentary homemade breakfast (fresh fruit and crepes? Mmm).

Reserve Mon Ami Villa on Booking.com

LUXURY HOTELS IN CHISINAU

The Bristol Central Park Hotel

The creme de la creme of hotels in Chisinau, The Bristol is one of the best options in terms of luxury hotels. Each room has an enormous bed (seriously, take a look at the photos!) and a panoramic view of the city. Guests also loved the breakfast and the attentiveness of the staff members.

Reserve Bristol Central Park Hotel on Booking.com

Radisson Blu Leogrand Hotel

Chic, sophisticated, and modern, the Radisson Blu in Chisinau will make you feel like a jetsetter. Definitely don’t miss the rooftop restaurant (Zaxi) or the spa. 

Reserve Radisson Blu Leogrand on Booking.com

Nobil Luxury Boutique Hotel

Located in the center of Chisinau (it’s one block away from Cathedral Park), Nobil Hotel is a 5-star hotel and one of the premier luxury hotels in Chisinau. It’s decorated in old-school luxury and offers amenities such as 24/7 room service, a spa, and a gym. 

Reserve Nobil Luxury on Booking.com

Roxen Hotel&Spa

A simple, luxurious, and clean hotel with spacious rooms. As a bonus, Roxen guests get a discount at the restaurant next to the hotel.

Reserve Roxen Hotel & Spa on Booking.com

HOSTELS IN CHISINAU

Retro Moldova Hostel

If you want to go back to the USSR and do it in style, then book a room at Retro Moldova. This hostel is decorated with vintage Soviet posters as well as a cool mural. It’s fairly small (there’s room for only 12 people), but the atmosphere is friendly and the beds are comfortable. 

Reserve Retro Moldova Hostel on Booking.com

Amazing Ionika Hostel 

This *amazing* hostel (get it?) is consistently rated as one of the best hostels in Chisinau, and it shows. Although it’s not a party hostel, there’s still an upstairs area to hang out and get to know your hostelmates, as well as group tours to Transnistria and around the city. Plus, the decor is cute and homely! 

Reserve Amazing Ionika Hostel on Booking.com

Hostel City Center

Located right in the heart of the city, Hostel City Center is one of the most popular hostels in Chisinau. There are plenty of options for both male- and female-only rooms, as well as private rooms. There’s even an ATM and luggage storage. :) 

Reserve Hostel City Center on Booking.com

APARTMENTS IN CHISINAU

 Tree House

Located 5 miles from Chisinau, Tree House is an “eco resort” situated in the middle of a forest. The apartments here are gorgeously decorated with amazing views of the trees. Included on the property is an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a garden and even a private beach area. If you’re visiting Moldova in the summer and want to escape the busy city life, check out Tree House. 

Reserve Tree House on Booking.com

Great penthouse with a view  

Ever wanted to live the #baller life and stay in a penthouse? In Moldova, anything is possible. ;) This aptly-named apartment has a lovely view of the city skyline, as well as a sweeping terrace and two bedrooms. Likewise, it’s located close to the center but in a quiet area. 

Reserve this penthouse apartment on Booking.com

WHAT TO DO IN TRANSNISTRIA

Transnistria is made up of 10 cities and many little towns and villages, but we’ll be focusing on the big two today: Tiraspol and Bender (sometimes called Bendery). Tiraspol is the second largest city in Moldova and the capital of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, while Bendery is a city with important historical significance. 

No matter where you go in Transnistria, this country is like an open-air USSR museum. Statues of Lenin, socialist murals, and flags with the hammer and sickle will really make you feel like you hopped into a time machine went back to the USSR.

WHAT TO DO IN TIRASPOL

🔴 October 25th Street – Named after an important date in Soviet history (the day the October Revolution started), this street is also important, as its the main street that runs through Tiraspol. One thing that really surprised me was how wide this street is – even the pospekti in Minsk couldn’t compare to this street! 

🔴 House of Soviets – Near the beginning of the October 25th street is the House of the Soviets (photo above). This grand building was originally where important Soviet figures, such as deputies, met and discussed governmental things. Nowadays it’s home to the city hall. 

🔴 Suvorov Square – The grand park of Tiraspol, Suvorov Square is a huge plot of land with statues, benches, and mementos of Transnistria. In the summer, it turns into a colorful square from all of the blooming flowers. 

🔴   T-34 tank and Saint George Chapel – Just across Suvorov Square is another Soviet memento commemorating the USSR’s victory in World War II. A little further is St. George Chapel, which feature gold domes and Orthodox murals on the side. 

🔴 Presidential Palace – This unassuming brown and white building is where the President of Transnistria, as well as the parliament, meet to do very important things. There’s also a (you guessed it) Lenin statue. 

🔴 I Heart Tiraspol Sign – If you want to show your love for your new favorite city, there’s an “I Heart Tiraspol” sign in front of De Wollant Park.  

🔴 Hang out near the Dniester – Transnistria literally translates to “beyond the Dniester,” and a little piece of Tiraspol gives you the opportunity to see this magnificent river. Towards the end of De Wollant Park is a little bridge and some small kiosks selling ice cream and drinks in the summer. If you have some free time, grab a snack and watch the boats float by. 

🔴 Dom Knigi – If you’ve been wandering around Tiraspol looking for a souvenir shop, this is the best place. Half of the store sells books (that’s what the name translates to :)) and the other half has all sorts of Transnistria-related souvenirs like hats, pins, postcards, magnets, and more. 

🔴 City Library – One of my favorite places in Tiraspol. It might seem a little hipster, but I really liked the second floor, where you can find a colorful mural and a library that’s still in the 1970’s. The address is Strada Sverdlov 78.

WHAT TO DO IN BENDER

🔴 Bender Fortress – The most famous landmark in Bender, this fortress had humble beginnings as a wooden fort before being redeveloped into a strong fortification by a sultan during the Ottoman period. You can also go inside and walk around the area or go to the top for a nice view of the river. 

🔴 Noul Neamt Monastery – An all-male Moldovan Orthodox monastery located just outside of Bender and Tiraspol, this building was used asa hospital during the USSR before being restored into a church.

🔴 Bendery Bus Station – One of the most colorful bus stations that I saw in my life. The teal interior was so stylish that there was even a photoshoot going on when I walked by. If you’re hungry, check out the themed CCCP canteen on the second floor. 

🔴 Memorial Park in Bendery – A small square that contains interesting monuments and statues from the USSR. 

TRAVEL TIP : Psst, wanna play a game? Count how many Lenin statues you find in Transnistria and send me your final number on Instagram . ;)

WHERE TO EAT IN TRANSNISTRIA

  Kumanek – This was the Ukrainian restaurant where I ate during my little trip to Transnistria and one of the highlights of my time in Tiraspol. It has a large menu, delicious food, and outdoor seating with cute ethnic decor. 

7 Pyatnits Cafe (7 Fridays Cafe) – Nice cafe with both Western and local-style food, WiFi, and friendly workers. 

Love Cafe – A sweet cafe with decor that makes it look like it was taken from a street in Paris. There’s also an English menu. 

Kvint – Did you know Transnistria has its own distillery? Kvint produces more than 20 million bottles a year of its famous spirits and brandies. If you want to try a real taste of Tiraspol, there are daily tours at the Kvint factory. 

FUN FACT: A bottle of Kvint once made its way into space along with Yuri Gagarin. 

TRANSNISTRIA TOURS

If you prefer to have a set itinerary and a guide (or just don’t want to get lost in an unrecognized country, no big deal 😅), there are plenty of Transnistria tours. 

I recommend this Private Soviet Era History Tour of Transnistria from Chisinau , which picks you up from the capital, takes you around Transnistria, and brings you back to your hotel room.

WINE TASTING

Underground tunnels, 2 million bottles, and delicious wine… experience moldova’s top tourist attraction here.

France, Napa valley, Italy, Chile… These countries are all associated with delicious wine, but what if I told you there was another little-known region that will knock your socks off? And that you can visit it in Moldova? 

FUN FACT:  Did you know Moldova is the 11th largest wine-producing country in Europe and the 20th largest wine producing country in the world? 

Thanks to its fertile land and location, Moldova’s history of winemaking spans thousands of years. In fact, one of the chief exports of Moldova in medieval times was — you guessed it — wine! 

Moldova became the main supplier of wine to other countries in the Soviet Union in the 1940s (supplying nearly 70 percent of all wine!) all the way up until the mid-1980s, when the then-president Mikhail Gotbachev launched an anti-alcohol campaign. Thanks to these “dry laws,” more than 35% of vineyards across Moldova were shut down almost overnight and the economy suffered greatly. Some wineries were smart enough to hide their most important wines — some spanning back to 1901! — such as Milestii Mici. They constructed a huge wall on wheels that would roll to the side to reveal the hidden room full of rare and valuable wines.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, the vineyards in Moldova were back to making wine in full swing, but not for long. Two huge Russian embargoes on Moldovan wine in 2006 and 2013 (Russia didn’t take too kindly to Moldova wanting to join the EU)  forced winemakers to diversify. Nowadays, Moldovan wineries are perfecting their craft and targeting foodies from the European Union, Japan, and China. 

Will you be charmed by the delicious and fresh taste of Moldovan wine? There’s only one way to find out!

How to Choose a Moldovan Winery

If you want to go on a Moldova wine tour, there are a few things to consider: 

Do you want to go by yourself or with a tour? For the underground wineries, such as Milestii Mici and Cricova, you’ll need a car. You can either go with a tour company or hire a taxi in Chisinau to take you to the winery, since, obviously, the winery won’t let you wander the tunnels without supervision (unless you want to get lost – my driver regaled me with a lot of stories about lost tourists 😅). 

Do you want to visit one winery or multiple wineries in one day? If you have the whole day, I recommend going on a multi-winery tour to see the best of Moldovan wines. If you only have a few hours (for example, 3 or 4 hours), you can still fit in a wine tasting tour at one winery. 

What type of wine do you prefer? Although Moldova primarily makes white wine (70% of all production is white wine!), red and table wines are also popular and readily available at most wineries. If you’re like me and have no idea what you like, there are wine tasting tours in Moldova that give you 3 to 5 different wines to taste.  

TRAVEL TIP! If you’re planning to do a wine tour at one of the underground wineries, such as Milestii Mici or Cricova, it’s best to br ing a lightweight jacket or cardigan ( like this one ) . The temperature stays a constant 50 F (10 C) all year round, which means it can get pretty chilly! 

MILESTII MICI

I chose Mistii Mici (also known as Mileștii Mici) as the winery to go wine tasting on this trip for three main reasons: 1. It has the biggest wine collection in the world (!!) and is one of the most famous and well-known wineries in Moldova (the others being Cricova and MIMI) 2. It’s only a 20 minute drive (14 km) from Chisinau to Milestii Mici, making it perfect for a quick stop or a full day tour 3. The wine fountain — but more on that later ;) 

Milestii Mici winery. If you ask any Moldovan local what they think of Milestii Mici, they’ll probably reply that it’s one of the best wineries in Moldova. Spoiler alert: I asked my driver the same exact question, and got the same exact reply – as we were heading to Milestii Mici, no less. ;)

With more than 200 kilometers of underground tunnels and more than 2 million bottles of wine, Milestii Mici is home to the biggest wine collection in the world. 

Milestii Mici’s history began when an old limestone mine was “refurbished” in the late 1960s and turned into the state-owned winery that we know today. One of the unique things about Milestii are the two “wine fountains” near the entrance.  PSA – Unfortunately it’s not real wine that comes out of the fountain, but it makes for a cool photo nonetheless. :) 

FUN FACT: Celebrities such as Obama store their own wine at Milestii Mici – prices start at 500 Euro a year if you want to have your own storage “cellar”! 

I absolutely loved my tour at Milestii Mici and would highly recommend this winery as a starting point in your Moldovan wine tasting journey. 

The way it works is simple: you book a tour, the driver comes to your accommodation in Chisinau, and you make your way to the Milestii Mici winery. From there, you check in at the front desk and wait in line until it’s your turn to go underground (go check out the fountain while you wait!) You’ll have a few other cars in your “tour group” as you drive from point to point in the underground tunnels and stop to listen to the guide before moving on. At the end, depending on your tour package, you’ll be treated to a wine degustation and a delicious and authentic Moldovan lunch. Sounds great, right? 

P.S. – if you have the chance, definitely try the Mărgăritar wine. It instantly became my favorite wine, and *ahem* I might have bought 5 bottles to take home with me… 

BOOK A WINE TOUR TO MILESTII MICI HERE 

Cricova is the second largest wine cellar in Moldova, boasting over 120 kilometers of underground tunnels. It’s especially known for its sparkling wine, which can be found on the table of almost every Moldovan during New Years Eve festivities. 

FUN FACT:   In 1966, famous Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin visited Cricova for a wine tasting and emerged two days later (with some assistance). 

BOOK A WINE TOUR TO CRICOVA WINERY HERE 

CASTEL MIMI WINERY

Castel Mimi Winery is a gorgeous chateau that looks like it was transported directly from France. The only “wine castle” in Moldova, Mimi winery brands itself as a wine resort where guests can relax and enjoy wine. This sprawling complex includes a restaurant (The White Owl), an outdoor pool, a wine bar, and a hotel ( Seven Stone Chalets Hotel ).

FUN FACT: Founder Constantin Mimi supplied the Russian army with his wines during World War I. 

BOOK A WINE TOUR TO CASTEL MIMI HERE // BOOK A ROOM AT CASTEL MIMI BOUTIQUE HOTEL HERE  

CHATEAU VARTELY

Although Chateau Vartely is one of the youngest wineries on this list (It was founded in 2008!) it’s already well-known in Moldova for its premium wine. Located near Orheiul Vechi, Vartely is a bit further out but well worth it! 

You can even stay overnight and explore Old Orhei the following day — check out the section below for more information. 

BOOK A WINE TOUR TO CHATEAU VARTELY HERE // BOOK A ROOM AT CHATEAU VARTELY’S HOTEL HERE

Found in 1827, Pucari is the oldest winery in Moldova and remains relatively unchanged to this day. In fact, the underground cellars kept their cross-shaped tunnels, as a reminder of the time when the production of wine in the country was controlled by the church. 

If you have extra time and prefer to stop and savor everything the winery has to offer, Pucari recently launched a boutique hotel with ten rooms. There’s also a tennis court, two lakes, a restaurant and wine bar, and even a children’s playground.

BOOK A WINE TOUR TO PUCARI HERE // BOOK A ROOM AT PUCARI’S HOTEL HERE

Stunning green landscapes, cheerful Moldovan “bunicile”, and a monastery built into a cave

Old Orhei (known as Orheiul Vechi in Moldovan) is an area 35 miles (60 km) north of Chisinau that is comprised of three villages: Butuceni, Morovaia and Trebujeni. 

It is one of the most popular day trips from Chisinau and is famous for its rolling green hills, cozy bread and breakfasts (perfect for travelers looking to relax in nature!), and its most famous site: a monastery built into a cave. 

After it was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites, Old Orhei came into prominence and is now one of the best places to visit in Moldova— and you’ll see why when you arrive! 

Take a small hike up to Orhei Vechi Monastery, taste homemade mamaliga at a bed and breakfast, revel in the beautiful nature, and enjoy this hidden gem of Moldova. 

The best part about traveling to Old Orhei is the flexibility: you can do a half-day tour from Chisinau (about 3 – 4 hours) or stay overnight to get a real feel of the Moldovan countryside. Besides the activities mentioned below, there isn’t much else to do – which is a plus if you’re interested in exploring nature and a minus if you’re into the bustle of city life. Hopefully that gives you a little insight so that you can pick the duration of your stay in Old Orhei. Let’s check it out. :) 

  How to Get to Old Orhei

You can get to Old Orhei via public transportation (a large van known as a marshrutka ) or via rental car (which is what I did). 

Marshrutka to Old Orhei 

You’ll want to go towards the back of Chisinau’s Piata Centrala (Central Plaza), where all of the busses and marshrutkas depart. There should be plenty of busses leaving daily – you’ll want to look for the one that has a sign with “Trebujeni” or “Butaceni” on it. Don’t worry, they’re close to each other, so it doesn’t really matter which one you take.

The ticket costs about 26 MDL (about $1.50 USD) and the journey takes about one hour. From Trebujeni it’s a 30 minute walk to the main sites, and from Butuceni it’s only about 15 minutes. Be sure to preload Google Maps beforehand because it can be a little confusing where to go— you’ll want to set “Orhei Vechi Monastery” as your destination, and you’ll know you’re close if you see the Orheiul Vechi Complex wooden sign at the entrance. 

To get back to Chisinau, you can just head back to where you were dropped off. Be sure to ask beforehand what time the marshrutka comes so that you can plan your day. 

Driving/Taxi to Old Orhei

For the trip from Chisinau to Old Orhei, I rented a car because it was convenient and I didn’t have to stick to the bus schedule. As a bonus, it’s easier to drive on the dirt roads over to your accommodation and to get between places (such as the monastery and a restaurant). 

The drive is about 55 km long and takes approximately 1 hour. The roads are really nice, but be sure to keep an eye on the speed limit so you won’t need to bribe the police. (*ahem* 😅)

What to Do in Old Orhei

Orhei Vechi Monastery

Orhei Vechi Monastery is the biggest tourist attraction in Old Orhei for two reasons. First of all, a monastery built into a cave?! How cool is that? And second of all, the (somewhat) hidden view from the back. But before we visit the monastery, let’s dive into a bit of history.

There’s a historical legend that said the leaders of the Golden Horde (a Tatar group that lived in the area) hid their gold and treasures in the walls of the cave’s rocks when they found out that their city was under attack. Is there still gold in the walls? Nobody knows — and I didn’t want to anger the monks and find out 😅 — so the legend is still out there. 

Besides gold, the monastery was also a popular place to hide Orthodox Christians during the USSR times, when religion was banned in the country. Even after the fall of the Soviet Union, the cave is still used today by Orthodox monks, who live and pray inside.  

The cave is a popular spot for tourists who visit it to see the colorful altar and icons inside. It is also one of the most important religious sites for Moldovan pilgrims who visit every year to pray. 

While I was there, the friendly monk mentioned that there is also a lovely view of the surrounding area. When you arrive, go straight ahead and there’s a small back “door” (AKA it’s really just a hole in the wall), and you’re there. 

You can also go into the little side room, which is where the monks used to sleep back in the day. Don’t worry, now they have much more comfortable rooms that are outside of the cave. :)

After the 1990s, the church services were moved to the new church nearby. It’s a short 5 minute walk between the two spots and the next thing on our list.

TRAVEL TIP! Since this is a religious site, please remember to wear conservative clothing. For men this includes a shirt and pants, and for women it should be a long dress and a scarf wrapped around the head. Although it’s not strictly enforced (i.e. there’s nobody at the entrance), also consider donating a few lei to help the monks with the upkeep. 

New Ascension Of St. Mary Orthodox Church

This is the church I was talking about :)

To the right of the cave monastery is the Orthodox church that was built in 1905. It’s a lovely compound that has a garden and a small church that you can go inside. On the side is a gift shop where you can buy small laminated icons, souvenirs, and other church-related things.  

The Stone Cross

The final part of the Orheiul Vechi Complex, this stone cross is a few steps away from the cave monastery. When I was exploring the area, there was a small queue to get a photo with this cross. After asking one of the men in line, I learned that if you put your hand over the flower on top, your wishes will come true. 

Visit the neighboring town of Orhei 

If you’ve finished visiting all of the tourist attractions in Old Orhei and have some spare time, you can also explore the nearby town with (almost) the same name. 

The drive from Old Orhei to Orhei is about 35 minutes and takes about 30 km. There you’ll find different stores, restaurants, parks, and more. There’s even an amusement park called Orheiland. :) 

A little further you can also find the Curchi Monastery , one of the most beautiful buildings in Moldova. If you want to learn more, I’ve written about it in-depth at the “Other Places to Visit in Moldova” section below. 

Where to Stay in Old Orhei

Since the town is small, there are only a few hotels in Old Orhei — but, like the old saying goes: quality over quantity! In fact, some of my favorite memories from Moldova were at the bed and breakfast that I stayed near Old Orhei. 

RESEDINTA ROTUNDU

Located in Butuceni, Resedinta Rotundu is one of the best accommodations near Old Orhei, and this was where I stayed overnight during my mini-trip here. 

One of the first things that jump out at you at Resedinta Rotundu is the cute, colorful, and kitschy decor, which makes it feel like a cheerful Moldovan grandma lives here. 

The second thing that jumps out is the extremely friendly staff. While waiting for the food, I went over to the garden out front and and talked with the two ladies. They were more than happy to give me a small tour of the fruits and veggies that they grow after I mentioned that my grandma also had a small garden. Later in the day, the credit card terminal wasn’t working and the older gentleman working as an electrician graciously gave me a lift to the nearby city of Orhei.

Speaking of the garden, I want to make a special note of the food here. I dined at Resedinta Rotundu twice, once for lunch and once for breakfast the day after. All of the dishes cooked at the restaurant are taken from the garden, eco-friendly, and fresh. The menu has a variety of options that include both Moldovan dishes and international ones. If you have time in the morning, definitely don’t skip breakfast: it’s absolutely amazing! The soft homemade bread, the chocolate-covered pancakes, the fresh-pressed juices, and the fluffy yogurt. If I could have one breakfast for the rest of my life, I would dine at Rotundu.

Finally, the rooms are large, comfortable, and have everything you need – in the traditional Moldovan decor, of course. ;) 

On a trip, it’s the little things that count — and my entire experience at Resedinta Rotundu made my trip to Moldova even better. 

Book Resedinta Rotundu on Booking.com 

Just a stone’s throw away in Trebujeni, Vila Roz is another picturesque pensiunea surrounded with hills and nature. The owner, Luba, is a native of the area and loves to delight her guests with traditional dishes at the on-site restaurant. 

The name, “rose villa” comes from both the cheerful rose-colored building as well as the lovely rose garden on the property. During the spring and summer seasons, don’t forget to smell the roses (literally) – they’re delicious! 

There are also complimentary bikes, hammocks, and an outdoor pool (!!) to make the most of your stay. 

Book Vila Roz on Booking.com

Where to Eat in Old Orhei

Again, since the town is small, there are a limited amount of options. 

If you’re only visiting Old Orhei on a day tour, I recommend buying some snacks in the city and bringing them with you (such as sandwiches, trail mix, bottled water, etc.)

If you’re staying overnight, most of the hotels and accommodations in Old Orhei will have at least one restaurant on-site, and many will even have breakfast included in the rate. 

For travelers who have a rental car, there are way more options in the nearby city of Orhei (the regular Orhei, not Old Orhei ;)). 

In case you’re limited to Orheiul Vechi, here are some restaurants in Old Orhei that you can try: 

Butuceni Restaurant: One of the best restaurants in Old Orhei, Butuceni is known for its delicious dumplings (seriously, try them) and traditional food. If you have time, definitely sign up for their cooking class – you won’t regret it!

Casa din Lunca Restaurant: A popular restaurant among locals that has a beautiful dining room and fresh food. 

Resedinta Rotundu: I’ve written above my stay above, but even if you’re not a guest, I recommend eating at Resedinta Rotundu. Everything is homegrown, organic, and yummy – especially the desserts. 

Epoca de Piatră/Pivnițele Brănești: Translated to “Stone Age,” this restaurant/brewery is built into a cave — you can’t miss it, as it has huge Hollywood-style letters announcing the entrance. The specialties here include delicious grilled meat and local craft beer. 

Old Orhei Tours

If you don’t have a rental car, prefer not to drive, and hate the thought of waiting for a bus in the hot sun, there are plenty of Old Orhei tours from Chisinau. The way it works is your driver will pick you up from your hotel in Chisinau, drive you to Old Orhei, and have your guide walk you through the main attractions before driving back to the capital. 

I recommend this Orhei Vechi Monastery Complex Tour from Chisinau , which includes a visit to all of the main sites in Old Orhei, the open-air museum, and even a traditional dinner. 

If you want to see all of the tours going to Old Orhei, you can check them out here . 

BACK TO CHISINAU

That’s it for our trip to Moldova! The final day is a “free day,” which means you can spend as much or as little time as you’d like in Chisinau. 

If you still have free time, feel free to check out some of the sites listed in “Other Places to Visit in Moldova” below. 

If you want to travel onward, I have also put together a small list of other places you can visit across the border — since Moldova is sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, you’ll find plenty of options for those two countries. :) 

WHAT OTHER PLACES SHOULD I VISIT IN MOLDOVA?

Besides the top three places to visit — Chisinau, Transnistria, and Old Orhei — there are plenty of hidden gems in Moldova. Here are a few that were recommended to me by locals or that I’ve read about in guide books.

Soroca – Soroca is the “unofficial” Roma capital of Moldova due to the large population of Roma people living there. The biggest attraction in Soroca are the huge and over the top mansions – there’s even an area, Gypsy Hill, where you can see the best ones. Other attractions include Soroca Fortress and the Candle of Gratitude. 

Saharna Monastery – Located in a small village called (*drumroll*) Saharna, this monastery is surrounded by a lush forest and nature. After walking around the complex, visit the other main tourist attraction of Saharna: the 22 waterfalls that are sprinkled around the area! There’s also a full day tour that takes you around Saharna, Tipova, and the surrounding areas. BOOK YOUR TOUR TO SAHARNA HERE .

Codru Reserve – Codru is the oldest forest reserve in Moldova. Located about 50 km north of the capital, it makes for a perfect day trip from Chisinau.

Curchi Monastery (Manastirea Curchi) : The red and white colored monastery was built more than 250 years ago and has a history as colorful as its exterior: it started as a small wooden church, then rebuilt into the current style, bombed during the USSR, and then served as a psychiatric hospital until 2002. Finally, the government allocated money to restore the building to its former self, and now locals and tourists from around the world visit it. 

Cobusca Nouă – You don’t have to fly all the way to France to get those Instagram-worthy photos of yourself in a lavender field – just go to Moldova! Located in a small village, the best time to visit these fields are in June, when the lavender is in full bloom.  

Bălți – Often referred to as the “Northern Capital” of Moldova, Balti is the country’s second largest city. If you’re traveling for Chisinau to Chernivtsi, Ukraine, this is a good spot to stop and break up the long journey. Attractions include the large square and the Saint Constantine and Elena Cathedral. 

Gagauzia – Similar to Transnistria, Gagauzia is another autonomous region of Moldova. The population is more related to Turkish people than Moldovans (even the language!). It’s a 4 hour bus ride to Comrat, the capital city. 

WHERE SHOULD I TRAVEL AFTER M OLDOVA?

Moldova is neatly sandwiched between two countries, Ukraine and Romania, which makes it easy to choose your next destination. Here are a few options: 

Chernivtsi – One of the most beautiful cities in Ukraine (and my hometown *cough*), Chernivtsi is teeming with intricate architecture, beautiful pedestrian streets, and one of the most famous UNESCO sites in Ukraine: Chernivtsi National University! Chernivtsi is located near the border of both Romania and Moldova, and can be reached  via a 7-hour bus ride from Chisinau or a 3-hour bus ride from Balti.  

 READ MY CITY GUIDE TO CHERNIVTSI HERE!

Odessa – Odessa is the seaside resort of Ukraine featuring over 30 km of coastline and plenty of beaches. Although it might seem like Odessa is a summer destination, it’s actually perfect all year round! This city features friendly locals, elegant palaces, and the perfect place to take a stroll along the waterfront. It takes 4 hours by train from Chisinau to Odessa. As an option, you can also do Chisinau-Tiraspol-Odessa and have a stop in Transnistria on the way there. 

Iași – Iasi is the biggest city in eastern Romania and a lovely place to spend a day wandering around on your way to Cluj-Napoca or Brașov. Don’t miss the Palace of Culture or the park in front of it. It takes 3.5 hours by bus or 5 hours by train to get from Chisinau to Iasi. 

Bucharest – From one capital to another ;) There are so many things to do in Bucharest that I could write another blog post, but some of my favorite highlights were the National Theatre, Cărturești Carusel bookstore (seriously, this is the most beautiful bookstore I’ve seen in my life), and the dozens of parks scattered around the city.  The best option is to take a night train, which takes about 13 hours from Chisinau to Bucharest. Otherwise there are daily busses as well. 

That’s all for this travel guide to Moldova! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed traveling through this undiscovered but warm and friendly country.

Let me know what you think in the comments below: Have you been to Moldova? Do you want to go? And which of the places would you love to visit the most? 

I’m off to enjoy a glass of Milestii Mici wine — but before I go, I wanted to say… 

Mulțumesc frumos ca ați citit blogul meu și va doresc bun voiaj!

Related Posts

12 thoughts on “ the ultimate moldova travel guide: where to go, what to see, and what to know + 4 day moldova itinerary ”.

Moldova looks like an interesting place to visit! And that food looks delicious!! I hope I will visit one day!

I was in Moldova last fall, it was a short weekend trip from Odessa! I took a train and I was so surprised that Moldova didn’t even put any entry or exit stamp. I had so much fun there as the wine was cheap, delicious and I’d met great people in the hostel I stayed it. Moldova is definitely really affordable quick destination! Thanks for the post :)

Nice to stroll with you. Great article. Keep the inspiration going!

What an excellent and thorough post! I didn’t know much about Moldova except they have excellent wine and the main reason I’ve wanted to visit. I almost did when I was in Romania but didn’t get the chance. I’ll save this post for all the wonderful things to do there when I do get the chance to go! 😁

Wow I had never really considered Moldova before but this blog makes me want to visit. So gorgeous.

I never would have thought of visiting Moldova, although I am aiming to travel more through some of the lesser visited European countries. Moldova looks delightful, you really made me want to go. It is cheap too which is perfect for budget travel. Also… wine hotel? Why doesn’t everywhere have one of those?!

Oh my goodness, who knew Moldova had so much to offer! And the prices were so reasonable! This is definitely going on our bucket list…we’re blown away by how beautiful it looks!

Hannah | https://getlost.blog/

So true! It’s such a colorful and budget-friendly destination :) I’m so happy it went on your bucket list!

Ahhhh Moldova looks so great!! I’ve wanted to go for so long, but I don’t really know a lot about it! This has shown me so much. And I really wanna go to Transnistria too!

Wow! Moldova looks beautiful! Love the National Museum photos. Sounds like a budget friendly place to visit too. So much to see there!

Hi there! We are planning for a week long trip to Moldova next month and came across your blog. I can’t tell you how excited we are now after going through your detailed writing! It was super helpful and we could literally feel your joy as you explored this beautiful little country! Thank you and keep up the good work! Safe travels! ❤️

Heya Bismi, Thank you so much for the kind words!! I really appreciate it and it bought such a big smile to my face :) I hope you have a fantastic time in Moldova, I’m sure you’ll love it! Feel free to reach out with any questions while you’re there (and don’t forget to try the plăcinte and mamaliga, yum 😋) Safe travels as well! 🌍

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Current Situation in Moldova: Travel Safety and Security

Are you interested in visiting Moldova now? Or perhaps you already had plans to visit and now you’re wondering whether you should still travel to Moldova this summer? You want to know: Is Moldova safe right now?  

Yes, Moldova is safe to visit and you are most welcome to visit us and experience our small country with a big heart for yourself. 

However, we understand that you might have some questions and concerns about the current situation in Moldova given the aggression in Ukraine, other things happening in the region and government warnings. We want to try and answer as many of those questions as possible and provide travelers with updated and transparent information about the situation in Moldova, including any safety and security concerns for travelers, on this page. The last thing we want is for any visitor to Moldova to feel unsafe or uncomfortable in our country. 

We will try to keep this page and information updated as much as we can, but please feel free to send us an email – [email protected] or reach out to us on Facebook / Instagram – at any time if you have any other questions about safety or traveling to Moldova.

In the last months Moldova has shown the world that our hospitality is not only for travelers, but it’s also for when our neighbors need a helping hand, like the 750,000+ Ukrainians who came to our country in 2022 looking for safety. Our wineries, guest houses and ordinary people immediately opened their homes and hearts to welcome them and provide safe refuge, showing our solidarity with Ukraine and Moldova for Peace in action. You can even choose to stay at these same generous guest houses and wineries to support the businesses who hosted and fed more than 10,000 Ukrainians, mostly women and children, and provided a welcoming smile and care.

If you choose not to visit Moldova right now as you prefer to wait, no worries. We look forward to welcoming you at a later time so you can experience this genuine hospitality for yourself. We hope that this website will help you plan your trip so that you can enjoy our quality wines , delicious cuisine , traditional culture in the countryside , cycling routes , and our dynamic capital city, Chisinau to the fullest. You can also enjoy a virtual tour of many of Moldova’s top attractions, wineries and guest houses on our Moldova in 360 .

Is Moldova open now to travelers and tourism?

Yes, Moldova’s borders are open for travelers and its tourism businesses are ready for visitors. Many accommodation providers in rural areas and Chisinau have availability, as do local tour operators and guides , to welcome travelers this summer and autumn. 

The country is operating normally with restaurants, cafes, wineries, shops, hotels, museums and other establishments open for business. Same goes for transport within the country. Our festivals and events are still happening as planned this summer. 

Is Moldova safe now? Is it safe to travel in Moldova given the invasion of Ukraine?

Moldova has not experienced any attacks or violence in the country related to what is happening in Ukraine, our eastern neighbor. The country does have an elevated level of alert to allow the government to respond to any changes, but currently the Moldovan government does not expect an attack on Moldova itself . 

It’s important to note that neutrality is part of the Republic of Moldova’s constitution, meaning that the government maintains relationships with all parties for peaceful resolution of issues.

Moldova’s president Ms. Maia Sandu stated : “We have a vision for peaceful reintegration of our country, which will guide our efforts to keep the situation stable. We believe, today, there is no immediate threat of Moldova being dragged into the war.”

Is the Chisinau airport open and are flights going to / from Chisinau? Is local / domestic transport operating normally

The Chisinau airport and Moldovan airspace has been re-opened for commercial passenger flights since 21 March, 2022. Most flig hts to Chi sinau , including direct flights from London, Rome, Bucharest, Istanbul and other major cities, have resumed. Wizz Air currently offers 21 different routes to cities throughout Europe. Visitors to Moldova from European, North American, CIS and several other countries do not need a visa to enter the country. Be sure to check the specific visa requirements for your nationality here .

Bus and train transportation with other countries (e.g., Romania) is operating normally, with the exception of the train from Chisinau to Odessa, Ukraine for obvious reasons. However, a new train link from Kyiv to Chisinau started up in November, 2022.

Domestic travel within Moldova is also operating normally with bus routes still on schedule.

What is the situation in Transnistria? Is it safe to travel to Transnistria now?

There were some explosions in early May in the Transnistrian region, the separatist territory to the east of Moldova.  The source of these explosions and disruptions are still unresolved and the Moldovan government is working to maintain peaceful relations.

Therefore, we do not recommend that any travelers visit Transnistria at this time as the Republic of Moldova  cannot ensure safety there given the current elevated level of alert and uncertainty in that territory.

Please see below for the official response from the government of the Republic of Moldova: “ Unfortunately, the constitutional authorities temporarily do not exercise effective control over the situation in the eastern districts of the country, due to the non-settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, and for these reasons are unable to ensure public order and security of people moving in this area. As of April 26, the so-called Tiraspol structures have set up a “red alert code”, which involves stepping up detailed control of people, goods, documents and means of transport at illegally installed stations near the administrative line, installation of concrete blocks near the posts, mobile patrols of the exponents of the force structures and additional restrictive measures. Preventive notification regimes are introduced to obtain travel consent, but also lists of persons whose access is prohibited in the region. Based on the sensitive regional context, the self-isolation of the Tiraspol factors during this period, the lack of intervention mechanisms in case of potential incidents from the competent authorities of the Republic of Moldova, we recommend avoiding travel in this region and carrying out planned activities in localities effectively controlled by national authorities. ”

Is there a refugee crisis still in Moldova? How does the refugee situation impact travel?

Over 750,000 people from Ukraine have crossed the border to Moldova since the beginning of the aggression from 24 February, 2022. The heavy flows of refugees during those first weeks did create a humanitarian crisis given the small population and limited resources of Moldova. However, the situation has changed considerably since those early days, going from a refugee crisis to a managed situation focused on integration and long-term support for the 100,000 Ukrainians who have decided to stay in Moldova.

This means that your travels should not be impacted negatively by the Ukrainian refugee situation in Moldova. 

We are very proud of how Moldovans worked together to host and support our Ukrainian neighbors in need both during the initial crisis and still today. Until recently, around 75% of Ukrainian families were hosted by ordinary Moldovan families who shared their homes, food, and all that they had. Today, there are still thousands of Moldovans volunteering and donating supplies through organizations like Moldova for Peace and effective coordination of support efforts through websites, apps and social media. 

You can learn more about how Moldovan guest houses hosted and welcome Ukrainian guests in the new documentary “ A Small Country with a Big Heart .”

What are some ways to support Ukrainian refugees in Moldova?

Thank you for your interest in supporting families from Ukraine who are settling in Moldova for safety. One of the most direct ways is to donate money to local and international organizations who are actively providing food, housing, and other support services. This will allow them to use the funds to quickly address immediate needs.

A good option to easily donate money online to a trusted local organization in Moldova working with Ukrainian refugees is this fundraiser for Moldova for Peace . This local organization of 3,000+ volunteers coordinates and provides food, shelter, transport, training, and other required services for refugees. Follow their work and updates on Facebook and Instagram to see where the needs are and how they are using funds.

In addition, you may consider supporting – through a stay at or visit – the wineries and guest houses that hosted thousands of people during the first weeks of the aggression when tens of thousands of people were crossing into Moldova each day for safety. Many of these tourism businesses are small, family-run rural guest houses who used their limited resources and reserves to host and feed their neighbors in need. Some of these guest houses continue to host a few Ukrainian families and provide support, including providing jobs and other employment opportunities like as a cook or help out with other needed work. 

Therefore, your decision to stay at one of these pensions or guest houses not only supports them financially so they can continue their business, but it also shows solidarity and support for their generosity and commitment to helping and caring during times of crisis and need.

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Ways Travel is a Moldovan inbound Tour operator, which since 2008 has built a reputation as one of the leading specialists in tailor-made private tours and tailor-made travel to Republic of Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria and the surrounding regions of Eastern Europe. We use our passion and knowledge to create the perfect trip for you, and deliver it with excellent customer service. We are a small team of dedicated experts and our focus is to create 100% Tailor Made Signature Tours for our guests.

Individual approach to each client, efficiency and professionalism of the personnel allow us to provide touristic services of high quality. The quality of the holidays is not expressed in the kilometers traveled or in the type of places visited... It is expressed in the experiences lived, in the unique things to do or see, and in the number of stories told to friends. That's why we do not offer a list of things to do... We offer special moments and experiences to which you can actively participate, becoming part of these experiences. 

Do you want unique things? Do you want to have direct contact with the locals? Do you want high quality services and professional guides? This is what we can offer in every trip. 

And do not forget... Time is expensive, but free time is even more expensive, So why not use it at its greatest value?

What People Say

This trip has exceeded my expectations due mostly to your thoughtful guidance and warmth. 

Thank you for sharing yout knowledge and passion about your wonderful country and for treating us like family. 

Dear Victoria,

Please accept the endosed as a token of my thanks and appreciation. I have been lucky enough, over the years, to have traveled to many destinations, and to have experienced every sort of guide. In my opinion you are right at the top, one of the select very few who manage to “get it just right”.

Like any skilled job, guiding is something that, when done well, it looks easy! You and I know that is not the case; it’s a tough, demanding profession that few individuals do adequately, and even fewer, well. Hardly any do such a great job that their clients feel cared for, safe, valued and special. You, in my view, are one of those rare tour leaders.

Please, accept my small token of gratitude. You have been kind, lightful, knowlageble (extremly), considerate, tolerant, efficient, reliable… I could go on, but to spare your blushes I will end by saying I cannot find a single criticism (this is a rare thing for me – I have very high standards!).

Your company depends for its success on your delivering what they promised. You have done professionaly this with a smile, a sense of humor, and grate dignity.

I wish you all the luck in the world for the future & thank you for leaving me with not only happy memories but with a positive impression of Moldova.

With very best wishes, Veronica.

Dearest Viorica, 

I really want to thank you enough for being the most amazing guide and introducing me to your tremendous country. What a priviledge it has been to travel back in time and catch the enduring presence of Moldovans through the centuries. I couldn’t imagine being transported through song and hear the love of family, hope & blessings being passed on. Family, food, friendship, sharing of thoughts and ideas connect us in real time and across time as well. 

This may not have been a clear chosen career path bat I must say you excel at it!!! Your ability to be flexible and accommodating is beyond the norm! I totally loved the book you helped create and will use it to dig deeper and continue to learn more about this country. 

The cooking, clothing weaving, embroidery, people have captured a part of my heart. The pictures we’ve taken will remind us of our time together for a lifetime & these stories you have shared will be retold and shared with many many others. 

Thanks so much again, 

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Moldova Travel Advisory

Travel advisory march 14, 2024, moldova - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed. 

Exercise increased caution while traveling to Moldova due to unresolved conflict between the breakaway region of Transnistria and the central government. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reconsider Travel To:

The Transnistria breakaway region due to the unresolved conflict with the central government and the armed conflict in neighboring Ukraine.

Country Summary:    Approximately 100,000 refugees are residing in Moldova as a result of Russia’s war in Ukraine, but there has been no military spillover into Moldova from the conflict. As of December 2023, the Moldovan government has ended its State of Emergency. The Chisinau airport is operating normally although there are no flights available to or from Belarus, Russia or Ukraine. 

Read the Moldova  country information page  for additional information on travel.

If you decide to travel to Moldova:

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter.
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Moldova.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.
• U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

Transnistria – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Transnistria is a breakaway region that is not under the control of the Moldovan government in Chisinau. Visitors are required to present identification to cross the administrative boundary of the Transnistria region; those without a Moldovan government-issued identification document may be requested to present a passport. Visitors may also be required to present identification and/or a passport at additional checkpoints manned by uniformed peacekeepers along roads leading into and out of the region. Ukraine has closed its border crossing points into the Transnistrian region. Taking photographs of military facilities and security forces is prohibited and may result in trouble with authorities.

The U.S. government’s ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens traveling in Transnistria maybe be limited or delayed since Transnistria’s de facto authorities control access to the region.

Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .

Travel Advisory Levels

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Warnings and insurance

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice.

Transnistria

FCDO advises against all travel to Transnistria.

There is widespread military activity in Ukraine, including close to some Moldovan borders. Transnistria is outside the control of the Moldovan government.  

FCDO ’s ability to offer support is extremely limited and will be more limited if there is military action on or near the Moldova-Ukraine border.

Do not attempt to cross into Ukraine from Moldova.   

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and see support for British nationals abroad for information about specific travel topics.

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.

If you’re travelling to Moldova, FCDO advises you to also read Ukraine travel advice .

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

Related content

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• UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals
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• Homes for Ukraine: record your interest
• Find out about the UK’s response

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