Chisinau Moldova is the capital and largest city of this Eastern European country. With a total population just shy of 1 million, it is the wealthiest and most cosmopolitan part of Moldova. It is also one of the greenest cities in Europe, located on fertile ground just by the River Bic, and travel to Chisinau often involves visits to its botanical gardens and parks. It is also a center for wine production, making it one of the best places for wine tours and culinary tourism. In addition to these attractions, Chisinau tourism also benefits from many historical monuments dating from its foundation in 1436.

The city is well-known for being a great place for delicious food and wine, and local eateries in Chisinau Moldova are very affordably priced for North American and Western European tourists. Moldova is also deservedly famous for its fine wines, which are some of the best in Eastern Europe. Consider buying some of Chisinau's famous cognacs, as well as sampling locally produced wines; local beer is also reputed to be very good. A good place to sample local food is the Symposium Wine Bar, which serves full courses along with a variety of wines. For a more intensely wine-oriented visit, you might consider staying at a winery or joining a wine tour. Purcari Wines is a large winery located on a beautiful estate close to the city center, and it is one of the popular Chisinau attractions. Their Chateau offers luxurious accommodations and you can lounge on the grounds, which include a tennis court, all while sampling their delicious food and wine. You may also enjoy roaming through the markets, which offer fresh fruits and vegetables as well as a glimpse into daily Chisinau life.

Visitors who travel to Chisinau will be impressed by the range of historic monuments on offer. The Holly Gates, one of the most distinctive architectural features of Chisinau tourism, were built in 1846. These large white stone gates were originally meant to house a huge bell made from the iron of old Turkish cannons, though the original bell is not there now. The Holly Gates feature white Corinthian columns as well as richly carved ornamentations. There is also an inscription on the Gates dating from Moldova's entrance into the USSR. Another important monument in Chisinau Moldova is the monument to Stephen the Great. This bronze statue stands in downtown Chisinau and appeared in 1928, ten years after a monument to Tsar Alexander II had been dismantled in the same location. The monument commemorates Stephen III, who reigned in Moldova between 1457 and 1504.

Moldova Map

Other popular places to visit while on travel to Chisinau include the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History, and the Chisinau Botanical Gardens. The National Museum is the oldest museum in Moldova, and it houses paleontology, ethnography, and archaeology exhibits. The museum also has a pleasant garden on its grounds. The Chisinau Botanical Gardens have recently been enlarged, and they are a wonderful place to spend a sunny afternoon. In the middle of the garden there is a small zoo, where you can see horses, goats, and emus.

A popular day trip for Chisinau tourism is a visit to the archaeological site of Orheiul Vechi (Old Orhei), which is located about 35 miles northeast of the city. This impressive site has ancient ruins from early Christian monasteries to medieval fortresses, and it is one of the most interesting attractions to visit during a trip to Moldova.