Tourism in the Republic of Moldova focuses on the country's natural landscapes and its history. Wine tours are offered to tourists across the country. Vineyards/cellars include Cricova, Purcari, Ciumai, Romanești, Cojușna, Mileștii Mici. In 2015, Moldova received 2.85 million visitors.[1]
See also: Visa policy of Moldova. CIS citizens do not need a visa to visit Moldova: Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, Turkmenistan.
Since January 2007, Moldova has established a visa-free regime for the US, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Israel.
From 2012 Moldova allows Turkish citizens to visit the country without having to obtain a visa.[2]
There is a visa-free regime between the Republic of Moldova and citizens of the European Union (27 states), including Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and others whose citizens can enter the Republic of Moldova without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
The traditions of Moldovan wine are more than 7000 years old, so winemaking has become an integral part of Moldovan culture. There are more than 150 wineries in the country that produce gorgeous wines, cognacs and champagne. The apotheosis of the local alcoholic paradise is the annual National Wine Day, the largest wine festival in Eastern Europe, held on the first weekend of October. From 2013 Moldova put its focus on implementing a EU model based on protected geographical indications (PGIs, which means the wine is originated in a particular region and its quality can be guaranteed). This system now covers four growing areas of Valul lui Traian, Stefan Voda, Codru and Divin. As the result, Moldova has made impressive progress in upgrading the quality of its wines over the last five years which was clearly appreciated by wine lovers and professionals across the world:
Moldova is an Orthodox country with deep Christian traditions. There are over 50 monasteries and 700 churches in the country. Most popular monasteries are:
Tourists in Moldova by country of origin, 2015:[3]
| № | Country | Tourists | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 1 300 945 | |
| 2 |  | 1 013 779 | |
| 3 | 258 320 | ||
| 4 |  | 47 831 | |
| 5 |  | 32 884 | |
| 6 |  | 21 818 | |
| 7 |  | 17 518 | |
| 8 |  | 17 133 | |
| 9 |  | 14 136 | |
| 10 |  | 9 576 | |
| Total | 2 856 089 |
| № | Country | Tourists | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 2 524 403 | |
| 2 | | 1 069 066 | |
| 3 | 322 256 | ||
| 4 | | 78 870 | |
| 5 | | 46 594 | |
| 6 |  | 30 061 | |
| 7 | | 28 358 | |
| 8 | | 25 936 | |
| 9 | | 25 778 | |
| 10 | | 20 039 | |
| Total | 4 334 215 |
Local climate is moderately continental, winters are usually snowy and cold. The average temperature in January is −4 °C, in July +21 °C. The absolute recorded minimum has been -36 °C and the maximum +42 °C. But in fact, due to Climate Change, in recent years it can be +15 °C in mid January. Even during July or August the northern countryside remains moderately hot. Traditional Moldovan houses made of natural clay with straw (in Moldovan "lampach") provide cool conditions in the summer.
Moldova is internationally connected by plane to Chișinău International Airport. Direct flights from and to many European destinations exist.
Chișinău is also internationally connected by rail. Direct overnight trains exist to Romania (one daily train to Bucharest), Ukraine (one daily train to Odesa), and Russia (one daily train via Kyiv to Moscow).[4]
The main means of transportation in Moldova is the highway system. Since Moldova is a small country (450 km from south to north, 200 km from west to east) one may get around by taxi. Car rental is available in bigger cities. There are also national and international bus connections.
The Giurgiulești terminal on the Danube is compatible with small seagoing vessels. Shipping on the lower Prut and Nistru rivers plays only a modest role in the country's transportation system.
In Chișinău there is a public trolleybus system. Most cities also offer public transport in the form of Minibuses (rutierele in Moldovan Romanian; marshrutki in Russian).
As of September 2020, 4G mobile coverage covers 97% of the country, providing mobile internet speeds of up to 150 Mb/s.
Broadband internet speed reaches 65.76 Mb/s.
Officially, Moldova is in 59th place out of 133 countries in the security rating.
In 2014, Moldova introduced a new tourism logo and along with the new slogan "Discover the routes of life".[5] It was developed with USAID assistance.