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Moldova travel guide
Vast wine cellars, cave monasteries and rolling countryside.
Moldova is a small, landlocked country between Romania and Ukraine, with gentle hills and farmland. It is best known for its wine, including some of the world's largest underground wine cellars.
Travel tools
Getting there
Chișinău International Airport is the main gateway; land borders and trains connect Moldova with Romania, while crossings to Ukraine are affected by the war, so check current advice.
Best time to visit: May–Jun and Sep–Oct – warm weather and the autumn grape harvest.
Tougher months: December to February is cold and grey, though wine cellars stay at a constant temperature.
Weather by month in Chișinău
- 1°J●
- 3°F●
- 9°M●
- 17°A●
- 23°M●
- 27°J●●
- 29°J●●
- 29°A●
- 23°S●
- 16°O●
- 9°N●
- 3°D●
Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).
Time zone: Europe/Chisinau. Compare with your local time.
Visas: in our passport dataset, 102 of 198 other passports can enter Moldova without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 92 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 4 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.
Background: Visa policy of Moldova (Wikipedia).
Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-07-07). Read the advisory.
Source and more: Moldova travel facts on RoamSun
Stay
Most trips to Moldova are based around Chișinău, Orheiul Vechi or Cricova. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.
Typical daily budget: about US$25–40 for a backpacker and US$60–110 mid-range, per person.
Source: RoamSun Moldova page · Browse hotel guides
Connect
Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +373.
Mobile data: read the eSIM for Europe before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.
Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun
Do
- Chișinău (Centre · capital): A green capital of parks, cafés, museums and an easy-going atmosphere.
- Orheiul Vechi (Centre · cave monastery): A stunning archaeological complex with a cave monastery and traditional village.
- Cricova (Near Chișinău · wine cellars): Vast underground wine cellars carved from old limestone mines.
- Mileștii Mici (Near Chișinău · wine cellars): Home to an enormous underground wine collection and tasting rooms.
- Soroca (North · fortress): A medieval fortress on the river and a hilltop candle monument with views.
- Saharna (North-east · monastery & waterfalls): A peaceful monastery in a forested gorge with walking trails and waterfalls.
- Țipova (North-east · cave monastery): One of the largest cave monasteries in Eastern Europe, perched above the Dniester.
- Purcari (South · wine estate): A historic wine estate in the south-east famed for its red wines.
Things to do
- Tour Mileștii Mici. Drive through a maze of underground wine galleries home to one of the world's largest wine collections.
- Explore Cricova. Visit the 'underground city' of wine cellars with streets named after grape varieties.
- Visit Orheiul Vechi. Climb to a cave monastery carved into limestone cliffs above a winding river.
- Stroll Chișinău. Walk past the Nativity Cathedral, Stephen the Great Park and the city's Soviet-era architecture.
- See Soroca Fortress. Explore the round medieval fortress on the Dniester, then the town's ornate Roma 'palaces'.
- Stay in a village guesthouse. Experience rural life with home-cooked food and homemade wine.
- Hike to Țipova Monastery. Discover cliffside cave churches overlooking the Dniester river.
- Taste placinte. Try stuffed pastries, mămăligă and sarmale washed down with local wine.
Source: full Moldova guide on RoamSun
Eat and drink
- Mămăligă – cornmeal porridge served with cheese and sour cream
- Plăcinte – pastries filled with cheese, potato or cabbage
- Sarmale – cabbage or vine leaves stuffed with rice and meat
- Zeamă – sour chicken and noodle soup
Source: RoamSun Moldova guide
Money and safety
Currency: Moldovan leu (MDL). Currency and plug checker.
Tipping: Around 10% in restaurants.
Emergency numbers: 112 police, fire & ambulance.
- The Moldovan leu is the currency; carry cash for markets, minibuses and villages.
- ATMs are common in Chișinău, and cards are accepted in many city restaurants and hotels.
- Moldova is generally safe, but beware of pickpockets in crowded markets and buses.
- Transnistria is not controlled by the Moldovan government – check your government's travel advice before considering a visit.
Source: RoamSun Moldova facts
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Moldova?
May–Jun and Sep–Oct – warm weather and the autumn grape harvest. Continental, with hot summers and cold winters.
What time zone is Moldova in?
Moldova uses Europe/Chisinau.
Do I need a visa for Moldova?
It depends on your passport. In our dataset 102 of 198 other passports can enter without a prior visa, 92 need an e-visa or eTA and 4 need a visa in advance. Use the visa checker and confirm with the official government source.
What plug and voltage does Moldova use?
Moldova uses plug type C, F at 230 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Moldova?
The international calling code for Moldova is +373.
Do you tip in Moldova?
Around 10% in restaurants.
What is the emergency number in Moldova?
112 police, fire & ambulance.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Moldova?
Traffic drives on the right.