Moldova (MD)

Moldova is Eastern Europe's hidden gem — an EU candidate country since June 2022 and one of the continent's most affordable destinations, with a thriving wine culture, warm hospitality and a rapidly modernising capital.

Capital: Chișinău

Region: Europe

Language: Romanian

Currency: MDL (L)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 22)

Emergency: 112

Getting Around

Transport options for living in Moldova.

Public Transport Overview

Chișinău operates an extensive network of trolleybuses (troleibuze), city buses (autobuze) and minibuses (microbuze/marshrutkas). Trolleybuses are the backbone of city transport — reliable, frequent on main routes and very cheap (MDL 3–5/trip). Marshrutkas run fixed routes at higher frequency but are cash-only and more crowded. The Chișinău City Hall (Primăria Chișinău) is modernising the fleet with electric buses. Real-time tracking available on the ITransport Chișinău app and Businfo.md. Outside Chișinău, intercity transport relies on coaches (autobuze interurbane) from Gara Centrală (Central Bus Station).

Main operators:

Regia Transport Electric Chișinău (RTEC) — trolleybusesParcul Urban de Autobuze — city busesPrivate marshrutka (minibus) operatorsAutogara Centrală Chișinău — intercity coachesAutogara Sud — southern routesEcolines / Flixbus — international coaches (Chișinău–Bucharest, Odesa, Kyiv suspended)CFM (Căile Ferate din Moldova) — national railway

🎫 Transit Passes

Single Trip Ticket (trolleybus/bus) MDL 7 per trip (raised May 2026)

One journey on RTEC trolleybus or city bus. Pay onboard with cash to conductor.

💡 Exact change recommended. Most common option for occasional users.

Monthly Public Transport Pass MDL 273/month (standard; 3-month MDL 693)

Unlimited journeys on RTEC trolleybuses and city buses within Chișinău.

💡 Available at RTEC offices and some kiosks. Requires photo ID. Best value for daily commuters. Does not cover marshrutkas.

Contactless Payment Card MDL 7 per trip (same as cash fare)

Trolleybuses and newer city buses accept Visa/Mastercard contactless on validators.

💡 Gradual rollout across fleet as of 2026. Contactless validators installed on all new electric buses.

Taxi & Rideshare

Taxis in Chișinău are widely available and very affordable by European standards. Most expats use inDrive (formerly InDriver) — the app allows you to set your own fare and drivers bid for the job; typical 5km city trip costs MDL 50–100. Yandex.Go (Яндекс.Такси) also operates in Chișinău with fixed metered fares. Traditional street-hail taxis (Taxi Moldova 14222, Speed Taxi 1400) charge MDL 10–15/km on meter. Uber is not available. For airport transfers: book via app — airport–centre is MDL 150–250.

Rideshare (Long-distance)

inDrive is the dominant ride-hailing app. Yandex.Go operates widely. Traditional taxi firms accessible by phone. No Uber or Bolt (these do not operate in Moldova as of 2026). BlaBlaCar is popular for intercity routes (Chișinău–Iași, Chișinău–Bucharest) at MDL 150–350 per seat.

Cycling

Cycling infrastructure in Chișinău is developing. The city has dedicated cycle lanes on several main boulevards (bd. Ștefan cel Mare, bd. Mircea cel Bătrân) but coverage is incomplete and lane continuity is inconsistent. Cycle-sharing scheme (Smile Bike / Nextbike) operates in central Chișinău — docking stations near major parks and the city centre. Monthly subscription: MDL 100–150; daily: MDL 30–50. Safety note: respect tram tracks and watch for parked cars opening doors. Helmets not legally required but strongly recommended. Outside Chișinău, cycling is common in rural areas and wine-route touring. Bring a sturdy lock — bike theft occurs in the city.

Intercity Trains

CFM (Căile Ferate din Moldova) operates intercity train services with limited routes. Main routes: Chișinău–Ungheni–Iași (Romania, 2.5 hours), Chișinău–Bălți (2.5 hours), Chișinău–Cahul (3 hours), Chișinău–Tiraspol (90 min, de facto border crossing). Trains are slow but cheap (MDL 50–150 per journey). A Chișinău–Bucharest direct train takes 14+ hours due to gauge change at Ungheni. For international travel, coaches (Flixbus, Ecolines) or flights are much faster. CFM tickets at cfm.md or main stations.

Driving

Moldova drives on the right. Roads in Chișinău are improving but many secondary roads are potholed. Speed limits: urban 50 km/h (30 km/h in school zones), rural 90 km/h, motorway 110 km/h (130 km/h is not part of Moldovan road law). Alcohol limit: 0.03% BAC (effectively zero tolerance for professionals). Seatbelts mandatory front and rear. Child seats required under 12 years or below 135 cm. Fines for violations are enforced by PCRM (Poliția Rutieră). A1 highway (Chișinău–Sculeni border) is the main motorway. EU licences valid for up to 90 days; exchange at DVS (Direcția Poliției Rutiere) for a Moldovan licence if staying longer. Road assistance: ACM (Automobil Club Moldova) 022 292 007.

Airports

Chișinău Eugen Doga International Airport (RMO — IATA code changed from KIV in January 2024) is 12km south-east of the city centre. International flights to Vienna (Austrian), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Frankfurt (Lufthansa), Paris (Air France), Bucharest (Tarom, FlyOne), London (Wizz Air), Warsaw (LOT), Rome (Wizz Air), Tel Aviv and more. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 serve different airlines — check before departure. Bus route 165 connects the airport to the city centre every 30 minutes (MDL 5). Taxi via inDrive: MDL 150–250 to centre (20–30 min). FlyOne is Moldova's national carrier. Ticketing and schedules at airport.md. Parking: MDL 20/hour in multi-storey.