Chişinău (Russian Kishinyov, Ukrainian Kishinev, pronounced "Kishinau" with "nau" as in the English word "now") is the capital of Moldova
with a population of around 790,000 plus 250,000 people coming each day
for work and entertainment from all over the country and abroad.
City's territory with nearest suburbs cover the area of 635 sq.km.
The majority of the middle and working class population still live in Soviet era housing blocks. These may look run down, lifts may be iffy, etc, but the majority of them are not "dangerous" as similar areas may be considered to be in Western Europe or the United Kingdom. Do not come to Moldova expecting Western standards, but at the same time do not expect that this is a dangerous country with threats around every corner. Crime is relatively low although usual precautions apply.
Chişinău International Airport
Chişinău International Airport [1] is served by several airlines like AirBaltic [2], Air Moldova [3], Austrian [4], Lufthansa [5], Moldavian Airlines [6], Tarom [7] and Turkish Airlines [8] with flights around the region, notably to Athens, Bucharest, Budapest, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Madrid, Moscow, Munich, Riga, Rome, Timisoara, Vienna and Vilnius.
There are three taxi companies which operate at the airport. The fixed fares range from about 80 to 120 MDL depending on which sector of the city you are going. While better than in the past, the taxi system is still not perfect and it is likely they will try to come up with a reason to charge you extra. The cheaper alternative is to take minibus 165 which takes you trough Botanica to the center, Izmail street. Tickets cost 3 lei; luggage will cost you another ticket. The minibuses are white vans leaving from the airport parking lot. If you leave the airport building from the arrivals area, turn right and walk towards the end of the building. The buses are marked with the number 165 on a sign behind the windshield and you can flag one down passing you, or walk up to the ones still parking. Don't open the sliding door even though you have luggage; for some reason they always use the co-drivers door to get on and off.
The most popular route is from Bucharest, daily overnight trains leave Gara de Nord station at 7:10 PM and arrives 10:45 AM next morning, with a journey time of 14½ hour. This sleeper service is comfortable, although the toilets are not quite up to European standards. Customs and bogey change is at the border town of Ungheni in early morning. A return ticket to Bucharest in four person compartment costs approximately €32 (2010).
Another useful route is from Warsaw, departing every second day taking two nights (38 h). Chişinău is served by three routes from Russia, one from Moscow via Kiev, one from Saint Petersburg and one from Rostov-on-the-Don. Several cities in Ukraine also have daily connections.
A daily direct train from Odessa have now starting running leaving Odessa late afternoon and arriving around 10 PM the same evening. This train also crosses the unrecognised breakaway state of Transnistria and makes a quick stop-over in it's capital, Tiraspol meaning that depending on the political situation the service might be interrupted. A single journey costs 50 UAH.
As the driving and quality of the roads in Moldova is different to what you as a Westerner will probably be used to, it is thus better to rely on public transport, which is very cheap and (mostly) reliable.
There are several buses throughout the day from Bucharest, Odessa, Iasi, Chernivtsi, and Lviv. The journey to/from Odessa takes around five hours and costs around $10 US. Most Odessa-bound buses go through southern Moldova, avoiding the Transnistrian region - these will be marked as going through Palanka or Causeni. The journey to Iasi is three and a half hours long, with travel on to Brasov (price to Iasi:100 lei). There are many buses and maxi-taxis headed to Bender and Tiraspol in Transnistria, about one every forty minutes (25 lei for a ninety minute journey).
Botanical garden
Arch of triumph
The cafe at Sun City that is built over the roadway has some of the best zaema in the city, despite its slow service.
Andy's Pizza is a fast food restaurant which is found all over the city. The quality of the food is unfortunately very variable depending on which dish and which outlet you go to, with some of the food being absolutely gross.
La Placinte is another restaurant owned by the same people, serving traditional Moldovan cuisine. The quality of the food is far more reliable and good, at decent affordable prices far below that found in Western Europe.
The restaurant owned by the Green Hills company on Stephan Cel Mare is excellent, although prices are comparable to European ones.
Foisor for cheap blini (pancakes/crepes) and zaema at 16 lei.
The canteen in the basement of the court building across from ASEM University (Academia de Studii Economice din Moldova) is open from 11-12 and 1-4. The simple food is a great value for money (25 lei for soup, main dish, and chefir; 40 lei max for a meal; 2 lei for tea).
Robin pub (restaurant) - medium sized place with a friendly English style pub atmosphere. This pub has a wide variety of meals from fish to pasta. Menu is in English as well. Staff know a little English as well. This place is all smoking area. The food is fast, hot and decent. [14]
Lunch: Pizza House, 133 Stefan Cel Mare, tel: 23-51-62, serves a variety of dishes including pizza, pasta and local favorites. They have a lunch special for about 50 Lei. Prices for a full meal range 40-100 Lei.
Mid-range: Symposium wine Bar, offers a variety of meals including steak, lamb, and pasta. They have an excellent selection of Moldovan wines. Prices for a full meal with drinks range from 250-500 Lei.
For groceries, there are small shops all over. Some are even located right in front of the apartment blocks just a few steps away from their entrances. For harder-to-find items, head to a supermarket. You will frequently also see markets or even one or two random people selling fruit and vegetables, and sometimes other products such as honey or "brinza" a type of cheese. The majority of these are fresh and perfectly safe to eat and frequently better than what is found in a supermarket.
For fresh fruits and vegetables, markets are the best (and freshest) option. Most of the items for sale are locally-produced, but there are a lot of sellers who sell imports; mostly oranges, bananas and other tropical fruits/vegetables. It is best to buy meat and dairy products from supermarkets or shops. The quality is much better than in the market, and the prices are pretty much the same.
The orange Beleas stalls all around the city offer cheap and warm food which is very good in winter, and usually "quick and tasty" as advertised (repede si gustos) in Romanian. However they may not always heat it up properly which can mean it might not be so good so ask for "fierbinte" (boiling). Also, although it is usually nice, don't think about where it might have been before you bought it.
You might also enjoy eating on the roof of McDonald's where the menu is virtually the same as in America (plus beer) but somehow tastes 5 times better.
City club - tucked in behind the parliament buildings this dome shaped club offers tables that can be reserved for 300 lei in the back and 200 lei right on the dance floor. All the tables may look reserved but they are open for purchase. Listen to the electronic music amongst the red decor. 35 lei cover. 2 floors. Coat check is available. Do not be surprised if the bouncers begin shoving you around - if you get too close to a VIP table, take a drink too far from the bar, or do not move out of the way quickly enough when performers enter the dancefloor.
Booze time club - a club with a slight rustic feel as it is nearly all wood. Somewhat of a university bar feel. Electronic music. Upstairs bar and lounge area. No cover. Connected to City club but for staff only. Booze time will be more full than city on off nights. Coat check available, Electronica. Bartenders here like to put on a show as well.
Deja vu - a smaller basement pub club. Quite intimate but watch out for the harmless bar top antics where staff pour drinks down customer throats in a sexually suggestive manner. This is a good thing be sure to order the flaming sambuca. It's a good show. A mix of pop electronica and club rnb. just don't be surprised if your bar tab ends up being twice as expensive as expected. But as some shots involve 3-4 staff working to keep you safe as the entire bar is engulfed in flames while bar tenders juggle liqueur bottles turned Molotov cocktails. Cash only. They take euros. It's a must if you want a good night out.
Drive - absolutely new destination for those who appreciate the real quality club recreation. Powerful energy and surrounding you absolutely powerless sound and modern rhythm will make you to love it at a glance. A wide bar range and a variety of recipes will surprise even the most demanding taste. Also, there is always fresh beer, and a huge selection of cocktails and alcoholic drinks.
Military - Club's atmosphere is light and attracts people with new vision. Finally, the new orange color evokes positive attitude, optimism, and night luck. We remind you that at one time the place where Military Club now occupies, brought together people that were symbols of their times. People like Vladimir Visotsky, Andrei Tarkovsky, Andrei Mironov, Nona Mordukova, Stefan Petrache, Mashina Vremeni, and many others. Today, this plight is continued by the heroes of our time. On this same place, but with a different name – Military Club, the bright and orange future, promises a new milestone in the capital-city era.
Police - 902
Fire brigade - 901
Gas intervention -904
Telephone directory service by Moldtelecom - 1189 (taxable)
Emergency (calls are made by mobile phones with no SIM card) - 112
Watch out about night life: the U.S. State Department warns about Russian dating schemes also very common in Moldova and other kind of financial scams. Most women in night clubs are not just professionals but also scammers.
Also, it is worth noting the high level of police corruption aimed at foreigners. This will usually involve getting arrested for something ridiculously minor, with extra fictional offences added on for dramatic effect, in an attempt to scare you into paying a high bribe. Most police will not speak any English, and you can expect a lengthy lecture in Romanian. Be sure to always carry at least a good quality photocopy of your passports. However, such attempts at bribery can sometimes be successfully deterred by making it known that you have your embassy's phone number.
Thus, a good plan is to avoid speaking English in front of the police and or making eye contact.
Cricova - a Chisinau suburb located close to the city. Famous for its fabulous winery. An excursion, including tasting the dishes in its restaurant, plus wine souvenir will cost you 500 lei.
Ghidighici- a lake and Chisinau suburb located close to the city in its northern part. It is 9 km. in length and at about 1 km. in width. Ghidighici is also, called as "Chisinau sea". there are many resorts and recreation facilities along its shores. One of the most prefferable place for recreations for city locals.
Western Club [35] -amazing minizoo 10km from chisinau, wide variety of all animals, african birds and australian black swans, horserideing and accomadation available also, owned by very friendly Igor and his wife who is a vet and their son Dima who speaks English.
Mileştii Mici [36], [37]- biggest wine cellar in Europe (Guinness Book of World Records) - length 200 km.
[edit] Understand
Chisinau is relatively wealthy compared to the rest of the country, as Moldova actually is the poorest country in Europe. As common in developing countries, you are likely to see great disparities in wealth. It's also very much a post-Soviet city, with both the good and bad qualities associated with it.The majority of the middle and working class population still live in Soviet era housing blocks. These may look run down, lifts may be iffy, etc, but the majority of them are not "dangerous" as similar areas may be considered to be in Western Europe or the United Kingdom. Do not come to Moldova expecting Western standards, but at the same time do not expect that this is a dangerous country with threats around every corner. Crime is relatively low although usual precautions apply.
[edit] Get in
[edit] By plane
There are three taxi companies which operate at the airport. The fixed fares range from about 80 to 120 MDL depending on which sector of the city you are going. While better than in the past, the taxi system is still not perfect and it is likely they will try to come up with a reason to charge you extra. The cheaper alternative is to take minibus 165 which takes you trough Botanica to the center, Izmail street. Tickets cost 3 lei; luggage will cost you another ticket. The minibuses are white vans leaving from the airport parking lot. If you leave the airport building from the arrivals area, turn right and walk towards the end of the building. The buses are marked with the number 165 on a sign behind the windshield and you can flag one down passing you, or walk up to the ones still parking. Don't open the sliding door even though you have luggage; for some reason they always use the co-drivers door to get on and off.
[edit] By train
The train service to Chişinău somewhat limited with no direct connections from central Europe. However, for travelers arriving from Western Europe taking the train is much cheaper than a flight. The downside is that they are slow, particularly when crossing the borders into the old Soviet Union, where they need to stop to have their wheels changed due to diffrent rail gauge.The most popular route is from Bucharest, daily overnight trains leave Gara de Nord station at 7:10 PM and arrives 10:45 AM next morning, with a journey time of 14½ hour. This sleeper service is comfortable, although the toilets are not quite up to European standards. Customs and bogey change is at the border town of Ungheni in early morning. A return ticket to Bucharest in four person compartment costs approximately €32 (2010).
Another useful route is from Warsaw, departing every second day taking two nights (38 h). Chişinău is served by three routes from Russia, one from Moscow via Kiev, one from Saint Petersburg and one from Rostov-on-the-Don. Several cities in Ukraine also have daily connections.
A daily direct train from Odessa have now starting running leaving Odessa late afternoon and arriving around 10 PM the same evening. This train also crosses the unrecognised breakaway state of Transnistria and makes a quick stop-over in it's capital, Tiraspol meaning that depending on the political situation the service might be interrupted. A single journey costs 50 UAH.
[edit] By car
Note that the quality of the roads in Moldova ranges from average to terrible. The road leading from Chisinau to Ungheni is particularly bad, with lots of potholes. You are likely to be sharing the road with trucks, cars, and livestock, all moving at various speeds without a lot of regard for safety. You might also get shaken down for bribes by the traffic police, especially if you have foreign plates.As the driving and quality of the roads in Moldova is different to what you as a Westerner will probably be used to, it is thus better to rely on public transport, which is very cheap and (mostly) reliable.
[edit] By bus
Note that Chisinau has three bus stations - the central one (serving mainly in-country destinations), Gara de Nord (for in-country destinations on the northern part of the country like Sorocca, Rezina, Ocnita, for travel to Odessa, Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine) and the larger Gara Sud (for in-country destinations in the southern part of the country like Comrat, Cahul and for journeys to Romania). You can reach Gara de Sud from central Chisinau on rutiera (microbus) number 120, 124, 180 or 192 for 3 lei. Gara Nord is served by rutiera 163 and trolleybus #9, along with a bunch of others. You can check bus timetables (both in-country, and international destinations) at this website: [9] .There are several buses throughout the day from Bucharest, Odessa, Iasi, Chernivtsi, and Lviv. The journey to/from Odessa takes around five hours and costs around $10 US. Most Odessa-bound buses go through southern Moldova, avoiding the Transnistrian region - these will be marked as going through Palanka or Causeni. The journey to Iasi is three and a half hours long, with travel on to Brasov (price to Iasi:100 lei). There are many buses and maxi-taxis headed to Bender and Tiraspol in Transnistria, about one every forty minutes (25 lei for a ninety minute journey).
[edit] Get around
- Call 1499, 1420, 1422, 1447,1444 or any of the other 14xx numbers to get a taxi, except 1488. Ordering in English shouldn't be a big problem, but only a few drivers speak foreign languages. If you don't know the local prices, drivers may charge you exorbitant rates. If you are sitting in a private cab, there is not much you can do. If you are in a taxi with a "14.." number written on it, just call this number and check the price with the operator. An average taxi ride should cost 30 to 40 lei, with 50+ lei for longer destinations (for example from Riscani to the other side of Botanica).
- For budget travelers, just do like the locals do: Ride the trolley-bus, bus or maxi-taxis. A trolley-bus ride costs 2 lei while a bus ride costs 3 lei, collected by a conductor who walks up and down the bus after each stop. Maxi-taxis cost 3 lei, which is paid to the driver upon entry. There are few set stops for maxi-taxis: and it is usually OK to just tell the driver when you want to get off, although recently introduced rules mean that drivers may not do this so much any more but will stop on street corners etc. Flag him down with your hand (just like you would with a taxi) when the vehicle approaches you on the street.
[edit][add listing] See
- Stefan Cel Mare Monument The monument to Stephen III of Moldovia who in the 15th century achieved European fame by resisting the Turkish advances. The monument is the gateway to the beautiful park of the same name. [10]
- Rose Valley A nine hectare park featuring three major lakes and several restaurants. To get here use lines T2, T3, T7, T9 or T10. [11]
- Riscani Park A big, 32 hectare wooded park offering you pleasant, almost secluded walks. Use bus 5 or A. [12]
- Botanica Park (the most beautiful and the largest in Chisinau, situated near the Gates Of The City)
- Parcul Valea Morilor - A very large park with a recently renovated lake and which offers acres of largely untouched countryside scenery in the heart of the city.
- Parcul Dendrariu - A large park in Buiucani (which costs 2 lei to enter). Nice gardens, lake, forests and sports field.
- Parcul Aluneiul - Situated near a former Soviet theme park, this contains a strange door-less and window-less house, as well as a memorial to the pogroms in Chisinau in the first part of the 20th Century.
- Jewish Cemetery in Buiucani - The Cemetery is still in use. Contains new and very old graves, and is the largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. Bear in mind that at one point between 40 and 60% of Chisinau's population was Jewish. It also contains an old destroyed synagogue and a monument for the Torah scrolls.
- Courtyard on the corner of Str. 31 August & Str. Tighina, you can find here the Military Museum, containing all sorts of Sovjet Era military vehicles (tanks, a MIG fighter jet, etc.)[[13]].
[edit][add listing] Do
[edit] Learn
English is spoken in restaurants and some of the markets. Even some taxi drivers speak a little English. Young people are much more likely to speak English than the older generation. In Chişinău most people know Russian and Romanian . If you plan to travel outside Chişinău it would be helpful to pick up some Romanian and about the only language spoken outside of the city is Romanian . In Gagauzia a Turkish dialect is spoken. Mostly only 30% of the people in Moldova speak some English and the country is far behind with schools that teach the English language.[edit] Work
[edit][add listing] Buy
If you are just visiting Chişinău, consider buying a special cognac selection of about 30 small bottles, with different sorts of cognac. It can make a nice gift. Moldovan wines are deservedly famous across the former Soviet Union, yet are little known in Europe. Take the opportunity to sample them. Cigarettes are also much cheaper in Moldova than in the EU, so you might do well to stock up before leaving the country (although note that there are strict limits on the number of cigarettes you can bring across an EU border).[edit][add listing] Eat
Chisinau is a good place for food lovers. There are plenty of good places to eat all over Chisinau. The cheap, tasty food that is very popular with the locals is served in most places. For better service and more diverse food selection, there are a lot of small restaurants and cafes. Some restaurants have prices comparable to Europe, although if you eat only in those you may find yourself being ripped off. For a quick lunch, try fast food stores and pizzerias, these can be found on nearly every corner. Beef is often under the veal part of the menu.The cafe at Sun City that is built over the roadway has some of the best zaema in the city, despite its slow service.
Andy's Pizza is a fast food restaurant which is found all over the city. The quality of the food is unfortunately very variable depending on which dish and which outlet you go to, with some of the food being absolutely gross.
La Placinte is another restaurant owned by the same people, serving traditional Moldovan cuisine. The quality of the food is far more reliable and good, at decent affordable prices far below that found in Western Europe.
The restaurant owned by the Green Hills company on Stephan Cel Mare is excellent, although prices are comparable to European ones.
Foisor for cheap blini (pancakes/crepes) and zaema at 16 lei.
The canteen in the basement of the court building across from ASEM University (Academia de Studii Economice din Moldova) is open from 11-12 and 1-4. The simple food is a great value for money (25 lei for soup, main dish, and chefir; 40 lei max for a meal; 2 lei for tea).
Robin pub (restaurant) - medium sized place with a friendly English style pub atmosphere. This pub has a wide variety of meals from fish to pasta. Menu is in English as well. Staff know a little English as well. This place is all smoking area. The food is fast, hot and decent. [14]
Lunch: Pizza House, 133 Stefan Cel Mare, tel: 23-51-62, serves a variety of dishes including pizza, pasta and local favorites. They have a lunch special for about 50 Lei. Prices for a full meal range 40-100 Lei.
Mid-range: Symposium wine Bar, offers a variety of meals including steak, lamb, and pasta. They have an excellent selection of Moldovan wines. Prices for a full meal with drinks range from 250-500 Lei.
For groceries, there are small shops all over. Some are even located right in front of the apartment blocks just a few steps away from their entrances. For harder-to-find items, head to a supermarket. You will frequently also see markets or even one or two random people selling fruit and vegetables, and sometimes other products such as honey or "brinza" a type of cheese. The majority of these are fresh and perfectly safe to eat and frequently better than what is found in a supermarket.
For fresh fruits and vegetables, markets are the best (and freshest) option. Most of the items for sale are locally-produced, but there are a lot of sellers who sell imports; mostly oranges, bananas and other tropical fruits/vegetables. It is best to buy meat and dairy products from supermarkets or shops. The quality is much better than in the market, and the prices are pretty much the same.
The orange Beleas stalls all around the city offer cheap and warm food which is very good in winter, and usually "quick and tasty" as advertised (repede si gustos) in Romanian. However they may not always heat it up properly which can mean it might not be so good so ask for "fierbinte" (boiling). Also, although it is usually nice, don't think about where it might have been before you bought it.
You might also enjoy eating on the roof of McDonald's where the menu is virtually the same as in America (plus beer) but somehow tastes 5 times better.
[edit][add listing] Drink
Drinks such as vodka are served on their own. So don't be surprised if your vodka sprite is served as a 2 separate drinks. Also club soda seems difficult to procure, at least in English.- Wines - Moldavan wines, cognac, liquor and juice are all on par with the best of Eastern Europe. For one thing, manufacturers tend to use only organic products. Secondly, these products are made in the traditional way. Restaurants tend to sell only local wines, but only those of the highest standards.
- Beer - Moldovan beer is one of the best in Europe. A very famous is named "Bere Chisinau". It was awarded with the Nr.1 Gold Medal at the Nuremberg beer competition in 2007, beating Germany, Czech Rep. and others. It can be found in all the Bars on every street in Chisinau, so finding a place for a drink is not a problem. However, good bars and restaurants with a pleasant atmosphere can be difficult to find. So watch where you stop.
[edit] Clubs
There are more than 40 night clubs in Chisinau, making its night life vibrant and dynamic. Here are some of the best of them.City club - tucked in behind the parliament buildings this dome shaped club offers tables that can be reserved for 300 lei in the back and 200 lei right on the dance floor. All the tables may look reserved but they are open for purchase. Listen to the electronic music amongst the red decor. 35 lei cover. 2 floors. Coat check is available. Do not be surprised if the bouncers begin shoving you around - if you get too close to a VIP table, take a drink too far from the bar, or do not move out of the way quickly enough when performers enter the dancefloor.
Booze time club - a club with a slight rustic feel as it is nearly all wood. Somewhat of a university bar feel. Electronic music. Upstairs bar and lounge area. No cover. Connected to City club but for staff only. Booze time will be more full than city on off nights. Coat check available, Electronica. Bartenders here like to put on a show as well.
Deja vu - a smaller basement pub club. Quite intimate but watch out for the harmless bar top antics where staff pour drinks down customer throats in a sexually suggestive manner. This is a good thing be sure to order the flaming sambuca. It's a good show. A mix of pop electronica and club rnb. just don't be surprised if your bar tab ends up being twice as expensive as expected. But as some shots involve 3-4 staff working to keep you safe as the entire bar is engulfed in flames while bar tenders juggle liqueur bottles turned Molotov cocktails. Cash only. They take euros. It's a must if you want a good night out.
Drive - absolutely new destination for those who appreciate the real quality club recreation. Powerful energy and surrounding you absolutely powerless sound and modern rhythm will make you to love it at a glance. A wide bar range and a variety of recipes will surprise even the most demanding taste. Also, there is always fresh beer, and a huge selection of cocktails and alcoholic drinks.
Military - Club's atmosphere is light and attracts people with new vision. Finally, the new orange color evokes positive attitude, optimism, and night luck. We remind you that at one time the place where Military Club now occupies, brought together people that were symbols of their times. People like Vladimir Visotsky, Andrei Tarkovsky, Andrei Mironov, Nona Mordukova, Stefan Petrache, Mashina Vremeni, and many others. Today, this plight is continued by the heroes of our time. On this same place, but with a different name – Military Club, the bright and orange future, promises a new milestone in the capital-city era.
[edit][add listing] Sleep
[edit] Budget
- In the main train station, there is a decent hostel. Just enter the train station and ask the guards there. Price is 220 Moldovan Lei per night.
- Hotel Turist is close to the centre and charges 440 Lei a night for a double room with shower and WC (price as of August 2008).
- Private apartments [16]. In the second floor of the Hotel Chisinau, Bulevard Negruzzi 7, office 238 you can find comfortable private accommodation in the city centre starting from 600 Moldovan Lei per night
- Chisinau Hostel, 5/4 Arborilor str., ☎ +373 60079998, +373 697 11 918 (chishinauhostel@gmail.com), [17]. checkin: noon; checkout: 11AM. Well-managed, friendly and social hostel. Staff very helpful for finding international marshrutka routes. € 9-13. edit
- Central Youth Hostel, Pruncul 6, Apartment 1. checkin: 13:00; checkout: 11:00. 135 MDL/night for one bed in a six bed room. 50 MDL key deposit. One bathroom with a shower in it. People who own it and stay there include the mother, daughter and grandson. It is a fairly noisy place, walls are thin though this is the cheapest hostel yet discovered in Chisinau. Laundry service available at 5 Euros. Hot water may be limited and is turned off after 24:00. Free internet is very good unless someone happens to log out the connection. No gear lockers. Checkout 11:00, checkin 13:00 - ymmv depending on the mood of the hostess. from 135 MDL. edit
[edit] Medium
- Hotel Cosmos, [18] A very popular hotel in the heart of Chisinau. Clean rooms and friendly staff, some of whom speak English. Rates from 29 EUR/night. Now the hotel Cosmos has a slightly derelict appearance, and receives relatively few guests. However, the rooms are clean and the staff are friendly and helpful. Around the immediate area are some nice shops and restaurants.
- Hotel Luna, [19] A nice hotel with comfortable rooms and good services. Costs around 80 EUR/night.
- Hotel Edem, [20] A rather new hotel with comfortable rooms and a swimming pool. Rates start at 60 EUR/night.
- Hotel Stella De Lux, [21] a tiny hotel that costs 50 EUR/night and offers small and rather spartan
- Hotel Vila IRIS, [22] A small nice hotel with comfortable rooms and accesible prices. Costs around 50 EUR/night. In price is included breakfast, internet Wi-Fi, Parking, Laundry.
- Hotel Villa Muntenia, [23] A cosy hospitable hotel offering cheap rates and excellent services. Prices go from 40 EUR/night. In price is included breakfast, internet ,TV, Parking, Laundry.
- Hotel Bella Donna, 9, Bucuresti street, ☎ +373 22 54 82 07, [24]. It's a new hotel with comfortable rooms and nice staff in the centre of the Chisinau. The prices are low, begining from 50 euro for a room, including the breakfast, wi-fi conction to internet, TV. €60. edit
[edit] Luxury
- Hotel VisPas, [25]. A very cozy 4* boutique hotel in Downtown area about a 15 minute walk to the city center. It has a good restaurant with mid-range prices. A full meal with drinks will cost about 300 Lei.
- Club Royal Park 5* Hotel, [26].
- Jolly Alon Hotel 4* , [27]. A very nice hotel located in front of Chisinau's central park on a street with no traffic. Superbly quiet although rooms are at the very minimum of 4* standards. This hotel also has a gym which is only accessible to guest.
- Leogrand Hotel & Conventions Center 4*, [28](formerly Dedeman Grand Hotel)
- Flowers Hotel 4* A very posh but small (18 rooms) hotel close to the airport. Excellent service and good food, with extremely large rooms and comfortable beds. Tel: (+373 22) 210-822 - for reservations.
- Luxury apartments for rent, str. Pushkin 35, ☎ 069848484, [29]. checkin: 24/24; checkout: 12-00. Luxury apartments for rent in Chisinau (1-2 rooms), bath, kitchen, jacuzzi, TV, internet, minibar, security system, surveillance camera, near the central park and in the Center of the city. hourly, daily, weekly!. 00 373 69848484 60-80 euro. edit
- Prezident Hotel 5* Newest 5-stars hotel in Moldova.
- Manhattan Hotel, [30]. A smaller 4* boutique hotel in the downtown area. A few quirks but a good hotel. Opened early in 2010.
- Weekend Boutique Hotel 5*, [31]. Located in the vibrant heart of Chisinau, Moldova. Modern and refined interior of the hotel will pleasingly surprise you.
[edit] Contact
Ambulance - 903Police - 902
Fire brigade - 901
Gas intervention -904
Telephone directory service by Moldtelecom - 1189 (taxable)
Emergency (calls are made by mobile phones with no SIM card) - 112
[edit] Stay safe
Use your common sense at all times! Be aware that when entering some buildings at night, you will have to walk through unlit alleyways. So when traveling through Chişinău, always carry a small flash light.Watch out about night life: the U.S. State Department warns about Russian dating schemes also very common in Moldova and other kind of financial scams. Most women in night clubs are not just professionals but also scammers.
Also, it is worth noting the high level of police corruption aimed at foreigners. This will usually involve getting arrested for something ridiculously minor, with extra fictional offences added on for dramatic effect, in an attempt to scare you into paying a high bribe. Most police will not speak any English, and you can expect a lengthy lecture in Romanian. Be sure to always carry at least a good quality photocopy of your passports. However, such attempts at bribery can sometimes be successfully deterred by making it known that you have your embassy's phone number.
Thus, a good plan is to avoid speaking English in front of the police and or making eye contact.
[edit] Cope
There is only a single national broadcast television station. For the most part, TV channels are piped in from Russia, Ukraine, Romania and even Georgia. Euronews, Eurosport, CNN, Discovery Channel, etc. are on cable, but in Russian mostly. Not every home in the city has continual hot water. If you will be staying in a private home, be sure to ASK whether there is 24-hour hot water.[edit] Embassies
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Greece (Honorary Consulate of Greece), office 220, 1 Stefan cel Mare Ave., MD-2001, ☎ +373 22-274166 (fax: +373 22-274166). edit
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China, M. Dosoftei St 124, ☎ +373 22-248551 (chinaembassy@mtc.md, fax: +373 22-295960), [32]. edit
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United States, 103 Mateevici St, ☎ +373 22 408 300 (After hours emergencies +373 22 408300, chisinau-CA@state.gov, fax: +373 22 233044), [33]. edit
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Germany, Str. Maria Cibotari 35, ☎ (+373-22) 20 06 00 (info@chisinau.diplo.de, fax: (+373-22) 23 46 80), [34]. After hours emergencies +373-79-40 60 26 (also SMS) edit
[edit] Get out
Bucharest - many companies operate 'rutieras' during the day and larger coaches during the night heading to Bucharest. The fare with one particular company was 225 MDL for an 8-9 hour journey with hourly departures in the evening. There was no toilet on the bus but several stops were made by the bus driver. Most companies were located in the central bus station behind the Central Market, not the southern bus station as indicated above.Cricova - a Chisinau suburb located close to the city. Famous for its fabulous winery. An excursion, including tasting the dishes in its restaurant, plus wine souvenir will cost you 500 lei.
Ghidighici- a lake and Chisinau suburb located close to the city in its northern part. It is 9 km. in length and at about 1 km. in width. Ghidighici is also, called as "Chisinau sea". there are many resorts and recreation facilities along its shores. One of the most prefferable place for recreations for city locals.
Western Club [35] -amazing minizoo 10km from chisinau, wide variety of all animals, african birds and australian black swans, horserideing and accomadation available also, owned by very friendly Igor and his wife who is a vet and their son Dima who speaks English.
Mileştii Mici [36], [37]- biggest wine cellar in Europe (Guinness Book of World Records) - length 200 km.
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