Moldova Destination Guide

Moldova is full of interesting and unusual places to see and things to do during your holiday. Visitors around the world are attracted to the beautiful Orheiul Vechi Monastery that have been carved into limestone cliffs, and wine enthusiasts Cricova boasts one of the largest wine cellars in the world with over 100 km of underground streets.

The many historical monuments of Chisinau are a must see during your holiday in Moldova!

This Moldova destination guide will help you plan your perfect holiday, and tell you the Moldova highlights you should check out. A perfect way to do this is taking a local tour. We also have some useful travel information for your Turkish holiday.

You can check out all the local exciting things to see and do in the following destinations:

- Chisinau

Things to See & Do in Moldova

Follow the links to the right or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in Moldova:

About 95 km to the south of Chişinău lies the village of Zaim where you'll find the Alexei Mateevici House and Museum. This museum in the Tighina district was the home of poet Alexei who wrote the National Anthem of Moldova Limba Noastra.

About 40 km west of Chişinău is the Capriana Monastery, one of Moldova's oldest, and the erstwhile headquarters to the Bishop of Moldova. Built in 1429, this convent can be visited any day of the week. Also worth visiting nearby are the nature reserve of Capriana-Scoreni, the Codrii reserve (Moldova's oldest) and the oak tree of Stefan the Great.

Enroute to Orheiul Vechi, you will pass the Ivancea village (set 5 km off the main road). This idyllic village is set in the midst of the Codry forest reservation and has seven lakes in its vicinity. Most villagers are Ukrainians who have made the area their home since the middle ages.

The Hincu Monastery lies 55 km to the west of Chişinău and was set up by Mihai Hincu on the insistence of his daughter. The Soviet administration had the convent sealed between 1956 and 1990, during which time it was converted to a sanatorium. After 1990, it was restored as a convent when popular opinion dictated it was time for change.

Like several other monasteries, the Hirjeuca Monastery too was closed during the Soviet era and used instead as a sanatorium. First built in 1740, this monastery is 70 km from Chişinău and has been functioning as a convent again since 1993. On the grounds of the monastery is the Spring of Youth, believed to have restorative and curative powers. The forest nearby is treasured as a precious natural monument.

The ancient settlement of Cosauti traces its origins to the Palaeolithic age and is a site to behold! The Cosauti Village and Stanca-Jeloboc Forest take visitors back a thousand years and among other things, contain evidence of Geto-Dacian tribes as well as a fortress upon the cliff (2 to 3 metre high ground walls can still be seen). The area was discovered by archaeologist I. Borziac and is a good day trip for visitors.

Rudi Village (200 km from Chişinău) is an unusual nature reserve and archaeological site, all rolled into one. The natural cave (100 metres long) contains pre-historic relics, while outside are fortresses dating back to 4th and 3rd century BC. Also in the area are two 9th to 12th century fortresses as well as a present-day community that has a rich history of customs and tradition. The piece de resistance, however, is the monastery of Rudi, which is one of the oldest in Moldova.

One of Moldova's most prominent seats of learning and religious pilgrimage is located north of Chişinău (110 km) on the right bank of the Nistru. The Holy Trinity Monastery in Saharna is where artefacts related to St. Cuvios Macarie are preserved. A footprint of St Maria is said to exist upon the cliff, making the site all the more hallowed. Coupled with the religious is an incredible spiritual experience awaiting those who make the journey to the area. The cliff top offers views of the rolling hills, lush forests, cascading waterfalls and gushing river - designed to make a believer of anyone.

A must-see museum is the Turkish inspired History and Regional Lore Museum. With over 165,000 heritage exhibits (263,000 exhibits in total) and over 15 exhibitions held here each year, the National History Museum of Moldova in Chişinău is a site of historical and national importance and a great place to understand local heritage.

The Japca Village is famous for being the only location where a convent was allowed to continue to run during the Soviet era. In the 17th century, the convent was not too different from a fortress in its structure and evidence of religious activity and hermits can be traced to 1693. Japca is about 160 km from Chişinău.

For connoisseurs of fine wine, there is no better way to make the most of your holiday than by visiting the wine cellars of Milestii Mici and Cricova. These cellars form the world's largest underground network of wine storage space, with as much as 60 km of 120 km of limestone-walled roadways being dedicated to storing wines. Visit a wine factory and explore a vast collection of fine wines in this underground city!

Remember! Do book your own transport to and fro; public transportation is not available. Also, remember to call ahead and make bookings for your visit to Cricova - you won't be let in without a confirmed reservation.

Opened in 1905, the Museum of Ethnography and National History is architecturally unique in its oriental design. With vast collections on ethnography, geology, zoology, palaeontology, entomology and archaeology, as well as numismatic collections, this museum retains its focus on the culture and nature of Moldova.

Situated by the left bank of the Raut river, not far from the villages of Butuceni and Trebujeni, is the medieval settlement of Orheiul Vechi. It is often referred to as the ‘historical cradle' of Moldova. Two towns have been home to the people of the Orhei region since the Middle Ages. Among other relics are mausoleums, a mosque, bath houses and a caravan-seraglio. A monastery built in caves in the twelfth century, for an orthodox order of monks, is functional even today. Try and get a guided tour of the place from English-speaking monks who can give you some insight into the history of the monastery down the ages.

Patria - The region's largest cinema house constructed by German POWs in 1947 is an imposing structure located near Pushkin Park.

The Alexandr Pushkin House and Museum was once home to the famous Russian poet during his days of exile. He lived here from 1820 to 1823 and is believed to have started work on his epic piece Eugene Onegin during his stay here.

The exact dates of the construction of The Assumption of the Virgin Mary Church are unknown; however, it is believed to date back to 1455. This unusual church is half underground, and legend has it that the Tartars only permitted the construction of churches that were lower than the height of a soldier on his horse, accounting for the lower half being buried beneath the earth. This church is about 80km south of Chişinău and is the only one in all of Basarabia that has wall frescoes. Not too far from Causeni are the Al. Mateevici Museum of Zaim, the Waves of Trajan in Copanca, the Turkish Forest, the old gardens of Popeasca and the Blind Nistru in Talmaza.

The Fine Arts Museum has a fabulous collection of sculptures and paintings in Moldovan, West European and Russian styles.

The Igor Vieru House and Museum in Cernolenco was once the home of Igor, the co-founder of the National School of Painting (along with Valentine Rusu-Ciobanu and Mihai Grecu) of Moldova. Igor is an iconic individual in the art world of Moldova and a visit here is a great way to understand the person and his art.

The Monument of Stefan cel Mare: This monument to the Moldovan king Stefan the Great is located at the entrance to Pushkin Park in Chişinău.

Other places of interest to foreign travellers include the Armenian and Jewish cemeteries, the Codrii Reserve, the Trajan Walls, Soroca's Fortress, Taul Park, Emil Racovita Cave, the Mansion of Manuc Bei, the Serpeni Headbridge Memorial, the lime rocks or Prut Toltrels, the Candle of Gratitude Monument and the intriguing natural wonder of The Hundred Knolls.

The Museum of Ethnography and Archaeology offers visitors a snapshot of the region down the ages, right from the more recent Iron and Bronze Ages to the older Copper and Stone, Neolithic, Mesolithic and Palaeolithic times, with a focus on the area between Prut and Nistru.

The Museum of Popular Art in Ivancea is the site of a permanent exhibition of art from the region. Galleries include the pottery section where the traditional red and black pottery is exhibited, the dishes gallery, the toys section, the stonework gallery (where everything from chimneys to columns to decorative stone flowers are displayed), the wooden objects section, the costumes and ethnic outfits section where you can see samples of fine craftsmanship and embroidery and even a gallery dedicated to music where instruments used locally are proudly displayed.

History buffs will be surprised by the treasures that The National Archaeology and History Museum holds within. This museum at Chişinău houses relics from Orheiul Vechi as well as World War II memorabilia. Don't miss the interactive exhibit where visitors can talk to a political prisoner (of 12 years) from the worker's camp at Vorkuta. Other fascinating artefacts are weaponry from Soviet times and Golden Horde coins.

Latin Connection

At the entrance to the National Archaeology and History Museum is an icon of the Latin descent of Moldovans - a statue of the wolf Lupoaica Romei, and the children Romulus and Remus, not unlike the one in Rome.

Tipova Village - Amidst the rocks and caves on the banks of Nistru, 100 km north from Chişinău in Tipova, is Eastern Europe's largest orthodox monastery to be set in caves.

The charming independent region of Transnistria sits perched on the south eastern edge of Europe, snuggled between the equally exotic Bessarabia (the remainder of Moldova) and Ukraine. This landlocked area is a narrow strip of land running parallel to the Dniester River. The river serves as a natural border with the rest of Moldova.

Transnistria's capital Tiraspol is also its largest city and was a hotbed of communist and Soviet ideals in its heyday. Even today, the remains of monuments and icons of the Soviet Union dot its town centres in the industrial belt.

Why you may be asked to "Stay Away"

While Transnistria claims independence from Moldova and is a self proclaimed republic it is yet to get the nod from the diplomatic community. The downside of this if you're a traveller is that consular help is not available should you need help in an emergency. Travel to this area is best avoided since local policemen may harass you for a visa, when no process to get one actually exists! The mafia rules the roost and unless you have a keen desire to visit the area, you'd do well to skip Transnistria when moving between Chişinău and Odessa.

Things to remember to stay safe

For the brave hearts who decide to make the trip, you'd be well advised to register immediately with the local Militia when you enter. Without this notification leaving the area may prove to be quite impossible. Also remember to check in with your consular representatives at Chisinau and keep them informed of your intended travel dates.

The experience of a trip to Transnistria is like hitting a button on a time machine. You're transported back in time in a flash, to the era when the Soviet Union was still around. Do recruit the services of a trustworthy local guide - ideally someone who comes with references and recommendations from other travellers.

After getting past the formalities and making it into the area, you will find most of the 159,000 plus inhabitants of the capital city quite friendly. The people of Transnistria in general are really pleasant and willing to help. The charm of a foreigner still holds some value here, where visitors are few and far between. The locals may even obligingly reopen their stores or perhaps even a museum for you even if it is a holiday! If you're lucky you may get invited to a home-cooked meal, but do limit your intake of the tipple - it is easy to get carried away with the hospitality and never-ending flow of drinks.

One of Moldova's oldest settlements Benderi (Tighina) is the scenic location for a spectacular fortress dating back to the 17th century. To the south of Chişinău (at a distance of about 160km) lies Cahul - the centre of thermal spas in Moldova. Possibly one of the earliest traveller routes in Moldova was established in the 1960s - to Cosauti Village. This is a village of stonemasons and is about 7km from the Soroca fortress and about 160km from Chişinău.