Things to Do in Chișinău and Nearby

Advisory note, October 2026: British FCDO advice is against all travel to Transnistria, and it carries no warning for the rest of Moldova (GOV.UK ). The US travel advisory sets Moldova at Level 2 and Transnistria at Level 3 (travel.state.gov ). Since the war in Ukraine began, Russian drones have crossed Moldovan airspace and Chișinău airport has shut for short spells. Read both advisories and confirm your flight shortly before you go.

Sort the Options by Time and Budget

Chișinău rewards a slow day on foot, but the biggest experiences sit a short drive outside the city. As a rule, give the centre half a day, and give each outing beyond it a day of its own. One cellar or one trip to the Orheiul Vechi reserve is plenty per day. All prices below are in Moldovan lei (MDL), and cards are common in the capital.

Low-Cost Things to Do in Town

  • Museums. The National Museum of History, the Ethnography and Natural History Museum and the National Museum of Art each charge 50 MDL for an adult ticket. All three close on Mondays. History is free on the last Thursday of the month and Ethnography on the last Friday. Art cuts the price to 25 MDL for students and pensioners.
  • Parks. Stephen the Great Central Park was laid out in 1818 and covers about 7 hectares, with the Alley of Classics running through it. Dendrariu Park, about 78 hectares, is open daily from 08:00 to 21:00 and charges 10 MDL for adults and 5 MDL for pupils and students.
  • Cathedral square. The Nativity Cathedral is free to enter. Dress modestly.
  • A glass of wine. Carpe Diem Wine Shop and Bar, at Columna 136, pours flights of Moldovan and imported wines, daily from about 11:00 until 23:00.
  • Valea Morilor lake. Rowing boats and pedalos are rented in season. Stay out of the water and treat it as a boating lake only.

Cellar Tours

Three estates run guided visits, and all of them want a booking.

Cricova, about 15 km north, has six tours that range from the 70-minute Underground City tour at 400 MDL to the four-hour V.I.P. tour at 3,100 MDL, with Business (700 MDL), Expert (950), Național (1,300) and Premium (2,000) in between. You can reserve on +373 79 202 999 or office@cricova.md . Partner sites may quote higher weekend prices, so confirm the day you want on the Cricova tour page .

Mileștii Mici, about 20 km south, holds the Guinness World Records entry for the largest wine cellar by number of bottles: over 1.5 million bottles in 55 km of galleries. The 50-minute Winery Tour costs 350 MDL and includes a gift bottle of sparkling wine. “Hai, Noroc!” runs 1 h 30 for 800 MDL with three wines, and “Univers” runs 2 h for 1,200 MDL with five. A surcharge of 100 MDL per paying visitor covers visits at 17:00, weekends and holidays. Wear a layer, since the galleries stay between +12 and +14 C. Book at turism@milestii-mici.md or +373 67 121 121, and ask how the group moves between galleries. The prices do not include a transfer from the city.

Castel Mimi in Bulboaca, about 35 km east, is open every day. Its tours start with the 1 h 10 Family tour at about 400 MDL, and the 90-minute Iconic tour with five wines costs 850 MDL on weekdays and 950 at weekends. The estate also teaches guests how to make sarmale, and its Wine Spa package (indoor pool, jacuzzi and three saunas for three hours) costs 2,500 MDL on Monday to Friday only. See castelmimi.md .

Activities at Orheiul Vechi

The reserve is 55 km from the capital, about an hour away. Entry is 20 MDL. A local operator takes kayakers down the Răut on a 16.5 km route that lasts 5 to 6 hours, for about 750 to 850 MDL per person. Paragliding flights of 15 to 20 minutes cost about 400 MDL. Carriage rides and cooking classes in village guesthouses are also advertised. Price details are on the reserve tourism page . Follow the marked trails, because the US advisory flags unexploded ordnance in fields, forests and river banks.

Getting Around and Staying Safe

  • A city bus or trolleybus ride costs 7 MDL, a rate that took effect on 1 May 2026. There is no metro.
  • If you drive to a winery, the driver should not taste anything. Moldova punishes drink-driving strictly, so a tour or a taxi is the simpler choice.
  • Pickpockets work in crowds, so keep your phone and wallet zipped away.

Cellar trips with transport can be compared on GetYourGuide .

Read more: One-day outings from Chișinău . The 3-day Moldova itinerary shows how some of these stops can be linked.