- Short description
- Basic information
- Program
- Map of the tour
- How to join us
- Ask for more information
Short description
This compact 5-day Moldova program includes the country's most interesting and remarkable places.
We stay in a comfortable hotel in Chișinău and take day trips each day. Walks around Chișinău are included, mainly in the evening after we return from the day's main sites.
One day is dedicated to the "Golden Triangle"—the three most famous places in Moldova: Curchi Monastery, Old Orhei, and Cricova Winery, with a tasting of at least 4 wines included.
A full day is devoted to Pridnestrovye (Transnistria), or the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR). We'll visit the most important places in Bender and Tiraspol, the capital of this self-proclaimed republic. Here we'll step back into the Soviet Union era, from which this territory still seems not to have emerged. We'll eat in a Soviet restaurant, see monuments from Soviet times, and immerse ourselves in that bygone historical era. But not everything here is Soviet—we'll also see the well-preserved 15th-century Bender Fortress.
Another day takes us to Southern Moldova—Gagauzia and specifically Comrat, the capital of the Gagauz Autonomous Republic. We'll visit the local Gagauz museum in the village of Besalma, where we'll learn about the history and culture of this small people. Lunch will be at the ethnographic complex "Gagauz Sofrasi" in the village of Congaz, where we'll try traditional Gagauz dishes.
We'll also visit Taraclia, the administrative center of Moldova's Bulgarian community, known for its diverse cultural heritage and significant population of ethnic Bulgarians. There's a fascinating museum, cultural center, and monuments related to Bulgarians. We'll meet Bulgarians, talk with them, and immerse ourselves in this Bulgarian atmosphere outside Bulgaria.
Finally, we'll visit Cipriano Monastery and the Soviet Museum of Petru Costin in the town of Ialoveni before departing for home.
Basic information
Travel period: summer and autumn;
Dates: June 3-7, 2026; September 23-27, 2026;
Duration: 4 nights/5 days;
Group: 10 people;
Price for the program in Moldova: 850 euros/person (group of 10 people); If the group is smaller, the price will increase slightly accordingly.
The price includes:
Guides: company guide and local guide;
Transfers/transport: all transfers and transport by minibus in Moldova;
Accommodation: 4 nights at Manhattan Hotel & Restaurant in Chișinău - 4 stars or similar (may be 3 stars, but with the same quality) with breakfast included, in double rooms; single occupancy is available.
Museum and attraction tickets: all museum and attraction tickets mentioned in the program, including tasting of 4 wines, sparkling wine and light snacks at Cricova Winery.
Airfares The group will fly from Sofia, Bulgaria, to Chișinău. You can meet us at Sofia Airport or at the hotel in Chișinău. We can arrange airfares from your home country to Chișinău. If you're flying separately, we can also arrange transfers to the hotel. Contact us for available options.
Visa EU citizens do not need a visa for Moldova. For other nationalities, please contact us.
This program offers an overview of the key aspects of the trip. If you require customized solutions based on your specific case and circumstances, please contact us via email. We can arrange flight tickets from any location worldwide to the trip's starting point. Furthermore, we can handle hotel transfers and any necessary documents. Our team will provide assistance throughout the entire organization process. Feel free to reach out to us without hesitation via email!
Program
Day 1: Flight to Chișinău, Moldova
Today we'll fly to Chișinău, Moldova. Additional information about the flights will be available once the group is finalized. Please also see the Airfares section above. In the evening, enjoy a walk around the center or activities of your choice.
Day 2: The Golden Triangle of Moldova—Curchi Monastery, Old Orhei, and Cricova Winery
Curchi Monastery is one of Moldova's most important architectural and religious monuments. Located in the Orhei Forest near the village of Curchi, about 14 km southwest of the town of Orhei, it's considered one of the country's most beautiful monasteries—a true gem and one of Moldova's most impressive sites.
Next is the ethnographic reserve "Old Orhei" (the villages of Butuceni and Trebujeni), located in a picturesque valley. We'll visit the fascinating archaeological site containing ruins of two cities from the 14th–16th centuries. We continue to the well-maintained Orthodox cave monastery "Saint Mary Dormata," expanded and modified in the rocks by monks over the centuries. From the church, still functioning today, a magnificent view of the entire valley opens up.
Lunch is at a splendid restaurant—a landmark in itself.
In the afternoon we'll reach Cricova Winery, one of Moldova's largest. The underground cellars contain over 200 km of tunnels and paths that have existed since the 15th century, when stone was excavated to build Chișinău. They were converted into an underground winery in the 1950s. Half the tunnels and labyrinths are used for wine storage. The place is stunning. The electric train ride through the labyrinth includes stops for wine tasting (4 wines, 1 sparkling wine, and light snacks included), a film in a cinema hall where we'll drink wine while watching, tasting rooms, museums, and much more. The entire tour lasts about 2 hours, including the tasting.
In the evening we return to our hotel in Chișinău.
Day 3: The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic—Tiraspol and Bender, or Back to the USSR
After crossing the border between Moldova and Pridnestrovye (Transnistria)—the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR)—we'll first visit Bender Fortress, a 16th-century structure built by the Moldavian ruler Stephen the Great as part of the defensive chain along the Dniester River. In 1538, when the city became part of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent restored the fortress and renamed it Bender. Today you can explore the museum, the torture chamber, and other well-preserved structures.
We'll explore Soviet architecture in Bender: the Tighina Military Cemetery, Bendery Railway Station, the Gorky Cinema, local mosaics, and other notable sites.
Lunch will be at a traditional Soviet-style restaurant or bistro.
Next is Tiraspol, the administrative center of the self-proclaimed Pridnestrovye (Transnistria) region. We'll see Lenin monuments, the Glory Monument, the 1936 theater, Taras Shevchenko University, the House of Soviets, Tiraspol's Soviet parks, and many other sites. If you're interested in history or want to see remnants of the USSR, Tiraspol offers an authentic glimpse into that world. In the evening we return to our hotel in Chișinău.
Day 4: Gagauzia and the Bulgarians of Taraclia
Today we'll explore southern Moldova.
We begin in Gagauzia, specifically Comrat, the capital of the Gagauz Autonomous Republic. The Gagauz are a unique Orthodox community speaking a Turkic language. Nearly 70% of Comrat's residents are ethnic Gagauz—a Turkic people who migrated from Bulgaria in the early 19th century. We'll visit the local Gagauz museum in the village of Besalma to learn about the history and culture of this distinctive people.
Lunch will be at the ethnographic complex "Gagauz Sofrasi" in the village of Congaz, where we'll try traditional Gagauz dishes.
Next is Taraclia, the administrative center of Moldova's Bulgarian community. The town is known for its diverse cultural heritage and significant ethnic Bulgarian population. It plays an important role in the region's economy and cultural life, blending Moldovan and Bulgarian traditions. We'll visit the Historical and Ethnographic Museum in Taraclia, which houses a rich collection of artifacts documenting Bulgarian life in these lands. We'll also see the Monument to Bulgarian Settlers and the church of "Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki".
Day 5: Cipriano Monastery and the Soviet Museum of Petru Costin in Ialoveni
Cipriano Monastery sits at the edge of a large forest between the villages of Strășeni and Cipriana on the Isnovăț River, not far from Chișinău. Founded in the 15th century during the reign of Alexander the Good, it was reconstructed by Stephen the Great in 1470. The complex includes three churches: "Dormition of the Mother of God" (1545), "Saint Nicholas" (1840), and "Saint George" (1907). The oldest—the church of "Dormition of the Mother of God"—was founded by Petru Rareș.
This is one of Moldova's most beautiful and well-preserved monasteries.
The final site in our program is the open-air museum dedicated to the Soviet Union—the gallery of Petru Costin in the town of Ialoveni. This enormous private collection features dozens of Soviet, socialist, and communist monuments, airplanes, cars, and other artifacts, gathered over approximately 45 years.
Transfer to the airport and flight back home.
Take a look at the publication dedicated to this interesting place - Discovering Moldova's Hidden Soviet Legacy: The Socialism Museum in Condrița, Moldova
Map of the tour
How to join us
Please email us for more information about this trip or to sign up. We'll respond promptly and keep you updated on all organizational details. If you're a group of 5–8 people, we can discuss dates that suit you. You can also join the list for future trips—just send us your names. It's that simple!
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