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Moldova is a tiny former Soviet nation that lies in Eastern Europe, famous for its diverse terrain and vineyards. The country is one of the least visited countries in the European union with annual visitors accounting for roughly 323 locals per tourist. The country is home to some beautiful landscapes apart from being the world’s largest producer of wine. Moldova is home to some beautifully decorated monasteries that add to the beauty of the country. Below we have compiled the list of 15+ best places to visit in Moldova perfect for family vacations.
15+ Best Places To Visit In Moldova
Army Museum
It is one of the best places to visit in Moldova with your family. The museum is home to several relics dating back to the Soviet time oppression. As one enters the museum you are taken across the various events that took place all those years ago with the help of an audio guide. The relics include items like tales and pictures of mass banishments, tales of Red Terror imposed famines and slave labour.
Location: Strada Tighina 47, Chișinău, Moldova
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: $ 2
Pro-tip: the entry fee is $1, but the other one is for letting you click pictures in the museum.
Capriana Monastery
The Capriana Monastery is one of the important Moldova tourist attractions that is of great significance. It is located on a hill called “Cipotca” and it is located on the territory of Riocnita. The Cathedral is an abbey that was built in 1830 by the Austrian army general Franz Mesmer. The finished building was 2 stories high and can accommodate a total of 400 people. The monastery stands with two bell towers. It bears 13 shapes of crosses, which in total have the form of a double-cross. During the Soviet time, a private chapel was added here, which has the shape of a crucifix.
Location: Strășeni District, Moldova
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: $ 1
Pro-tip: Go on weekdays to avoid the local crowd
Cricova Winery
Cricova winery, Moldova is one of the top places to visit in the country. This winery made history with the first-ever barrel of wine exported in the world. Sitting on the bank of the river Dniester, overlooking a vast green valley, the winery is among the most romantic settlements for both locals and tourists. Apart from alcohol production, the winery is also known for honey production. In 2011, the winery became a Honey School of Excellence. Cricova winery was sold in 1853. In addition to producing wine, the winery also produces brandy.
Location: Strada Petru Ungureanu 1, Cricova 2084, Moldova
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: $ 25
Pro-tip: Choose the tasting tour for a chance to taste four different wines from the winery.
Codru Natural Reserve
A visit to the Codru Natural Reserve is one of the best things to do in Moldova. The reserve is an excellent place for a walk and you may even take your pet dog for a walk. In the reserve, you will meet the endemic Eastern Balkan Lepidoptera – a gold- oak-patched tortrix Hawk. Many rare species of butterfly are well conserved in the reserve. You may come across biotinides with wings in the shape of discs which are characteristic of the Sympetrum Genus.
Location: Raionul Strășeni, Moldova
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: $ 2
Pro-tip: Book a guided tour for the best experience
Gagauzia
The area of Gagauzia is an autonomous territorial region in the country of Moldova. Gagauzia is home to twenty-seven villages and three cities with their own set of rules. The region offers a unique dive into the rich and diverse culture that Moldova and Gagauzia have to offer the tourists visiting the region. The region has a rich history, culture and tradition which is a harmonious blend of Catholic and Islamic roots.
Location: Southern Moldova
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: N/A
Pro-tip: Book a guided tour for the best experience
Curchi Monastery
The Curchi Monastery is another one of the best places to visit in Moldova. The area taken up by the monastery houses a few abbeys, a refectory, five churches and several chambers for the monks. The intricate and detailed work in terms of architecture appears to hail from the Bessarabia era. The main highlight of the monastery comes in the form of the religious building of the ‘Mother Of God’ church.
Location: Orhei 3524, Curchi, Moldova
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: Free
Pro-tip: Try planning your visit on a weekday to avoid the crowd
National Archaeology and History Museum
The National Archaeology and History Museum is one of the top places and things to do in Moldova. The museum houses several relics that speak of the vast and diverse history of the region. The relics include pieces like pottery, gold coins and a two-thousand-year-old Sarmatian fired clay urn in the shape of a ram. The museum also houses several artefacts that range from Amopha’s to arms dating back to old ages.
Location: 31 August 1989 St 121 A, Chișinău 2012, Moldova
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: $ 6 (with guided tours)
Pro-tip: Book a guided tour for the best experience.
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Cathedral of Christ’s Nativity
One of the popular family destinations in Moldova is the Cathedral of Christ’s Nativity, dating back to the 1830s. The complex is home to a massive bell, hung high on a single tower dedicated to the bell. The myth behind the arrival of this massive bell is a mix up caused by a drunken bureaucrat in St. Petersburg. The arrival of the massive decoration led to the construction of the bell tower that adorns the cathedral’s complex.
Location: The Great National Assembly Square 12, Chișinău, Moldova
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: Free
Pro-tip: Book a guided tour for the best experience
Orheiul Vechi
One of the top 15+ best places to visit in Moldova is the destination called Orheiul Vechi. The site is one of the most spectacular sites in Moldova, attracting every tourist visiting the country. The location lies up a hill and is carved into the limestone that adores the hilltop. The top of the location offers a pristine view of the Raut river. The said location is believed to instil the feeling of freedom and happiness.
Location: Trebujeni
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: $ 1.50
Pro-tip: Click some of the best pictures from the top of the hill.
Royal Forest Reserve
On the list of Moldova places to visit is the famous royal Forest Reserve, which is one of the largest scientific reserves in the Glodeni district. The location is home to some of the most unique flora and fauna found in the region. The Royal Forest Reserve is a haven for bird lovers with some of the world-renowned herons setting up their nest close to the river.
Location: Glodeni District, Moldova
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: $ 1.50
Pro-tip: Do visit the land of ‘One hundred hills’.
Saharna Monastery
One of Moldova’s historical places to visit is the local favourite Saharna Monastery. The monastery is one of the ‘holy trinity’ in Moldova and lies on the west side of the Nishtru river. The monastery is one of the biggest centers for religious pilgrimages in Moldova. The reason behind the devotion is a footprint that was found in one of the stones at the monastery, believed to be of Mother Mary. The location is also a great spot for hiking.
Location: 5431, Saharna, Moldova
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: $ 1
Pro-tip: Explore the numerous waterfalls found in the region.
Soroca Fortress
The Soroca Fortress is one of the important historical places in Moldova perfect for a visit with family and friends. The fortress was an important military asset during the Pruth campaign by Peter the Great in 1711. The destination today is an integral hub for preserving the various cultures of empires that had held it over the years. The fort was raised on the foundations of the remains of a former timbered fort, with the new fortifications being reinforced with clay and limestone.
Location: Strada Lev Tolstoi 52, Chișinău 2001, Moldova
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: $ 5 (only entrance)
Pro-tip: Explore the numerous placards that adorn the fortress.
Ștefan Cel Mare Central Park
One of the couple’s places in Moldova has to be the Ștefan Cel Mare Central Park or the ‘Stephen the Great Central Park’. The park is one of the main attractions in the Central Chisinau region of Moldova. It is also the oldest park in the country and spans over an area of seven hectares. The park is locally popular as “The Park of the Lovers”, for being fairly popular with local couples as a meeting point.
Location: Stefan cel Mare si Sfant Boulevard, Chișinău 2012, Moldova
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: Free
Pro-tip: Take the opportunity to enjoy a local picnic, the Moldovian style
Tipova Cave Monastery
One of the most popular 15+ best places to visit in Moldova is the Tipova Cave Monastery. The monastery is one of the largest cave monasteries in Eastern Europe, with panoramic views of the Dniester River from the top. The caves are perfect for a hike with family and loved ones, with peace and tranquility surrounding the region. Moldova is home to several such spots offering peace and mesmerizing views of the valleys below.
Location: Tipova, Moldova
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: $ 1.5
Pro-tip: Check out the ornate chapels that adorn the side of the cliff.
Transnistria
One of the best things to do in Moldova is to visit this slender piece of land that has announced itself free of any regime. Although the region is still a part of Moldova by international standards. The city has its own currency, police force and government. The land lies in between the Dniestr River and the Moldovan – Ukrainian border. The government in Transnistria has announced itself as a sovereign republic, but it is not considered one outside its borders.
Location: Transnistria
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: N/A
Pro-tip: Explore the Transnistria town square.
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Valea Morilor Park
The best time to visit Moldova is when the Moldavian weather is not too hot or cold, which makes the months of April and May the perfect time to visit the country. One of the 15+ best places to visit in Moldova is a family destination in Moldova that goes by the name of Valea Morilor Park. The park is just a few minutes’ stroll from the city centre, yet is one of the most peaceful places to be. The park is the perfect retreat from all the hustle and bustle of city life with several man-made water bodies lining the park for the perfect pictures.
Location: Strada Grigore Alexandrescu, Chișinău, Moldova
Best time to visit: April and May
Entry Fee: Free
Pro-tip: Feel the mist flow from the fountain under the summer sun.
