Beautiful Tourist Attractions to Visit and Things to Do in Chișinău

September 18, 2020 Mustafa Natalwala 3570 Views 0 Comments

Chișinău, also called Kishinev, is the national capital of the Republic of Moldova. Though Moldova is not a very rich country, Chișinău is quite prosperous. It is the largest city in the country as well its economic and cultural center. The places to visit in Chișinău are quite different from those you would find in other European capitals. The country has had a devastating history of occupation by Romania, Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Some of the Chișinău tourist attractions remind scar of those difficult times. Along with World War 2, the city faced destructive force of nature in form of two earthquakes in the year 1940. Things to see in Chișinău are a juxtaposing combination of devastated buildings and beautiful historical landmarks. Even in terms of numbers there are fewer Chișinău attractions compared to other European capitals. You can probably get through with all the top things to do in Chișinău in a matter of few days. Even then you won’t find Chișinău travel heavy on your budget. You can also book tour for several tourist attractions from Chișinău tourist information center. That would further cut down the budget saving you a few extra euros.

One of the best things to do in Chișinău is exploring Valea Morilor Park. This a popular place to visit in Chișinău for outdoor activities. The park has a huge lake which used for several fun things to do in Chișinău including kayaking, boating, fishing and so on. Moldova is famous for its wine. The country alone was responsible for producing about 67% of wine for all of the Soviet Union. If you have ever seen how large the Soviet Union was, you would know that it is a daunting task for such a small country. Though there are several wineries and wine cellars to explore during Chișinău sightseeing, there is one that particularly stands out. It’s the Cricova Winery and its famous underground cellar. Besides sightseeing, you can also enjoy wine tasting at this Chișinău tourist attraction.

Among popular historical places to visit in Chișinău are Metropolitan Cathedral, National Museum of Arts, Nativity Cathedral, Mimi Castle, and National Museum of History of Moldova. The Neoclassical architecture of Nativity Cathedral alone makes it an interesting Chișinău tourist attraction, but its the colorful and ornate interior that makes it a memorable place to visit. The cathedral like the people faced devastation at the hands of Nazi Germany and Soviet Union. This Chișinău attraction was restored to its glory in 1997. You can learn more about the history of the country and the people at National Museum of History of Moldova. The regal palace like building looks even more rich from the inside. There are several things to see in Chișinău which can be found at this museum. You can begin your Chișinău travel from this museum. Then as you explore other places to visit in Chișinău you will be able to connect the dots as how those attractions fit into the story of the country.

Table of Contents

Best Things to Do and See in Chisinau in 2 Days

Chisinau is a beautiful city and has several attractions. This itinerary guides you to 2 days of exploration of some of the best places to visit in Chisinau.

Day 1

1. Valea Morilor Park (Parcul Valea Morilor)

This park is among the most picturesque things to see in Chisinau. The lake in the park is a beloved by locals and visitors alike. Plus the park has a lake beach of its own and is the hub for several outdoor things to do in Chisinau. You will need about an hour to enjoy the activities and explore this park.

2. Cricova Winery

The long history of wine making in Moldova, there are several wineries in the nation. Cricova is one of the most well known winery and wine cellars in the nation. The history of the winery goes all the way back to the 15th century. You will need about 2 hours to explore the large expanse of Cricova Winery.

3. Nativity Cathedral (Catedrala Mitropolitană Nașterea Domnului)

This cathedral is considered to be the center of faith in the nation. The church was devastated during bombing of second world war and was also desecrated by the soviet union. It was then restored in 1997 into a beautiful structure you can see today. You will need about an hour at this church.

4. The Triumphal Arch

This arch can be considered to be the most iconic landmark of the city, it is among the top things to do in Chisinau based on popularity. The arch was built to honor the victory of the Russian Empire during the Ottoman Empire. You will need 30 minutes to see this arch.

5. Stephen the Great Central Park (Stefan cel Mare Park)

This park is the oldest in the country, built under the reign of Czar Alexander I. You will need about an hour to explore this park.

6. National Museum of Ethnography & Natural History

This museum is as well known for its exhibits as it is for its exterior and architecture. The entrance to the museum is among the most beautiful things to see in Chisinau. You will need about 2 hours to explore this museum.

7. National Museum of History of Moldova (Muzeul Național de Istorie a Moldovei)

This museum tells the story of the nation and is among the most important historical places to visit in Chisinau. There are more than 165,000 exhibits in the museum. You will need at least 2 hours to explore this museum entirely.

Day 2

1. Dendrarium Park

This park is often frequented by locals for picnic and hosts several activities and events. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this park.

2. Parliament of the Republic of Moldova (Parlamentul Republicii Moldova)

You can’t explore this building from inside, but this is an important building to include in Chisinau sightseeing schedule. It is the seat of the government afterall. You don’t need more than 30 minutes at this building.

3. National Museum of Fine Arts (Muzeul Național de Artă)

This museum exhibits several works of art from various artists from different periods of time. For artists and admirers of art, this is museum is among the top places to visit in Chisinau. You will need about 2 hours to explore this museum.

4. Milestii Mici Winery

This winery holds the world recored for having the largest wine collection in the world. It is something you should miss when you visit Chisinau. You will need about 2 hours to explore this winery and its cellars.

5. Ciuflea Monastery

This Moldovan Orthodox Church is dedicated to St. Theodore of Amasea. It is known for its unique blue exterior and Russo Byzantine style architecture. You will need about an hour to explore it.

6. Victory Memorial and Eternal Flame (Complexul Memorial Eternitate)

This memorial represents the suffering of Moldovans during the second world war. It is an abstract art sculpture within itself. You will need about 30 minutes here.

7. Yard Sale

To attend the Yard sale, you will have to be on Chisinau travel at the right time. This flea market style event occurs every 2 months is among the most fun things to do in Chisinau. You can easily spend several hours exploring, shopping and eating at this fair.

If you visit Chisinau for more than 2 days, you can check out the list below. The following sections provides an exhaustive list of Chisinau tourist attractions.

Things to do in Chișinău

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Chișinău

The Triumphal Arch
Stephen the Great Monument
The Metropolitan Cathedral
National Museum of History of Moldova
Mimi Castle
National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History
National Arts Museum
Ciuflea Monastery
Water Tower
Military Museum
Alexander Pushkin Museum
Monument to the Victims of Jewish Ghetto
National Art Museum of Moldova
Church of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary
Jewish Cemetery
Sculpture of Lovers
Cathedral of Divine Providence
Village Museum
St. Teodora de la Sihla Church
Sergey Lazo Monument
Parcel Afgan Monument

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Chișinău

Valea Morilor Lake
Rose Valley
Cave of Surprises

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Chișinău

Stephan the Great Central Park
Cricova Winery & Wine Cellars
Valea Morilor Park
Chisinau Botanical Gardens
Chisinau Circus
Chisinau Zoo
Andrei Mudrea Gallery
Aqua Magic Waterpark
Casino Europa

Shopping in Chișinău

Piata Centrala Market
Grand Hall
Mall Dova
Megapolis Mall
Traditii Noi
Art Market
Jumbo Shopping Center

Offbeat Places & Adventure Things to Do in Chișinău

Cave Exploration
Kayaking
Fishing
Valea Morilor Lake Boating

Sightseeing in Chișinău

Cathedral Park
Chisinau City Hall
Dendrarium Park
Eternity Memorial Complex
Alley of Classics
Alunelul Park

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Chișinău

Grill House
Creme de la Creme
Fusion
Popasul Dacilor
Carpe Diem Bar
Vatra Neamului
Pegas Terrace Restaurant
Gok Oguz
Invino Enoteca
La Taifas
Gastrobar
Caravan
Smokehouse
View Cafe
Zaxi
Tucano Coffee
PaniPit
El Paso
Propaganda Cafe
Kira’s Club
La Placinte

How to Reach Chișinău?

By Air

The city’s own international airport is your best bet for Chișinău travel. You can get a direct flight to visit Chișinău from Budapest, Istanbul, Athens, Moscow, Rome, Munich, Vienna, St. Petersburg, London, Bucharest, Madrid, Varna, Reykjavík, Santorini, Surgut, Frankfurt, Riga, Vilnius, Paris and so on. You can also get flights from Dubai in UAE twice a week to visit Chișinău operated by FlyDubai Airlines. Other common airlines for Chișinău travel are Turkish Airlines, Air Baltic, Lufthansa, WizzAir, Austrian Airlines, Ukranian International Airlines, Moldavian Airlines, Austrian Airlines and more.

Once you are at the Chișinău International Airport you can either take a cab or a bus to reach any of the places to visit in Chișinău. You can book a taxi from the stand at the airport and pay by the meter. These taxis will take you anywhere in the city and you may even directly go for Chișinău top attractions from the airport. The minibuses running from the airport are a cheaper alternative for Chișinău travel though. These white minibuses leave from the airports parking lot and take you to the city. You can then take a cab from the city to your hotel or any Chișinău tourist attractions. That would be a cheaper way to visit Chișinău from the airport.

By Road

Besides the flights, you can also catch trains for Chișinău travel from foreign lands. There are trains running from Bucharest, Moscow, Kiev and Warsaw to visit Chișinău. You can also get buses from Lviv, Odessa, Iasi, Chernivtsi, Brasov and Bucharest for Chișinău travel.

If you driving yourself to Chișinău or hiring a cab, take care while driving. The road conditions are not on par with major European cities. Among major routes to take for places to visit in Chișinău are E58, E581, and E584. These roads would also allow you to go for Chișinău sightseeing near city outskirts.

By Water

As the Moldovan capital is nowhere near an ocean, all you have is land travel for places to visit in Chișinău.

Image Reference

Valea Morilor Park (Parcul Valea Morilor) – Alex Prodan md / Wikimedia Commons
Cricova Winery – amanderson2 / Flickr
Nativity Cathedral (Catedrala Mitropolitană Nașterea Domnului) – Alexander Murvanidze / Wikimedia Commons
The Triumphal Arch – JøMa / Wikimedia Commons
Stephen the Great Central Park (Stefan cel Mare Park) – Myrabella / Wikimedia Commons
National Museum of Ethnography & Natural History –
National Museum of History of Moldova (Muzeul Național de Istorie a Moldovei) – Alexandru Panoiu / Wikimedia Commons
Dendrarium Park – Alex Prodan md / Wikimedia Commons
Parliament of the Republic of Moldova (Parlamentul Republicii Moldova) – Pudelek / Wikimedia Commons
National Museum of Fine Arts (Muzeul Național de Artă) – Magalie L’Abbé / Flickr
Milestii Mici Winery – Myrabella / Wikimedia Commons
Ciuflea Monastery – Pudelek / Wikimedia Commons
Victory Memorial & Eternal Flame (Complexul Memorial Eternitate) – Pudelek / Wikimedia Commons
Yard Sale –