transnistria travel advisory

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

Moldova travel advice

Latest updates: The Health section was updated - travel health information (Public Health Agency of Canada)

Last updated: May 6, 2024 10:24 ET

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Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, moldova - exercise a high degree of caution.

Exercise a high degree of caution in Moldova due to the impacts of the armed conflict in Ukraine.

Transnistria - Avoid all travel

If you are in Transnistria, you should leave immediately.

Our ability to provide consular services in this region is severely limited.

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Impacts of the armed conflict in Ukraine

In February 2022, Russia began a military invasion of Ukraine.

There has been a significant increase in the number of displaced persons entering Moldova from Ukraine.

Moldova has declared a state of emergency. There are long delays at border crossings. Transportation and other essential services may be strained due to the high demand.

If you reside in Moldova or are transiting through the country:

• expect highly congested routes and transportation delays
• contact your transport carrier to determine whether the situation could disrupt your onward travel
• follow the instructions of local authorities
• monitor trustworthy news sources to stay informed on the evolving situation

Transnistria

Transnistria is a separatist region, located in eastern Moldova along the Ukrainian border, which is not under Moldovan government control. The security situation may be unstable and unpredictable, particularly since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In late April 2022, several explosions occurred in the region. There is a risk of armed conflict. The situation could deteriorate rapidly.

Avoid all travel to Transnistria.

If you are currently there, you should leave immediately. You should also expect checkpoints and long delays on the roads between this region and the rest of Moldova.

Our ability to provide consular services in this area is severely limited.

If you choose to remain in Transnistria despite this advisory:

• ensure that your passport and other travel documents are secure at all times
• maintain a supply of basic food, water and medications
• review your personal security plans on a daily basis
• inform a family member or friend of your whereabouts
• register and update your contact information through the Registration of Canadians Abroad service and encourage other Canadian citizens in Moldova to do so

Petty crime such as pickpocketing and purse snatching occurs, particularly in the capital, Chisinau. Common targets for criminal activity include public transportation, hotels, bars, restaurants and other public areas.

Violent crime, such as assault, occurs against foreigners as well.

• Ensure that your belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times
• Always leave your valuables in a hotel safe
• Avoid showing signs of affluence and carrying large sums of cash
• Do not leave your train compartment unattended, and ensure that the door is secured from the inside
• Do not travel alone after dark

Organized crime

Organized crime is widespread. Criminal groups often operate in casinos and nightclubs.

There is a threat of terrorism in Europe. Terrorist attacks have occurred in a number of European cities. There is a potential for other violent incidents.

Targets could include:

• government buildings, including schools
• places of worship
• airports and other transportation hubs and networks
• public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets, hotels and other sites frequented by foreigners

Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places.

Credit card and automated teller machine (ATM) fraud occurs. Be cautious when using debit or credit cards:

• pay careful attention when your cards are handled by others;
• use ATMs located in well-lit public areas or inside a bank or business;
• avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature;
• cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN; and
• check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements.

Beware of Internet fraud and scams, which can range from product purchases to Internet romances.

There have been incidents of police, or people posing as police, requesting bribes.

Overseas fraud

Spiked food and drinks

Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances, as the items may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

Demonstrations

Demonstrations occur from time to time, particularly in Chisinau. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Road safety

Roads are poorly maintained and most are not well lit. Poor signage and a lack of maintenance pose risks as well as farm vehicles, livestock and other similar hazards. It is common to see tractors, bicyclists, horse-drawn carts, pedestrians and livestock on the same road.

Moldovan drivers are aggressive. Drinking and driving is prevalent and accidents are common. Be cautious when crossing streets, as drivers do not always give pedestrians the right of way.

Avoid driving after dark.

Public transportation

Only use licensed marked taxis, including at the airport. Establish a rate or a fixed price before starting the journey to avoid excessive fees.

• Avoid flagging taxis on the street
• Don’t share taxis with strangers

Minibus accidents are common. Most of the public transportation vehicles are old and overcrowded.

Trains are often unheated and prone to cancellation.

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Moldovan authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave from Moldova.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Tourist visa: not required for up to 90 days per 6-month period Business visa: not required for up to 90 days per 6-month period Student visa: not required for up to 90 days per 6-month period

Entry from Transnistria

If you enter Moldova from the Transnistrian segment of the Moldova-Ukraine border, you must register within 72 hours of crossing into Moldova at:

• any branch of the Centre for State Information Resources “Registru”; or
• any branch of the Bureau for Migration and Asylum (Ministry of Internal Affairs).

These offices will not stamp your passport, but will give you a registration document, which you will need when leaving Moldova. If you fail to legally register with the Republic of Moldova, you could face significant issues when trying to leave the country.

There are frequent checkpoints in Transnistria, but these are not border control points.

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children .

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is not required to enter this country.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.

* It is important to note that country entry requirements may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

In this destination, rabies is carried by dogs and some wildlife, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. While travelling, take precautions , including keeping your distance from animals (including free-roaming dogs), and closely supervising children.

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. Rabies treatment is often available in this destination. 

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who are at high risk of exposure (e.g., occupational risk such as veterinarians and wildlife workers, children, adventure travellers and spelunkers, and others in close contact with animals). 

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a risk in some areas of this destination. It is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). It is spread to humans by the bite of infected ticks or occasionally when unpasteurized milk products are consumed.

Travellers to areas where TBE is found may be at higher risk  during April to November, and the risk is highest for people who hike or camp in forested areas.

Protect yourself from tick bites . The vaccine is not available in Canada. It may be available in the destination you are travelling to.

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Tuberculosis is an infection caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs.

For most travellers the risk of tuberculosis is low.

Travellers who may be at high risk while travelling in regions with risk of tuberculosis should discuss pre- and post-travel options with a health care professional.

High-risk travellers include those visiting or working in prisons, refugee camps, homeless shelters, or hospitals, or travellers visiting friends and relatives.

Medical services and facilities

Good health care is limited and medical supply shortages are common. Labels on medication are not in English or French.

Medical evacuation, which can be very expensive, may be necessary in the event of serious illness or injury.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a   travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Transfer to a Canadian prison

Canada and Moldova are signatories to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. This enables a Canadian imprisoned in Moldova to request a transfer to a Canadian prison to complete a sentence. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and Moldova authorities.

This process can take a long time, and there is no guarantee that the transfer will be approved by either or both sides.

Identification

You must carry photo identification, such as a passport, as police are entitled to request it at any time. If you fail to produce proper identification when requested to do so by authorities, you could face detention or fines.

Keep a photocopy of your passport in a safe place in case it’s lost or confiscated.

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is legally recognized in Moldova.

If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of Moldova, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you're there. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements .

Travellers with dual citizenship

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. The convention applies between Canada and Moldova.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Moldova, and if the applicable conditions are met, you may apply for the return of your child to the Moldovan court.

If you are in this situation:

• act as quickly as you can
• contact the Central Authority for your province or territory of residence for information on starting an application under The Hague Convention
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Moldova to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children’s Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country’s judicial affairs.

• List of Canadian Central Authorities for the Hague Convention
• International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left-Behind Parents
• Travelling with children
• The Hague Convention - Hague Conference on Private International Law
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Emergency Watch and Response Centre

Photography

Photography of military installations, checkpoints or government buildings is prohibited and could result in detention or even arrest.

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect lengthy prison sentences and heavy fines.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

2SLGBTQI+ travellers

Although the laws of Moldova do not prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex, negative attitudes towards homosexuality are prevalent.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

You should carry an international driving permit.

International Driving Permit

You can drive with an International Driving Permit for up to 90 days after your arrival in the country. Residents must have a Moldovan driver’s licence. You will also need:

• proof of valid insurance;
• passport; and
• if you are not the owner, written permission from the vehicle’s owner.

You must carry in your car a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a warning triangle.

The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.03%.

Imports and exports

Strict regulations are in place regarding the export of antiques, artwork and items of historical Moldovan significance. If you purchased any works of art or antiques, confirm with the Moldovan Department of Monuments if you may leave Moldova with these items before attempting to leave. Proof of the approval may be requested at the point of departure. Heavy fines or charges may be imposed if you fail to provide proof of approval to export.

The currency is the Moldovan leu (MDL). Euros are accepted.

Credit cards are increasingly being accepted, but the economy is primarily cash-based.

Local currency ATMs are available in Chisinau, but only a few accept foreign bank cards.

Moldova is in an active seismic zone. The region is prone to earthquakes.

There is a risk of flooding and landslides during the Spring and Fall seasons.

Local services

In case of emergency, dial 112.

Consular assistance

There is no resident Canadian government office in Moldova. You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information from the Embassy of Canada to Romania in Bucharest .

Bulgaria, Moldova

For emergency consular assistance, call the embassy of Canada in Bucharest, Romania and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

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Latest update

Exercise a high degree of caution in Moldova overall due to the volatile security situation and the impacts of military conflict in neighbouring Ukraine

Higher levels apply in some areas.

Moldova (PDF 216.79 KB)

Europe (PDF 2.62 MB)

Local emergency contacts

Fire and rescue services, medical emergencies.

Call 903 or go to a hospital.

Call 902 or go to the local police station.

Advice levels

Exercise a high degree of caution in Moldova overall.

Do not travel to Transnistria.

Do not travel to Transnistria due to the volatile security situation (a region outside the control of the Moldovan authorities) and  the impacts of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

• Exercise a high degree of caution in Moldova due to the volatile security environment and military conflict in neighbouring Ukraine.
• Large political protests can occur in Moldova. Public demonstrations and events can turn violent and attract a heavy police presence. Avoid protests and rallies. Monitor the media for information about protests. 
• Bomb threats have been made against the international airport, shopping centres and other official buildings in the capital, Chisinau. Monitor the media and follow the advice of local authorities.
• Do not travel to Transnistria due to the volatile security situation and the impacts of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It's a region outside the control of the Moldovan authorities. Explosions were reported in Transnistria in April and May 2022. If you travel to Transnistria despite our advice, our ability to provide consular assistance will be severely limited. 

Full travel advice: Safety

• Tick-borne diseases are a risk. Ticks are active in forested areas from spring to autumn. Check your body for ticks if you travel to forests.
• Waterborne, foodborne and infectious diseases are common. Boil tap water or drink bottled water. Avoid ice cubes, unpasteurised dairy products, and raw or undercooked food.
• Medical facilities and supplies are limited. You'll need to be evacuated if you become seriously ill or injured. Make sure your insurance covers this.

Full travel advice: Health

• Always carry ID documents. If you can't show them when asked, police can detain and fine you.
• It's illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level over 0%. It's also illegal to take photos of military sites, government buildings and other infrastructure.
• Same-sex relationships are legal in Moldova but aren't widely accepted. Avoid public displays of affection.
• Strict regulations cover the export of antiques, artworks and items of historical significance. Get approval from the Moldovan Department of Monuments.

Full travel advice: Local laws

• Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact an  embassy or consulate of Moldova , or visit the  Moldova Government  website for details. 
• You won't need a visa if you're visiting for up to 90 days in a 6-month period. For longer stays, you'll need a visa. Record your entry date, and check your visa dates carefully. If you overstay, authorities may deport you.
• Land border crossing points with Ukraine and Romania experienced major delays in early 2022. Delays could happen again if fighting increases in Ukraine. 
• If you have arrived in Moldova from Ukraine and need assistance, contact the Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (or 1300 555 135 if calling from Australia).

Full travel advice: Travel

Local contacts

• The  Consular Services Charter  tells you what the Australian government can and can't do to help when you're overseas.
• Australia doesn't have an embassy or consulate in Moldova.
• For consular help, contact the  Australian Embassy, Ukraine . Australian Embassy Ukraine officials have relocated temporarily to Poland.
• Follow the Australian Embassy Ukraine social media accounts to stay up to date with local information.

Full travel advice: Local contacts

Full advice

Civil unrest and political tension.

Debris from missiles and drones fired by Russia at targets in neighbouring Ukraine has landed in Moldova on a number of occasions.

Large political protests have occurred in Chisinau and other places in Moldova. Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent. Local street disturbances can start with little warning. Protests can attract a heavy police presence. You should monitor the media for information on political developments that might affect protest activity in Moldova. 

To stay safe:

• avoid demonstrations, protests and street disturbances
• monitor the news for possible unrest and avoid those places
• obey the local authorities

More information:

• Demonstrations and civil unrest

Pickpocketing, bag snatching and other petty crimes are common, particularly in Chisinau. Criminals target trains and hotel rooms.

Police officers, or people posing as police officers, may ask for bribes, including in tourist areas.

Internet fraud can originate in Moldova, including some dating and marriage  scams .

To reduce the risk of being a target for crime:

• keep your personal belongings close, particularly on trains and in other crowded areas
• be wary of business, dating or marriage proposals from people you've met online
• monitor local media for crime news

If police stop you and ask you to pay a fine:

• ask to see their ID
• offer to go to the nearest police station to pay
• get an official receipt for any payments

Cyber security 

You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you’re connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth. 

Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Travellers have been arrested for things they have said on social media. Don't comment on local or political events on your social media. 

More information:  

• Cyber security when travelling overseas  

Kidnapping can happen anywhere, anytime, including destinations that are typically at lower risk. The Australian Government's longstanding policy is that it doesn't make payments or concessions to kidnappers. 

More information: 

• Kidnapping  

In mid-2022, several bomb threats were made against the international airport, shopping centres and other official buildings in the capital, Chisinau. Disruptions and delays are likely to occur as authorities respond to any threats – even if threats are hoaxes, Moldovan authorities take time to assess the situation thoroughly. Monitor the media and follow the advice of local authorities.

While there have been no recent terrorist attacks in Moldova, they can still happen.

In recent years, terrorists have staged attacks in European cities.

• look out for possible threats
• avoid possible targets for terrorist attacks
• report anything suspicious to the police
• monitor the media for emerging threats
• take official warnings seriously
• follow the advice of local authorities

If there's an attack, leave the area as soon as it's safe. Avoid the affected area in case of secondary attacks.

Terrorism is a threat worldwide.

Climate and natural disasters

Moldova is in an  earthquake  zone. Register with the  Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System  to receive alerts on major disasters.

Severe weather , including heavy snow and wind, may cause power outages.

If a  natural disaster  happens:

• secure your passport in a safe, waterproof place
• keep in contact with your friends and family
• monitor local media and other sources
• Register with the  Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System  to receive alerts on major disasters.

Travel to Transnistria

Do not travel to Transnistria due to the volatile security situation. Explosions were reported in Transnistria in April and May 2022.

Events in Ukraine have led to political tension in Transnistria. The security situation is volatile and could deteriorate at short notice. 

Transnistria is not under Moldovan government control.

If you're in Transnistria, monitor your personal security plans and leave when it's safe.

If, despite our advice, you choose to travel to Transnistria:

• confirm your travel insurance will cover you
• arrange personal security measures
• make contingency plans
• stay as short a time as possible

Our ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited if you're in Transnistria. 

Travel insurance

Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. 

Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.

If you're not insured, you may have to pay thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.

• what activities and care your policy covers
• that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away

Physical and mental health

Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition. 

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

• have a basic health check-up
• ask if your travel plans may affect your health
• plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

If you have immediate concerns for your welfare or the welfare of another Australian, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.

• General health advice
• Healthy holiday tips  (Healthdirect Australia)

Medications

Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia are available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Moldova. Take enough legal medication for your trip.

Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:

• what the medication is
• your required dosage
• that it's for personal use

Health risks

Tick-borne encephalitis.

Tick-borne encephalitis  and other tick-borne diseases are a risk, especially in forest areas.

Ticks are common in forested areas from spring to autumn: April to October.

To protect yourself from disease:

• use insect repellent
• wear long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing
• check your body for ticks during and after travel in forest areas

Other health risks

Waterborne and foodborne diseases are common.

Other common  infectious diseases  include:

• tuberculosis

Serious outbreaks sometimes occur.

To protect yourself from illness:

• boil tap water or drink bottled water
• avoid ice cubes
• avoid uncooked and undercooked food, such as salads
• avoid unpasteurised dairy products

Get medical advice if you suspect food poisoning or have a fever or diarrhoea.

Medical care

Medical facilities are limited. They often don't have enough medical supplies.

If you become seriously ill or injured, you'll need to evacuate to somewhere with proper care. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.

You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.

If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our  Consular Services Charter . But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Moldova has severe penalties for possessing, using or trafficking illegal drugs. These include long sentences in local jails and heavy fines.

• Carrying or using drugs

Exporting goods

Strict regulations cover the export of antiques, artworks and items of historical significance, including modern art and posters, if they're rare or valuable.

If you want to export these items, seek approval from the Moldovan Department of Monuments.

You'll need to provide evidence of approval to export when you leave. You may also need receipts of purchase.

Moldovan customs authorities must process all goods for entry into Ukraine. Businesses based in Transnistria could face difficulties importing or exporting goods if the business isn't registered in Moldova.

You must always carry identity documents. This could be a copy of your passport.

If you can't produce identity documents for police when asked, they can detain and fine you.

It's illegal to:

• drive with a blood alcohol level greater than 0%
• take photos of military sites, government buildings and other infrastructure

Businesses need to register with the State Registration Chamber of the Ministry of Informational Development. It's illegal to operate a business without first registering it. This also applies to businesses in Transnistria.

• Doing business

Australian laws

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

Staying within the law and respecting customs

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is legally recognised in Moldova.

If you're an Australian citizen but also a citizen of Moldova, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements.

Dual nationals

Local customs

Same-sex relationships are legal but aren't widely accepted. Avoid public displays of affection.

Advice for LGBTI travellers

Visas and border measures

Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. For specific information about the evidence you'll need to enter a foreign destination, check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering. 

If you're visiting for up to 90 days within a 6-month period, you won't need a visa.

For longer stays, you'll need a visa.

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact an  embassy or consulate of Moldova , or visit the  Moldova Government  website for details. They'll tell you about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.

Record your entry date, and check your visa dates carefully where applicable. If you overstay your visa, authorities may deport you.

Entry to Moldova

You need to register at your port of entry.

Passport control authorities at border crossings automatically register your entry unless you're entering through Transnistria.

Travel through Transnistria

Do not enter or exit Moldova through Transnistria.

Several checkpoints exist along the routes into and out of Transnistria. These are not official border or immigration control points.

If you enter through Transnistria, your passport will not show a valid entry stamp. This may create problems when you try to leave the country.

Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.

The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting  a new passport .

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.

Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:

• In Australia, contact the  Australian Passport Information Service .
• If you're overseas, contact the nearest  Australian embassy or consulate .

Passport with 'X' gender identifier

Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can't guarantee that a passport showing 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country. Contact the nearest  embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination  before you arrive at the border to confirm if authorities will accept passports with 'X' gender markers. 

• LGBTI travellers  

The local currency is the Moldova Leu (MDL).

You can easily change euros and US dollars for MDL at banks and licensed money changers. You can rarely exchange Australian dollars.

Although parts of Moldova have a largely cash-based economy, major hotels – especially in Chisinau – widely accept traveller's cheques and credit cards.

Some major hotels accept traveller's cheques and credit cards.

Always keep your credit card in sight. Fraud is a risk.

You'll find very few ATMs outside the capital. Take care at ATMs. People have reported unauthorised withdrawals after using electronic banking in Moldova.

Use ATMs in controlled areas like banks, shops and shopping centres.

Local travel

Pressure on border controls in Europe has increased due to the mass movement of asylum seekers.

Always carry your passport when you cross borders.

Monitor local media and ask transport providers for up-to-date information on border conditions.

Driving permit

You'll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Moldova.

Get your IDP before you leave Australia.

Road travel

Roads are poorly maintained, and street lighting is rare.

Driving is hazardous because of pedestrians, farm vehicles and wandering livestock.

If you intend to drive in Moldova:

• find out about local road rules
• avoid driving at night
• Driving or riding

Motorcycles

Check with your travel insurer whether your policy covers you when riding a motorbike.

Always wear a helmet.

Use only official taxis and limousines. Book these through your hotel.

Unofficial taxis may overcharge. They may also not comply with safety standards.

Taxis that look official can still be unlicensed.

Don't share a taxi with strangers.

Public transport

Buses connecting Chisinau with other major cities are frequent.

Standards aren't the same as in Australia. Minibus accidents are common. Many buses are old and overcrowded.

• Transport and getting around safely

DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check  Moldova's air safety profile  with the Aviation Safety Network.

Emergencies

Depending on what you need, contact your:

• family and friends
• travel agent
• insurance provider

Always get a police report when you report a crime.

Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

Consular contacts

Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.

If you've arrived in Moldova from Ukraine and need assistance, contact the Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 in Australia or +61 2 6261 3305 outside Australia.

Australian Embassy Ukraine (temporarily relocated to Poland)

Email:  [email protected] For consular assistance:  [email protected] Website:  ukraine.embassy.gov.au Facebook:  Australian Embassy, Ukraine X:  @AUinUA

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can’t contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 in Australia

Travelling to Moldova?

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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.

How to travel to Transnistria in 2024 (Tips + Itinerary)

By Joan Torres 42 Comments Last updated on May 8, 2024

Have you ever visited a country that doesn’t exist?

As strange as it may sound, the world is filled with ghost countries which are basically, countries not recognized by the international community, therefore not members of the United Nations. 

In Europe, you can find 5 unrecognized countries, one of them being Transnistria, located within present Moldova. 

Transnistria is a real Soviet theme park and an actual off the beaten track destination within Europe.

This guide contains everything you need to know to travel to Transnistria , including information regarding visas, how to get there, things to do and historical context.

Don’t forget to read my ultimate Moldova itinerary , which also includes plenty of tips

In this Transnistria travel guide you will find:

Table of Contents

• How to get in
• Where to stay
• Is it safe?
• Things to do

Things to do in Tiraspol

Best day trips from tiraspol.

• More information

our recommended travel insurance for Moldova

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

Introduction to visiting the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (Transnistria)

Transnistria, with Tiraspol as its capital, is a narrow territory within Moldova , which stretches from north to south, the Dniester river being the natural border with Moldova, hence the name in Russian: Pridnestrovian, meaning on the other side of the Dniester river.

The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is a country not recognized by the UN, but traveling to Transnistria feels like traveling to a new one: they have their own borders, immigration rules, military, government, parliament, car registration, and even their own currency. 

It is a territory filled with Soviet nostalgia and Communist symbols.

In fact, the Transnistrian official flag is the only one in the world still using the hammer and sickle.

The only more Soviet places I have been to is Minsk. Check my travel guide to Minsk

Why did Transnistria separate from Moldova?

Short story: Transnistrians are pro-Russian people who didn’t want to be part of Moldova (culturally Romanian) after the dissolution of the USSR.

Longer story:  However, I’d like to add a few points because the story is obviously more complicated than that.

The fact is that Transnistria is an artificial, fake territory taken from Western Ukraine in an attempt by the Soviets to take over Bessarabia , a region from Romania which joined the Soviet Union in the 40s, which later became present-day Moldova. 

The reason why Transnistria is mostly inhabited by ethnical Russians is the same as why you find Russians in Eastern Ukraine: they were sent there as part of the Russification process. 

After WWII, the Soviets created the Moldavian SSR, composed of both Bessarabia and Transnistria but then, at the end of the 80s, during the dying years of the USSR, Moldovan nationalism grew and the Transnistrians were afraid of becoming the minority within Moldova, especially when Romanian was declared an official language, so Transnistria proclaimed independence from Moldova.

Tensions between both parties increased until 1992, when the Moldova-Transnistria war happened, which lasted for 3 months, and from whose Peace Agreement, the fake Semi-Presidential Republic of Transnistria was founded. 

For more information, read this great summary from the BBC.

Who recognizes Transnistria?

Unlike other unrecognized republics in the region such as Abkhazia or South Ossetia, Russia doesn’t recognize Transnistria as an independent country.

Transnistrians would like to be part of Russia but since Russia doesn’t want them – because the territory doesn’t have much value – and they don’t want to be part of Moldova, they are kind of stuck in between. 

In fact, Transnistria is an unrecognized country only recognized by unrecognized countries :

• Abkhazia – within Georgia. Read my travel guide to Abkhazia
• South Ossetia – within Georgia
• Artask – formerly known as Nagorno Karabakh and only accessible from Armenia.

Also, don’t forget to read my Georgia Travel Guide

This is one of the reasons why the economy in Transnistria is really struggling and, if you think Moldova is a developing country compared to the rest of Europe, wait until you travel to Transnistria.

Still, traveling to Transnistria is a worthwhile experience for anyone interested in offbeat, Soviet stuff. 

Continue reading my Transnistria Travel Guide.

🪪 Visa for Transnistria

Things have gotten smoother for visiting Transnistria, and pretty much any nationality who can visit Moldova can get a visa on arrival in Transnistria. 

Typically, once you arrive at the border, they will give you an immigration card valid for the number of days you requested, and which you need to show upon exit, like the Israeli visa .

How many days can you stay in Transnistria?

At the border immigration office, they will ask how many days you are planning to stay for. 

They claim your visa can be valid for up to 45 days, as long as you have a hotel booking confirming the length of your stay.

However, they did ask us the name of our hotel but never asked for the booking confirmation.

We had booked 3 nights in Tiraspol but, just in case, we said we wanted a 5-day permit, and the officer granted it to us without any further question. 

Extending your stay in Transnistria

If you wish to spend more time traveling in Transnistria, visa extensions can easily be got in a few minutes – and free of charge – at the immigration office located in Kotovskogo 2a Street, Tiraspol.

A common problem: Moldovan exit/entry stamp

Since Moldova doesn’t recognize Transnistria as an independent country, the Moldovan authorities will never give you an exit stamp upon your entrance in Transnistria, for the simple reason that, in their eyes, you never left Moldova.

Therefore, there could be two possible scenarios in which you won’t get your entry/exit stamp automatically, so here’s what you need to do:

• You are leaving Transnistria through Ukraine, hence you are not coming back to Moldova – In this case, at the Ukrainian border, you need to ask for the Moldovan immigration office, but be aware that this isn’t an automatic procedure, so you need to look for it.
• You travel to Transnistria from Ukraine, and then you plan to enter Moldova – If arriving by train, you will find the immigration office at the train station itself in Chisinau but once again, this is not an automatic procedure. If you are arriving by bus and don’t get the entry stamp, according to the Lonely Planet Forum , you need to get it at the Immigration Office in Chisinau , but only if you plan to stay in Moldova for more than 72 hours. 

In any case, there are reports from travelers saying didn’t manage to get the entry stamp for Moldova but, upon their exit, the Moldovan authorities didn’t give them any trouble because they are fully aware of the situation.

🛺 How to get to Transnistria

There are different ways of traveling to the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic:

How to travel to Transnistria from Ukraine

• By train – The train that goes from Odessa to Chisinau stops in Tiraspol. Not sure if there are daily trains, but you can check timings, prices and buy your ticket on the official Ukrainian Railway site . That’s where I bought mine. By the way, if you book the Odessa-Chisinau route, make sure to type the Russian transliteration Kishineu, otherwise, you won’t find it.
• By bus – If you miss the train, you can also take the Odessa-Chisinau bus which goes through Tiraspol. I personally used the train because it is apparently much faster than the bus .
• Other entry points – The Ukraine/Transnistria border is pretty long, so there are other points of entry which you can use. The city of Pervomaisk, located 200km north of Odessa, is a city with regular buses to Moldova.

Don’t forget to read my Ukraine travel guide

How to travel from Chisinau to Tiraspol

• By bus (marshrutka) – Marshrutkas leave all day long from the Central Bus station in Chisinau, here . It is a 2-hour journey and costs around 50 Leis (Moldovan currency), even though they might charge you more if you carry a suitcase.
• By train – I believe the train also works but marshrutka is a better option, as you get loads of them every day, whereas there are only a few trains.

💰 Money in Transnistria

Transnistria acts like a separate country and, unlike other unrecognized republics such as Abkhazia or South Ossetia, which are fully backed by Russia and so use the Russian Ruble, in Transnistria, they use their own currency: Transnistrian Rubles (PRB) . 

1 USD = 16.10 PRB 1MDL = 0.90PRB

Plastic Coins – In Transnistria, in addition to their regular coins and notes, they also use some weird plastic coins which look like a joke, but they are totally valid, even though they will soon remove them from the market. They have plastic coins worth 1, 3, 5 and 10PRB.

Paying with a credit card and withdrawing money

You can pay by credit card in only a very few places, so it is better to bring cash. 

I was able to withdraw money from one ATM, but I believe this will depend on your bank. 

Just in case, bring some extra cash. 

Exchanging money

American Dollars, Euros, Moldovan Leis and Russian Rubles are widely accepted in all exchange offices.

Paying in other currencies WATCH OUT!

The local economy in Transnistria is always struggling, so that is why they always like to accept any currency different from their own, including MDL, RUR, € or USD. 

However, on our last day, we had dinner in a relatively fancy restaurant where I thought credit cards would be accepted but they weren’t, so they brought us the bill in MDL and charged a 20% commission on the exchange rate. 

Luckily, while Adriana waited in the restaurant, I was able to find an ATM that worked but the guys from the restaurant strongly insisted I should not bother to go the ATM, ’cause they knew they’d get an extra 20% that way.

How much does it cost to travel in Transnistria?

Transnistria is a cheap destination as per European standards, and I’d say that it is a 15% cheaper than Moldova. 

🏨 Where to stay in Tiraspol

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.

⚠️ Is it safe to travel to Transnistria?

Something you need to remember when you visit Transnistria is that, unless you have a Russian passport, you won’t have any consular representation if the unlikely happens, so always travel with caution. 

Other than that, Transnistria and Tiraspol are as safe as Chisinau or any other country, even though I heard stories from people getting mugged at late hours, but I guess it was a one-off event. 

Taking photos when you visit Transnistria. Is it allowed?

Before traveling to Transnistria, I had read in a few blogs that taking photos of Government buildings like the House of Soviets was not allowed but this isn’t the case anymore. 

You can take photos of all the monuments and buildings mentioned in this article, with the exception of course, of military buildings, but this happens everywhere around the world I’m afraid.

Things to do in Transnistria

Traveling in Transnistria can certainly keep you busy for 2 or 3 days.

We stayed for 3 nights, spending most of our time in Tiraspol, but we also did some trips outside of the capital. 

Map of the things to do in Transnistria

Today the largest open-air Soviet Museum in the world, Tiraspol is a Soviet theme park or, like my Moldovan friends like to say, a Soviet zoo, even though I find this last term a bit disrespectful.

Jokes aside. 

The best things to do in Tiraspol are all related to Transnistria’s Soviet Heritage, but there is also a lively market worth to check out, as well as a few churches. 

House of Soviets and Lenin bust

The first crazy Soviet thing you may want to see is the City Hall of Tiraspol, whose main peculiarities are that they still call it the House of Soviets (Dom Sovetov in Russian) and they kept a bust of Lenin in front of it. 

It is a Stalinist style building from the 50s.

I managed to get inside the building but I was kicked out after 1.5 seconds. 

Suvorov Square: Suvorov Statue and Transnistria emblem

In Suvorov Square, you find the largest national emblem in the country, consisting of the hammer and sickle, and depictions of bread, grapes, corn, and potatoes.

You know, Communist stuff.

Next to it you find the statue of Alexander Suvorov , the last Generalissimo of the Russian Empire in the 17th century, at whose side wave the flags of the unrecognized republics of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Artask.  

Presidential Palace and Lenin Statue

The favorite postcard of Tiraspol is the Presidential Palace, which is guarded by a massive Lenin statue. 

The T-34 tank and Saint George Chapel

Very close to the Presidential Palace you find a war memorial to those who died during the Moldova-Transnistria war, in which you find a T-34 tank, the most common tank used during WWII. 

Controversially, next to the Soviet tank, you also find a cute church that creates a big contrast, the Saint George Chapel church.

If you like Soviet stuff, read Soviet stuff to do in Belarus

Abkhazia and South Ossetia embassies

Like I said, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, along with Artask, are the only countries that recognize the existence of Transnistria, so they won their right to get their respective embassies in a prime location. 

Here you can see other unrecognized countries I have visited

Monument to Aviators

Quite at the edge of town, you find the Monument to Aviators, consisting of a MiG-19 plane, the world’s first mass-produced supersonic aircraft.

Zeleni Market and the Christmas Cathedral

If you have some spare time, the Zeleni market in the center of Tiraspol gets quite lively in the morning. We were told that it also contains a flea market where they sell all sorts of old Soviet artifacts but we couldn’t find it.

Next to the market, you find the most important cathedral in Tiraspol, Christmas Cathedral, which is worth a few minutes of your time.

Kvint Cognac Factory

One of the few non-war-related things Transnistrians are proud of is their brandy , especially their Kvint Brandy, a distillery which has been completely functional since 1870, today producing more than 20 million bottles a year. 

I actually recommend you buy a small bottle from any supermarket or, at least, get a glass of brandy in any relatively good restaurant found across the city. 

Otherwise, you can also visit the factory, located just a 15-minute short walk from the city center. 

They offer daily tours in English and I recommend you go there the day before to book your tickets and ask for timings. We decided to visit the factory on our last day in Tiraspol but we arrived a bit late, and the next scheduled tour wasn’t until 4pm, so we missed it. 

Dniester river crossing

The Dniester is the natural border between Transnistria and Moldova but there are a few towns across the river that also belong to Transnistria, especially around Tiraspol. 

You can cross to the other side by walking over the bridge but, if you have time, there is also a ferry (shown on the map) that takes you to the other side for a few cents. 

In the evening, the shore of the river is a hanging-out-spot for locals.

These are some other things to visit in Transnistria:

Most travelers come here to just visit the famous Bendery Fortress but, if you visit Transnistria is because you like visiting Communist stuff, then Bendery has a hell load of it, perhaps not as monumental as its neighbor Tiraspol, but good enough to keep you busy for 1 or 2 hours. 

Things you need to check out are the slightly deteriorated Lenin Statue in Madagascar Park, the mosaic inside Bendery’s main bus station and the tank monument near the fortress, all of them marked on the attached map. 

By the way, entering the fortress costs 50PDR but the inside is not particularly exciting. Next to the fortress there is a fancy hotel with a cool bar-terrace that sells inexpensive beer. 

How to get to Bendery – There are buses every 10 minutes going to Bendery from the Tiraspol city center.

Chitcani is an unattractive Transnistrian town located across the river which has not much to offer except for Noul Neamt Monastery , a pretty Orthodox complex inhabited by Transnistrian monks who make a living from the wine they produce and vegetables they grow. 

There is a very tall bell tower which you can climb to the very top.

Well, you can but I think it is not allowed. I did it because there wasn’t anyone around, but I had to go through some doors which weren’t locked, but they were closed.

How to get to Noul Neamt Monastery – Marshrurkas leave from right across the river by the bridge. Otherwise, if you cross the Dniester by ferry, you can hitch a ride with any other car on the boat.

I missed this place, basically, because I only found out about it after visiting Transnistria.

In Sucleia there is a Youth Sports Complex containing a set of pretty amazing Soviet murals and a disproportionately large Lenin Statue.

Sucleia is around 7km east of Tiraspol.

If you want to know more about it, read this post from Kathmandu & Beyond . 

This was everything you needed to know to travel to Transnistria . If you have any questions or suggestion, please leave a comment below

td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;} ❗ More content about 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.

More Travel Guides to Moldova

• Travel Guide to Moldova
• Unusual Reasons to Visit Moldova

More Travel Guides to Other Unrecognized Countries

• Travel Guide to Abkhazia
• Somaliland Travel Guide
• Kosovo Travel Guide

42 comments

very interesting and informative artical I will definitely put Transnistria on my list

Interesting reed. On my schedule for 2020. Thx.

Nice article. Just you are wrong when you say you will not get any consular support if you need it. All countries are obligated to provide consular support to their citizens anywhere in the world. Even those who went to live in ISIL and are now in camps receive consular support from their countries and are returning there. Ofc it can be a bit harder here than in Chisinau for example, but not so much

Hi Rick, you might be right, I don’t know!

“Transnistria”? Die from the coronavirus, a Nazi animal.

Thank you for this review. I am great excite to visit beautiful land Transnistria.

Currently the marshruka from central bus station to Tiraspol is 46 lei. Problem is, getting in now requires a Covid test not more than 72 hours before arrival, a photocopy of hotel reservation and formal permission from the Commissar which is a several day process.

Hi Paul, thanks for the update. I had no idea about these Covid restrictions but hoping the situation will be back to normal once this bloody pandemic is gone.

I sincerely hope that your children will die in a concentration camp for your fascist insults.

Such mean-spirited remarks have no place in civil society. Moreover, you fail to state what it is about the article that troubles you. Maybe the author is not as far left as you are politically, but this doesn’t make him a fascist.

Are you really an idiots or followers of war criminals? You used the term of the Nazi war criminals “transnistria” to refer to modern people, thereby essentially wishing them death. I wish the author of this text the same again.

The only reason I use this term is because ”Transnistria” is accepted and the most commonly used term in the English language, hence what most travelers use & understand. Thanks for your wishes.

Where did you read this? Hardly even a fraction of the percentage of English speakers have heard about Pridnestrovie, there is no any “accepted and commonly used term”, the term is determined exclusively by the context. You wanted to offend people and question their right to a peaceful life – you did it.

If you like such cynical and blasphemous provocations, try next time traveling to Islamic countries with a gay flag or to North Korea with a caricature of their leader. I am sure that you will not return from there, and the world will become cleaner.

It’s a pity that I didn’t meet you: you would definitely have less teeth. Do not come to this country again and in general to the territory of exUSSR, you are not welcome here.

Xyeta, The first time I learned of this country, it was referred to as “Trans Dniester.” It was in a book called “The Game” written by Savoy and concerns the subject of how men can better succeed at attracting beautiful women, and chronicles the life of some men who call themselves “pickup artists.”

Do you like the term “Trans Dniester” any better or worse than “Transnistria”?

It’s not that I don’t like the ugly Romanian word “Transnistria”, but what it actually means. It means only one thing: the occupation and genocide committed by the Romanians in southwestern Ukraine during the Second World War and the Romanian claims to lands “beyond the Dniester” (meaning in relation to Romania, therefore the prefix “trans-“). In English sources, Pridnestrovie is called whatever they like, I have come across more than a dozen variants (that is, there is not even a hint of a “common name”, as written above), but any terms built using the prefix “trans-” are variations of the Romanian term and imply offensive and derogatory context. The author of this text is clearly aware of this, because you need to be completely limited and stupid to write so much text, but not even find out the name of the country about which you writes.

Xyeta, You use such hateful speech to the writer when you don’t know him or his intentions. This entire blog is highlighting the region in a good way and to show people that it is nice to travel there. His intentions were definitely not malicious. Now to your points about the name – I am an English speaker from North America. When I first learned about this country, it was introduced to me as “Transnistria.” I have seen it called this many times and had no knowledge of the history. I am assuming the same is for the author. It wasn’t until I did more research on my own that I came across the other names. To your point that “no one uses this hateful term”, that is not true. When I was looking to visit, many of the hotels use “Transnistria” in their address. Just look at CityHotel or Hotel Russia as examples. The author did not use it out of disrespect; he simply did not know the history. This is the same in my case – I had no idea it was a disrespectful term until you posted your comments. You should focus on educating, not threatening; especially when you do not know the person. I look forward to visiting this beautiful area in the near future.

Hi Peter, thanks for your comment. This person is just a fanatic and a sad human being who has nothing to do but to use his or her hateful speech to random people on the internet. In any case, regardless of what he or she says is true, Transnistria is the term which most people get introduced with, as you well say, and not only this, but it’s the term used by Wikipedia, the Lonely Planet and pretty much any international media outlet like the BBC and even the New York Times so yeah, using Transnistria seems unavoidable for foreigners, especially because the official Russian name Pridnestrovian or Pridnestrove can be difficult to pronounce. I think this person will have some hard time wishing death to all Western writers and journalists who ever wrote about Transnistria. In addition to what you said about hotels, in our visit, we also did talk to several English-speaking locals who had no issues or whatsoever in saying Transnistria. Therefore, I can only think that the term Transnistria may have some negative historical connotations but nowadays, educated people will know that foreigners just use it for convenience, and only the most fanatic and closed-minded people in Transnistria will find it offensive. Anyways, I just wanted to reply to you because I know you have read some of my articles, but I don’t think this person is worth any more seconds of our time, that’s what he or she would like. Big hug,

A man who insulted a whole people and the memory of hundreds of thousands of people on the Internet was offended that he was answered in the same spirit on the same Internet. Is it funny? No, it’s stupid and disgusting. As well as attempts to link to Wikipedia and other rubbish on the Internet. I repeat once again: the choice of a term in relation to concepts that are not conventionally fixed and do not have wide circulation in the language is determined solely by the author and the context. Is the country’s name harder to pronounce than the ugly Nazi term? I personally know many native speakers of English, German, Polish and some other languages. All of them, with whom I spoke on this topic, confirmed that the word “Transnistria” in English pronunciation is impossible to pronounce the first time. In any case, you had a choice from a range of neutral country names that you could find on the Internet: Pridnestrovie, Pridnestrovia, Cisdniestria, Dnestr Republic, Nistrenia, Cisnistria, Nistria, PMR, etc. But you chose the term Romanian Nazis, clearly aware of what it means. This is confirmed by the fact that you have not apologized or repented, having corrected your text, but continue to insult people. Such people are not worthy of a respectful and condescending attitude towards themselves.

What about you shut up you damn fanatic, no one gives a sh** about your pseudo country, the autor is just trying to give a touristic perspective of TRANSNISTRIA, that’s all. Now go screw yourself.

Does it highlighting the region in a good way? Okay, let’s see what he wrote. So, as a travel guide for travelers, the article is of little value, because it contains obvious nonsense in the spirit of “Transnistria” (“artificial, fake territory taken from Western Ukraine”, “they were sent there as part of the Russification process”, ” Bessarabia, a region from Romania which joined the Soviet Union in the 40s”, ” on the other side of the Dniester”, “Soviet zoo”, etc.), plus a lot of mistakes. I could comment on this, so that the author would use the information and make corrections, but not in the article under the heading “Transnistria”. The latter fully expresses the intentions and point of view of the author.

I could write it off as a philistine ignorance and complete illiteracy in the history of the region to which he decided to go (which in itself is disrespectful towards him), so I see all sorts of nonsense here about “Soviet churches” and “hellish Lenins “, but no. I met “trippers” who appeared in Pridnestrovie and spat this “Transnistria” out, making excuses: “Well, it is written in Wikipedia, it can’t be a lie!!!”, but after a moment they forgot this word. I do not even doubt that the author who visited Pridnestrovie and wrote the article after that was clearly aware of what he wanted to write, whose point of view to express and who to offend.

You want the author of to apologize after you wished death to his children and showed your psycho attitude? OMG, you are so unbelievable. I don’t know the author personally but I have followed his work for a long time and I can say is that his intentions are always good and for this article in particular he triggered the interest of many people wanting to travel to this part of the world and discover your country, which only benefits your people but it seems you are too stupid to realize. Get a life xyeta

Thank you for that detailed explanation and for not wishing horrible things upon me for asking the question.

You got totally wrong, I been there for 3 months there and never ask me where I will go. I told them I go for 1 or 2 weeks and if I wanted to extend I had to go to immigration of Tiraspol and told them, I would like to stay longer and never had any problems there.

I’m in the territory now (scared to death to call it anything at this point :P) and I had no issues coming by bus from Ukraine. I’m an American citizen and they didn’t ask for a covid test or vaccine proof. They gave me a six-week visa without even asking how long I’d be here. I didn’t have to show them proof of accommodation, I merely mentioned that I’m staying at a hostel. Definitely bring cash with you as I cannot use any of the ATMs and I’m yet to find a place that takes cards or Ukrainian money. Hope all is well!!!

lol. Thanks, Brooke for the heads up!

hi, im travellint to Moldova in few days..including 3 days in Transnistria.. .Thanks for your Review.

If I travel from Ukraine to Transnistria and back to Ukraine and if I have Ukraine single entry visa. Do I need one more visa to enter Ukraine again?

Nav I was in Transnistria earlier this month. I would say yes, as although the border control is not official therefore cannot stamp your passport, you are still exiting Ukraine to enter what is still recognised as Moldova

Hi everyone!

I’d like to ask a few questions about this fascinating republic. My parents are Russian speakers from Ukraine and I, myself, was born and raised in the UK. I have British and Ukrainian documents.

Would the fact that I decide to move to the country (either using my Ukrainian passport which clearly lists me as having been born in Great Britain on the main page, or with my British passport) arouse suspicion within the KGB? Are there people from western countries who live in the republic and are they suspected of being spies? I’ve heard of genuine tourists being detained and questioned… what happens to people who want to relocate there?

If I wanted my friends from “exotic” nationalities (who’s citizens usually need visas to visit Moldova) like Moroccans, Algerians, Indians, etc that live in neighbouring Odessa to join me on my travels, would they be able to enter the PMR without a visa or would the PMR customs officials insist that they request a Moldovan visa first? To add to this question: if someone manages to make it into the PMR, is it possible to proceed into Moldova without a visa?

Can I sneak into Moldova without going through passport control, withdraw MDL from an ATM and then return to the PMR and exchange the cash for PMR rubles? I saw a video once of Moldovan police officers standing on the side of a road with no PMR officials on the other side… I presume that it is possible to walk across and come back without getting checked?

Moldova recently passed a law on the recognition of documents issed by the PMR. What do I need to do to documents issed in the PMR for them to be recognised in other countries? I speak, namely, of birth certificates and university diplomas. If a family moves to the PMR and has a child, how would that child get documents from the family’s country of origin?

Thanks in advance! Ivan

What, another scum who only has the courage to insult on the Internet? Why didn’t you say your “transnistria” in the face of the Pridnestrovian people? I’d love to watch your filthy tongue cut off with a rusty knife.

Just to let everyone here know that these two commenters (Qwer and xyeta) are both the same person, and that’s the owner of Lenin Hostel in Tiraspol. We had a small, simple argument back when I visited his city, and these are his ways of resolving things. Just for you to keep in mind when looking for a hostel in Transnistria.

American wants to know if it’s cool to travel to Transnistria now? With everything happening in Ukraine, and with a few Russian troops stationed in Transnistria.

Hi Joan! I was there last year. I must have had a bad experience. In Tiraspol, I asked a group of young people who, it seemed to me, could speak English, how to get to the migration center of Transnistria. As a result, they broke my nose. When I finally got to this center, they called the police. Then I had to explain how I ended up there and why my nose was broken. As they explained to me, I was beaten for the word “Transnistria”, which I carelessly used and which is a terrible insult. As a result, after several hours of interrogation about why I was engaged in provocations, I was forced to take a bus and urgently leave the region. I still don’t understand what I did wrong.

oh man, I am deeply sorry to hear that, that sucks

Thank you for your article. Apparently some nuttz read it as well. Amazing how lame some people’s lives are. So thank you. Any idea if I can take a rental car there from Moldova?

Hi Joseph, good question, I am not entirely sure but I can’t see why not?

I was there yesterday! Totally worth the trip! Super cool. Visit the market and just walk around and drink some wine. Great place. Clean. Nice people. Your cards won’t work but it’s easy to change money. The idiot talking about being punched and the other idiot talking about what to call it are just that, idiots. Wonderful place. There are two borders. Go through the one to the north as it is way small and adorable. The one to the south was way more formal. Anyways. Please go. Funny place and wonderful.

Thank you Joseph, glad to hear you had a nice experience 🙂

As a citizen of Pridnestrovie, I was very upset by this unmotivated hatred against us. I can only wish for your country what you wished for us by using the word “Transnistria”: war, mass bloodshed and genocide.

I agree with what was written above. This article was written as a political provocation against Pridnestrovie. And the use of a term whose meaning implies the physical destruction of Pridnestrovians is not even a provocation, but simply cretinism. The author’s level of hatred is as if the Pridnestrovians killed his relatives and raped his children.

thanks for reading it!

Everything is safe and now? I am in Moldova for 1 week maybe thinking to be one day in Tiraspol if it is not problem.

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TRANSNISTRIA - PRIDNESTROVIE TRAVEL ADVICE: HOW TO GET THERE FROM ODESSA AND CHISINAU

What do you need to know before visiting Pridnestrovie / Transnistria?

This blog post is the travel advice for Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. It contains all the practical information needed for a safe trip there: do you need a visa to Transnistria-Pridnestrovie? What is the process of registration on arrival? 

How to get to Tiraspol from Odessa and Chisinau independently and with an organized tour? Do you need an accreditation in Transnistria / Pridnestrovie if you travel as a photographer? 

1. Visa to Transnistria - Pridnestrovie: do you need one?

Good news! There is no visa required to enter  Pridnestrovie / Transnistria.

If your passport allows you to come to Moldova or Ukraine, then you can travel to Pridnestrovie / Transnistria, too.

However, at the Pridnestrovian / Transnistrian border you will have to register indicating the duration, the place and the purpose of your stay. More about this below. 

There are no visa restrictions on entry for citizens of the European Union and other states.

2. What documents do you need to visit Transnistria - Pridnestrovie?

Registration at the border and the migration card.

When entering Pridnestrovie / Transnistria, you should have an identity document with you.

Citizens of the Russian Federation and Moldova can enter the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic with an ID card. 

Citizens of other countries are required to have an international passport with them.

Upon entering the territory of Pridnestrovie / Transnistria, you will have to register at the border control and fill out the migration card. 

Traveling to Pridnestrovie / Transnistria by car or by bus

If you travel by car or by bus, you have to fill out a migration card at the customs point. 

In the migration card you should indicate the address of stay or residence and the period during which you plan to stay in Pridnestrovie / Transnistria.

Traveling to Pridnestrovie / Transnistria by train

If you arrive by train to the Tiraspol railway station, you must go through the registration procedure yourself.

To do this, you should go to the main entrance of the railway station and find a special window with the migration officer. There you have to submit your passport, your train ticket, and a completed migration card.

You can also register at the police station in the city where you plan to stay. In any case, you must do this within 24 hours of arrival. 

Sometimes the employee responsible for receiving and processing documents requires the physical presence of the person whose housing you are registering in. In such a case, this person should also bring documents proving that he is the owner of the real estate. 

However, as a rule, only your presence is sufficient.

If the registration deadline is coming to an end, and you need to stay longer, you can renew your registration. 

For this, you need to go to the local police station with the migration card and your passport.  If necessary, you how can also arrange a temporary registration for a longer period.

Fines for loosing your migration card

It's important to keep you registration card  until you leave Pridnestrovie / Transnistria.

In case you loose your migration card or stay longer on the territory of Pridnestrovie / Transnistria than indicated in your card,  you will have to pay a fine of 50 PMR rubles, that is about 5 US dollars. 

3. For how long can you stay in Transnistria - Pridnestrovie?

The maximum allowed registration period is 45 days.  

If you need to stay longer in Pridnestrovie / Transnistria,  you can prolong your registration card. 

You can also apply for a temporary residence permit that is valid for 3 years. 

4. Do you need an accreditation in Transnistria-Pridnestrovie if you travel as a photographer or a journalist?

Foreign journalists, including independent freelance journalists, heading to work in Pridnestrovie / Transnistria must obtain accreditation from the State Mass Media Service. 

Accreditation can be of two types: short-term (it is necessary if the journalist plans to write about a specific event) and long-term (issued for one year with the possibility of extension).

To obtain a short-term accreditation, you should send an application to the Mass Media Service service by email [email protected]. 

Your application must indicate the full name of the media outlet, its informational focus (political, economic, social, sports, etc.), the location of the editorial office, the region of distribution, postal address, phone number, and email. 

The application must also contain the surname, name, the purpose of the assignment, and the period of accreditation.

You should apply no later than 30 days before the expected start of the accreditation.

5. Is it safe to travel to Transnistria - Pridnestrovie?

Safety in transnistria - pridnestrovie.

The times when Transnistria / Pridnestrovie was closed from the world and western tourists are over.

In fact, Transnistrian / Pridnestrovian government facilitates tourism and develops infrastructure as they understand that tourism helps the local economy.

Still, 10 years ago you could rarely see foreigners in Transnistria / Pridnestrovie. Now, tourists strolling around with a camera don't surprise locals anymore. 

The fact that Transnistria is an unrecognized country does not automatically make it less secure.  

The crime level is very low, but you still need to take the necessary precautions like not to get drunk, not to walk alone at night, not to do anything illegal, etc. 

I've read on the internet the stories about the bribes at the border, but first of all, these stories are ten years old, and it's not known if the travelers, in fact, violated some migration rules and paid not bribes, but fines.

I went to Tiraspol with foreign friends from France, and my friends from Canada and Poland traveled there as well and didn't have any safety issues.

So, Pridnestrovie / Transnistria is generally a safe place to travel. However, it's still better to have a travel insurance in case something happens to you. 

6. Travel insurance for Transnistria - Pridnestrovie

Is it worth buying a travel insurance for transnistria - pridnestrovie.

It is not possible to purchase travel insurance only for Transnistria as it's a country that is not recognized internationally.

However, you can buy travel insurance for Moldova and Ukraine. The proximity of the borders of  Moldova and Ukraine makes insurance very useful for you.

Your stay in Transnistria is usually 2-3 days, and you spend the rest of your travel time in one of the neighboring countries. Make sure you purchase travel insurance in advance, which will cover any costs of medical care in case you need one. 

You can check the prices of insurance for Ukraine or Moldova in the online calculator.

Never travel abroad without insurance. The cost of it is close to a few cents a day, and the fact of having a policy protects you against astronomical medical costs that may affect you in some countries.

MORE TO DISCOVER ABOUT TRANSNISTRIA / PRIDNESTROVIE:

TRANSNISTRIA - PRIDNESTROVIE TRAVEL GUIDE:  TOP THINGS TO DO & TO VISIT

This blog post is a travel guide to the special place on Earth Transnistria - Pridnestrovie. 

Find out what is Transnistria - Pridnestrovie? Why travel there? What to see and visit in the capital of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, Tiraspol?

What are the top things to do in Transnistria - Pridnestrovie? 

READ MORE  

THE BEST TOURS & EXCURSIONS IN TRANSNISTRIA - PRIDNESTROVIE  

Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is one of the most fascinating places you will ever visit. It's an unrecognized republic that was created in 1990 with a unique culture, architecture, monuments, food and attractions. 

Experience the most of Pridnestrovie (Transnistria) with a local guide on a carefully selected itinerary. Immerse in the local culture and learn how it is to live in a country that "does not exist". 

Here are the best tours and excursions in Pridnestrovie - Transnistria. 

UNIQUE HOTELS IN TRANSNISTRIA - PRIDNESTROVIE 

Transnistria / Pridnestrovie deserves to spend more than one day here. Most foreigners limit themselves only to visiting Tiraspol and the Bendery Fortress on a one-day excursion, but in fact, you can spend in Transnistria / Pridnestrovie a whole fascinating week. 

If you are thinking about spending the night in Transnistria / Pridnestrovie, here are some recommendations for where to stay in Tiraspol and other cities of this unusual self-proclaimed state.

Would you like to spend the night in the castle in Bendery, stay in the hotel from the USSR times in Tiraspol, or maybe sleep in the museum of alcohol? 

8. Day trips and tours to Tiraspol and Transnistria from Chisinau

If you want your trip to Transnistria / Pridnestrovie to go smooth, visit this region on a private tour with an experienced guide. 

The tour from Chisinau to Tiraspol lasts around 7 hours . Your guide will pick you up at your hotel or hostel in Chisinau and will drive you to Tiraspol. 

On the Tiraspol and Bender Fortress Tour, you will visit the Soviet monuments and government of Transnistria / Pridnestrovie in Tiraspol. Then you will head to the Novo-Neamt Holy Ascension Monastery and Kitskany bridgehead in the village of Kitskany. 

Kitskany bridgehead was a strategic bridgehead of Soviet troops on the western bank of the Dniester River during the Odessa operation in 1944. 

It's a picturesque place where you can enjoy a great view of the city. 

The guide will also take you to the Turkish fortress in Bendery. 

The delicious lunch in Tiraspol is included in the price of the tour.

Get more information about this tour here. 

9. How to get to Tiraspol from Odessa

Traveling by bus is the most popular way to get from Odessa to Tiraspol. 

You can buy your ticket at the Odessa Bus Station. The ticket price is $5-$7. 

The trip takes around 2 hours, depending on the time spent at the border control in Kuchurhan - Pervomaisc.

If you enter Transnistria / Pridnestrovie by bus, you will receive an exit stamp from Ukraine on the Ukrainian side.

You can travel from Odessa to Tiraspol by train and vise versa. 

From Tiraspol, the train departs at 8.20, arrives in Odessa at 10.46. Departure from Odessa is at 18.45, and arrival in Tiraspol at 21.00.

The train runs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. 

On the train, there will be customs, border, and migration inspection. For this, 30 minutes of parking in Bendery and 40 minutes in Kuchurgani are provided.

So, it can be faster to travel from Odessa to Tiraspol by train than by bus, because there are many more cars and busses at the Kuchurgan Ukrainian border, and the border control is generally longer. 

If you travel by train from Odessa to Tiraspol, you will pay around $5 depending on the current currency exchange rates. Buy your ticket at the Odessa Train station. 

Taxi is the most convenient and comfortable way to travel to Tiraspol from Odessa. You may find a taxi at the bus and train stations, but be careful, many of them are illegal (not an officially registered taxi). 

You can also book your taxi online in advance. 

10. Day trips & tours to Tiraspol and Transnistria from Odessa

If you prefer to visit Transnistria / Pridnestrovie on an organized tour, there are several great options with departure from Odessa. 

With a private one-day tour to Transnistria that lasts 9 hours, you will visit both Tiraspol and Bendery. 

On this tour, you will travel in a private car to and from Transnistria to Odessa and visit Transnistria with a professional English-speaking guide.

The guide will explain to you the historical background of Transnistrian / Pridnestrovian region, tell about the current situation there, and show you the main attractions.

12. More travel tips for Transnistria - Pridnestrovie

• I recommend that you have a sufficient amount of foreign currency in cash, as ATMs are not very common in Transnistria / Pridnestrovie. 

• You can easily exchange Moldovan lei, euros, dollars, or Ukrainian hryvnias into PMR rubles.

• Remember that in Pridnestrovie / Transnistria, you can pay for restaurants, transport, and other services only in PMR rubles. 

• One average lunch costs about 5 to 10 euros. 

• A taxi around the city costs about 2 euros. 

• It is forbidden to take pictures of KGB building, posts of peacekeeping forces, and other military facilities, and as well as the Pridnestrovian / Transnistrian border and its officials. 

• If you are a citizen of the Europen Union or the United States and enter Transnistria / Pridnestrovie by car, then you need to buy Pridnestrovian car insurance at the border, as well as pay a vignette fee for the days of your stay in Pridnestrovie.

Did this article answered all your questions? 

If not, you can ask your question the comments. 

HAVE A SAFE AND FANTASTIC TRIP TO PRIDNESTROVIE ! 

Sasha & The Alternative Travel Guide 

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Write a comment

Azam waqas ( Sunday, 19 September 2021 14:46 )

can i travell tranistria to moldova on his card for one day or enter and evning come back

john ( Thursday, 28 October 2021 22:41 )

Is it possible to register at Bender train station?

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Moldova travel guide

Moldova is a largely overlooked destination, as yet untouched by the budget airline brigade. But it shouldn't be. In this land-locked Eastern European country, you can wander round vast monasteries, trek through ancient forests, or sample the local wines. Rich with history and fertile soils that produce abundant vineyards, Moldova is a special country despite its lack of fame, and one well worth getting to know.

Despite remaining one of the poorest countries in Europe, the people are friendly and welcoming, and the main hubs, such as the capital Chişinău, have everything a visitor could need. Although few outsiders have heard about it as a viable city break destination, Chişinău has plenty going on. There's a buzzing cafe-bar and restaurant scene, while its cathedrals, monuments and museums have survived despite the city taking a serious pounding from aerial bombardments during World War II. One such survivor not to miss is the house where the writer Pushkin spent his days in exile penning some of his most famous works.

The most obvious selling point of Moldova is probably that it's almost the least known spot in Europe. With only a few thousand visiting the country in every year – even neighbouring Romania and Ukraine see far higher foreign footfall – it's mainly favoured by intrepid backpacking completists. But there's much more to the country than this.

A largely unspoilt, natural hinterland with plenty in the way of traditional culture and village life still going, Moldova can feel like a fragment of old Europe, at least if you get beyond the cities. Cross the Dniestr River, and you'll find yourself in the beguiling separatist Russian-speaking province of Transdniestr, all Soviet architecture and Lenin busts.

Then there's the wine. The Moldovan grape's slowly fermenting fame means that the wine tourism industry is just beginning to emerge. The upshot? You can try one of Europe's best, most unique wines in a hidden land that will surely have more than its fair of tourists in the years to come.

33,800 sq km (13,050 sq miles).

4,062,862 (UN estimate 2016).

104.9 per sq km.

Chisinau (Kishinev).

President Maia Sandu since 2020.

Prime Minister Dorin Recean since 2023.

Travel Advice

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.

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Moldova set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Moldovan Embassy in the UK .

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Moldova. 

Passport validity requirements

Your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Moldova, and one blank page.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Visa requirements

You do not need a visa to enter Moldova for stays of up to 90 days in a 6-month period. You must be able to show a return or onward flight ticket.

You need a residence or work permit for stays of more than 90 days. See more information on residence and work permits . 

The Moldovan authorities will automatically register your arrival date. They strictly enforce penalties, including fines and expulsion, against foreign visitors who stay in Moldova longer than allowed. Please contact the Moldovan authorities with any additional questions.

Vaccination requirements  

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and certificates you need in TravelHealthPro’s Moldova guide .

Border crossings

Moldova-romania border.

Check for updates on border crossings with Romania with the Moldovan Border Police .

Entering and leaving Transnistria

There is no official border between Moldova and Transnistria. However, there are border control points established by the de facto Transnistria leadership between Moldova and Transnistria. Passports will be controlled but will not be stamped. When entering Transnistria, you will need to fill in 2 copies of a migration card for the de facto authorities – keep one copy to show them when you leave. The de facto authorities may ask the purpose and length of your visit, and where you will stay. They may also deny you entry. 

All border crossings between Ukraine and Transnistria are temporarily closed. FCDO does not know when they will reopen.     

The train service between Odessa and Chisinau is suspended.

Entering Moldova from Ukraine

Check for updates on border crossings with Ukraine with the Moldovan Border Police .

If you enter Moldova overland from Ukraine, do this at an internationally recognised border crossing point. These are in the north and south of Moldova, excluding the Transnistria region.

If you have travelled to Moldova from Ukraine and need assistance, call (+373) 22 225 902 or contact FCDO online .

If you’re near a Ukraine-Moldova border crossing point and need assistance, call our consular contact centre on +44 1908 516666, selecting option 2: consular services for British nationals.     

Entering Ukraine from Moldova

Check for updates on border crossings with Ukraine with the Moldovan Border Police . This is particularly important around Transnistria, which is outside the control of the Moldovan authorities. Read FCDO ’s Ukraine travel advice .

Security situation in Ukraine

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

Moldova declared a state of emergency on 24 February 2022. This ended on 30 December 2023, with no further extension. 

Read more about the risks in Transnistria .

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad .

Terrorism in Moldova

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Moldova, attacks cannot be ruled out.

Political situation

Since autumn 2022 there have been regular political demonstrations in central Chisinau, and occasionally elsewhere. These are likely to continue. They have been small-scale and generally peaceful and well-policed. However, there have been organised attempts by certain groups to use these demonstrations as a cover for causing disturbances. Stay away from all political demonstrations.

Humanitarian support workers

The UK supports the multilateral humanitarian effort led by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and offers practical bilateral support. If you’re considering providing humanitarian support to Ukrainians in Moldova, check information on existing ways to assist on the GOV.UK Russian invasion of Ukraine page and the Moldovan government’s information (largely in Romanian and Russian). This is particularly important if you’re considering bringing in humanitarian supplies (information in Romanian and Russian only).

Protecting yourself and your belongings

Be alert to:

• street crime and petty theft, particularly in Chisinau
• pickpockets and bag snatchers in crowded areas
• credit card and ATM fraud – keep sight of the card when paying a bill

Keep your valuables and passport in a safe place, such as a hotel safe. Carry a copy of your passport’s photo page for identification.

Streets, pavements and public paths are not well-maintained or well-lit, including in Chisinau and other cities. Consider carrying a torch.

Discrimination

Although most visitors experience no difficulties, some Asian and Afro-Caribbean visitors have reported being stared at, verbally abused, assaulted, denied entrance into some clubs and restaurants, and police harassment.

Laws and cultural differences

Police checks and id.

There are frequent police checks and police officers have the legal right to ask for ID on the street. Always carry a copy of the photo page of your passport with you.

Exporting art and antiques

You must get permission from the Moldovan Department of Monuments to take any artwork or antiques out of the country. If you do not, customs officials could seize the art or antiques and you could face criminal charges.

Using cameras

Avoid taking photos of military and government facilities, including airports and power stations. You’re likely to be detained for questioning or arrested if you’re caught.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex sexual activity is not illegal in Moldova, but the Moldovan government does not formally recognise same-sex partners. There is an active social and lobbying group on gay and lesbian issues in Chisinau. Public attitudes are less tolerant and open displays of affection can receive unwanted attention. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .

Child surrogacy is strictly prohibited throughout Moldova. Comply with local laws and note that the British Embassy will not be able to provide support.

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

There is zero tolerance for possession or supply of illegal drugs. If you have even small quantities of drugs (class A, B or C) you could get a long prison term as well as heavy fines.

You may not always be able to pay by card, particularly outside the capital, Chisinau.

The most widely accepted foreign currencies are US dollars and euros. Carry some euros in cash.   

Notes should be in perfect condition, or they may not be accepted. It’s not always easy to exchange British pounds for local currency.

ATMs in Transnistrian banks will not accept cards from non-Transnistrian banks. The currency used in Transnistria is the Transnistrian ruble. Outside Transnistria, you cannot exchange Moldovan lei or other currencies into rubles, or rubles into other currencies. Attempting to pay in Transnistria in currencies other than the ruble is considered illegal by the self-declared authorities.

Transport risks

Road travel .

If you’re planning to drive a hire car or a UK vehicle, see information on driving abroad and check the rules of the road in RAC’s Moldova guide . The guide lists driving regulations and other legal requirements.

You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Moldova. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well.  

You must declare your vehicle to customs if you enter Moldova by car. You can take vehicles into Moldova without paying import taxes for up to 90 days in a 365-day period. The British Embassy cannot help you with bringing vehicles into Moldova. Contact the Moldovan Embassy in the UK .

If you’re driving a private vehicle owned by someone else, you need permission from the owner, translated and notarised.

Road conditions and driving standards

Driving standards are poor and roads are of variable quality. There are many traffic accidents, including fatal ones. Avoid driving outside urban areas, particularly at night.

Drink-driving    

Drink-driving is a serious offence in Moldova. If you are tested and found to have more than a third of England’s legal limit of alcohol in your system, you may get a fine and possible imprisonment. 

Official-looking taxis can be unlicensed. Do not share taxis with strangers or flag down unofficial taxis. If there is no meter, negotiate a price before getting into a taxi. Where possible, ask your hotel to order you a taxi or give you the number of a reputable company.

Extreme weather and natural disasters 

Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards .

Earthquakes

Moldova has insignificant earth tremors throughout the year. The last significant earthquake occurred in 1986, causing deaths and damage to buildings.   

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake .

This section has safety advice for regions of Moldova. It only covers regions where the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) has specific advice.

You should also read FCDO ’s overall travel advice and safety and security advice .

Transnistria is outside the control of the Moldovan government. There is widespread military activity in Ukraine, including close to some Moldovan borders. There were explosions in the region in 2022.     

All border crossings between Ukraine and Transnistria are temporarily closed.

The self-declared Transnistrian parliament has increased powers for prosecutions and pre-trial detentions against people regarded as extremists. They interpret extremism as including many activities that British nationals would consider legitimate, including moderate protest or freedom of expression.

Before you travel check that:

• your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
• you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Call 112 and ask for an ambulance.

Staff may only speak Russian or Romanian.

Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Vaccinations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip check:

• the latest information on vaccination recommendations and health risks in TravelHealthPro’s Moldova guide
• where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page

Water quality

Only drink bottled or boiled water.

The UNAIDS 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic estimated that around 12,000 adults aged 15 or over in Moldova were living with HIV. The prevalence was estimated at around 0.4% of the adult population compared to the UK rate of around 0.2%. Take normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV and AIDS.   

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.

Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro .

The NHS has information on whether you can take your medicine abroad .

Healthcare facilities in Moldova

State medical facilities in Moldova are generally poor. Private clinics and hospitals offer a better standard of care. If you are involved in an accident or taken ill, it is likely that you would be taken to a state hospital.

Most medical service providers in Moldova will expect cash payment for their services at the time of treatment. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment and repatriation.

FCDO has a list of medical facilities in Moldova where some staff will speak English. 

There is also guidance on healthcare if you’re living in Moldova .

Travel and mental health

Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health . There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro .

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.

Emergency services in Moldova

Telephone: 112 (ambulance, fire, police)

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans , including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking  lawyers ,  funeral directors and  translators and interpreters in Moldova
• dealing with a  death in Moldova
• being  arrested or imprisoned in Moldova
• getting help if you’re a  victim of crime
• what to do if you’re  in hospital
• if you’re affected by a crisis , such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO

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

You can also contact FCDO online .

Help abroad in an emergency

If you’re in Moldova and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the British Embassy in Chisinau .

FCDO in London

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)

Find out about call charges

Risk information for British companies

The  Overseas Business Risk service  offers information and advice for British companies operating overseas on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

Book a Hotel

© Columbus Travel Media Ltd. All rights reserved 2024

Last verified: Saturday, 1. June 2024 at 07:56 AM

Moldova Travel Advisory

• Eastern Europe
• Moldova Travel Advice

We advise caution when travelling to Moldova

Local situation: 3.0 / 5.

We advise caution when travelling to Moldova. We detected travel advisories from 5 sources for this specific country.

Regional Situation: 3.6 / 5

Moldova shares land borders with Ukraine and Ukraine . For these countries, the individual warning index is 4.7 (Ukraine) and 3.2 (Romania).

Current informationen on Covid-19 in Moldova

There are currently no officially reported cases of infections with SARS-CoV-2 (or Coronavirus) in Moldova. As reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control this morning (~8:30am CET).

There are currently no officially reported deaths related to this disease in Moldova.

Source: www.ecdc.europa.eu

Advice scoring history for Moldova

Chart of the risk level over that last 200 days. This is the daily calculated travel risk for Moldova.

Chart of the number of sources over that last 200 days. This is the daily number of advisory sources (of any rating) that have been active on that day.

Note: Changes happening on the 28th/29th of July 2019 are related to a change in the software and number of sources processed.

Rating Details (single travel warnings)

These are the individual advisories published by other countries about the destination Moldova from a travellers perspective. The scoring of all messages combined is the foundation for the current rating 3.0 out of 5.0 .

This is the general advisory usually covering the country as a whole.

Advisory issued by: New Zealand

Do not travel to Transnistria due to the volatile security situation (as the region is not under the control of the Moldovan authorities) as well the military conflict in neighbouring Ukraine (level 4 of 4).

Source: https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/moldova

Advisory issued by: United States

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 ...

Source: http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/moldova-travel-advisory.html

Advisory issued by: Canada

The Canadian goverment suggests: Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)

Source: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/moldova

Advisory issued by: Finland

Iaktta särskild försiktighet - Iaktta särskild försiktighet i Moldavien på grund av det skärpta säkerhetsläget i närområdena. Vi avråder från resor till Transnistrien.

Source: https://um.fi/resemeddelande/-/c/MD

Individual rating changes for Moldova

This is the recent history of individual changes of travel advices that affected the total asessment of Moldova. Most recent events first.

Changes from July 23rd 2022

The total rating for Moldova changed from 3.6 to 3.4 . Here are the influencing details:

The Finnish government decreased their existing warning for Moldova to 3.0 (of 5.0) from the previous rating of 4.0 (by -1.0).

Changes from August 7th 2020

The total rating for Moldova changed from 3.0 to 3.6 . Here are the influencing details:

The United States government increased their existing warning for Moldova to 4.0 (of 5.0) from the previous rating of 1.0 (by +3.0).

Changes from March 22nd 2020

The total rating for Moldova changed from 3.0 to 3.0 . Here are the influencing details:

The Canadian government issued a new warning for Moldova with a rating of 3.0.

Changes from March 18th 2020

The total rating for Moldova changed from 2.0 to 3.0 . Here are the influencing details:

The Australian government increased their existing warning for Moldova to 5.0 (of 5.0) from the previous rating of 4.0 (by +1.0).

The Irish government increased their existing warning for Moldova to 4.0 (of 5.0) from the previous rating of 1.0 (by +3.0).

Changes from March 15th 2020

The total rating for Moldova changed from 1.3 to 2.0 . Here are the influencing details:

The Australian government issued a new warning for Moldova with a rating of 4.0.

Changes from September 25th 2019

The total rating for Moldova changed from 0.0 to 0.0 . Here are the influencing details:

The United States government issued a new warning for Moldova with a rating of 1.0.

The Irish government issued a new warning for Moldova with a rating of 1.0.

The Finnish government issued a new warning for Moldova with a rating of 2.0.

About Moldova

Moldova with its capital Chişinău is a country in Europe (Eastern Europe), slightly larger than Maryland (33,843 km²). The country is located Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania. The climate can be described as moderate winters, warm summers. The landscape is rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea. With a population of about 4.32 million citizens.

Moldovan flag

Introduction Video

Basic Statistics and Facts

Environmental problems and natural hazzards.

These are problems Moldova is facing. Environmental issues refer to damages of the nature due to industry and society. Natural hazzards refer to potential dangers originating in nature.

Environmental problems

• extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
• has contaminated soil and groundwater
• heavy use of agricultural chemicals
• including banned pesticides such as DDT

Natural hazzards

Top Industries and Agricultural Products

These are the main product industries and agricultural products of Moldova. This list indicates what this country is good at producing.

• agricultural machinery
• food processing
• foundry equipment
• refrigerators
• sugar processing
• vegetable oil

Agriculture products

• sugar beets
• sunflower seeds

Moldovan Imports and Exports

These are the main product categories of imports and exports to and from Moldova.

Export products

Import products

• mineral products

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current travel advisory for moldova.

Moldova is currently rated at 3,0 out of a possible 5.0. Collected from 5 official sources. We advise caution when travelling to Moldova.

Is it safe to travel Moldova in 2024?

Visiting the country Moldova is usually fine. The score is at 3,0 Just keep an eye open, obey local rules and you'll most likely be fine.

How many travel advisories do you know for Moldova?

We currently evaluate 11 official sources each morning. Today, we know of active advisories from 5 individual sources for Moldova.

What is the current Corona virus situation in Moldova?

There are currently no officially reported cases of infections with SARS-CoV-2 (or Coronavirus) in Moldova. As reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control this morning (~8:30am CET). There are currently no officially reported deaths related to this disease in Moldova.

What is the size of Moldova?

Moldova has a size of 33,843 km² or 13,067 mi² which is slightly larger than Maryland.

Common Frequently Asked Questions

For non-country specific questions, please check our global F.A.Q.

Travel safety map for Moldova and bordering countries.

If you want to embed Moldova travel warning information into your website or application, check out these tools.

• Is Moldova safe to travel?
• What's the safety situation in Moldova?
• Are there security warnings for Moldova?

2020-03-10: Integrated data from European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (COVID-19/ SARS-CoV-2/ Coronavirus).

2019-09-01: Added timeline charts for risk level and number of advisories.

2019-07-29: Added two more sources (Finland and Denmark). Affects country ratings.

2019-07-15: South-Sudan was missing and was added today.

2019-05-18: Performance improvements for API users.

2019-03-23: Introduced professional API with more data.

2019-02-13: Added three more sources (Cyprus, Ireland and Malta). Affects country ratings.

Transnistria Travel Guide

Updated February 2024,   The Transnistria Travel Guide was originally written in February 2018

I’ve now been to Transnistria twice. It’s a lot easier of a process to visit Transnistria than most people think ( most of the time ), and it’s easily done as a day trip from Chisinau,  Moldova . The following Transnistria Travel Guide will help you plan your trip to the little-visited & fascinating region.

Need Travel Insurance and Evacuation Services for Transnistria?

Start shopping for travel insurance plans over at  IATI Insurance . Readers of the Adventures of Nicole get a 5% discount off your plan.

The Adventures of Nicole partners with Global Rescue to offer the world’s leading medical evacuation and security advisory services. To travel with peace of mind, shop evacuation coverage at Global Rescue .

What is Transnistria?

Transnistria is a small and landlocked countri-tory ( see what I did there? ). The official name of Transnistria is the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, which translates out to ‘beyond the Dniester River’ in Russian. Moldova officially refers to Transnistria as Stinga Nistrului.

As far as the UN and most of the world is concerned it’s just an autonomous territorial unit of Moldova over yonder, on the other side of the Dniester River. But to Transnistria, it’s a nation all its own.

The only other governments who recognize Transnistria as its own country are other disputed regions: South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and  Republic Artsakh: formerly Nagorno-Karabakh . In 1990 Transnistria declared its independence from Moldova, shortly after Moldova declared its sovereignty from the USSR. Of course, this eventually leads to the Transnistrian War in November 1990, ending in a cease-fire in July 1992.

This is an extremly shortened and simplified explanation on Transnistria’s history. You can read up more on it  here .

Planning to visit Moldova too? Check out my  Moldova travel guide

Where is Transnistria?

Transnistria is in Eastern Europe, on the east bank of the Dniester River- sandwiched between Moldova and Ukraine.

How to Visit Transnistria

The two easiest ways to visit Transnistria are to either go as a side trip from Moldova and return to Moldova or leaving Moldova and stopping in Transnistria on your way to Ukraine. You will not get an entrance stamp in your passport if you enter Transnistria from Ukraine, which may cause problems when departing Moldova from a point that has Moldovan immigration authorities as they may view you as having entered Moldova illegally.

Getting a migration card

No visa is required for foreigners to visit Transnistria ( however you may need a visa if you plan on traveling in Moldova! ). But you do have to get a migration card on arrival.

If going via marshrutka or taxi..

The marshrutka will stop at the registration building on the way from Chisinau. Just walk in, hand over your passport, the border guard on post will ask you how long you intend to stay, fill in the paper given to you ( it’s written in both Russian and English ), and you’ll be handed a migration card back with your passport ( unless you’re me and have some questionable visas in your passport to which they go in the back and check it for a lengthy time ). 

HOLD ONTO THE MIGRATION CARD!  This will save you a headache and likely a bribe on the way out of Transnistria.

If arriving by train..

There is an immigration officer at the train station in Tiraspol as well as Bendery. It will be the same process as applying for the migration card when arriving by marshrutka or taxi.

Length of time

You will be asked how long you intend to stay in Transnistria when applying, I actually didn’t know how long I would stay ( day-trip? Overnight? I hadn’t decided ), I told them this at the migration checkpoint and was given a 24 hour Pass.

Migration officers will give up to 3-day migration cards, however, you will need to register with OVIR if you will stay more than 24 hours in Transnistria…  good ol’ post-Soviet paranoia .

When do you need to register with OVIR?

If planning to visit Transnistria for more than 24 hours you will need to register with OVIR. It is located at 2 Kotovskogo Ulica ( street ).

What if I wanna stay longer?

Go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ask for an extension. It is located at 45 Sverdlova Ulica ( street ).

Read:  10 reasons to visit Moldova & Transnistria

Transnistria has its very own currency.. pretty official for a not-real-in-the-world’s-eyes-country. It’s called the Transnistrian Ruble.

The current ( February 2024 ) exchange rate of the  Transnistrian Ruble  ( PRB ) is:

• 1 USD = 16.10 PRB
• 1 Euro = 17.26 PRB
• 1 MDL = 0.88 PRB
• 1 UAH = 0.44 PRB

You can also check the official PRB rate  here .

For reference, since many prices given in this post are in  Moldovan Leu , here is exchange rate of the Leu:

• 1 USD = 19.13 MDL
• 1 Euro = 20.39 MDL
• 1 UAH = 0.52MDL

There are several currency exchange shops around Tiraspol, so bring crisp and new USD and Euro preferably. The Transnistrian Ruble is not recognized as an official currency outside of Transnistria, so make sure to spend them all or exchange any leftover before you leave ( aside from a few souvenir notes of course ).

Transnistria is not part of the international banking system, however, there is an ATM on 25 October Street that dispenses USD and Rusian Rubles (though I was recommended not to use it). In 2014 Transnistria started using composite plastic coins.

What To See In Transnistria

Transnistria can be seen in a relatively short amount of time. The highlights of Tiraspol can easily be seen on a day trip from Chisinau as most of the monuments and attractions are all on or near October 25th Street. There is a new tourist office in Tiraspol located at 135 Sovetskaia Ulica ( street ) that opened in May 2017, can pick up maps here, only open on weekdays.

A few of the things to see in Tiraspol include:

House of Soviets-  Now Tiraspol’s City Hall, with an angry-looking bust of Lenin out front. It’s not much a tourist attraction in itself, but if you stick around past dark it’s nicely lit up.

Victory Park-  A good place to relax for locals. Small defunct super Soviet-style carnival inside.

Kirov Park-  A park near to the train station with a new orthodox church.

Tiraspol National Museum-  Local history museum, with lots of info on Nikolai Zelinsky. 25 PRB admission.

October 25th Street-  The main street through Tiraspol where many attractions lie on.

Dniester River Bridge – Nice views of Tiraspol from atop. You can also see the beach on the river below.

Eternal Flame & Transnistrian War Memorial-  Memorial to the 1990-92 Transnistrian War. An armored Transnistrian tank with Transnistria flag, just behind it is the eternal flame and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier dominates the memorial. There’s also a small orthodox cathedral on the grounds.

Kvint Distillery-  Kvint  is Moldova’s finest cognac, which can be purchased here for as little as 30 PRB. Tasting tours including food can be arranged but must be booked in advance, 180 PRB per person. Phone: + 373 533 96170.

Lenin Statue & Government of Transnistria-  Your typical government building. Giant Lenin statue in front. Not an attraction itself per se, but interesting for those who haven’t traveled many ex-USSR countries yet.

Suvorov Monument-  Monument to the Russian military leader Alexander Suvorov who founded Tiraspol.

Church of Nativity-  A Russian Orthodox church built in 1999. It’s the biggest cathedral in Tiraspol and one of the more impressive ones.

Green Market-  Daily farmer’s market.

Bendery Fortress-  An Ottoman Fortress located just outside the center of Bendery.

Tighina War Memorial-  Eternal flame and memorial dedicated to war victims of the 1990-92 Transnistrian War.

Church of Joaquim-  Beautiful blue and white church in Bendery.

Accommodation In Transnistria

For those of you that want to spend the night ( or a couple ) in Transnistria, there are a few accommodations on offer in Tiraspol and Bendery. Check out hotels and apartments in  Tiraspol here , and  Bendery here . There is even a  hostel in Tiraspol .

Knowledge of Russian and the ability to read the Cyrillic alphabet are most definitely helpful for anyone planning to visit Transnistria. If you don’t speak any Russian or Moldovan it’s not impossible to get by, it’ll just be more challenging. Many of the youth do have an interest in learning English, so you will surely be able to find someone to help you with a translation if you need it.

Transnistria Travel As A Solo Female

I had no issue with either of my 2012 or 2017 visits to Transnistria. There was a huge soccer match on the day of my visit in 2017 so all the other passengers got off at the stadium and I was the only person getting off at the Tiraspol station, so the marshrutka driver invited me for a coffee in front of a small kiosk in the parking lot. We talked back in forth in Russian for a bit and soon the table next to us joined in and before long we were all cheersing pivo ( beer ) together.

Two of the guys that joined us, Sasha and Alex, ended up taking me on a full-blown tour of Tiraspol, introduced me to several of their friends, and even ended up giving me a lift back to Chisinau ( I think they were looking for an excuse to hit up the Chisinau nightlife scene anyways ). So, solo female travel, and well, solo travel in general when I visited Transnistria was a piece of cake. In general, I’d say Transnistria is a pretty safe country/territory to visit.

Want posts about Moldova, Transnistria’s neighbor-ish?

Here are a few posts about Moldova:

The Ultimate Moldova Travel Guide

• 10 reasons to visit Moldova
• How to visit Orhieul Vechi

So you have a thing for unrecognized countries & the like?

Weird, me too! Check out:

• 3-Day Nagorno-Karabakh road trip
• Travel Karakalpakstan: The Stan within a Stan everyone forgot about

Have Any Questions Not Answered In This Transnistria Travel Guide?

Ask in the comments below!

More Posts from Moldova & Transnistria:

10 Reasons To Visit Moldova

How To Get To Orheiul Vechi, Moldova

8 thoughts on “transnistria travel guide”.

Transnistria? I sincerely hope that your children will die in the gas chamber of the concentration camp for this insult, and you will end your life in the uranium mines.

Excellent guide you’ve put together here on Transnistria. I had intentions of visiting Eastern Europe this summer, but it looks like my travel plans will be put on hold for the time being.

Thanks. I hope things open back up and you get to visit in 2021 or later this year!

Awesome blog. This blog is very helpful for me. Thank you for sharing this blog.

Hi Nicole, it is an excellent post. I have got a few questions actually I have got lots of questions about Moldova. My partner and I are thinking of going to Moldova for 4 nights ( 3 full days) in August. I would like to know if that would be enough to see the modovian capital, comrat and a day trip to Tiraspol? When we get to the immigration check point in Tiraspol, does the minibus wait for you while you sort out the entry procedure ? Do we need to take taxi from Tiraspol to Bendery as I really would like to see the ottoman fortress. Sorry for bombarding you with these questions. Many thanks. Mutlu

Hey Mutlu, Thanks for your message. 3 days is enough to see Chisinau, Tiraspol and Comrat (though plan for each day to be pretty busy). When going to Tiraspol the minibus will wait for you. The procedure is pretty easy, just show your passport and they’ll ask how long you plan to stay. They’ll then issue your migration slip and you’re good to go. As for Bendery I can’t recall if there are marshrutka going there from Chisinau (I visited with a couple friends I made in Tiraspol who drove me over). You can ask at your Guesthouse, but I still think the easiest plan is to minibus to Tiraspol and then pay a taxi to bring you to/from Bendery. Enjoy Moldova, Transnistria and Gaugazia!

I’m looking at traveling to Moldova this spring along with Ukraine and Belarus, those are my last countries to visit and then I’ll have been in every country in Europe. I’m happy to have landed on your Moldova guide and then ended up here on your one for Transnistria. I would like to spend at least a night there and see Tiraspol and a couple other places!

I hope you enjoy Moldova and Transnistria, some of my favorite memories in Europe have been there. It’s easy enough to spend a night in Transnistria, just tell the guards at the “border” and they will give you a 3 day migration card, otherwise they usually just give ones for 24 hours.

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What it’s like visiting Transnistria, a place that doesn’t officially exist

My travel pal and I stood on the side of an unpaved road in a dilapidated village, wondering which direction to head. On one side was a lavish monastery, and the other a few modest houses with free roaming chickens. We were only about 6 miles from Transnistria’s capital city of Tiraspol, but it felt more like 600.

We didn’t have a plan to get back to the capital after our trip to the Noul Neamț Monastery, so walked to the general area where a makeshift bus dropped us off a few hours earlier. Two babushkas stood on a corner looking as though they too might be waiting for a bus. We joined them.

They spoke no English and our knowledge of Russian and Romanian is limited to hello, water and vodka.

“Tiraspol?” we asked.

“Dah” they pointed as if to say “here” and that’s where we waited. About 20 minutes later the same van, likely older than the two of us combined, stopped and the two women flashed a mostly toothless smile and waved for us to board. We paid the driver the equivalent of about $0.50 for the both of us, and were back in Tiraspol 30 minutes later.

Tiraspol’s Supreme Council

Welcome to Transnistria

The state, a tiny wedge of land bordered by the Dnister River and Moldova to the west and Ukraine to the east, doesn’t actually exist. While Transnistria considers itself a sovereign country with its own government and currency (the Transnistrian Ruble made of plastic), the rest of the world does not. The U.N. has treated it as a separatist regime since it declared independence from Moldova in the early 1990s.

However, those with a hankering for communist relics, Eastern European brandy, and a general curiosity about what life was like in  the1980s Soviet Union will find it a fascinating and safe place to visit. I recently traveled there as part of Intrepid Travel’s 13-day  Moldova, Ukraine & Romania Explorer trip, and highly recommend it to anyone seeking an off-the-beaten-path European adventure.

This place that clings to a retro Soviet-style existence isn’t really a destination for sightseeing as much as it is an experience in time travel…

Streets of Tiraspol

READ MORE: 8 REASONS TO TRAVEL TO MOLDOVA, ONE OF EUROPE’S LEAST-VISITED COUNTRIES

What to see

The 25 October Street is the city’s main boulevard, and is marked with patriotic monuments and some of the last displays of hammer and sickle flags. A short walk down the street is a remembrance of things past for Soviet times. The Supreme Soviet building is a beige, brutalist beauty of a relic with a massive monument to Lenin (one of the few in the world still on public display) presiding over the block. Down the road an imposing City Hall building boasts (yet another) bust of Lenin.

Step a block or two away from the main boulevard, and rows of concrete, communist housing structures line the streets. As do vintage Lada cars that likely rolled off the assembly line when Duran Duran and Aqua Net hairspray were all the rage. Many taxi drivers still rely on the classic car, and passengers can feel the sputter of the engine in their bones as it strains up hills. It’s an experience only available in this part of the world.

Vintage Lada car

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From late spring to fall, take a short boat ride down the Dniester River. The river is small and the views aren’t all that impressive, but it’s well worth doing. For a few dollars we drank local wine and brandy like rockstars on a boat that blasted beats from the ’80s and 90s. With few, if any, tourists aboard, It’s a great place to mingle with residents, especially on weekends.

The jewel of the territory is the Kvint brandy distillery. While Transnistria is one of the poorest regions of Europe, the factory pumps out world-class spirits enjoyed by presidents and diplomats, and has since 1897. Take a tour, but make a reservation in advance. Keep in mind it might not be open even during advertised hours because, welcome to Soviet life.

One of the oddest moments of our trip occurred at the post office of all places.

The post office in Tiraspol

To send postcards, we needed to buy Moldovan stamps with Transnistrian Rubles (because Transnistrian postage isn’t recognized outside of the territory, of course). The clerk performed the currency conversion on a machine last seen on an episode of Mad Men. Unfortunately, her math was way off, and our guide, fluent in Russian, walked her through the exchange rate – repeatedly. Surprisingly, those postcards all made it overseas in less than two weeks.

VISIT TRANSNISTRIA ON INTREPID’S MOLDOVA, UKRAINE & ROMANIA EXPLORER TRIP

Take the scenic route

For a panoramic view of the countryside, we hopped on the bus to the Noul Neamț Monastery. When we asked a police officer which bus to take he simply replied “go to the bridge,” and that’s what we did. It’s not a bus as much as a van that leaves when it’s reasonably full. The vintage vehicle slowly crawled up the slight hill, jostling us as it hit potholes and swerving to avoid stray cats.

Noul Neamț Monastery

There were only two other tourists in the whole monastery complex, a lush and peaceful area with brightly adorned churches located in a rural village. And there’s certainly no formal guide for visitors. Walk in, find a monk, and ask to go in the bell tower. To reach the top, climb a narrow, twisting staircase to the first level, and then scale small ladders to the top. The view is worth it, even for someone as afraid of heights as I am.

Those that scale the tower, wobbly ladders and all, experience a sweeping vista that few in the world have ever seen.

And, really, this uniqueness is something that sums up Transnistria in its entirety.

I love Tiraspol

A confusing culture and language barriers in a place stranger than fiction made for one my most memorable travel experiences to date.

Visit for yourself and I’m sure you’ll have your own one-of-a-kind adventure.

Tempted to visit this intriguing destination? Experience Transnistria on Intrepid Travel’s 13-day Moldova, Ukraine & Romania Explore trip.

(Car photo c/o Nir Nussbaum. All other images c/o Kristin Amico.)

Feeling inspired?

Kristin Amico

In early 2017 I quit my full-time job, gave up my Boston apartment, sold most of my belongings, and bought a one-way ticket overseas. I'm currently spending a year living nomadically and eating my way across Europe and Asia. My food and travel writing has appeared on Intrepid Travel, Fodor's, Paste Magazine, and The Kitchn. Follow my adventure on Instagram @Kristinamico.

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
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• Foreign travel advice

Entry requirements

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Moldova set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Moldovan Embassy in the UK .

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Moldova. 

Passport validity requirements

Your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Moldova, and one blank page.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Visa requirements

You do not need a visa to enter Moldova for stays of up to 90 days in a 6-month period. You must be able to show a return or onward flight ticket.

You need a residence or work permit for stays of more than 90 days. See more information on residence and work permits . 

The Moldovan authorities will automatically register your arrival date. They strictly enforce penalties, including fines and expulsion, against foreign visitors who stay in Moldova longer than allowed. Please contact the Moldovan authorities with any additional questions.

Vaccination requirements  

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and certificates you need in TravelHealthPro’s Moldova guide .

Border crossings

Moldova-romania border.

Check for updates on border crossings with Romania with the Moldovan Border Police .

Entering and leaving Transnistria

FCDO advises against all travel to Transnistria.

There is no official border between Moldova and Transnistria. However, there are border control points established by the de facto Transnistria leadership between Moldova and Transnistria. Passports will be controlled but will not be stamped. When entering Transnistria, you will need to fill in 2 copies of a migration card for the de facto authorities – keep one copy to show them when you leave. The de facto authorities may ask the purpose and length of your visit, and where you will stay. They may also deny you entry. 

All border crossings between Ukraine and Transnistria are temporarily closed. FCDO does not know when they will reopen.     

The train service between Odessa and Chisinau is suspended.

Entering Moldova from Ukraine

Check for updates on border crossings with Ukraine with the Moldovan Border Police .

If you enter Moldova overland from Ukraine, do this at an internationally recognised border crossing point. These are in the north and south of Moldova, excluding the Transnistria region.

If you have travelled to Moldova from Ukraine and need assistance, call (+373) 22 225 902 or contact FCDO online .

If you’re near a Ukraine-Moldova border crossing point and need assistance, call our consular contact centre on +44 1908 516666, selecting option 2: consular services for British nationals.     

Entering Ukraine from Moldova

Check for updates on border crossings with Ukraine with the Moldovan Border Police . This is particularly important around Transnistria, which is outside the control of the Moldovan authorities. Read FCDO ’s Ukraine travel advice .

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The U.S. State Department Has Issued A Worldwide Travel Warning For Everyone

T he U.S. Department of State has issued a  worldwide travel advisory , urging U.S. citizens to  exercise increased caution  while traveling overseas. Effective May 17, 2024, the advisory highlights a heightened potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, and violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests globally. This alert comes amid rising concerns over safety, particularly for LGBTQ+ individuals and events.

Why the Alert Now?

The recent advisory stems from various factors contributing to an uncertain global security landscape. The State Department has noted an alarming increase in violence against LGBTQ+ persons and pride-related events. These attacks reflect broader societal tensions. Furthermore, this rise in hostility is not isolated to the United States but mirrors a global trend where anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments have been escalating.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s  2022 crime report , there was a nearly 33% increase in reported hate crimes based on gender identity in the U.S. alone. This alarming figure highlights the precarious situation that LGBTQ+ populations are in, both at home and abroad. The advice emphasizes the importance of staying alert during Pride festivities and other events hosted by the LGBTQ+ community.

What Travelers Should Know

The advisory also points to broader geopolitical tensions and the persistent threat of terrorism. Countries such as Russia have taken extreme stances against the queer community, labeling them as extremist organizations. Meanwhile, some regions in Latin America have made strides in LGBTQ+ rights. Still, these gains are uneven and often fraught with local opposition.

Travelers must thoroughly research their destinations using resources like the State Department’s travel advisory page. This platform provides detailed information on safety levels for different countries, ranging from Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) to Level 4 (Do Not Travel). For instance, countries like  Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza  have specific advisories due to ongoing conflicts and security issues. In contrast, destinations like Liechtenstein and New Zealand are currently deemed safer, with advisories suggesting standard precautions.

Safety Measures and Recommendations

In light of the current advisory, the State Department has provided several recommendations to enhance personal safety during international travel:

• Stay Alert:  U.S. citizens should exercise caution in tourist-frequented locations, including venues associated with LGBTQ+ events and Pride celebrations.
• Enroll in STEP:  The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) is a critical resource for travelers. It offers timely information and alerts about safety conditions in various countries. STEP enrollment can also facilitate locating U.S. citizens in case of emergencies overseas.

• Anniston/Gadsden

New Caribbean travel alert: Cruise line cancels more visits to popular tropical resort

• Updated: May. 30, 2024, 12:54 p.m. |
• Published: May. 30, 2024, 7:06 a.m.

A bus set on fire by gang members at the Portail neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph) AP

• Leada Gore | [email protected]

A cruise line has canceled more visits to its private resort due to violence in the country and a new U.S. travel alert.

Royal Caribbean first suspended stops at its private resort in Labadee, Haiti in March. The suspension will now last through at least fall, the cruise line confirmed to USA Today.

“The safety and security of our guests, crew, and communities we visit are our top priority,” a spokesperson for the cruise line told USA Today. “Our Global Security and Intel Team is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Haiti, and in an abundance of caution we have suspended all visits to Labadee fleetwide through September 2024.”

Royal Caribbean will continue to “monitor and reassess calls as needed,” the spokesperson said.

READ MORE: State Department issues worldwide travel alert

Haiti is currently under a Level 4 “Do Not Visit” advisory, the highest warning from the U.S. State Department, due to gang violence and riots. According to the United Nations, more than 2,500 people were killed or injured as a result of gang violence in Haiti in the first quarter of the year. Earlier this month, Dave and Natalie Lloyd, missionaries from Missouri who were working with youth in the country, were attacked and fatally shot by gang members as they were leaving a church service.

In its latest alert, the State Department said the security situation is Haiti is “unpredictable and dangerous” and any travel there should be “conducted at your own risk.”

“The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety traveling to airports, borders or during any onward travel” the alert said. “You should consider your personal security situation before traveling anywhere in Haiti. Only attempt to depart Haiti or travel within Haiti if you believe it is safe for you to do so.”

Among the risks cited were violent crimes, including kidnapping for ransom.

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US issues ‘do not travel’ advisory for popular tourist destination before summer

• Published: May. 20, 2024, 9:36 a.m.

Supporters attend the campaign launch of Venezuelan presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, in La Victoria, Venezuela, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) AP

• David Cifarelli | [email protected]
• The Associated Press

The United States Department of State is telling citizens to cross Venezuela off their summer travel lists.

People should not travel to the popular tourist destination because of “crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws,” the DOS said in a travel advisory issued Monday, May 13.

“Reconsider travel due to wrongful detentions, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure,” the advisory reads.

The DOS said violent crimes including homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping and carjacking are common in Venezuela, and that there is a “high risk” that U.S. travelers could be wrongfully kidnapped. Colombian terrorist groups also operate on Venezuela’s border with Colombia, Brazil and Guyana.

In addition, political rallies often occur with little notice. In recent months, Venezuela has been plagued with demonstrations against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is seeking a third term in July .

Maduro’s presidency has been marked by a complex crisis that pushed millions of people into poverty and more than 7.7 million others to migrate, according to the Associated Press.

People can read the DOS’  information page  on Venezuela for more information on travel to the country.

The Associated Press contributed to the reporting of this story.

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Understand [ edit ]

Transnistria is a product of the messy breakup of the Soviet Union , when the region located on the left bank of the Dniester River (usually known as Pridnestrovie by locals and Transnistria elsewhere) fought a 2-year-long civil war against the supposed Russophobic and Romanian nationalist government of Moldova that ended in a bittersweet victory.

While the country is not officially recognised by any other sovereign nation, the government does effectively control the territory it claims to rule, although its actual control is perhaps a bit limited by the will of Russia , its biggest benefactor and political ally. It maintains its functional autonomy with military and other support from Russia.

Transnistria is divided into five administrative regions and two city regions.

Tourist information centres [dead link] can be found across the country (except Tiraspol ). The most popular of which can be found in the entrance to the fortress in the city of Bendery .

Talk [ edit ]

Official languages in Transnistria are Russian , Romanian and Ukrainian . Romanian in Transnistria is officially spelled using the Cyrillic alphabet (and called "Moldovan" ) although the Latin alphabet is understood among the public. The most common language used in the country is Russian, which practically everyone understands and is the language of government. Moldovan and Ukrainian are understood and spoken too but to a lesser extent.

After the official languages, English and German are the most common, and Bulgarian is common in village of Parcani near Bendery.

However, people who speak some English (or another foreign language) can be quite shy about it, and may deny that they speak it even if they have been educated in it.

Get in [ edit ]

Entering Transnistria is fairly straightforward by bus, train or car from both west ( Moldova , usually Chișinău ) and east ( Ukraine , usually Odesa ). Upon entering Transnistria, you present your passport and they'll enter your info on their computer and print out a card in Russian and English . Upon clearing immigration, this card, not your passport, is stamped – half the card stays at the crossing you entered, and half stays with you until you leave Transnistria. As of October 2018, this card was not stamped or checked during the entire visit.

From Chișinău to the crossing in Bendery, a taxi costs 100-150 Moldovan lei . A marshrutka (minibus) costs around 60 lei. Marshrutkas between Odesa and the Kuchurgan border (on the main road to Tiraspol) are fairly frequent and cheap.

Mashrutkas run frequently across the Dniester from Rezina in Moldova to Rîbnița , which has a stop for buses between Tiraspol and Camenca .

When crossing the border between Moldova and Transnistria, you will be checked only by Transnistrian officials. There are also peacekeeping Russian and Ukrainian soldiers who may stop and search vehicles.

Entering Transnistria from Ukraine will not get you a Moldovan entry stamp. If you then leave Moldova through a crossing controlled by Moldovan authorities, you may have problems with the Moldovan immigration authorities, who may try to claim that you entered Moldova illegally. Exiting Moldova through Transnistria to Ukraine (whether having a Moldovan entry stamp or not) causes no problems - even a subsequent visit to Moldova through one of the border crossings controlled by the Moldovan authorities doesn't raise problems with the border guards.

If you encounter problems, complaints can be made to [email protected] (Transnistrian Customs). There is also a complaint hotline: ( ☏ +373 533 94578 or 92568). If you complain you should also state the time, the date and the name of the border crossing. You should also give your phone number. There is an English speaking officer responsible for complaints. You can reach him at ☏ +373 778 50986 or [email protected] .

It is no longer necessary to register with the police (as of July 2018): you get a permit for up to 45 days at the entrance, depending on how long you say you want to stay. You need to provide an address or sponsor, so if you have reserved accommodation this is enough. They may ask to see the reservation. Once in Transnistria, you can extend your stay permit at the Immigration Office, and you'll need a local address. Passports are not stamped, but you'll get a paper with the departure date and time (to the seconds).

By plane [ edit ]

Transnistria does not have its own international passenger airport (it has a military and freight airport), so the best way is to fly to Chișinău ( RMO  IATA ) in Moldova and travel from there. It is also possible to come from Odesa in Ukraine by bus.

By train [ edit ]

The only major railway stations are Tiraspol and Bendery.

As of 2023, all rail travel with stops in Bendery and Tiraspol have been halted since the start of the war in Ukraine. Even the newly introduced Chișinău - Kyiv train only passes through Transnistria.

Before the war, the Moscow to Chișinău train also stopped in Tiraspol but has since been completely halted. If it starts operating again, make sure to check the Poezda CIS Railway Timetable for up-to-date, timetables in English.

By car [ edit ]

Cars can enter but expect delays of up to an hour at border crossings in busy times. Foreign nationals driving their own vehicles are prime targets for border guards trying to extract bribes.

If you're driving a rental car, you need an official cross border driving authorization from the rental company or else your insurance may not be valid. Not all rental companies allow you to cross so ask before booking. According to the official hotline of Transnistrian customs there is an official road tax (65 lei per week)—ask for a receipt.

In 2019, the only crossing open to process foreign passports was at Bendery (road between Chisinau and Tiraspol). Some travellers have reported being turned back when trying to cross in the south near Purcari.

Get around [ edit ]

There are hardly any train connections within the country, so the bus—if available—will be your only choice. Marshrutkas (minibuses) zip between cities much faster (and often more frequently) than buses. They cost a little more, but travel much faster and can be hailed anywhere along their route. If you flag down a marshrutka, it's customary to pay on leaving.

By taxi [ edit ]

Taxis in Tiraspol are very common and are quite cheap. Be wary of scams however—make sure to negotiate a price before you get in the taxi. If you miss the last bus to Chișinău at 18:35, you can take a taxi from Tiraspol to Chișinău, which should not cost more than US$30. As of August 2018, taxis booked through a local guide for this route could be negotiated as low as US$15.

See [ edit ]

Most visitors come to Transnistria to visit the Soviet-era buildings, monuments, and sculptures of the capital, Tiraspol .

Noul Neamț Monastery is a beautiful monastery complex just south of Tiraspol with a number of sizeable churches to explore.

Bendery Fortress is a 16th-century Ottoman fortification with a terrifying collection of torture devices from the period. Outside is the newer Alexander Nevsky Church which is well worth a visit.

Buy [ edit ]

Money [ edit ].

The national currency is the Transnistrian ruble . There is no ISO currency code from Transnistria, but banks may use either "PRB" or "RUP" to denote the currency. Wikivoyage articles use rubles to denote the currency. 1 Transnistrian ruble is equal to 100 kopecks. Coins in Transnistria come in denominations of 5-, 10-, 25 and 50 kopecks and coins made from composite materials come in denominations of 1-, 3-, 5 and 10 Transnistrian rubles. Banknotes in Transnistria come in denominations of 1-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100-, 200 and 500 Transnistrian rubles.

Exchange offices are common and will happily give you Transnistrian rubles in return for just about any tradeable currency. Don't change more money than you need as trying to turn Transnistrian rubles into other currencies may turn out to be difficult, even if exchange booths advertise rates to sell euros, lei, US dollars, etc., they may not be willing to relinquish their stocks of 'real' money. Don't bother trying to change Transnistrian rubles outside Transnistria as no-one will touch them.

Mastercard is not accepted anywhere, but you can pay by international Visa card in several private places that frequent foreign visitors, although Visa cards from the United States are not accepted as often as European ones. Your card is charged in Transnistrian rubles in the shop/restaurant but your bank transfer on your bank statement will be in Russian rubles. There are several international ATMs around that dispense Russian rubles and US dollars.

Shopping [ edit ]

Tiraspol has a post-communist "cubicle style" shopping mall on ground floor of the corner of 25th October St and Shevchenko St, the location of the most "luxurious" apartments of Tiraspol are. Furthermore, a short walk from these apartments you will find the outdoor markets of Tiraspol, where you can find outdoor areas selling fruit and vegetables, and indoor areas selling eggs, cheeses and meats. A word of warning however, the foods here are presumably organic and spoil easily. Strawberries last a maximum two days in the refrigerator, citrus fruits three days. The meat sold in the indoor market albeit freshly slaughtered is not refrigerated and is exposed to the occasional blowfly (and possible fly eggs). It may be worthwhile to forego meat altogether if your cannot face the reality that you need to cook these foods to kill these potential pests.

The local, excellent brandy is cheap, at about US$3 a bottle. Cigarettes are very cheap too. There are also arts and crafts to buy. A good exchange point is the Kvint store in central Tiraspol, there is an exchange office with good rates inside the shop. There is also an exchange booth at the Tiraspol bus/train station.

There is a large open-air market in Tiraspol, close to the Suvorov's monument, and another in Bendery, located a few metres away from the bus and marshrutkas station. They are probably not fashionable for those looking for something closer to the western style, but interesting to see.

Bendery has a selection of nice shopping places, the open market as above, but keep in mind of the same risks. You can find places called "ateli" to repair your clothes, bags, shoes and watches. There is a Sheriff in the centre, along with an excellent kebab shop "doner hit", which are frequented by locals at all times. An excellent coffee shop that sells jewellery opposite the trolleybus station.

Eat [ edit ]

The most typical tourist restaurants are the "Back to the USSR" and the Soviet-themed restaurants. One of these restaurants is located in Bendery, near the Green Market. The others are in Tiraspol. The most typical restaurant food will be a mixture of Moldovan, Russian and Western style food such as pizzas and a selection of sushi. You will find that many restaurants may share staff, kitchen or even a menu. Sheriff supermarkets also sell genuine Beluga or Russian caviar, it is a local product and you will not find a cheaper caviar sold outside of the borders, so if you're inclined to try it, this is the place to do it.

Restaurants:

• La Vida (this chain is also in Moldova)
• Doner Hit (kebabs from 30-100 roubles)
• Andy's Pizza (25 October Street in Tiraspol )

These restaurants are excellent choices and are relatively inexpensive: usually around US$10-15 for a 3-course lunch along with dessert and a choice of drink.

• There is a coffee shop (no name) which sells dress, (fake, non-gold) jewellery opposite the trolleybus stop in Bendery centre. Although it does not have a name, this cafe sells a variety of different coffee beans sourced from a Russian company. It's truly the best in Transnistria.

Drink [ edit ]

Local Kvint wine and brandy are excellent and cheap. The Kvint factory is in Tiraspol, and Tiraspol has a Kvint shop, selling its products at very low prices. Kvint produces among the best brandy (called "divin") in the former Soviet Union. Kvint makes its brandy from grapes of classic cognac varieties, but it's extremely hard to come by in Western countries, although Moldovan supermarkets sell it. A trip to Transnistria is not complete without a sample.

There is also a slightly fermented bread-based soft drink that is sold in the streets called Kvas. Kvas prices (current 2023) are 4 rubles for small "malinka", or 6 rubles for a large "bolshoy". This is the equivalent of US$0.40-0.50. It is the Russian equivalent of dandelion & burdock or root beer.

The local Sheriff supermarkets also sell wines and Transnistrian cognac at similar prices to elsewhere you would find in the country.

Sleep [ edit ]

See Tiraspol

Stay safe [ edit ]

The physical dangers of Transnistria are almost non-existent. The major cities are much safer than Western European and American cities of similar size and economic makeup. Also, despite the political situation with Moldova, there is essentially no threat of being caught in a military action. There has not been fighting in Transnistria for many years. Indeed, Transnistria is a very safe place for travel. By far the biggest threat to visitors are scams.

Despite scary reports, Tiraspol is very welcoming, mainly because it gets so few tourists. Young people speak English and are helpful. The city is well-policed. Crime is low.

Many Transnistrians are excited to see foreigners and will be very welcoming, if a bit shy at first. Some, however, see foreigners as being sources of easy money. Always negotiate the price of a taxi before you get in. Use pen and paper if you are not a Russian speaker. Ask about the prices of items before you order them at a bar or restaurant. It is not common to be scammed, but it is far from rare. However, even when scams are attempted, it is often for no more than a few euros.

Be wary of police officers. If you look foreign, they will stop and ask to see your passport. Often, they will request bribes, but it should not take more than a few US dollars or euros. This practice is not condoned by the Transnistrian government, but in practice is fairly common. If you speak Russian, the chance to be asked for bribes is much lower.

Stay healthy [ edit ]

Medical care is almost entirely non-existent in Transnistria, especially for non-citizens. Furthermore, even if you have travel health insurance it will often not be valid in Transnistria, but valid in Moldova . It's advisable to check in advance with your insurer.

Be careful in Transnistria's bars during the night. There are often mafia-like characters having a good time with rolls of US dollars and you should not inquire too closely about the source of their wealth.

Tap water is not contaminated with microbes, and is claimed to be drinkable, but it is recommended that you buy bottled water or at least use a water filter.

Respect [ edit ]

The name "Transnistria", while commonly used in English, evokes memories of the Nazi-backed Romanian occupation during World War II and the Holocaust . President Vadim Krasnoselsky, in 2019, said that the Latin name is "unacceptable for Pridnestrovie", and "foreigners should get used to saying its true name". Calling the country by the Russian name could avoid giving offence, and may win you friends.

Staring is considered rude.

Showing off large amounts of wealth or cash is also considered a faux pas.

U.S. reissues ‘do not travel’ warning to this popular South American destination for terrorism and kidnapping risk

• Updated: May. 22, 2024, 6:05 p.m. |
• Published: May. 22, 2024, 9:30 a.m.

The U.S. Department of State reissued a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory, the highest classification of travel warnings, due to crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, terrorism and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws in Venezuela. Canva

• Katherine Rodriguez | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The U.S. Department of State is telling Americans to steer clear of this popular South American destination as the summer travel season kicks off.

The State Department reissued a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory , the highest classification of travel warnings, due to “crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws” in Venezuela.

“Reconsider travel due to wrongful detentions, terrorism and poor health infrastructure,” the advisory continues.

Violent crimes such as kidnappings, armed robbery, carjacking and homicide are common in Venezuela. There is also a “high risk” that Americans could be wrongfully detained.

Political rallies, often against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, are common in the region and occur without notice. Maduro is seeking a third term in office in the country’s July elections.

Under Maduro’s tenure as president, millions of people have fallen into poverty and more than 7.7 million others have tried to flee the country, according to The Associated Press.

Here are a few of the precautions the State Department urges Americans to follow, if they decide to travel to Venezuela:

• Avoid all land border crossings into Venezuela on the Colombian border.
• Ensure you have a valid Venezuelan visa because visas are not available upon arrival.
• Be prepared for the high risk of indefinite detention without consular access.
• Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
• Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization and a “proof of life” protocol with your loved ones in case you are taken hostage.
• Have a contingency plan in place that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
• Consider purchasing medical evacuation insurance.
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

You can find more guidance from the State Department while traveling in Venezuela and other high-risk areas here .

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Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at [email protected] . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips .

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Estonia Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 26, 2023, estonia - level 1: exercise normal precautions.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise normal precautions in Estonia.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Estonia.

If you decide to travel to Estonia:

• 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 Estonia.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. 
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

Travel Advisory Levels

Assistance for u.s. citizens, estonia map, search for travel advisories, external link.

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Watch CBS News

Severe weather slows Memorial Day travel around NYC. Maps and live radar show the current conditions.

By Matthew DeLucia

Updated on: May 28, 2024 / 12:19 AM EDT / CBS New York

NEW YORK --  Thunderstorms and flash flood risks  were in the forecast Monday around the Tri-State Area as people made their way home from Memorial Day weekend travel .

The CBS New York First Alert Weather team extended its Red Alert due to severe weather risks. Flood advisories were issued for Bergen, Essex, Orange, Passaic and Rockland counties late Monday night. 

A severe thunderstorm watch for most of the area ended at 9 p.m.

Strong storms in Pennsylvania prompted tornado warnings that could've reached New Jersey, but the storm lost some intensity once it reached our area.  

Stay up to date with the  latest forecast and live radar here .

Weather today calls for thunderstorms, possible tornado

We saw a cloudy start to the day, along with some dense fog in spots along the coast. A few showers and thunderstorms continued to move through north/east of the city, with another batch in southern New Jersey.

Meanwhile, clouds thinned out to the west, which only helped fuel the second round of storms for the afternoon. We had a bit of a lull until then, although a shower or storm was still possible at any time (we call that pre-frontal convection). 

More storms fired up to our west in Pennsylvania after 1 p.m. or so. The window of concern shifted slightly earlier compared to over the weekend, from approximately 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. from west to east (2 p.m. western N.J., exiting the east end 9 p.m.).

Main concerns are for heavy rain and damaging winds, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.

Timeline for weather this week

Monday (Memorial Day): Mostly cloudy, showers and storms likely, especially into the afternoon and evening. Cooler, but humid. Highs in the 70s.

Monday night: Leftover showers and storms will exit the area by midnight, then it turns partly cloudy overnight. Lows in the 60s.

Tuesday: Much brighter day and warmer. Just a slim chance of an evening pop-up shower. Turns less humid. Highs in the low to mid 80s.

Wednesday: Sun and clouds. PM showers or storms possible. Highs in the mid to upper 70s.

Thursday: Partly sunny, nice and comfortable. Highs in the low to mid 70s.

Friday:  Pleasant finish to May as of now. Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 70s.

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Americans urged to avoid Venezuela: Level 4 travel warning remains in place

There's another vacation destination to cross off your travel list.

The U.S. Department of State has reissued a travel warning for a popular South American spot with a Level 4: Do Not Travel Advisory to all Americans.

The Department of State is urging Americans to not travel to Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, kidnapping and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

The reissue comes after a routine, periodic review with minor edits pursuant to Department of State standard processes, the advisory said.

Violent crimes, such as homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping and carjacking are common in Venezuela. There is also a high risk of Americans being wrongfully detained. Terrorism and poor health infrastructure have also been recorded.

Since 2019, the U.S. Department of State withdrew all diplomatic personnel from U.S. Embassy in Caracas and has no ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela.

If you decide to to travel to Venezuela, despite the advisory, here are some precautions to follow, according to the State Department:

• Avoid all land border crossings into Venezuela on the Colombian border.
• Ensure you have a valid Venezuelan visa. Visas are not available upon arrival.
• Be prepared for the high risk of indefinite detention without consular access.
• Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
• Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization. Establish a “proof of life” protocol with your loved ones, so that if you are taken hostage, your loved ones know specific questions (and answers) to ask the hostage-takers to be sure that you are alive (and to rule out a hoax).
• Have a contingency plan in place that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
• Keep travel documents up to date and easily accessible.
• Avoid travel between cities, or between Simón Bolívar International Airport and Caracas at night.
• Do not take unregulated taxis from the Maiquetia “Simón Bolívar” International Airport and avoid ATMs in this area.
• Consider hiring a professional security organization.