Want to know what it’s like travelling in Moldova? Or what there is to see and do? ‘Moldova – Useful Information for Travellers’ is our personal experience exploring this country in 2024. Our adventure includes Chisinau and Cahul. We share our insights on where to stay, where to eat and drink, and things to see and do. ‘Moldova – Useful Information for Travellers’ reflects our travel style and aims to provide useful things to know before visiting this obscure destination.
Moldova, “a place to find yourself”. You may have to start by locating the country on the world map, as many people may not have even heard of the place, let alone know where it is! One of Europe’s smallest and least visited countries, Moldova is usually overlooked. With limited information, and little international exposure, Moldova has gone under the travel radar so far. But things are about to change. With mainstream destinations in Europe becoming over crowded, people are looking for somewhere new and different. If you enjoy history, fortresses, unique cultures and wine, then Moldova is the place to discover!
Why go to Moldova?
Why visit Moldova? Simply, because the country deserves more attention. After visiting Moldova, you will wonder why it’s not on the top of everyone’s list of places to visit. The capital Chisinau has loads of attractions, along with a growing number of cafes and bars. The North and South of the country is easily accessible, with ancient castles, fortresses and cave’s giving it a medieval feel. In the top twenty wine producers on the planet, finding a local winery won’t be a problem. Known for their hospitality, interaction with locals is warm and rewarding. With some of the fastest Wi-Fi in Europe, excellent tourist facilities, and a growing number of flight connections, travel to Moldova is undoubtably about to boom. The appeal of visiting an unknown destination will slowly disappear. People will know where Moldova is. Find Moldova now.
- Capital: Chisinau
- Best time to visit: April – October
- Budget/Mid-Range/Couple: AU$120 per day
- Currency: Laotian Leu (Leu12 = AU$1)
- Language: Romanian
- Visa: No
- Difficulty: 1 (1-basic & 5-challenging)
Chisinau
Chisinau is a city on the way up, with a growing number of quality cafes, bars and restaurants emerging on the city scene. Young Moldovans are returning from their lives abroad with a new enthusiasm, entrepreneurs are opening new businesses, there’s an air of excitement around the city. Large parks full of trees and lakes, wide streets watched over by statues of past Moldavans of high esteem, along with a unique selection of ancient buildings, make exploring the city both interesting and enjoyable. Chisinau is a very tidy, colourful and well-maintained city. It’s stylish and calm. With a helpful tourist information centre, and locals who are genuinely pleased to see you, Chisinau will be a place you will love and look forward to returning to.
Getting to Chisinau
With an increasing number of flight connections with Europe and the Middle East, it’s never been easier to reach Chisinau. The airport has a cheap and regular bus into the city centre, plus the usual abundance of taxi and ride share options. It’s also possible to arrive by train, bus or car from Romania.
Where to stay in Chisinau
Chisinau is a relatively small city, with a great bus network, so there’s loads of nice areas to stay. The city centre is home to the big hotels, which are very convenient. You won’t find a lot of guesthouses, but the city is full of Airbnb’s, which are a popular investment for younger Moldovans returning home. We stayed in a great one across the street from Valea Morilor Park. Getting a place near one of the cities many parks is easy, and gives you the opportunity to utilise the park for walks, which is popular with the locals. Rose Valley Park at the other end of town is another good choice, with the city centre easy to reach on foot, and good connections to the airport.
Where to eat and drink in Chisinau
Chisinau’s gastronomy scene is vast and varied, with an abundance of top-quality affordable options. Choosing one will be your only issue. There’s so many bars, cafes and restaurants that you’d need months to visit them all! Plenty of supermarkets make self-catering easy.
- Get to Marleen Cocktail Bar (a trendy place with the best cocktail I’ve ever had, try the Totoro)
- Don’t miss Tucano Coffee (good coffee, vegan treats, smoothies, plus cool tunes and free Wi-Fi)
- Check out Asian Street (popular place with some of the best food around)
- Worth a visit also is Bio Organic Raw Café (a bit dearer, but worth it), La Placinte (has a few restaurants around the city, serving local Moldovan cuisine) Nr1 supermarket (the best supermarket chain in Moldova, with everything you would find at home)
Things to see and do in Chisinau
National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History Don’t miss this place! Two floors of interesting and informative displays. There’s a mammoth skeleton downstairs.
Moldova State University Museum Home to an amazing collection of exhibits. Ring the doorbell and the curator will let you in. He’s a real gentleman and is the founder of the Museum. It’s free.
Stephen the Great Monument is one of the three hundred monuments that adorn the city. Walking the streets searching for your favourite is a great way to get a feel for the city.
Historical buildings are on display throughout Chisinau. Architectural masterpieces, many made with limestone, are well preserved, and provide an insight into the various cultures that have called Chisinau home over the centuries. The old water tower is a very unusual building, and worth the effort to find.
Relax in one of the Parks that fill the city. Valea Morilor Park is a short walk from the centre, and a perfect place for a picnic in the forest. Cathedral Park makes a top spot for a break, with cafes, benches, free Wi-Fi, and markets during the summer.
Central Market is the heart of local shopping, with everything from local produce such as cheese and honey, to clothes and electrical goods. Cash only.
Day Trips The options are plentiful from the city. Hiring a car is in-expensive and driving conditions are of European standard. Traffic and direction signs are very clear, and other drivers are polite. Hiring a driver for the day is also an option, and there are a couple of tour companies around offering various excursions.
DAY TRIPS from Chisinau
Soroca Fortress is in the North of the country, in the town of the same name. Getting here is an easy two-hour drive from Chisinau. The fortress dates back to the 15th century and has been restored. The nearby Nr1 Supermarket has a well-stocked deli, and is the perfect spot to grab some lunch for a picnic in the park surrounding the fortress.
Tipova Monstery is carved into the side of a cliff and was originally a fort. The picturesque location, overlooking the river and surrounding countryside, is worth the drive alone. You can climb and explore nearly all of the old cave dwellings.
Old Orhei is another ancient cave area, dating back thousands of years. The whole area is a natural reserve, and you could easily spend a day here checking out all the old dwellings, cave monastery and museum. Eco Resort Butuceni below the bell tower has a super restaurant serving local food and wine.
Curchi Monastery was our favourite monastery, and Moldova has no shortage of them. It’s close to Chisinau, and is popular for wedding photos with locals. There were six wedding parties the day we stopped there!
Manuc Bey Palace and Hunting Castle make an easy half day trip. The palace is now a museum.
Cricova Winery is one of the world’s largest underground wineries, with over seventy kilometres of roads, and thirty million litres of wine! You must pre-book, with tours in English limited to once or twice per week.
Transnistria is a country that officially doesn’t exist. It is one of the most interesting and unusual places that we have visited. You will need your passport to cross the border. They have their own currency, government, police and military. It is home to the impressive Bender Fortress. Buses head here from Chisinau twice a day, and although day trips are great, spending a few days here is highly recommended.
Getting around Chisinau
Chisinau has a cheap and extensive bus network, which is regular and reliable, with routes all over the city. You can prepurchase a local travel card, swipe your own bankcard, or pay cash when you get on. Taxis, as in most busy areas, are everywhere. We found that the best way to get around the city was on foot. The footpaths are wide, and most of the streets have plenty of established trees offering shade.
Cahul
Situated in the South of the country, Cahul makes a perfect base for discovering what this area has to offer. It’s more of a town than a city, with a relaxed easy-going vibe. You won’t find any jaw dropping sights around town, but there’s some cool stuff to see and the locals are friendly. With wineries and a Biosphere Reserve in close proximity, Cahul is a favourite escape for people from Chisinau.
Getting to Cahul
Less than three hour’s drive from Chisinau, getting here is straight forward. Catching the bus is an option, the trip taking close to four hours. The Romanian border is only a twenty minute drive, so entering from or leaving that way is possible.
Where to stay in Cahul
There’s not a massive range of accommodation options, but you shouldn’t have too many problems finding a local hotel, guesthouse, or Airbnb if you book in advance. Most of them are scattered around the town centre, which is the most convenient place to stay. Farm stays out of town are possible, as long as you have your own car.
Where to eat and drink in Cahul
With tourism still in its infancy, Cahul isn’t a place with a wide range of five-star restaurants. There are some good local places, along with a number of decent supermarkets and delis.
- Get to Fourchette (the best supermarket with a deli stocked with tasty local dishes)
- Don’t miss Central Market (great place to get your fresh fruit and vegetables, best range on Saturdays)
- Check out Basilika Cafeteria (decent coffee, nice selection of tea, and beautiful cakes)
Things to see and do in Cahul
Lower Prut Biosphere Reserve covers a large area South of Cahul, and includes rivers, lakes and forests. With numerous eco-systems, it’s an amazing place for birds. Infrastructure is slowly improving, with new access roads and observation towers appearing. A UNESCO site, it’s well worth the drive.
Eco Village Valeni is a traditional style set up including rooms to stay, a restaurant, and a small museum. It’s an opportunity to see how traditional life was, and still is, in rural Moldova. Great community initiative.
Wine Tasting at one of the local vineyards will be on most itineraries. Vinia Traian Vineyard doesn’t offer tours in English, but you can taste and purchase their wine, which was a lot of fun. The staff are helpful, and although there was a language barrier, this didn’t pose a problem.
Getting around Cahul
Cahul city centre can easily be explored on foot. Anywhere outside of the city requires a car. Plenty of taxi’s line the streets, which will take you to anywhere you desire. Prices are negotiable.
Getting to Moldova
Chisinau has a growing number of connections to Europe, and there is now direct flights to Armenia and Georgia. Arriving by car, bus or train from neighbouring Romania is simple, as is entry from Transnistria. Land borders with neighbouring Ukraine are currently closed for many nationalities, for obvious reasons.
Useful things to know before visiting Moldova
Moldova is a safe, friendly and welcoming destination.
Young people speak English.
Tourism infrastructure is great, with three information centres, English signs, and helpful locals.
ATMS and currency exchanges are everywhere. Card payments are accepted in most places except local markets.
They have a good recycling program.
The roads and driving conditions are generally excellent.
The airport has all the usual modern conveniences, with the customs staff being some of the friendliest we’ve experienced.
Mobile coverage and e-sim is excellent.
Some Nr1 Supermarkets have a currency exchange inside.
Locally made organic products, such as cosmetics, tea, and honey are easy to find.
Shopping centres usually have free toilets.
Chisinau’s bus network is inexpensive and easy to use.
Final thoughts on travelling in Moldova
Moldova is a country that will leave you wondering, wondering where all the travellers are, and why Moldova is one of Europe’s least visited countries. Warm and friendly people, a unique and traditional culture, along with spectacular landscapes and architecture, make Moldova a rewarding destination. Yet we felt like we were the only visitors, on many occasions during our time in the country, which is rare these days. The fact that the country has seen only the curious visit in the past is an attraction in itself, but this luxury won’t last forever. With other parts of Europe experiencing problematic visitor numbers, you get the feeling that Moldovans should feel grateful that they have been forgotten thus far. But you can sense the change. Moldovans are ready, the country is ready. Discover this authentic gem, the time is now. Moldova truly has loads to offer.