Introducing Moldova
Landlocked and bounded by Romania and Ukraine, with the ethnic divisions to prove it, Moldova has come a long way in a short time and is arguably more advanced than EU-friendly Romania in many respects. The tourism focus is indisputably the country’s wine industry, which produces staggeringly superb varietals and offers winery tours that will vanquish the stoutest of constitutions – try Cricova, not far from Chişinău. Less celebrated are the attractions between the vineyards: sunflower fields, enormous watermelons, bucolic pastoral lands and the amazingly friendly people. Soberer diversions include remote monasteries cut into limestone cliffs and a rural backdrop inhabited by welcoming villagers.
But it goes deeper. What could have been a fascinating ethnic mix went horribly wrong in the early 1990s. The Turkic Gagauzia and the Soviet-bent Transdniestr areas recognised the opportunity and declared their respective independences almost simultaneously, which culminated in a bloody civil war. Today, Gagauz maintains a calm truce with Moldova, while the alluringly bizarre Transdniestr region is on the brink of reopening old wounds.
While still in contention for the title of Poorest Country in Europe, Moldova’s prices (particularly for accommodation) are unexpectedly high. Coming from Romania, expect to pay about the same for almost everything.
Sights in Moldova
Activities in Moldova
Chişinău
In Chişinău (kish-i-now in Moldovan, kish-i-nyov in Russian) fleets of BMWs and Mercedes dominate traffic, while fashionably dressed youths strut down boutique-lined avenues and dine in fancy restaurants.
Tiraspol
Tiraspol (from the Greek, meaning ‘town on the Nistru’), 70km east of Chişinău, is the second-largest city in Moldova – sorry, make that the largest city and capital of Transdniestr! Although it’s as Soviet-licious as they come and still a...
Moldova destination guides
Transdniestr
One of the most patently curious regions in Europe, the self-declared republic of Transdniestr (Pridnestrovskaya Moldavskaya Respublika, or PMR in Russian; population 555, 500) is nevertheless a largely unknown enigma.
Hotels in Moldova
Budget Hotels & Hostels in Moldova
Guesthouses and B&Bs in Moldova
Apartments in Moldova
Gagauzia
Subordinate to Moldova constitutionally and for foreign relations and defence, Gagauzia (Gagauz Yeri) is an autonomous region covering 1832 sq km of noncontiguous land in southern Moldova.
Need to know
Entertainment in Moldova
Shopping in Moldova