Moldova

Understand

One of the smallest states of the former USSR, Moldova has been part of two historical empires: the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire. For several centuries, the country was under Ottoman influence but that all changed during the 1800s when the Russians took control of it. In the years to follow, Moldova became a part of the Russian Empire and later on, the Soviet Union, before declaring independence in the 1990s. Its fertile soils led to Moldova being dubbed "the garden" of the Soviet Union. Moldova is one of the least visited countries on the planet. You are likely to attract intrigued looks from locals curious of what you are doing in the country. Since independence, Moldova has faced numerous difficulties, especially inter-ethnic conflict. Inter-ethnic tensions led to the creation of the proclaimed Transnistria Republic in eastern Moldova, which has its own government and currency but is not recognised by any UN member country. Economic links have been re-established between these two parts of Moldova despite the failure in political negotiations. Similar to Switzerland, Moldova is committed to neutrality, and has decent relations with virtually every country in the world. Despite Moldova's vast political and economic problems, Moldovans try to be happy and make the most of their situation.

Climate Despite its proximity to the Black Sea, Moldova experiences continental cold and snowy winters, mild springs and autumns, and warm to hot summers.

Terrain Moldova, a landlocked country, mostly consists of rolling steppe, gradually sloping south towards the Black Sea. The country is only slightly hilly: its highest point is Bălănești Hill at 430 m.

History

It was a principality under the suzerainty (protection) of the Ottoman Empire, then part of the Russ

See

Museums There are several museums in central Chișinău, including the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography, the Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of Fine Arts.

Wine Moldova is famous for its wines, and high-quality wines at inexpensive prices are Moldova’s main tourist attraction.

1 Mileștii Mici - With over 200 kilometres (125 miles) of underground roadways, Mileștii Mici is registered in the Guinness World Records as the biggest wine collection in the world. It may be easier to book a tour through a travel agency as one must provide a car for the tour. +373 22 382 333. 2 Cricova - Moldova's second largest wine cellar has over 120 kilometres (75 miles) of underground roads. 15 minutes drive from Chișinău, it is a favourite of tourists. +373 22-277 378. Purcari - One of the oldest wineries in Moldova, Purcari wine has been drunk by Russian Emperor Nicolai II and his first cousin, the British King George V. Brănești - A smaller and reasonably priced wine cellar. It lies close to Orheiul Vechi Monastery which makes it perfect for combining a monastery tour with wine t

Getting there

Entry requirements Citizens of Canada, CIS countries, the EU, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, UK and the US do not need a visa to enter Moldova and can stay in the country for up to 90 days within a six-month period without registration. Citizens of other countries must either obtain a visa in the nearest Moldovan embassy or alternatively could obtain a visa on arrival in Chișinău airport and on some land border crossings provided that an officially endorsed invitation letter from Moldova is obtained beforehand. By entering into Moldova via Ukraine, you may be crossing Transnistria. Some buses from Odesa go through Tiraspol, while others go around, exchanging the two border crossings with more time on the road. Transnistria is an unrecognised state in the east of Moldova bordering Ukraine, which broke off from the country after a war in 1992. There are generally few issues for Westerners in crossing Transnistrian borders by bus, although foreign travellers have experienced problems in the past. There is, however, a small chance that foreign tourists may be asked to pay bribes, although the buses which travel between Ukraine, Transnistria and the rest of Moldova usually handle negotiations at the border well, collecting passports and negotiating with Transnistrian authorities. Also, there is no Moldovan border check between Transnistria and the rest of Moldova as Moldova does not recognise Transnistria as a state, so you might have some explaining to do when you try to leave Moldova without an entrance stamp.

By plane

The main international airport is 1 Chișinău International Airport (RMO IATA). Airlines that serve several destinations from Chisinau are Wizz Air, HiSky and Fly One (updated Feb 2024) Nearby airports are in Iași (IAS IATA) and Bacău (BCM IATA).

By tra

Getting around

Moldova is small enough to be explored very quickly. For example, a long walk to Chișinău from Bolhrad − even though that sounds highly impractical − will take you about 34 hours. The most reliable way of getting around the country is by bus. Buses can get you to most parts of the country. You can find information about long-distance bus services in Moldova on the Autogari website, for example. This site contains information on bus stations in Moldova, timetables and routes between cities. Chișinău is the main transportation hub for the country. The three bus stations serve every city and town in Moldova. The fastest form of transport are small minibuses which seat around 15 people. Larger buses are also used and are marginally safer, because they travel at slower speeds.

In Chișinău there is a state run trolleybus system which includes many new vehicles. Fare is 6 lei; a conductor collects fares and issues tickets. There is also a 'bus service which operates with fewer routes.

By minibus Minibuses (rutiere in Romanian; Маршрутное in Russian) are available in most cities. They are privately operated and are called by requesting the vehicle to stop, however can often be very crowded. Drivers should be paid on boarding (3 lei in Chișinău), however some insist on sitting down first and passing the money to the person in front of them to pass to the driver, so don't be alarmed if people behind you start handing you money.

By car M1 Highway provides a long way from the border with Ukraine, near Dubău, to the border with Romania at Leușeni, passing through Chișinău.