Tourism in Moldova

Travel brand of Moldova representing the Tree of Life, used by the Moldovan Investment and Tourism Agency.[1] It is based on traditional carpet and embroidery patterns which are part of the UNESCO Intangible Heritage.[2]
Ștefan cel Mare Boulevard from Chișinău
Moldovan stamp commemorating National Wine Day
Orhei National Park

Tourism in the Republic of Moldova focuses on the country's natural landscapes and its history. Wine tours are offered to tourists across the country. Vineyards/cellars include Cricova, Purcari, Ciumai, Romanești, Cojușna, Mileștii Mici. In 2015, Moldova received 2.85 million visitors.[3]

Travel regulations

See also: Visa policy of Moldova

CIS citizens do not need a visa to visit Moldova: Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, Turkmenistan.

Since January 2007, Moldova has established a visa-free regime for the US, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Israel.

From 2012 Moldova allows Turkish citizens to visit the country without having to obtain a visa.[4]

There is a visa-free regime between the Republic of Moldova and citizens of the European Union (27 states), including Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and others whose citizens can enter the Republic of Moldova without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Tourism options

Wine tourism

The traditions of Moldovan wine are more than 7000 years old, so winemaking has become an integral part of Moldovan culture. There are more than 150 wineries in the country that produce wines, cognacs and champagne. The apotheosis of the local alcoholic paradise is the annual National Wine Day, the largest wine festival in Eastern Europe, held on the first weekend of October. From 2013 Moldova put its focus on implementing a EU model based on protected geographical indications (PGIs, which means the wine is originated in a particular region and its quality can be guaranteed). This system now covers four growing areas of Valul lui Traian, Stefan Voda, Codru and Divin. As the result, Moldova has made impressive progress in upgrading the quality of its wines over the last five years which was clearly appreciated by wine lovers and professionals across the world:

  • In 2018 Moldovan wines won over 420 medals at such prestigious international contests as: Decanter World Wine Awards, Mundus Vini, Concours Mondial du Bruxelles, International Wine Challenge, etc.
  • In 2019 with more Moldovan wines meeting the PGI standard the country's vintages earned over 800 medals in global competitions, 300 of them were gold ones. So it's no wonder that more and more wine connoisseurs around the world are enjoying unique Moldovan varieties: Purcari Pinot Grigio, Feteasca Neagra, Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Regala, Rara Neagra, Viorica.
  • Milestii Mici is included in the Guinness Book as the winery with the largest collection of wines in the world (1.5 million bottles)
  • Castel Mimi. The vineyards were planted by the governor of Bessarabia, Konstantin Mimi, in 1893, and a chateau was built in 1901.
  • Poiana Wine. Brand new winery opened in 2018 in the heart of Moldovan Codri
  • Cricova is a real “underground city” 120 km long and with a collection of 1.25 million bottles of rare wines.
  • Purcari was founded in 1827, and the quality of the wines is best illustrated by the fact that Negru de Purcari was the favorite wine of the British Queen Victoria.
  • Chateau Vartely, arelatively new winery with two tasting rooms and a tourist complex.
  • EtCetera, a family winery in the south-east of Moldova with hotel and swimming pool.

Religious tourism

Moldova is an Orthodox country with deep Christian traditions. There are over 50 monasteries and 700 churches in the country. Most popular monasteries are:

Attractions

Tourism statistics

Tourists in Moldova by country of origin, 2015:[5]

№ Country Tourists
1  Romania 1 300 945
2  Ukraine 1 013 779
3  Russia 258 320
4  Bulgaria 47 831
5  Italy 32 884
6  Turkey 21 818
7  Israel 17 518
8  United States 17 133
9  Belarus 14 136
10  Portugal 9 576
Total 2 856 089

Tourists in Moldova by country of origin, 2018:

№ Country Tourists
1  Romania 2 524 403
2  Ukraine 1 069 066
3  Russia 322 256
4  Bulgaria 78 870
5  Italy 46 594
6  Germany 30 061
7  Israel 28 358
8  Turkey 25 936
9  United States 25 778
10  Belarus 20 039
Total 4 334 215

Climate

Local climate is moderately continental, winters are usually snowy and cold. The average temperature in January is −4 °C, in July +21 °C. The absolute recorded minimum has been -36 °C and the maximum +42 °C. But in fact, due to Climate Change, in recent years it can be +15 °C in mid January. Even during July or August the northern countryside remains moderately hot. Traditional Moldovan houses made of natural clay with straw (in Moldovan "lampach") provide cool conditions in the summer.

Transport

Moldova is internationally connected by plane to Chișinău International Airport. Direct flights from and to many European destinations exist.

Chișinău is also internationally connected by rail. Direct overnight trains exist to Romania (one daily train to Bucharest), Ukraine (one daily train to Odesa), and Russia (one daily train via Kyiv to Moscow).[6]

The main means of transportation in Moldova is the highway system. Since Moldova is a small country (450 km from south to north, 200 km from west to east) one may get around by taxi. Car rental is available in bigger cities. There are also national and international bus connections.

The Giurgiulești terminal on the Danube is compatible with small seagoing vessels. Shipping on the lower Prut and Nistru rivers plays only a modest role in the country's transportation system.

In Chișinău there is a public trolleybus system. Most cities also offer public transport in the form of Minibuses (rutierele in Moldovan Romanian; marshrutki in Russian).

Telecommunication

As of September 2020, 4G mobile coverage covers 97% of the country, providing mobile internet speeds of up to 150 Mb/s.

Broadband internet speed reaches 65.76 Mb/s.

Security

Officially, Moldova is in 59th place out of 133 countries in the security rating.

In 2014, Moldova introduced a new tourism logo and along with the new slogan "Discover the routes of life".[7] It was developed with USAID assistance.

UNESCO World Heritage sites

Intangible cultural heritage

  • Cultural practices associated with 1 March[8]
  • The Christmas carols in masculine horde[9]
  • Traditional wall-carpet craftsmanship[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Country Brand - Invest Moldova Agency". invest.gov.md. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  2. ^ a b "UNESCO - Traditional wall-carpet craftsmanship in Romania and the Republic of Moldova". ich.unesco.org. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  3. ^ "Sosirile vizitatorilor străini în Republica Moldova şi plecările vizitatorilor moldoveni în străinătate, înregistrate la punctele de trecere ale frontierei de stat în anul 2015" [Arrivals of foreign visitors to the Republic of Moldova and the departures of Moldovan visitors abroad, registered at state border crossing points in 2015] (in Romanian). Chișinău: Biroul Naţional de Statistică. 2016-02-12. Archived from the original on 2018-11-15.
  4. ^ "Turkey, Moldova sign deal for visa-free regime". TodaysZaman. Archived from the original on 2016-02-11.
  5. ^ "// Comunicate de presă". 12 February 2016.
  6. ^ "How to travel by train from London to Moldova". Seat 61. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  7. ^ triptomoldova (2014-11-23). "Discover The Routes Of Life". TripMoldova. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  8. ^ "UNESCO - Cultural practices associated to the 1st of March". ich.unesco.org. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  9. ^ "UNESCO - Men's group Colindat, Christmas-time ritual". ich.unesco.org. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Moldova.