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Moldova

The land of wine, giant cellars and forgotten Europe

Capital
Chisinau
Currency
Moldovan leu (MDL)
Flight from Zurich
From Zurich (varies)
Time difference
GMT+2 (GMT+3 in summer) — 1 to 2h ahead of Cameroon

Moldova is among the destinations a Swiss passport reaches without a visa. The land of wine, giant cellars and forgotten Europe Here: visa, real budget, best seasons and what to do — departing from Switzerland.

In pictures

Formalities

The visa, step by step

Visa-free
Allowed stay
short stay
Cost
Free
Processing
Immediate on arrival

How to apply

No visa for a short tourist stay: show a valid passport and a return ticket on arrival.

Required documents

  • Passport valid 6 months
  • Return ticket
  • Yellow fever certificate

Good to know

  • •Visa-free tourist stay; confirm the exact allowed duration before departure.
How much it costs

A one-week budget

Backpacker
192 000 FCFA
/ week, excl. flight
Comfort
390 000 FCFA
/ week, excl. flight

Round-trip flight from Douala / Yaoundé

630 000 FCFA–930 000 FCFA

Flights from Zurich (Air France, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Brussels Airlines…), depending on the destination.

Indicative round-trip price: it varies widely by season, layover and how early you book.

Where the money goes (backpacker estimate)

🏨108 000 FCFA
🍽️78 000 FCFA
🚕30 000 FCFA
🎟️72 000 FCFA
Hostel
4 800 FCFA–12 000 FCFA
Mid-range
21 000 FCFA–39 000 FCFA
Nice hotel
54 000 FCFA–96 000 FCFA
Tailored

Budget simulator

Comfort level
Estimated total budget
822 000 FCFA
Must-sees

What to do there

1

Cricova and Mileștii Mici, giant cellars

Mileștii Mici holds the Guinness World Record with over 200 km of underground galleries; Cricova has 'streets' lined with bottles. You tour them by mini-train before the tasting.

2

Chisinau, the green capital

A laid-back capital of wide avenues, parks, markets, a cathedral and triumphal arch, with a booming scene of wine bars and restaurants.

3

Orheiul Vechi monastery

The country's flagship site: cave monasteries carved into limestone cliffs (15th-16th c.) overlooking a river bend, in dramatic rural scenery.

4

Transnistria and Tiraspol

A trip to this unrecognised, Soviet-frozen 'republic': Lenin statues, the Kvint cognac factory and Bender fortress. Doable as a day trip from Chisinau.

5

Castel Mimi winery and the wine route

Wine châteaux and family estates dot the countryside; tastings of acclaimed Moldovan wines (Fetească, Rara Neagră) in elegant settings.

6

Soroca and its medieval fortress

In the north, the circular Soroca fortress on the Dniester and the picturesque 'Roma Hill' with its extravagant mansions.

Itinerary

One week, day by day

  1. D1

    Arrival in Chisinau: city centre, cathedral and wine bars

  2. D2

    Cricova cellar: mini-train and underground tasting

  3. D3

    Orheiul Vechi: cave monasteries and countryside

  4. D4

    Day trip to Transnistria: Tiraspol and Bender fortress

  5. D5

    Mileștii Mici, the world's largest cellar, and Castel Mimi

  6. D6

    Trip north to Soroca and its fortress

  7. D7

    Markets and museums in Chisinau, then departure

✓

Travel checklist

A printable list (or save as PDF) so you forget nothing.

Travel checklist — Moldavie

Before you leave

What to pack

Visa sources: en.wikipedia.org

Indicative data (June 2026), reliability moyenne. Visa rules, prices and timelines change: always confirm with official sources before booking.

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