Tour Overview
| Duration | 3 Days / 2 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Transnistria (from Chisinau, Moldova) — Tiraspol, Bender, Chitcani Monastery |
| Price From | $595 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Private Cultural Expedition |
| Best Season | March — November |
| Data Source | toptoursmoldova.com / moldovatovisit.md 2026 pricing |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Chisinau to Tiraspol — Enter the PMR
Morning transfer from Chisinau to Tiraspol (70km, 1.5 hours). Cross the “border” into the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR/Transnistria) — a breakaway state not recognized by any UN member, still using the hammer-and-sickle on its flag and maintaining Soviet-era symbols, monuments, and bureaucracy. Tiraspol is like stepping into the USSR circa 1985. Afternoon: walking tour of Tiraspol — the Supreme Soviet building with its Lenin statue dominating the square, the T-34 tank monument at the Memorial of Glory, the Suvorov statue (founder of Tiraspol, 1792), and October 25th Street (the main avenue). Visit the Transnistrian Parliament and the KVINT brandy distillery (est. 1897) for a tasting of their award-winning Divin cognac-style brandies. Overnight in Tiraspol.
Day 2: Bender Fortress & Chitcani Monastery
Morning: Bender (Tighina) Fortress — a massive 16th-century Ottoman citadel on the Dniester River, built on the site of older fortifications dating back to the Genoese, Moldavian, and Tatar eras. The fortress was the scene of Charles XII of Sweden’s “Kalabaliken i Bender” (The Skirmish at Bender) in 1713 after his defeat at Poltava. Explore the citadel walls, the museum, and the military cemetery (Soviet war memorial and 1992 Transnistria War graves). Afternoon: Chitcani Monastery (15th century) — an active Orthodox monastery perched on a hill with panoramic views over the Dniester floodplain. Visit the five-domed cathedral, the monks’ cells, and the library. Return to Tiraspol. Evening: experience Tiraspol’s quirky Soviet-themed restaurants with pelmeni, borscht, and Transnistrian cognac. Overnight in Tiraspol.
Day 3: Return to Chisinau
Morning: visit the Transnistrian ruble souvenir shop (they issue their own plastic-ruble currency). Final photos of Tiraspol’s Lenin statues and Soviet mosaics. Transfer back to Chisinau. Afternoon walking tour of Chisinau if time permits, or direct airport transfer for departure.
Included
- 2 nights accommodation in Tiraspol with breakfast
- Round-trip transfer from Chisinau
- Private English-speaking guide throughout
- Entrance fees (Bender Fortress, Chitcani Monastery)
- KVINT brandy tasting
