A Three-Day Plan for Chișinău and Moldova
Advisory note, October 2026: The UK FCDO advises against all travel to Transnistria and does not warn against travel to the rest of Moldova (GOV.UK ). The US lists Moldova at Level 2 and Transnistria at Level 3 (travel.state.gov ). Drones linked to the war in Ukraine have crossed into Moldovan airspace, and Chișinău airport has had short closures. Read both advisories and recheck your flight before you leave.
One Base or Two
Moldova is small, and most sights can be reached from a base in the capital. Everything in this plan stays in Moldova proper and west of the Dniester. Ukraine is under martial law and its border crossings can close at short notice, so no cross-border extension is suggested. Spend all three nights in Chișinău, or swap the last night for a stay at Castel Mimi.
The Plan in Brief
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Museum of History | Ethnography Museum or Art Museum, Central Park | Cascade Staircase |
| 2 | Orheiul Vechi, 55 km | Butuceni lunch, then Curchi | Back in the city |
| 3 | Mileștii Mici or Cricova | Castel Mimi | Dinner at White Owl or in town |
Notes for Day 1
Schedule the city day on a Tuesday to Sunday, because the three national museums close on Mondays. The Ethnography museum is also shut on the last Wednesday of the month, and the History museum is closed on public holidays. Each ticket costs 50 MDL. Choose one or two museums, and finish in Stephen the Great Central Park, the city’s oldest, laid out in 1818. End the day on the 218-step Cascade Staircase, which is free.
Notes for Day 2
Take the 8:35 bus from the Central Bus Station to Butuceni-Trebujeni for 55 MDL, or go by car or tour, which makes it easier to add Curchi. Entry to the Orheiul Vechi reserve is 20 MDL. Have lunch in Butuceni, which has village guesthouses. Curchi Monastery is about 14 km south-west of Orhei town and has a Baroque cathedral from 1872. Curchi is easier to reach by car or on a tour. Return buses from Butuceni leave at 6:00, 8:00, 10:00, 15:00 and 16:30.
Notes for Day 3
Pick Mileștii Mici, about 20 km south, or Cricova, about 15 km north. Prices start at 350 MDL for Mileștii Mici and 400 MDL for Cricova. Book ahead and allow about an hour for the shortest tour and up to four hours for the longest. Castel Mimi lies about 35 km east and opens every day. Its restaurant, White Owl, serves from 10:00 to 22:00. Whoever drives should not taste wine, because Moldova has strict drink-driving rules.
Extra Nights
- Château Purcari, a wine estate with a four-star hotel in Ștefan Vodă, lies about 100 to 115 km south-east of the capital and is known for its Negru de Purcari wines. Distance and room prices vary, so check before you book.
- Soroca is about 160 km north and has a round 15th and 16th century fortress on the Dniester. The Saharna and Tipova monasteries are often added on the return, so confirm access before you go.
- Castel Mimi is a wine resort that has a spa and a fine-dining restaurant. The Wine Spa package costs 2,500 MDL and runs Monday to Friday only.
Getting Around
The airport code is RMO. Trolleybus 30 links the airport and Great National Assembly Square in 40 to 60 minutes. Fares on city transport are 7 MDL. Taxis and ride-hailing apps cover the rest. Pay in Moldovan lei, and keep small notes for buses.
Search accommodation in the capital on Booking.com . The reserve’s tourism page lists bus times and local guesthouses.
Read more: Day trips from Chișinău . A 3-day Moldova itinerary offers another way to lay out the days.