• Understand
• Get around
• See
• Do
• Learn
• Work
• Buy
• Eat
• Drink
• Wines
• Beer
• Contact
• Stay safe
• Cope
• Get out

Chişinău (Russian Kishinyov, Ukrainian Kishinev) is the capital of Moldova with a population of around 780.800.

[edit] Understand

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Chişinău International Airport is served by several airlines like AirBaltic, Air Moldova, Austrian, Moldavian Airlines, Tarom and Turkish Airlines with flights around the region, notably to Athens, Bucharest, Budapest, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Madrid, Moscow, Riga, Rome, Timisoara and Vienna, Vilnius.

[edit] By train

There are trains coming to Moldova from different places. There are daily trains to and from Bucharest (Romania), Moscow (Russia) etc.

For most Europeans arriving, the train is much cheaper than a flight. The trains, however, are rather slow.

Trains leave Bucharest (Gara de Nord) at 19.30 and arrive in Chişinău at 09.00, which is a 13½ hour journey. The good thing is that it is a sleeper train and it's actually quite comfortable, although the toilets are not quite up to European standards. During the 13½ hour you will go through customs and the train will have its wheels changed in Ungheni on the Romania-Moldovan border. A return ticket costs approximately 50 € (2008). At the moment there are no trains to Odessa, Ukraine.

[edit] By car

[edit] By bus

There are several buses throughout the day from Bucharest, Chernivitsi, and Lviv.

[edit] Get around

• Call 1499, 1420 or any of the other 14xx numbers to get a taxi. Ordering in English shouldn't be a big problem, but only a few drivers speak foreign languages. If you don't know the local prices, drivers may charge you exorbitant rates. If you are sitting in a private cab, there is not much you can do. If you are in a taxi with a "14.." number written on it, just call this number and check the price with the operator. An average taxi ride should cost 55 Lei.
• For budget travelers, just do like the locals do: Ride the trolley-bus, bus or maxi-taxis. A trolley-bus ride costs 1 leu while a bus ride costs 2 lei, collected by a conductor who walks up and down the bus after each stop. Maxi-taxis cost 3 lei, which is paid to the driver upon entry. There are no set stops for maxi-taxis: just tell the driver when you want to get off. Flag him down with you hand (just like you would with a taxi) when the vehicle approaches you on the street.

[edit] See

• Stefan Cel Mare Monument
• Rose Valley
• Rishkani Park
• Botanica Park (the most beautiful and the largest in Chisinau, situated near the Gates Of The City)

[edit] Do

[edit] Learn

English is spoken in restaurants and some of the markets. Even some taxi drivers speak a little English. Young people are much more likely to speak English than the older generation. In Chişinău most people know Russian. If you plan to travel outside Chişinău it would be helpful to pick up some Romanian. In Gagauzia a Turkish dialect is spoken.

[edit] Work

[edit] Buy

If you are just visiting Chişinău, consider buying a special cognac selection of about 30 small bottles, with different sorts of cognac. It can make a nice gift. Moldovan wines are deservedly famous across the former Soviet Union, yet are little known in Europe. Take the opportunity to sample them. Cigarettes are also much cheaper in Moldova than in the EU, so you might do well to stock up before leaving the country.

[edit] Eat

Chisinau is a good place for food lovers. There are plenty of good places to eat all over Chisinau. The cheap, tasty food that is very popular with the locals is served in most places. For better service and more diverse food selection, there are a lot of small restaurants and cafes. Good restaurants have prices comparable to Europe. For a quick lunch, try fast food stores and pizzarias, these can be found on nearly every corner.

For groceries, there are small shops all over. Some are even located right in front of the apartment blocks just a few steps away from their entrances. For harder-to-find items, head to a supermarket.

For fresh fruits and vegetables, markets are the best (and freshest) option. Most of the items for sale are locally-produced, but there are a lot of sellers who sell imports; mostly oranges, bananas and other tropical fruits/vegetables. It is best to buy meat and dairy products from supermarkets or shops. The quality is much better than in the market, and the prices are pretty much the same.

[edit] Drink

[edit] Wines

Moldavan wines, cognac, liquor and juice are all on par with the best of Eastern Europe. For one thing, manufacturers tend to use only organic products. Secondly, these products are made in the traditional way. Restaurants tend to sell only local wines, but only those of the highest standards.

[edit] Beer

Moldovan beer is the best in Europe. It is named "Bere Chisinau". It has taken the Nr.1 Gold Medal at the Nurnberg beer competition in 2007, beating Germany, Czech Rep. and others. It can be found in all the Bars on every street in Chisinau, so finding a place for a drink is not a problem. However, good bars and restaurants with a pleasant atmosphere can be difficult to find. So watch where you stop.

[edit] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• In the main train station, there is a decent hostel. Just enter the train station and ask the guards there. Price is 220 Moldovan Lei per night.
• Hotel Turist is close to the centre and charges 320 Lei a night for a double room with shower and WC (price as of June 2007).

[edit] Medium

• Hotel Cosmos, [1] A very popular hotel in the heart of Chisinau. Rates from 38 EUR / night.
• Hotel Luna, [2] A nice hotel with comfortable rooms and good services. Costs around 80 EUR/night.
• Hotel Stella De Lux, [3] a tiny hotel that costs 50 EUR/night and offers small and rather spartan rooms(some are windowless). Service is poor and visitors are not allowed to enter the hotel.

[edit] Luxury

• Hotel VisPas, [4]. A very cozy 4* boutique hotel in Downtown area.
• Club Royal Park 5* Hotel, [5].
• Jolly Alon Hotel 4* , [6]. A very nice hotel located in front of Chisinau's central park on a street with no traffic. Superbly quiet although rooms are at the very minimum of 4* standards.
• Leogrand Hotel & Conventions Center 4*, [7](formerly Dedeman Grand Hotel)

[edit] Contact

[edit] Stay safe

For the most part, this is a safe city. It is best to keep a low profile and not let on that you are a foreigner. Be aware that when entering some buildings at night, you will have to walk through unlit alleyways.

[edit] Cope

There is only a single national broadcast television station. For the most part, TV channels are piped in from Russia, Ukraine, Romania and even Georgia. Euronews and Eurosport are on cable, but in Russian only.

Not every home in the city has continual hot water. If you will be staying in a private home, be sure to ASK whether there is 24-hour hot water.

[edit] Get out

Cricova - a small place located right outside Chişinău. Famous for its fabulous wine.