How to Get Around Moldova

Getting Around

Chișinău's airport, 13 kilometres south-east of the centre and the country's only one with scheduled flights, is about 25 minutes and roughly 80 lei by taxi, or a ride on bus 165 or trolleybus 30; the municipal trolleybus fare is 7 lei from 31 March 2026 and a monthly pass 273 lei, and the network is wide. Taxis are best ordered by app or from the hotel desk: both advisories warn that official-looking cabs can be unlicensed, that a price must be fixed before starting where there is no meter, and that only marked taxis should be used, including at the airport. The rest of the country is reached by bus and minibus from several Chișinău stations, by train to a few towns, and by overnight international trains to Bucharest and Kyiv; the railway's fare page did not answer, so no rail prices are given.

Driving is what the advisories worry about. Roads are poorly maintained and mostly unlit, signage is poor, and tractors, cyclists, horse-drawn carts, pedestrians and livestock share the carriageway; drivers are aggressive, drink-driving is common and accidents with it, and the advice is not to drive after dark. An International Driving Permit is valid for 90 days. The drink-drive threshold is a third of England's, with fines and possible prison above it. Photo ID must be carried at all times because police may demand it.

Verified against Regia Transport Electric Chișinău, September 2026.

Entry

No visa for tourism, business or study up to 90 days in any six-month period for EU, British, Canadian, US and many other passports; a return or onward ticket must be shown; the passport must be valid three months beyond departure with one blank page. Arrival dates are registered automatically and overstays punished by fines and expulsion. Cash of 10,000 euros or more must be declared on entry and exit, and art and antiques need an export permit from the Department of Monuments.

Transnistria

The UK advises against all travel; Canada advises against non-essential travel. There is no official border but de facto control points: passports are checked and not stamped, two copies of a migration card are filled in and one kept for exit, and entry can be refused. Anyone entering Moldova proper from Transnistria must register within 72 hours at a border crossing, a Migration and Asylum Bureau branch or a Public Services Agency office and keep the document for departure. Only the Transnistrian ruble is accepted there; its ATMs refuse foreign cards; all crossings between Transnistria and Ukraine are closed.

Chișinău transport

Trolleybus 7 lei (from 31 March 2026); monthly pass 273 lei, three months 693, six months 1,134. Airport: bus 165 or trolleybus 30; taxi about 25 minutes, roughly 80 lei. Taxis by app or hotel; marked cabs only; agree the fare without a meter.

Country

Buses and minibuses from several Chișinău stations; trains to some towns and overnight to Bucharest and Kyiv (fares not published in a readable form). Roads: poorly maintained, unlit, shared with carts and livestock; do not drive after dark; International Driving Permit valid 90 days; drink-drive threshold a third of England's limit.

Emergencies

112 for all services; ambulance staff may speak only Russian or Romanian. No Canadian office; the embassy in Bucharest is responsible.

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Sources & verification Covers the sourced claims on this page.

Checked against Regia Transport Electric Chișinău — Chișinău trolleybus fare 7 lei from 31 March 2026; monthly pass 273 lei, three months 693 lei, six months 1,134 lei, Chișinău trolleybus fare 7 lei from 31 March 2026; monthly pass 273 lei, three months 693 lei, six months 1,134 lei (September 2026).
Checked against Moldova Travel (national tourism portal) — Chișinău airport is 13 km from the centre, about 25 minutes and roughly 80 lei by taxi, or bus 165 and trolleybus 30; taxis in Chișinău are best ordered by app; buses, minibuses and trains serve the rest of the country from several Chișinău bus stations, Citizens of the EU, most other European countries, the US, Canada and many more need no visa for up to 90 days in six months; anyone entering through Transnistria must register within 72 hours; cash of 10,000 euros or more must be declared, as must art and antiques, Chișinău airport is 13 km from the centre, about 25 minutes and roughly 80 lei by taxi, or bus 165 and trolleybus 30; taxis in Chișinău are best ordered by app; buses, minibuses and trains serve the rest of the country from several Chișinău bus stations (September 2026).
Checked against Global Affairs Canada — Roads are poorly maintained and mostly unlit with poor signage; tractors, carts, livestock and pedestrians share the road; drivers are aggressive and drink-driving is common; avoid driving after dark; use only officially marked taxis, including at the airport, and fix the price first; an International Driving Permit is valid for 90 days, No visa for tourism, business or study up to 90 days per six months; proof of a return or onward ticket is required; anyone entering from Transnistria must register within 72 hours at a border crossing, a Migration and Asylum Bureau branch or a Public Services Agency office and keep the registration document for departure, Roads are poorly maintained and mostly unlit with poor signage; tractors, carts, livestock and pedestrians share the road; drivers are aggressive and drink-driving is common; avoid driving after dark; use only officially marked taxis, including at the airport, and fix the price first; an International Driving Permit is valid for 90 days, Dial 112 in an emergency; there is no Canadian government office in Moldova and the embassy in Bucharest is responsible; landslides occur in spring and autumn (September 2026).
Checked against UK Government (GOV.UK; FCDO travel advice abroad) — Drink-driving above a third of England's limit brings fines and possible prison; official-looking taxis can be unlicensed, so agree a price if there is no meter and have the hotel order one; carry a copy of the passport photo page; art and antiques need an export permit from the Department of Monuments; no photos of military or government facilities including airports and power stations; child surrogacy is prohibited; drugs including cannabis bring long jail terms, Visa-free for tourism or business up to 90 days in a six-month period with a return or onward ticket; passport valid three months beyond departure with one blank page; arrival dates are registered automatically and overstays punished by fines and expulsion; cash of 10,000 euros or more must be declared, There is no official border with Transnistria but de facto control points: passports are checked but not stamped, two copies of a migration card are filled in and one kept for exit, and entry can be refused, There were explosions in Transnistria in 2022 and all border crossings between Ukraine and Transnistria are temporarily closed, Drink-driving above a third of England's limit brings fines and possible prison; official-looking taxis can be unlicensed, so agree a price if there is no meter and have the hotel order one; carry a copy of the passport photo page; art and antiques need an export permit from the Department of Monuments; no photos of military or government facilities including airports and power stations; child surrogacy is prohibited; drugs including cannabis bring long jail terms (September 2026).