Moldova, consistently ranked as Europe's least-visited country, is set to become more accessible with new direct flights from London Gatwick launching in October from £37 one-way. The tiny country sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine offers Soviet relics, an underground wine city, and a self-ruling region frozen in time.
Chișinău: a city where people actually live
The capital Chișinău (pronounced keesh-ee-now) is a city of wide boulevards, leafy parks, and local bars and restaurants. Unlike many European capitals, the centre has not been hollowed out by chain hotels and tourist shops. Traffic is bad — the city was designed for 90,000 vehicles but now has over 500,000 — so walking is recommended.
Moldova is widely considered the poorest country in Europe, with the lowest GDP per capita and an economy reliant on fruit farming and wine production. Roughly a quarter of the working-age population lives abroad. Local journalist Anastasia Bravia describes it as a place 'where everything is just beginning,' and Valeria Bragarenco, head of country brand promotion at Invest Moldova, says, 'I think of Moldova as a little child. We are just starting out, figuring out where we fit in the world.'
Soviet relics and modern contrasts
A stroll around the capital reveals Soviet relics such as the abandoned State Circus and the Romanita tower, a decaying futuristic housing project from the 1980s where people still live. On Arborilor Street, a Marriott hotel sits beside Shopping Mall-dova, with brands like Calvin Klein and Mango. Moldova had only around 525,100 tourists in 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Mtvarisa Luchian, Head of Marketing, Communication and Innovation at Moldova's National Tourism Office, says: 'In five years, we hope Moldova will be recognised as one of Europe's most authentic and surprising travel destinations — a place people visit for meaningful cultural experiences, nature, hospitality, and human connection.' She adds: 'Success for us is not mass tourism, it is sustainable tourism that benefits both visitors and locals.'
Underground wine city: Cricova
Moldova's passion for wine is on display at Cricova, a famous winery 11km outside Chișinău. Visitors descend 100m underground to an icy cellar where one million litres of wine are maturing in a former limestone mine. The cellar includes a collection that once belonged to Nazi Hermann Goering, confiscated by the Red Army in 1945, with individual bottles potentially worth £15,000 at auction.
Other notable wineries include Purcari, the oldest and 'most awarded winery in Europe'; Castel Mimi, an architectural masterpiece; Milestii Mici, known for traditional tastings in ceramic pots; and Chateau Vartely, the new kid on the block with an excellent restaurant.
Gagauzia: an autonomous region
About 90 minutes south of Chișinău is the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, a region with only three towns and a population of 160,000 at the last census. Unlike Transnistria, Gagauzia is integrated into Moldova, using Moldovan currency and laws, but with a strong Gagauz identity and a history of independence questions.
Old Orhei: a historic monastery
Orheiul Vechi (Old Orhei) is a historic site with a 15th-century monastery carved into a mountainside. Accessible by marshrutka (mini-bus) from Chișinău's central bus station for about £1.50, the site includes ruins from Dacian tribes over 2,000 years ago through Mongol and Tatar invasions. The Orthodox church, built in 1905 and closed by the Soviets in 1944, offers stark beauty and hiking trails.
Getting there and accommodation
Wizz Air already flies direct from London Luton to Chișinău, with one-way fares starting at £36.99. Direct flights from London Gatwick launch in October. Mimi Hotel Jolly Alon in Chișinău offers double rooms from £137 per night in June.
