Moldova

Moldova is a compact, landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east and south. It is best known for its long winemaking tradition, gently rolling countryside and unhurried pace, making it an appealing destination for travellers looking beyond Europe's busier capitals.

Chișinău, the capital, combines tree-lined boulevards, 19th-century buildings and Soviet-era landmarks with cafés, parks, museums and a growing food and wine scene. Other notable places include the medieval fortress at Soroca, the open-air archaeological complex at Orheiul Vechi, and the vast underground wine cellars of Cricova and Mileștii Mici, which draw visitors from across the region.

Beyond the cities, Moldova is a landscape of orchards, sunflower fields and vineyards stretching over rolling hills, with the Dniester and Prut rivers shaping much of its geography. Orthodox monasteries such as Căpriana, Hâncu, Saharna and Tipova stand among forests and cliffs, while the autonomous region of Gagauzia adds a distinctive cultural layer through its language, food and traditions.

Wine is central to Moldovan identity: the country has one of the highest vineyard densities in the world, and wine tourism focuses on estates and cellars in the Codru, Ștefan Vodă and Valul lui Traian regions. Chișinău also serves as the country's business hub, with events, conferences and a developing technology sector, while Moldova's status as a candidate for EU membership has raised its international profile.

Chișinău International Airport is the main gateway, with road connections to Romania and Ukraine and a network of buses and minibuses linking towns and regions. Together with private transfers, chauffeur services and car rental, this makes it relatively easy to move between the airport, Chișinău's hotels and business districts, and the country's wineries, monasteries and countryside destinations.