With a rental car you can see Moldova's best-known places in a single day: the Cricova and Milestii Mici wineries are about 15-20 km from Chisinau, Old Orhei about 60 km and Soroca Fortress about 160 km. With unlimited mileage you pay nothing extra for the distance.
Distances from Chisinau
| Place | Approx. distance | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| Cricova | 15 km | Underground wine cellars with whole streets below ground |
| Milestii Mici | 20 km | Underground wine galleries, among the longest in the world |
| Castel Mimi, Bulboaca | 40 km | A restored castle winery with tastings and a restaurant |
| Capriana Monastery | 40 km | One of Moldova's oldest monasteries, in the forest |
| Old Orhei | 60 km | A cave monastery in the cliff above the Raut and Butuceni village |
| Saharna | 110 km | A monastery by the Dniester and waterfalls in the gorge |
| Soroca Fortress | 160 km | A round medieval fortress on the Dniester |
Road distances, approximate. Driving time depends on traffic and road conditions.
Routes that combine well
- Cricova and Milestii Mici on the same day: both close to the city
- Capriana in the morning, Old Orhei in the afternoon
- Saharna and Soroca together if you leave early: both on the Dniester, in the same part of the country
Tips for the road
- Book winery visits in advance and check their opening hours on their website
- If you do a tasting, the driver does not drink: decide who drives beforehand
- For country roads and bigger groups an SUV is more comfortable
- Start with a full tank: you get the car fuelled up
Which car to take
| Class | Seats | Fuel use | 16+ days, from | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 5 | 4.3-6.5 l/100 km | 15 € | city, daily trips, low fuel use |
| Comfort | 5 | 5-6.2 l/100 km | 19 € | long drives, more room |
| SUV | 5 | 8 l/100 km | 40 € | families, luggage, countryside trips |
| 9 seats | 9 | 8 l/100 km | 75 € | groups of up to 9 |
| Premium | 5/7 | 6-10.5 l/100 km | 40 € | business meetings, events, top comfort |