Last October I spent eight amazing days touring Moldova. I was invited by Ways Travel to experience the country’s biggest event, the annual Wine Festival.
I added a few extra days to see the entire country and see the breakaway state of Transnistria and the autonomous region of Gagauziya in the south.
Here are 45 of my favorite Instagram images I snapped while in Moldova.
Chisinau, Moldova
Central Post Office
Soroca Medieval Fortress
An old well in the tiny village of Tintsereni in northern Moldova
Gypsy mansion
Saharna Monastery
Enjoying the view and the cold weather!
Dniester river in northern Moldova
Corn, corn, and more corn!
Military memorial in Bender, Transnistria
The walls of Bender Castle in Transnistria
Trying some cognac in Tiraspol, Transnistria
The main street in Tiraspol, capital of Transnistria
Monument in Tiraspol, Transnistria
Emblem of Tiraspol
St. George chapel in Tiraspol, Transnistria
Huge domes of the Capriana Monastery
Entrance to the Milestii Mici Winery – home to the largest wine collection in the world!
Touring the giant cellar of the Milestii Mici Winery
Eating a delicious hearty meal in Milestii Mici Winery
Cheers!
The giant Hincu Monastery, soon to be one of the largest Russian Orthodox Churches in the world!
The pyramid of the military memorial in Chisinau
Beautiful fountain in Steven the Great and Saint Park, Central Park, Chisinau
Opening ceremonies of the Moldova Wine Festival
Interview with local television station at the Moldova Wine Festival
These guys were working overtime!
Thousands of people gathering to celebrate national wine day!
Purcari Wine tent
Bird’s eye view of Chisinau
Chateau Vartely Winery Cellar
Looking over Old Orhei in central Moldova
Eating a delicious soup
Beautiful colors of the Curchi Monastery
Inside the wine cellar of Cricova Winery
Vintage wines stored at the Cricova Winery
Orthodox church in Comrat, the capital of the Gagauzia Region
Sheep and their herder at the collective farm in Gagauzia Region
Traditional house in eastern Moldova
Pucari Winery’s amazing property
Grape vines in the Pucari Winery
Our epic wine tasting at the Pucari Winery
Inside the cellar of the Pucari Winery
What I liked most about Moldova was its off-the-beaten-path charm and hospitality of its people. I recommend Moldova to wine enthusiasts and lovers of history. The country isn’t always on popular eastern European itineraries, but that’s what has helped the country maintain its charm and authenticity.
Have any questions about Moldova, or have you ever thought about traveling there? Please leave us a comment below. We can also help you plan your trip!
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Rei Muroji says:
Hello. I greatly enjoyed your remarks and photos of Moldova. I am hoping to travel there this October (just after the wine festival), including Transnistria and Gagauzia, for perhaps 10 days or so. My travel style is to hire (by prearrangement) a private vehicle with guide/driver. Can you recommend anyone or a company I could work with in planning such a trip? Many thanks for your help.
David says:
Hi Rei,
Thank you for dropping by and leaving a comment! When I visited I was provided with a private driver and guide from Ways Travel http://www.ways.md They are wonderful and professional, and offer tours in various languages. They took me to Transnistria as well.
Good luck and have a wonderful trip to Moldova!
Another David says:
Hi David,
Fellow traveler here, I am about to visit Moldova and Transnistria. I have read up about travelling between the two nations, and there is so much contradictory info.
I will be travelling by public bus between Chisinau and Tiraspol in the afternoon can you tell me does the bus driver wait for us all to go through immigration or do we need to get off and then onto another bus when processed. I guess I will be the only non local on board, and I am a bit concerned that if I get off the bus and leave my luggage on board the driver might go on without me taking my luggage with him. Thanx in advance. Keep up the blog its a great read.
George Robertson says:
Can you tell me if there are any reasons a visitor would be turned away or refused a visitor permit to visit Moldova
David says:
Hi George, I honestly wouldn’t know why, but you could always reference this web page I found in English on the tourism authority of Moldova website: http://www.mfa.gov.md/entry-visas-moldova/