From
Marisha&Family
Cozy hostel-like apartment in Chisinau.
2 double rooms and a 4 bed dorm.
8-10 Euro/night

More offers of budget accommodation and homestays from Marisha and her friends in Chisinau and other towns of Moldova&Transdniestr

Lena's flat in Tiraspol downtown - the capital of the republic that does not exist

1 EURO = 17 LEI

Time: GMT+2 (GMT+3 from last Sunday in March to last Saturday in October)

RECOMENDED BY TRAVELLERS

Check for trains
to Moldova

www.Eurostar.com

http://bahn.hafas.de

www.poezda.net

Check for flights
to/from Moldova

http://asaptickets.com cheap flights from the USA

www.airbaltic.com cheap flights to and from Odessa. No direct flights to Chisinau

Cheapflights UK

Low-cost airlines to Moldova and surroundings
Meridiana flying from Italian city of Verona (www.meridiana.it) . You can also come somewhat close to Chisinau (www.airport.md), if you are flying to Romanian city of Bacau (www.bacauairport.ro) with Blue Air (www.blueair-web.com) from Torino, Barcelona and Roma - for much more reasonable prices than Meridiana. From Bacau you can take a bus or microbus to Moldova through the town of Husi and border crossing of Leuseni. In approximately same distance from Chisinau as Bacau is the Ukrainian city of Odessa (www.airport.od.ua), to which you can fly with Air Baltic (www.airbaltic.com) from Riga but then you will have to find a rare bus to Chisinau via Palanca to avoid Transnistria, or you will not avoid it and will have to bribe quite likely Transnistrian "customs officers" and "border guards". But in the end low-cost airline market is non-existent in Moldova, also due to silly (or corrupted) government market protection, and is not so much competitive in neighbouring countries, so you will still get a best price with Air Moldova or Moldavian Airlines / Carpatair (same company), sometimes with TAROM via Bucharest, ocassionally with Turkish via Istanbul and quite rarely with Austrian via Vienna. Cheaper but more exhausting way is to come by bus or train.
Posted on July 16, 2007 by Elis

Check for buses
to/from Moldova

http://www.bus.com.ua/ timetable of buses in Ukraine (russian)
Eurolines Romania
buses to Moldova from Bucharest, Brasov etc
Autogari.ro
buses from/to Romania

Airlines operating between Chisinau&Odessa

AeroSvit via Kiev
Turkish Airlines via Istanbul
Ukraine International via Kiev
Air Moldova from/to Kiev

Other useful travel information

Visa to Moldova

Transport in Moldova

Moscow to Chisinau by train (story)

Moscow to Kishinev/ Chisinau by car (story)

"Travel story" on our Forum

Bucharest ~ Brasov ~ Suceava ~ Constanta ~ Galati ~ Sibiu ~ Kiev ~ Odessa ~ Lvov ~ London

Moldova is a small country neighbouring Romania at the West and Ukraine at the East. Coming to Moldova from the West may be cheaper and easier than from the East. The Western border of Moldova is more secure and predictable, in comparison with the Eastern border, where our country does not have any custom check points and do not provide consular services. Thus, a traveler who is arriving into Moldova from the side of Transdniestr will not get his Moldovan stamp of entrance and will need to get his registration later when arrived to Moldova. Another reason is the high cost of flights to Chisinau. It may be twice cheaper to fly to Bucharest and then arrive to Chisinau by train or minibus.

Netherveless, travellers are arriving to Moldova same frequently from the west, from the east and by plane, landing at the Chisinau airport.

Bucharest to Chisinau (Kishinev) by train

Bucharest - Chisinau:
Travel overnight from Bucharest to Chisinau on the 'Prietenia' sleeper train, leaving Bucharest Nord at 19:53 and arriving Chisinau at 09:05. The 'Prietenia' has 4-berth sleepers only.
Chisinau - Bucharest:
Travel overnight from Chisinau to Bucharest on the 'Prietenia' sleeper train, leaving Chisinau Train Station at 17:05, arriving at Bucharest Nord at 06:58 next morning. The 'Prietenia' has 4-berth sleepers only.
Approximate fares:
The fare from Bucharest to Chisinau is very inexpensive - in the region of $25 one way in 4-berth sleeper.
How to book:
The Bucharest to Chisinau train cannot be booked through the normal computer reservation systems used by western European railways and ticketing agencies. Instead, to book this train separately, try contacting the Wasteels office in Bucharest, at www.wasteelstravel.ro or www.wasteels.ro or www.wasteel.ro or by phone +40 21 2310208. Be prepared to pay double the price of the ticket for the booking.
For travelers from the UK: agency www.trainseurope.co.uk has contacts in Romania and may be able to book both this train and the London-Bucharest journey.
Booking: no booking is available, but only purchase in advance. We can buy your Chisinau - Bucharest ticket 30 days prior to departure date and post it or hand it to you in Chisinau. Service charge is 10 Euro per tickets.

Bucharest to Chisinau (Kishinev) by bus

Bucharest - Chisinau:
Everyday, several times a day from Filaret Bus Station (Autogara Filaret, Piata Garii Filaret nr.1, Sector 5, Tel: +4-021-336.06.92 ) in Bucharest. 8-10 hours on the way. There are about 4 buses a day. Most of them are small uncomfortable minibuses. A comfortable bus departs at 8 pm arriving to Chisinau at 7 am next day. Cost 50 Romanian Lei.
Chisinau - Bucharest:
Everyday, several times a day from "Gara Centrala" (Central Bus Station) in Chisinau. 8-10 hours on the way.
Approximate fares: 10 - 12 USD. By cash at the station. No booking or purchases online.
Visa: get your Moldovan visa beforehand at the consulate of Moldova at Bucharest . No visa needed for citicens of EU, USA, Canada, Japan and Switzerland. More about visa to Moldova

Bucharest to Chisinau (Kishinev) by air

Every day, 1-2 times a day. Flights are provided by the Romanian airline Tarom and the Moldovan airline Air Moldova. Bucharest: Departs/arrives from the International Airport Henri Coanda or Otopeni (OTP). Plane: Embraer 120, 30 seats, business class is absent. Check the websites for up-to-date information regarding the flights and fares.
Approximate fares: From 80 Euro one way and 160 Euro return if booked far in advance, but be prepared 100 plus Euro for one way and 200 plus Euro for the return

Brasov to Chisinau (Kishinev) by bus

Brasov-Chisinau:
Every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 23:45 "Autogara 2" (Bus station 2) on str. A. Iancu in Brasov arriving at Gara de Sud in Chisinau next day 7:30 in the morning. Going through Onesti, Bacau and Vaslui. Cost of the ticket is about 20 Euro. Can be booked online.
Chisinau - Brasov:
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 19:30 from Gara de Sud in Chisinau arriving in Brasov next day around 3 in the morning and in Sibiu at 6 in the morning. Cost of a one way ticket to Brasov is about 15 Euro and to Sibiu is about 25 Euro.
Visa: get your Moldovan visa beforehand at the consulate of Moldova at Bucharest . No visa needed for citicens of EU, USA, Canada, Japan and Switzerland. More about visa to Moldova

Suceava to Chisinau (Kishinev) by bus

Suceava-Chisinau:
Daily at 6.30 a.m. and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10.30 a.m. from the Bus Station.
Cost one way is aroung 15 Euro
Visa: get your Moldovan visa beforehand at the consulate of Moldova at Bucharest . No visa needed for citicens of EU, USA, Canada, Japan and Switzerland. More about visa to Moldova

Constanta to Chisinau (Kishinev) by train [TEMPORARY CANCELED]

Available only in summer period from June to September. It departs from Chisinau every Monday, Wensday and Friday at 17:10, arriving to Constanta at 6 o'clock next morning and to Mangalia at 8 o'clock same morning. The price for a one way ticket to Constanta is 270 MDL (around 23 USD) and to Mangalia is 285 MDL (around 24 USD).

Constanta to Chisinau (Kishinev) by bus

Regular bus from Constanta to Chisinau operated by Lt "Trand-Leahu"(phones: Moldova - 069468474 Romania - +(4)0723784019 at Constanta Railway & Bus Station and +(4)0728715103 in the bus).

2 times a week: Mon, Fri at 19.00 from Autogara Sud in Constanta arriving to Chisinau at around 05:00 next day. It has a stop at Galati (Casa de Cultura a Sindicatelor) at around 23:00. Cost of the ticket is around 20 Euro.

Galati to Chisinau (Kishinev) by bus

Chisinau - Galati:
Chisinau - Bucharest bus via Cahul and Galati. Departs daily at 7 pm from Gara de Sud in Chisinau. 7 hours on the way
Approximate fares: Cost of a one way ticket is about 7 EURO
Visa: get your Moldovan visa beforehand at the consulate of Moldova at Bucharest . No visa needed for citicens of EU, USA, Canada, Japan and Switzerland. More about visa to Moldova

Kiev to Chisinau (Kishinev) by train

Kiev-Chisinau:
Travel from Kiev to Chisinau on the "047" or "065" Moscow - Kiev - Chisinau sleeper express train.
"047" is leaving the Kiev train station early in the morning and arriving in Chisinau around 23:00. Train "065" leaving from Kiev early in the morning and arriving to Chisinau at around 18:00. Both has 2 and 4-berth sleepers.
Chisinau-Kiev:
Two express and one regular overnight trains going to Moscow with a stop at Kiev. Express train "048" and "066" are leaving Chisinau at 11:40 am and 23:00 and arriving to Kiev at 01:10 am and 12:00 am correspondingly. Regular train "341" is leaving Chisinau at 19:57 and arriving to Kiev at 1:30 pm next day. About 17 hours on the way.
Approximate fares: 2nd class ticket (4 bench compartment) is about EURO 30 and 1st class class ticket (2 bench compartment) is about EURO 50.
Booking: no booking is available, but only purchase in advance. We can buy your Chisinau - Kiev ticket 30 days prior to departure date and post it or hand it to you in Chisinau. Service charge is 10 Euro per tickets.

Kiev to Chisinau (Kishinev) by air (NO FLIGHTS OPERATE AY THE MOMENT)

Operated by the Ukranian airline company AEROSVIT (tel: +38044 2895278). Flights are carried out several times per week from Borispol airport in Kiev.
Approximate fares: 100 Euro one way, 188 Euro return ticket.

Kiev to Chisinau (Kishinev) by bus

Several buses a day from Kiev bus station. The trip takes from 10 to 11 hours. The tickes costs $15

Odessa to Chisinau (Kishinev) by train

Odessa - Chisinau:
Travel from Chisinau to Odessa on a (suburban) electric train "electrichka". No couches, but only seats. In the weekends train may be overcrowded and you may have a chance to stay on your feet all the way long. Daparture from Odessa at 11.43 am and 6:52 pm and arriving to Chisinau at 4.58 pm and 12 pm correspondingly. 5 hours on the way. Is crossing the Transdniestr Republic.
Chisinau - Odessa:
Train is leaving from the Chisinau Train Station every day at 6:20 a.m. and 1:14 p.m. arriving in Odessa at 11:18 a.m. and 6:33 p.m. correspondingly.
Approximate fares: 32 Moldovan lei which is less than $3 one way.
Visa: beforehand at the Moldovan embassy in Kiev or other country. No visa needed for citicens of EU, USA, Canada, Japan and Switzerland.

ATTENTION : this train is not running presently and from March 2006 because of the blockade of the Republic of Transdniestr by Moldova and Ukraine. Use bus instead.

Odessa to Chisinau (Kishinev) by bus

Odessa - Chisinau:
Everyday, many times a day from Odessa bus station. 4-5 hours on the way. Fare cost : around 5-7 Euro one way.
Avoid going through Transdniestr and take a bus crossing Ukranian-Moldovan border at PALANCA border cross:

Bus 115 Odessa - Balti, departure 8:00 - arrival to Chisinau 12:30, every other day (Reliability: 10% , update: 02.2008)
Bus 161 Odessa - Chisinau, departure 8:20 - arrival 13:50, every day (Reliability: 97% , update: 03.2008)
Bus 81 Kherson - Chisinau, departure Odessa 13:25 - arrival 19:45, daily (Reliability: 96%, update 03.2008)
Bus 303 Odessa - Chisinau, departure 10:20 - arrival 16:10, everyday (Reliability: 93%, update 03.2008)
Bus 00 Odessa - Chisinau, departure 11:00 - arrival 18:32, daily (Reliability : 65%, update : 03.2008)
Bus 117 Odessa - Balti, departure 13:20 - arrival Chisinau 18:30, odd days (Reliability: 73%, update: 03.2008)
Bus 256 Odessa - Chisinau, departure 15:30 - arrival 18:43, everyday (Reliatiliby: 85%, update: 03.2008)
Bus 431 Odessa - Balti, departure 22:15 - arrival Chisinau 03:20 next day, every day (Reliability: 93%, update: 03.2008)
Bus 151 Odessa - Chisinau, departure 23:30 - arrival 06:00 next day, daily (Reliability: 98%, update 03.2008)

Chisinau - Odessa:
Everyday, several times a day from "Gara de Nord" (Northern bus station) in Chisinau. 4-5 hours on the way. Most of the buses are crossing the Transdniestr area, but I would recommend to avoid this as you will be leaving 15-50 USD at the Transdniestr customs as a bribe. Take the bus going through Palanca Moldovan-Ukrainian customs instead. There are 3 buses a day only:
12:00 am Soroca-Chisinau-Odessa (departure time from Chisinau)
12:40 am Chisinau- Iliychevsk
12:20 pm Chisinau - Odessa
Approximate fares: 5-7 USD. By cash at the station. No booking or purchases online.
Visa: beforehand at the Moldovan embassy in Kiev or other country. Not available at the border nor in Odessa. No visa needed for citicens of EU, USA, Canada, Japan and Switzerland.

Odessa to Chisinau (Kishinev) by plain

There are no direct flights between these two neighbour towns. The only options you have is flying via Kiev or Istanbul. The whole journey will take around 5 hours and the cost of a one way ticket will vary between 250 and 350 Euro.

Odessa to Chisinau (Kishinev) by private car

We will pick you up from the train station/bus station or airport in Odessa any time of the day and night and transfer to Chisinau by private car. The transfer to Chisinau will take about 3 hours. The cost is 170 Euro per car and we can take up to 4 people at time.

Lvov to Chisinau (Kishinev) by train

Lvov - Chisinau:
Leaving from Lvov Train Station on odd dates at 00:08 am and arriving in Chisinau at 8:30 pm (20:30) same day.
Chisinau - Lvov:
1 or 2 cars anexxed to the train 47/48 Chisinau - Moscow that is annexed to Warsaw train in Jmerinka, Ukraine. Departure from Chisinau Train Station on even dates at 11:30 a.m. and arriving to Lvov at 6:50 a.m next day.
Approximate fares: 385 MDL which is about about 23 EURO one way in a 4 berth sleeping compartment.
Booking: no booking is available, but only purchase in advance. We can buy your Chisinau - Lviv ticket 30 days prior to departure date and post it or hand it to you in Chisinau. Service charge is 10 Euro per tickets.

Lvov to Chisinau (Kishinev) by bus

Bus times:
Daily at 6:35 pm from the North Bus Station in Chisinau arriving to Lvov at 11 am next day. From Lvov the bus is departing at 4:30 pm everyday arriving in Chisinau at 9 am. The route is served by Mercedes buses.
Approximate fares:
About 20 Euro one way.

London to Chisinau (Kishinev) by air

Flight operated by "Air Moldova" from London Stansted airport. Flight on Tuesdays and Fridays. Check timetable with www.amadeus.net . They do not transfer laggages at Stansted, so make sure you got enough time to pick yours and check in again between the flights if flying from Manchester or other towns of UK.

Air Moldova phone number for booking in the UK is 020 73931253