Getting Around Chișinău
Chișinău is Moldova's capital and its largest transport hub, sitting in the middle of the country on the river Bîc. For a visitor, the city is compact enough to explore on foot in the centre, and cheap enough that public transport, taxis and ride-hailing are all realistic options for longer hops. This guide covers the practical ways to move around and how to reach the city from its airport.
Public Transport: Trolleybuses, Buses and Maxi-Taxis
Public transport is the budget-friendly way to get around, and it's what most locals use. The network is built around trolleybuses, supplemented by buses and maxi-taxis (minibuses).
- Trolleybuses form the backbone of the system, with a large network of lines running through the city.
- Buses supplement the trolleybus routes.
- Maxi-taxis (minibuses) also operate, though they are increasingly rare and unreliable. If you take one, pay the driver right away on entering. There are few fixed stops; in practice you tell the driver where you want to get off, though newer rules mean drivers may be less flexible and will instead stop at street corners and similar spots.
Fares are collected on board. On trolleybuses and buses, a conductor walks through the vehicle collecting the fare. The fare is the same regardless of which of these modes you use, which makes it simple to hop between them without worrying about different ticket types. You can find more route information through the Easyway service.
Rail
Chișinău has a single train station: the Central Railway Station, housed in a distinctive Russian-Imperial style building. It is the city's rail gateway rather than a network you'd use for getting around town.
- International services: Trains depart to Europe via Romania, and also to Ukraine. There are two routes into Romania — to Iași and to Bucharest. The Iași connection runs a couple of trains per day in each direction and takes roughly four hours, with seating class only. Bucharest is served by a daily overnight train. Ukrainian railways run a service from Chișinău to Kyiv, departing every second day overnight.
- Within Moldova: Trains run westwards to Strășeni, Călărași and Ungheni, and eastwards to Anenii Noi and Bendery.
One practical note for long-distance rail travellers: trains are much cheaper than flying from Western Europe, but they are slow, particularly at borders into the former Soviet Union, where they must stop to have their wheels changed because of different rail gauges.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Several large taxi companies operate throughout the city and its suburbs, most notably Letz and Yandex Go. You can call a taxi by phone. If you don't speak Romanian or Russian, it's worth asking a local — for example at your hotel or a restaurant — to call one for you, since few taxi drivers speak English.
- Meter rules: By law, drivers must always use the taxi meter, but some "forget". Always ask the driver to switch the meter on before you get in, and pay the figure shown on the meter.
- Payment: Most drivers accept credit cards — ask before ordering. If you pay cash, bring small notes, because drivers usually can't change anything larger than a 50-lei note.
Walking
The city centre is walkable, and much of what a visitor wants to see is concentrated there. The main street, Bulevardul Ștefan cel Mare și Sfînt, is a central spine, and Ismail Street is another key artery used as a reference point for reaching other parts of the city. Chișinău also has a rich architectural heritage to take in on foot, including buildings by Alexander Bernardazzi such as the City Hall and several churches, alongside postwar Socialist realism and Brutalist structures. Bustling markets lie in the north of the city.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Chișinău International Airport (RMO) is served by many airlines with flights around Europe and Asia, including to Athens, Bucharest, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Madrid, Milan-Bergamo, Munich, Riga, Rome, Vienna, Vilnius, Varna, Paris, London and Bologna. If your dates or budget don't work out, flying to Iași instead is a reasonable alternative — from there you can take an intercity bus or train on to Chișinău.
Once you land, you have two main options into town:
- Trolleybus 30: The cheaper option, leaving just outside the arrivals door and marked by a sign with the times. Pay on board, either in cash to the person with an apron or by wireless card reader if available. It takes you towards the Botanical Gardens, Ismail Street and Bulevardul Ștefan cel Mare și Sfînt (the main street).
- Taxi: Fixed fares apply and rise depending on where in the city you're going. The taxi system is better than it once was but still not perfect, and drivers may try to find a reason to charge you extra. Insist that the meter is switched on before you get in, and pay what the meter shows.
If the trolleybus isn't running, or you simply want more options, walk towards the expressway next to the terminal station, cross it, and wait at the bus station there for either trolleybus 30 or bus 33 — the latter goes to the Central Railway Station and Ismail Street.
Arriving by Bus
If you come into Chișinău by coach, the city has three main bus stations, each serving a different direction:
- Gara Centrală (Autogara Chișinău Centru): Mainly in-country destinations, including Transnistria. Buy your ticket at the Kassa; tickets for international trips must be bought inside the bus station rather than from the driver.
- Gara de Nord (North Bus Station): For in-country destinations in the north such as Soroca, Rezina and Ocnița, and for travel to Odesa, Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine. To get there, take a trolleybus northwards from Ismail Street.
- Gara de Sud (South Bus Station): For in-country destinations in the south such as Comrat and Cahul, and for journeys to Romania. To get there, take a trolleybus southwards from Ismail Street.
International coach connections include Bucharest (many companies run daytime minibuses and larger overnight coaches, with frequent evening departures and several stops en route), Iași (coaches to and from Gara de Sud), and Odesa (buses pass through southern Moldova, avoiding the Transnistrian region). There are also several buses a day from Chernivtsi and Lviv.
Practical Tips
- Public transport is very cheap and mostly reliable, which makes it a sensible default over driving yourself — roads in Moldova are moderate in quality and you may find yourself sharing them with trucks, cars and livestock moving at very different speeds.
- Keep small lei notes on you for taxis and on-board fares.
- If you don't speak Romanian or Russian, lean on hotel or restaurant staff to call taxis and to help with anything that requires a phone call.