Our Moldova holidays and tours take you to a quirky little country with one breakaway republic that few have ever heard of, another semi-autonomous region and a culture deeply influenced by its gypsy heritage.

Sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania this small and modest nation is often overlooked when thinking about Eastern Europe. But it could just be the continent’s most unusual destination. Moldova is a curious mix of stark Soviet ideology and gentle rural customs, punctuated by rolling hills, traditional farmsteads and ancient churches.

Famed also for its wine, the country boasts some of the largest wine cellars in the world. These are real underground cities with tunnels stretching for kilometres and showcase Moldova’s deep love of the grape. Also not to be missed is the self-proclaimed nation of Transdniestr. This is a throwback to the days of Communism with an eccentric ‘capital’ and a frankly bizarre atmosphere that seems out of place in the 21st century.

Our Moldova holidays take you to an unassuming and charming country that you’ll wish you’d visited before.

Top highlights on Moldova holidays and tours

  • Explore Chisinau, one of Europe’s greenest cities with striking 19th century buildings
  • Taste Moldovan wine in Cricova and descend into the vast underground cellars and tunnels
  • Visit the 13th century cave monastery at Orheiul Vechi
  • Enjoy a traditional feast on a Moldovan farm
  • Cross the border to the breakaway republic of Transdniestr, a throwback to the days of the USSR

Culture

Dating back to Roman times, Moldova’s rich culture has been influenced by many peoples and empires including Byzantine, Magyar, Serbian, Ottoman, Russian and Soviet. European influences were introduced after the 19th century. Today, Moldova expresses a lively and varied lifestyle displayed through various traditions and creative arts.

In tune with other Balkan countries, is Moldova’s folk culture and crafts such as embroidery and wood carving, but Moldova also boasts unique arts of its own, including decoration of pottery and 2000 year old lyrical songs.

Also deeply rooted into Moldovan culture is wine. Their vineyards are some of the oldest in the world and the country also has two of the largest wine cellars in the world. In Cricova, there are 120km of tunnels and in Mileștii Mici, 200km.

The main language here is Moldovan, which is very similar to Romanian. Many people will also speak Russian and a few words of this will help in your travels. Increasingly people are beginning to speak English, especially among the younger generation, although not so much once you get out of the major towns and cities.

Most people here belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church, although there are also many Catholics and small pockets of other religions, including Judaism.

When to go on holiday to Moldova

The best time to visit is in the summer months, from June to September, when it is warmest. The Black Sea regulates the climate creating long summers, ideal for agriculture and grape growing, and mild, dry winters. In the earlier summer months of May and June, and also in October, there may be a chance of rainfall. But the former two are optimum months for birdwatching and all three months are prime time to see the countryside in colourful bloom, as wildflowers are in abundance.

Start planning your Moldova tour

Check out our small group tour to Moldova: Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova. While many of our trips are small group adventures with set departures, as a bespoke operator, we can design and create trips to suit any traveller, from solos to larger groups. If you would like to find out more about tailor-made Moldova holidays or our group tours, call us on 01473 328546 or email us via our contact page. We’d love to hear from you.

Church in Chisinau - Moldova Holidays and Tours

Moldova

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