Editor's picks
A local's shortlist — the places worth your time first, each with a tip.
Parcul Valea Morilor
Nature · Centru, west of the university district
A 114-hectare park wrapped around a 34-hectare lake, built in the 1950s and the city's default place to be outdoors.
Local tip: Come up the Cascade — the 218-step staircase from the lake to the Green Theatre, which is longer than Odesa's Potemkin Stairs and about a tenth as famous. Do the loop of the lake anticlockwise in the evening and you will pass every demographic in Chișinău in forty minutes.
Piața Centrală
Food · Centru, behind the bus station
The Central Market — the covered produce, cheese, honey, pickle and meat halls that set the city's real prices.
Local tip: Go for brânză de oi (sheep's cheese) and the pickle rows, and let someone give you a taste before you buy — refusing is the wrong move. It is cash and Romanian or Russian; the supermarkets on the ring road are cheaper for packaged goods and worse at everything else.
Cricova underground wine city
Culture · Cricova town, Râșcani sector — 15 km north of the centre
Over a hundred kilometres of limestone galleries with street signs, tasting halls and a national wine collection, all inside Chișinău municipality.
Local tip: You tour it in an electric train because walking it is not realistic. Book ahead and take a passport; the collection rooms include bottles seized and re-seized across several regimes. Mileștii Mici, 20 km the other way, is larger still and holds the Guinness record for the world's biggest wine collection.
Piața Marii Adunări Naționale & the Cathedral park
Landmark · Centru, on Bulevardul Ștefan cel Mare
The government square, the 1830s Cathedral of Christ's Nativity, its detached bell tower and the Triumphal Arch — the ceremonial centre of the country.
Local tip: The bell tower you see is a 1998 reconstruction: the original was demolished in the 1960s. The park behind holds Chișinău's book market, a permanent row of second-hand stalls where the political temperature of the city is easier to read than in any newspaper.
Strada Eugen Doga & the Centru cafés
Nightlife · Centru, off Bulevardul Ștefan cel Mare
The pedestrianised street that became the city's terrace strip, plus the bars and wine rooms in the grid around it.
Local tip: Chișinău drinks late and cheap and almost entirely outdoors from May to September. Order local — a glass of Fetească Neagră or Rara Neagră costs less than an imported beer and is the better drink. The wine bars off Bulevardul Constantin Negruzzi are where the trade itself drinks.
Parcul Alunelul & the 1903 pogrom memorial
Hidden gemCulture · Buiucani, north-west of the centre
An eleven-hectare park laid out in 1958 on top of a Jewish cemetery, with a 1993 memorial complex to the victims of the 1903 Chișinău pogrom.
Local tip: Almost no visitor goes, and it is the most important place in the city for understanding what Chișinău was before the twentieth century emptied it. The 1903 pogrom made the city's name a byword worldwide and reshaped Jewish emigration to America and Palestine; the park it happened around was landscaped over the cemetery fifty-five years later. Go, read the plaques, and then look at how ordinary the park is.
Explore 97 places across Chișinău
Museums, landmarks, monuments, heritage sites and parks — mapped, with photos. The most notable spots first.
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Museums & galleries
(12)
Museum
MuseumWater Tower of Chișinău
Historical and architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
MuseumNational Museum of Ethnography and Natural History
Historical and architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
MuseumMemorial house of Aleksandr Pushkin, Chișinău
Historical monument of national importance in Moldova
Museum
MuseumVillage museum of Chișinău
Museum in Chișinău.
MuseumMemorial house of Alexey Shchusev, Chișinău
Historical monument of national importance in Moldova
MuseumMuzeul zemstvei
Historical, architectural monument, and of art of national importance in Moldova
MuseumMuseum of Chișinău
Museum of local history in Chișinău
Peperete
Municipiul Chișinău
Art gallery in Municipiul Chișinău.
Military Museum
Municipiul Chișinău
Museum in Municipiul Chișinău.
Muzeul Militar
Municipiul Chișinău
Museum in Municipiul Chișinău.
Landmarks & architecture
(2)Palace of the Republic
Municipiul Chișinău
Castle in Municipiul Chișinău.
Castelul Familiei Stati
Castle.
Monuments & memorials
(27)
MonumentStephen the Great Monument
Historical monument and of art of national importance, public forum monument in Moldova
MonumentEternity Memorial Complex, Chișinău
Historical monument and of art of national importance in Moldova
MonumentCapitoline Wolf, Chișinău
Public forum monument in Moldova, former monument of art and historical of national importance
MonumentMonument of the victims of the Jewish ghetto in Chișinău
Monument
MonumentEquestrian statue of Grigory Kotovsky (Chișinău)
Public forum monument in Moldova, former monument of art of national importance
Monument
MonumentAlley of Classics, Ștefan cel Mare Public Garden
Historical monument and of art of national importance in Moldova
MonumentWorld War II memorial in Suruceni, Ialoveni
Historical monument of national importance in Moldova
MonumentWorld War II memorial in Trușeni, Chișinău
Historical monument of national importance in Moldova
MonumentHristo Botev monument, Chișinău
Public forum monument in Moldova, former historical monument of national importance
MonumentMaica îndurerată
Historical monument of national importance in Moldova
MonumentMemorial to the victims of fascism in Chișinău
Public forum monument in Moldova, former monument of art and historical of national importance
MonumentMonument to Alexander Pushkin in his Memorial house in Chișinău
Public forum monument in Moldova, former historical monument and of art of national importance
MonumentMonument to Alexander Pushkin in the Ștefan cel Mare Central Park of Chișinău, Moldova
Historical monument and of art of national importance, public forum monument in Moldova
MonumentMonument to the Fighters for Soviet Power in Chișinău
Public forum monument in Moldova, former monument of art of national importance
MonumentWorld War II memorial in Băcioi, Chișinău
Historical monument of local importance in Moldova
MonumentWorld War I memorial in Nimoreni, Ialoveni
Historical monument and of art of local importance in Moldova
MonumentBulgarian Troops obelisk, Chișinău
Public forum monument in Moldova, former monument of art and historical of national importance
MonumentMonument to Ion Creangă at the Pedagogical State University
Public forum monument in Moldova, former monument of art and historical of national importance
MonumentȘtefan Neaga monument, Chișinău
Public forum monument in Moldova, former monument of art and historical of national importance
MonumentMemorial stele to Toma Ciorbă, Chișinău
Former monument of art and historical of national importance in Moldova
MonumentSergey Lazo monument, Chișinău
Public forum monument in Moldova, former monument of art of local importance
MonumentKomsomol monument, Chișinău
Public forum monument in Moldova, former monument of art of national importance
MonumentLiberation Memorial, Chișinău
Public forum monument in Moldova, former monument of art of local importance
Izvor
Historic site.
Glorie Eternă Eroilor Căzuți Pe Câmpul de Luptă
Memorial.
Monument consacrat transportatorilor auto din Moldova
Historic monument.
Places of worship
(32)
ReligiousCathedral of Divine Providence, Chișinău
Architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
Religious
Religious
Religious
Religious
ReligiousArmenian church "Saint Mary" of Chișinău
Armenian Church in Chișinău (Moldova)
ReligiousSt. Pantaleon church in Chișinău
Architectural monument and of art of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousSynagogue of the Glaziers, Chișinău
Historical and architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousSt. George church in Chișinău
Architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousSt. Haralambios church in Chișinău
Monument of art and architectural of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousAll Saints Orthodox church in Chișinău
Church building in Chișinău, Moldova
ReligiousSaints Constantine and Helena Church, Chișinău
Church building in Chișinău Municipality, Moldova
ReligiousChurch of the Dormition in Chișinău
Architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousChurch of the Annunciation in Chișinău
Architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousComplex of the former synagogue with retirement home, Chișinău
Historical and architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousSaint Demetrius of Thessaloniki church in Chișinău
Architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousChurch of the presentation of Jesus Christ at the Temple in Chișinău
Historical, architectural monument, and of art of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousSt. Nicholas church in Chișinău
Religious in Chișinău.
ReligiousChurch of Ghidighici
Architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousArchangels church in Budești, Chișinău
Architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousChurch of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Colonița, Chișinău
Architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousChurch of the Assumption in Goianul Nou, Chișinău
Architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousHoly Trinity church in Grătiești, Chișinău
Architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousArchangels church in Băcioi, Chișinău
Architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousArchangels church in Nimoreni, Ialoveni
Architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousArchangels church in Trușeni, Chișinău
Architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousArchangels church in Durlești
Architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousWooden church of Gîrbova
Architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ReligiousHay Synagogue, Chișinău
Religious in Chișinău.
Uniunea Bisericilor Creștine Evanghelice Baptiste din Moldova
Municipiul Chișinău
Place of worship in Municipiul Chișinău.
Saint Venerable Theodora of Sihla Romanian Orthodox Church
Municipiul Chișinău
Place of worship in Municipiul Chișinău.
Catedrala „Înălțarea Domnului”
Municipiul Chișinău
Place of worship in Municipiul Chișinău.
Heritage & archaeology
(10)
ArchaeologicalIaloveni III settlement
Archaeological site in Moldova, formerly protected by state
ArchaeologicalBăcioi III settlement
Archaeological site in Moldova, formerly protected by state
ArchaeologicalBăcioi V settlement
Archaeological site in Moldova, formerly protected by state
ArchaeologicalDănceni I settlement
Archaeological site in Moldova, formerly protected by state
ArchaeologicalChișinău II campsite
Archaeological site in Moldova, formerly protected by state
ArchaeologicalChișinău I campsite
Archaeological site in Moldova, formerly protected by state
ArchaeologicalTumulus on Circului str., Chișinău
Archaeological site in Moldova, formerly protected by state
ArchaeologicalTumulus on Poștei str., Chișinău
Archaeological site in Moldova, formerly protected by state
ArchaeologicalTumulus on Ișnovăț str. 34, Chișinău
Archaeological site in Moldova, formerly protected by state
Săpăturile arheologice la beciurile casei Mitropolitului Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni
Archaeological site.
Parks & nature
(11)
Park
Park
ParkCathedral Park in Chișinău
Park in Chișinău, Moldova
ParkȘtefan cel Mare Central Park
Historical, architectural monument, and of art of national importance in Moldova
ParkValea Morilor Park
Monument of landscape architecture, historical and architectural monument of national importance in Moldova
ParkDendrological Garden in Chișinău
Dendrological garden, historical monument and of art of national importance in Moldova
ParkGarden of the Ethnographic museum in Chișinău
Monument of landscape architecture in Moldova
ParkFeciorilor Patriei Park
Architectural monument of local importance in Moldova
Sarmizegetusa Public Garden
Municipiul Chișinău
Public park in Municipiul Chișinău.
Parcul Zaikin
Municipiul Chișinău
Public park in Municipiul Chișinău.
Scuarul „Tudor Vladimirescu - Nicolae Dimo”
Municipiul Chișinău
Public park in Municipiul Chișinău.
More to explore
(3)House of Mayor Carol Schmidt
Visitor attraction.
Rîșcanovca hills
Viewpoint.
Anton Chekhov State Russian Drama Theatre
Municipiul Chișinău
Visitor attraction in Municipiul Chișinău.
Data from Wikidata (CC0) & OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Images via Wikimedia Commons — see each credit. Listings are community-maintained and may be incomplete or out of date — verify hours and access before visiting.
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