Moldova travel guide

Religion and wine are important pieces in Moldova’s cultural jigsaw. Romania and Ukraine influence the borders whilst the capital, Chisinau, completes the center piece and Transnistria remains lost down the back of the Soviet sofa. Moldova is both intriguing and charming, and although Moldovans are slightly reserved they’ll fall over themselves to help you if you're lost or need assistance. Crossing into the Ukraine is very straightforward with no visa or passport controls; however, it would be a shame not to make the most of Moldova with monasteries, such as Orheiul Vechi, and the underground wine cellar at Cricova creating highlights alongside sightseeing in the capital. The forested valleys of Codru Nature Reserve provide natural stomping grounds for outdoor lovers but in the main, Moldova is not a country that will naturally reveal itself so go with an open mind and a Moldova travel guide so as to make the effort to have a really good look.

Read on in our Moldova travel guide.

A visit to the capital of Moldova, Chisinau, will place you right in the center of this landlocked country with Romania situated to the west beyond the River Prut and Ukraine arching to the east beyond the self-proclaimed republic of Transnistria, Moldova’s second most populous city. Southwest Ukraine has wedged itself in between Moldova and the Black Sea, so although you won’t find any Moldovan beaches there are plenty of other sandy options around lakes like Valea Morilor, close to Chisinau, and Lake Beleu, surrounded by a fantastic nature reserve. Moldova’s highest peak Balanesti Hill (430m) is around an hour’s drive west of the capital; however, it’s often the cultural sites of Moldova’s northern heavyweight, Balti, that do more to capture the imagination.