How to get to Moldova: airports, flights and border crossings

Chișinău International Airport (RMO) is the default for almost every trip. It sits about 12 km southeast of the centre, and the drive in takes 20–30 minutes depending on traffic. There is no second international airport worth planning around; regional airfields are not open to normal commercial traffic.

Direct flights from Western Europe are limited and change with the season, so most itineraries are one-stop. Common connecting hubs are Istanbul, Bucharest, Vienna and Warsaw, with low-cost and flag carriers mixing on the route. Fares swing widely by season, so book early for summer and around the wine-harvest weeks in September and October.

From the airport, taxis and ride-hailing apps run to the centre; agree the fare or use the app meter. A public bus also connects the airport with the city, which is the cheapest option if you are travelling light. Confirm current routes and timetables on arrival, as they change.

Moldova is landlocked, so overland entry means a road or rail border. The busiest crossings are with Romania, especially the route from Iași to Chișinău, served by frequent minibuses and coaches. The trip is slow but cheap, and it is the usual way in for travellers already in northern Romania.

A train also links Iași with Chișinău. It is not fast and departures are few, so check the current timetable before you build a day around it. Crossings from Ukraine exist too, but schedules and wait times are less predictable and can change at short notice.

Transnistria has its own checkpoints on the road from Chișinău to Tiraspol. You pass through a registration point, and you may be asked for your passport and a reason for the visit. Keep the slip you are given; you may need it when leaving.

Moldova has no coastline and no passenger port, so there is no sea route. River traffic on the Dniester and Prut is not a practical way for visitors to enter. If you are arriving by boat, you are almost certainly doing it as part of a river cruise that docks elsewhere and buses you in; treat that as a land arrival for planning purposes.

Moldova is not in the EU or Schengen, but it is visa-free for short stays for US, UK, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand passport holders. Rules can change, so confirm the current stay limit and any registration requirement before you fly. Carry proof of onward travel and accommodation, as border officers may ask.

The currency is the Moldovan leu (MDL), roughly 19–20 to the euro (2026 — check). Cards work in Chișinău hotels, restaurants and larger shops, but carry some cash for buses, markets and small towns. Plugs are types C and F at 230 V, so a European adapter covers you.

Buy travel insurance that covers medical care and, if you plan to cross into Transnistria, check whether your policy treats it as an excluded area. Emergency number is 112. Mobile data is cheap; an eSIM or a local SIM at the airport gets you online quickly.

May, June, September and October are the best months for weather and for the wine cellars, and they are also when seats fill fastest. Book flights two to four months ahead for summer and early autumn. Winter travel is cheaper but expect fewer direct options and possible weather delays at connecting hubs.