Moldova Highlights
Underground wine cities, cave monasteries and Eastern Europe's best-kept secret
Moldova is Europe's least-visited country and one of its most rewarding — home to the world's largest wine cellars, extraordinary cave monasteries, and a warm, generous culture that welcomes the few travellers who make it here.
Top Moldova Highlights to Visit
Handpicked destinations for the ultimate moldova highlights experience
Cricova Winery
120km of underground wine tunnels — the second-largest wine cellar in the world
An underground city of wine tunnels stretching 120km beneath the town of Cricova — the second-largest wine cellar in the world. The tunnels are carved from limestone and maintain a constant 12°C, storing over 1.25 million bottles including wines from Hermann Göring's collection seized after WWII.
Highlights
- 120km of underground wine tunnels — the second-largest in the world
- Constant 12°C temperature — perfect for wine storage
- Over 1.25 million bottles including historic WWII-era collections
- Yuri Gagarin was once locked in here for two days
- Electric car tours through the underground city
- Tasting rooms carved from the limestone rock
Things to Do
- Take the underground tour — electric car tours wind through 120km of tunnels past millions of bottles and historic collections
- Wine tasting in the caves — taste Moldovan wines in the atmospheric limestone tasting rooms; the sparkling wines are exceptional
Practical Info
Best Time to Visit
Year-round
Recommended Duration
2–3 hours
Typical Cost
€15–30 including tasting
Travel Tips
- ·Book tours in advance — Cricova is popular and slots fill up
- ·The sparkling wines are Moldova's best — ask for the Cricova Cuvée
- ·Combine with Mileștii Mici (30 min away) for a full day of wine tourism
Nearby Attractions
Soroca Fortress
A perfectly preserved circular Renaissance fortress on the banks of the Dniester
A perfectly preserved circular Renaissance fortress on the banks of the Dniester River, built by Stephen the Great of Moldova in the 15th century. One of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Eastern Europe, and the gateway to the Roma palaces of Soroca.
Highlights
- One of the best-preserved circular Renaissance fortresses in Europe
- Built by Stephen the Great — Moldova's national hero
- Five towers connected by a circular wall on the Dniester riverbank
- The Roma palaces of Soroca — extraordinary ornate mansions
- Views over the Dniester to Ukraine on the opposite bank
- The Candle of Gratitude monument on the hill above the town
Things to Do
- Tour the fortress — explore the five towers and circular walls of one of Eastern Europe's finest Renaissance fortresses
- Walk the Roma palace district — the extraordinary ornate mansions of Soroca's Roma community are unlike anything else in Europe
Practical Info
Best Time to Visit
May–October
Recommended Duration
2–3 hours
Typical Cost
€2 entry
Travel Tips
- ·Combine the fortress with the Roma palace district — both are within walking distance
- ·The Candle of Gratitude monument on the hill gives the best views over the Dniester
- ·Soroca is 2.5 hours from Chișinău — consider an overnight stay
Nearby Attractions
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