Welcome to Chișinău, the capital of Moldova, located in the heart of Eastern Europe, between Romania and Ukraine. Known for its Soviet architecture, lush parks, Orthodox churches, and its food and wine culture.
We flew from Frankfurt am Main on a direct flight to Chisinau with Lufthansa, and on the way back, we made a stopover in Vienna.
We stayed at the “TA Collection” hotel, which is very well-located for exploring the city, and for the airport-hotel transfer, we took the shuttle organized by the hotel.
For sightseeing, we visited everything on foot and by private hire car with the Yango app (the local equivalent of Uber).
You can also easily take the many trams.
Places we visited:
Here is the program of my visit, it took place over several days, but we mainly visited the city on Tuesday afternoons, and in the evenings, because we went everywhere on organized excursions practically every day.
Monuments located along the Main Avenue
Along the main avenue, you will find most of the interesting monuments, everything is within walking distance.
The Presidential Palace
Walking along Stefan cel Mare Boulevard, you’ll find the Presidential Palace of Chișinău (Clădirea Președinției Republicii Moldova).
It is the official residence of the President of the Republic of Moldova, built in 1984.
The building was originally designed to be the new headquarters of the “Supreme Soviet” of the Moldavian SSR.
The Parliament of Moldova
The Stefan cel Mare Monument
This is the Stephen the Great Monument, or rather “Monumentul lui Ștefan cel Mare” in Romanian.
It is one of the most important monuments in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova.
There is also a magnificent park nearby.
* Sorry, the photo was taken from behind; the front photos were not very good due to the excessive sun.
The Arc de Triomphe
This monument commemorates the victory of the Russian Empire over the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829.
The Cathedral of the Nativity
“Catedrala Mitropolitană Nașterea Domnului din Chișinău” in Romanian.
It is a Moldovan Orthodox cathedral, built from the 1830s, seat of the Orthodox Church of Moldova of Russian obedience.
Here are the other interesting places, and there are many!
The Statue of Lenin / Valea Morilor / Cascade Stairs
The huge monument dedicated to Lenin in Chisinau, and next to it there is the Valea Morilor Lake where you can rent pedal boats in the shape of cars, a “tiny” statue of the Little Prince, then a little further a magnificent place, the “Cascade Stairs”, you have to climb a little to get to the Belvedere.
The National Hotel
The former “Național” Hotel, now abandoned, adorned in the colors of the Moldovan flag: blue, yellow, and red.
Cosmos Hotel
The statue of Soviet soldier Grigory Kotovsky in front of the imposing Cosmos Hotel.
The Mănăstirea Ciuflea Orthodox Cathedral
A magnificent Orthodox cathedral that is a must-see.
Central Station
Here are some photos of the station, with the famous train that connects the capitals of Chisinau and Bucharest in Romania.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to go inside, but I recommend it if you can; it’s a unique experience.
The Market – Piața Centrală
This morning we’re visiting a must-see, the Great Open Market.
It’s huge, 100% local, authentic, you can find everything, and there are no “tourist traps” here! You can find everything you need for everyday life, like getting your keys remade or even buying a TV remote control… A mix of scents and colors.
In fact, the atmosphere is more like a “Souk” or “Bazaar,” but with a Slavic and Soviet style, which contrasts especially with other Western capitals.
Here are a few photos I took: the Scales (for weighing) with their very retro style, the delicious (huge) pomegranate juice pressed on site, the butchers where the meat and carcasses are cut in front of you, the entrance to the Live Fish Market, and some typical local products: lavash, homemade jams…
Amusement Park
A little out of the way from the city center lies a small 1960s-style “Retro/Soviet” amusement park.
The park seems frozen in time, but it’s still in operation, and you can even ride the Soviet Ferris wheel and pay with a contactless bank card!
The atmosphere is unique: vintage rides, colorful decorations… From the Ferris wheel, you have a magnificent view of Chisinau.
The Ferris wheel strongly resembles the one in Pripyat, Ukraine.
I highly recommend this visit; it’s truly unique.
The Memorial to Eternity
The Memorial to Eternity in Chisinau (Marshal Malinovsky Street) pays tribute to Soviet soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War. The monument was erected in 1975.
The Monument to the Deported
A tribute to the victims of deportations by the communist regime, thousands of Moldovans deported to Siberia and Kazakhstan between 1940 and 1951.
“Gates of the City” (Porțile Orașului)
Two large apartment blocks located at the entrance to the city, perfectly representing Soviet “brutalist” architecture, a symbol of the city and its former Soviet heritage.
The MNEIN (National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History)
A magnificent building in the Persian Oriental style, it is the city’s most important museum.
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to visit it because we arrived too late in the evening.
The State Circus
The Chisinau Circus, Soviet style.
Where to eat?
Here are the restaurants where we had lunch during our stay.
Taifas Restaurant
Our favorite restaurant in the capital, we’ve returned several times. The place is simply magnificent, in true Moldovan style, and the dishes are very generous and delicious.
The staff is super welcoming (we spoke English), and sometimes they host live music events.
We had several Moldovan specialties: plăcintă as a starter, cheese pastries, sarmales (vine leaves), and several main courses to share, giving us a taste of Moldovan cuisine: chicken, vegetables, and roasted peppers. For drinks (beware: alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health), local beers are available, as well as excellent local red wines (e.g., Fautor – Aurore (Fetească Neagră & Tempranillo).
For local digestifs, the Divin Călărași is also available, using the same production technique as French Cognac.
Reservations are highly recommended.
Strada București 67, Chisinau
La Sezatoare
Another traditional restaurant that I highly recommend.
https://www.facebook.com/restaurant.lasezatoare/
Str. Sciusev 51/1
Saperavi – Ресторан Кавказской кухни
We ate on our last night at this Georgian restaurant in the suburbs of the capital.
Very good, beautifully decorated, and lively: eggplant rolls for starters, followed by grilled meat skewers (mtsvadi).
https://www.facebook.com/SaperaviBar/
Independenții 36/1, Creanga 66.
Here are some photos taken in the different Restaurants:
Some tips
- Currency: Moldovan Leu (MDL). We used a Revolut bank card, which we often paid with, but we made a withdrawal once we arrived because not all businesses accept credit cards.
- Languages spoken: Romanian is the official language, Russian is also spoken, as is English.
- Safety: Generally “safe,” but as everywhere, there are pickpockets, so avoid temptation!
- Best time to visit: April to June and September-October.
Excursions to do from Chisinau
Here are the excursions we took, each time with Moldova Tours:
- Tiraspol and Bender (Pridnestrovie)
- The region is called Transnistria in Romanian and Moldovan but it is forbidden to use this name there
- Old Orhei and Butuceni
- The Cricova wine cellars
- Manor of Manuc Bey, Comrat and Gagaouzie
Where to go out in the evening
In the evening, we headed to the Grand Parc au Centre and the “Escobar Rooftop Cocktail Bar.”
A friendly atmosphere and a few arcade games are available.
Here are some other recommended places:
Casino Europa, Marlène, Carpe Diem Wine Shop & Bar…