Travelling to Chișinău With Children
Advisory note, October 2026: British FCDO advice is against all travel to Transnistria, and there is no warning for the rest of Moldova (GOV.UK ). The US advisory lists Moldova at Level 2 and Transnistria at Level 3 (travel.state.gov ). Drones from the war in Ukraine have flown into Moldovan airspace, and Chișinău airport has briefly stopped flights at times. Families should check both advisories and the flight status before booking.
What Children Pay
Costs for children are low, and a family can fill a day for far less than the price of a single cellar tour.
| Place | Child price | Adult price |
|---|---|---|
| Ethnography and Natural History Museum | 10 MDL for pupils, free under 7 | 50 MDL |
| Chișinău Zoo | 5 MDL, free under 7 | 30 MDL |
| Dendrariu Park | 5 MDL for pupils | 10 MDL |
| Castel Mimi tour | 180 MDL ages 0 to 12 | From about 400 MDL |
The zoo prices come from press reports in May 2026, so check at the gate.
The Deinotherium at the Museum
The Ethnography and Natural History Museum on Mihail Kogălniceanu street displays a Deinotherium skeleton. The museum calls it the only complete skeleton of the species in Europe. The natural history halls make a good first stop on a wet or cold day. The museum is open 10:00 to 18:00 from April to October and 10:00 to 17:00 from November to March. It closes on Mondays and on the last Wednesday of each month. Entry is free for everyone on the last Friday of the month.
The Zoo
The zoo in the Botanica district is home to about 1,000 animals. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 19:00 and shut on Mondays. Adults pay 30 MDL. Children, students and pensioners pay 5 MDL, and children under 7 go in free.
Green Space for Running Around
- Dendrariu Park covers about 78 hectares and has been open since 1973. It is open daily from 08:00 to 21:00, and parking costs 10 MDL. The park has a fitness area.
- Valea Morilor Park has paths and playgrounds, and it rents boats on the lake in season. Swimming is not advised, so children should stay on the shore.
- The Cascade Staircase has 218 steps, which gives children something to count on the way up.
- Stephen the Great Central Park, laid out in 1818, covers about 7 hectares along the Alley of Classics.
Cellars With Children Along
Wine estates take children on tours, though the tours are about the cellars and not about play. Cricova charges 200 MDL for ages 2 to 12 on partner booking pages. At Castel Mimi, ages 0 to 12 pay 180 MDL and ages 13 to 17 pay 280 MDL, according to the Castel Mimi tour page . Mileștii Mici sets child age bands per tour, with free entry for the youngest, so ask when you book. The galleries run between +12 and +14 C, so pack a jumper for each child.
A Day at Orheiul Vechi
The Orheiul Vechi reserve is 55 km from the city, a drive of about an hour. Bikes go in free, the short trails are easy and entry costs 20 MDL, with free entry for toddlers and preschoolers. Keep children on the marked trails, because the US advisory flags unexploded ordnance in fields, forests and river banks.
Practical Tips
- A bus or trolleybus ride costs 7 MDL, and there is no metro. Carry small notes.
- Pickpockets work in crowds, so keep wallets and passports out of back pockets.
- Prices are in Moldovan lei and cards are common in the capital.
Family-friendly tours can be compared on GetYourGuide .
Read more: Sightseeing in Chișinău . A 5-day Moldova itinerary leaves room for slower family days.