Chisinau

« Chișinău post-apocalypse! The city gives a truly eerie impression – like an abandoned museum of industrial age artifacts! At every turn, there are deserted factories and plants behind rusty fences, with some areas resembling a bomb site... It feels as if people have been struck by plague – the streets are gloomy and lonely... Only at the bus station is there a hint of life. I wish I had more time to stroll around and explore the center! 🌆✨ »

« In Chișinău, I usually didn’t venture far from the airport, but a long layover with an overnight stay finally allowed me to explore the city itself. I stayed not far from the center, so I had the opportunity to stroll to the central square. For a seasoned traveler, Chișinău can feel rather dull, especially in winter. There's a lack of beautiful streets, squares, and breathtaking architecture, along with any significant attractions that could leave a lasting impression in the short time I had to get acquainted.

It felt quite drab and dreary. To be fair, there’s the National Museum of History and the National Museum of Fine Arts, both of which I, unfortunately, didn’t get to visit. There are also the famous Cricova wine cellars - the largest wine cellars in the world. It is claimed that these cellars hold wine from Hermann Göring's collection, which was stored there after the end of World War II. The oldest sample of wine dates back to 1902. 🍷 »

« Chisinau, thank you! What a clean and beautiful city. It’s hard to understand why people are leaving... »

« Hello from Chișinău! Moldova is the 32nd country I've visited. Let me share my first impressions: even though Moldova is significantly poorer than Romania, the stations and streets here are cleaner. Sure, there are some areas that could use a decent pavement and sidewalk tiles, but overall, I have to emphasize, it's clean! :) As you exit the train station, the first thing you'll see is a monument to the victims of communism. On my way to the hostel, I passed by all the city's attractions, which aren’t many, and now I'm pondering what else to explore. Drivers here aren’t too keen on following traffic rules, so there’s a risk of getting hit by a Moldovan driver even when you’re crossing the street on a green light. Prices are unbelievably low: I settled in a decent hostel for around $4 with a free breakfast... »

« Chisinau is a wonderful city with its own history, ancient buildings, and a captivating atmosphere. I'm in love with this city forever! ❤️ »

« Chisinau, what can I say??? Right when you cross the border into Moldova, the landscapes amaze you: so many lakes, rolling hills, a ton of vineyards, and huge peach orchards. But once you learn a bit about the local life, you quickly realize that the city, and the whole country, seem lost in time. There's no infrastructure like in other capitals of the world, no wild nightlife or bustling parties—everything is peaceful, everyone is doing their own thing, and sometimes they gather in the park to discuss the latest news. If someone dreams of diving back into the 90s, this is the place to be. »