Moldova tours & holidays
At this stage we don't have any organised trips to Moldova.
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Moldova at a glance
CAPITAL CITY
Chişinău
POPULATION
2,913,281
CURRENCY
Leu (MDL)
LANGUAGE
Romanian
TIME ZONE
EET (UTC +2)
CALLING CODE
+373
ELECTRICITY
Either Type C ‘Europlug’ or Type E ‘Schuko’ plug, 220-240V
Learn more about Moldova
Best time to visit Moldova
Moldova enjoys a typical continental climate with warm summers and cold winters, with temperature ranging from -5°C to 40°C. Spring and autumn are mild, and summers pleasant. The best time to visit areas like Chişinău, Tiraspol and Transnistria is from May to August. July and August are the high season. The first week of October is also a very good time, due to the annual Wine Festival in Chişinău.
Geography and Environment
Moldova is a small landlocked, mostly rural country of rolling steppes in the Balkans, surrounded by Ukraine to the north, east and south, and Romania to the west. This is one of Europe’s least known destinations, unspoilt even, where traditional village life can still be experienced, ancient ruins explored, forested hills hiked and growing city life uncovered.
Further reading
| Title | Author |
| Playing the Moldovans at Tennis | Tony Hawks |
| The Good Life Elsewhere | Vladimir Lorchenkov |
| Moldavian Autumn | Ion Drutse |
Transnistria
Transnistria is a thin strip of land between the Dniester River and the border of Ukraine, officially known as the Prednistrovie Moldovan Republic (PMR). It declared independence after the Soviet Union broke up into pieces, but is only recognised as an independent entity by other unrecognised former Soviet breakaway republics. It is, however, 'de-facto independent' from Moldova – with its own parliament, police force, currency and coat of arms among other things – and still upholds Soviet values.
The security situation in Transnistria is unpredictable as the region is not under Moldovan control, and tensions may be heightened reflecting developments in eastern Ukraine. Many Western countries do not have an embassy or consulate in Moldova. Usually embassies in Russia or Romania provide consular assistance to travellers in Moldova, however they do not have any recourse inside the territory of Transnistria, and will only be of very limited or no assistance in the case of an emergency. Medical care is almost non-existent in Transnistria, especially for non-citizens. Even if you have travel health insurance, it will often not be valid in Transnistria (even though it may be valid in Moldova), and your insurance might not cover you for any expenses incurred for lost or stolen items. Please choose carefully when shopping for your travel insurance. Please also be aware that international credit/debit cards and traveller's cheques are not accepted anywhere in Transnistria.
Moldova travel FAQs
Travellers from Europe, North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand do not need a visa to visit Moldova. A 90-day stay within a 6-month period is permitted. Citizens of other countries must either obtain a visa in the nearest Moldovan embassy, at the airport, or at some land border crossings with Romania.
Service charges are not usually included on a bill. Consider adding a 5-10% tip.
WiFi is fast and widespread in hotels and restaurants in the capital Chişinău and other big cities. 4G mobile internet is also available in most urban centres.
Mobile coverage is good across the country, but roaming rates can be high. It’s simple and low-cost to purchase a local SIM card.
Moldova has Western-style flushable toilets.
Water is safe to drink in Chişinău, but in more rural areas consider sticking with filtered water. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water.
Credit cards are widely accepted in urban centres, less so in more rural parts. It is best to have a reserve of cash.
There are ATMs in Chişinău, but they are not always reliable.
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.
For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance
Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:
From Australia?
Go to: Smart Traveller
From Canada?
Go to: Canada Travel Information
From the UK?
Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice
From New Zealand?
Go to: Safe Travel
From the US?
Go to: US Department of State
The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.
Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
World Bicycle Relief
World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilise school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most.