Cricova: 26 km Moldova route through wine tunnels and
Explore Moldova's wine heritage and urban culture on this 26 km route through Chisinau. Visit the legendary Cricova wine tunnels and the World's Largest Underground Wine Cellar spanning 320 km, then contrast these attractions with Chisinau City Center's Soviet architecture and rural agricultural landscapes that define the country's identity.
- Distance
- 26.0 km
- Duration
- 5 h 13 min
- Mode
- route
- Start
- Cricova wine tunnels
- End
- Rural Life & Agriculture
- Stops
- 4
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Cricova wine tunnels — Famous underground wine storage spanning extensive tunnels with approximately 75,000 annual visitors. Historic wine production site.
- Chisinau City Center
- World's Largest Underground Wine Cellar — Underground wine storage and production facility recognized as the world's largest underground wine seller.
- Rural Life & Agriculture — Agricultural regions showcasing traditional Moldovan farming, food culture, and rural lifestyle.
Useful for your trip
- Save money
- Moldova is one of the cheapest European countries to visit. A small apartment downtown costs $300-400/month, simple meals at local restaurants cost $5-7, and coffee is around $1.
- Food
- A quality Moldovan meal typically costs $8-10. Shop at local markets and cook at home for even cheaper groceries—bread costs less than $1, milk around $0.60/liter, and eggs are very affordable.
- Food
- Wine is integrated into daily life and affordable—basic bottles at stores cost $5-10, while mid-range specialty wines in restaurants cost $12-20 depending on vintage and variety.
- Where to stay
- A three-star hotel room costs $30-40 per night, making budget accommodation very affordable compared to other European cities.
- Transport
- Public transportation is very cheap—a local transport ticket costs about $0.17, with monthly passes available for around $12.
- Tip
- Visit the Milestii Mici underground wine cellar, the world's largest spanning 200 km of tunnels with 55 km dedicated to wine storage. Tour by electric cart through streets named after grape varieties.
- Tip
- Visit Cricova wine cellar spanning 120 km of underground tunnels with 75,000 annual visitors. See fermenting wine barrels and taste wines aged for decades.
- Timing
- Wine festival is celebrated in late September or early October. Wineries open their doors, wine flows freely, and traditional music and food create an atmosphere of collective celebration.
- Tip
- Chisinau is built on seven hills like Rome and features a replica statue of the Capitoline Wolf in downtown. The city was rebuilt in the 1950s by Soviet architect Alexei Shchusev, featuring brutalist high-rise buildings.
- Tip
- The primary language spoken is Romanian, though Russian, Gagauz, and Ukrainian are also heard in daily conversations, reflecting Moldova's multicultural history.
- Tip
- The official currency is the Moldovan Lei (MDL) with exchange rate around 20 lei to $1 USD. About 46% of population lives in urban areas, with younger generations migrating to cities.
Video on this route
Real Life in Moldova | Most Underrated Country in Europe 🇲🇩