Chișinău
Save27 hand-picked places in 9 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.
Only have a day? See a ready-made day plan ↓Show on the map
Tips
10 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
Central square with the Parliament and Government buildings
3 tips
- Good starting point for a walk
- Busy during national holidays
- Cafes nearby on the main boulevard
📷 Photos
- 2
Main Orthodox cathedral with a bell tower in a central park
- Tip: At night
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Free entry
- Lovely in the evening
📷 Photos
- 3
Monument built in 1840 to mark the Russian victory over the Ottomans
- Tip: At night
3 tips
- Pairs well with the cathedral
- Photogenic at night
- Free to see
📷 Photos
- 4
Shady central park with lakes and monuments
3 tips
- Pleasant for a stroll
- Benches and cafes
- Great in spring
📷 Photos
- 5
Statue of Moldova's most famous medieval prince
3 tips
- Meeting point for locals
- Free to see
- Combine with the park
📷 Photos
- 6
Collections from prehistory to modern times
3 tips
- Allow 90 minutes
- English labels limited
- Small entry fee
📷 Photos
- 7
Underground wine city with kilometres of tunnels
- Tip: Book ahead
2 tips
- Tasting included on many tours
- Dress warmly
📷 Photos
- 8
Huge underground wine cellars listed among the world's largest
- Tip: Book ahead
2 tips
- Tours are by car or electric cart
- Bring a jacket, it is cool underground
📷 Photos
- 9
Cave monastery complex in a dramatic river landscape
3 tips
- Take a day trip from the city
- Wear good shoes for the cliffs
- Combine with a village lunch
📷 Photos
- 10
Small 18th-century church in the heart of the city
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Quiet spot
- Short visit
📷 Photos
Take this map with you
Opens Google Maps with these places, ready to save to your own list.
Before you go: Chișinău tips
Transportation
- Ride the trolleybuses: Chisinau's trolleybus network covers the centre and suburbs cheaply; pay the conductor on board or tap a bank card where validators are installed.
- Use rutiere minibuses: Numbered maxi-taxis follow fixed routes and are faster than trolleybuses but often crowded; say where you want to stop as you approach.
- Book taxis by phone or app: Order through a local taxi app or your hotel instead of hailing unmarked cars, especially at the airport and the central bus station.
Security
- Guard belongings on transport: Pickpockets work crowded trolleybuses, rutiere and the Central Market, so keep phones and wallets in front pockets or zipped bags.
- Exchange money at licensed offices: Use banks or official casa de schimb offices to buy Moldovan lei, and avoid anyone offering to change money on the street.
- Check the bill in clubs: Some bars and nightclubs pad bills or push expensive drinks on visitors; confirm prices first and keep an eye on your glass.
Saving
- Eat at local canteens: Self-service cafeterias and small Moldovan eateries serve placinte, zeama soup and mamaliga far cheaper than restaurants on Stefan cel Mare boulevard.
- Shop the Central Market: Piata Centrala sells fresh fruit, cheese, honey and smoked meats at local prices, ideal for picnics in Valea Morilor park.
- Share winery tours: Cricova and Milestii Mici are outside the city and need booking and transport, so join a group tour or share a taxi to split the cost.
Weather/Clothing
- Expect hot summers: July and August can be hot and dry, so pack light clothes, a hat and sunscreen, and cool off by the lake in Valea Morilor park.
- Prepare for cold winters: Winters often drop below freezing with snow and icy pavements, so bring a warm coat, hat, gloves and boots with grip.
- Bring a sweater for the cellars: The underground galleries at Cricova and Milestii Mici stay cool all year, so carry a warm layer even on a summer tour.
Cultural
- Taste Moldovan staples: Try placinte pastries filled with cheese or cabbage, mamaliga cornmeal with branza and sour cream, and sarmale cabbage rolls.
- Respect Orthodox customs: In the Nativity Cathedral and other churches, dress modestly; women often cover their heads, and visitors should keep quiet during services.
- Learn local gestures: Romanian is the official language and Russian is widely understood; give flowers in odd numbers, and try a martisor token on 1 March.
Local Hacks
- Book the big wine cellars: Cricova and Milestii Mici have huge underground galleries of wine; tours must usually be reserved in advance, so plan a few days ahead.
- Visit for National Wine Day: On the first weekend of October, the city centre fills with winery stalls, tastings and folk music for the national wine festival.
- Day trip to Orheiul Vechi: The cave monastery cut into limestone cliffs above the Raut river valley is about an hour from Chisinau and stunning at sunset.
1-day itineraries in Chișinău
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.