Whether you are visiting for the first time or have come before, it is always nice to take a keepsake back with you, and the shops of Chisinau are perfect for finding just the right thing to take back home with you as a memento of a wonderful trip.

Shopping in Chisinau is an experience that will no doubt convert you into a fashionable person just like the locals.

Our Chisinau Shopping Guide provides a broad indication of areas that you may want to contemplate during your shopping expedition as well as things you may wish to purchase while shopping in Chisinau. Often after hunting for the best bargains it is not unusual for us to have worked up an appetite, which can easily be satisfied by taking a well deserved break at one of the local restaurants. Further general shopping information can be found in our Moldova Shopping Guide.

Chisinau Shopping Guide

Moldova's shops accept only the local Moldovan leus; they do not accept US dollars or Euros. There are many places where you can easily exchange foreign currency and there are numerous ATMs in Chisinau as well. Be aware that there is a charge for using an ATM that is not of your own bank. Some shops in Chisinau will accept credit cards but most will not and so it is best to have cash if you are going shopping in Chisinau. Public transport systems also only accept cash.

The service standards of Moldova are excellent, so if you go to Adorama salon, you will be offered the highest quality of service and the choicest of consultants. At the Domus Italia salon, there are the best of Italian designs ranging from clocks, sculptures, pictures and so on. The Bosch salon offers all the home appliances you might need, from washing machines to water heaters, dishwashers, electric plates, refrigerators, and so on.

Grocery shopping

There are numerous supermarkets in Chisinau where you can easily find fresh food items and household goods. The staff at these stores is usually quite helpful. The Green Hills Market is located in the Botanica area of Chisinau and has been open for ten years now. The supermarket stocks a wide range of both foreign and domestic products. Some of its most popular products are its freshly baked goods, as the store has its own confectionary, along with its own meat production unit and delicatessen. The Green Hills supermarket is also located in several other convenient spots of the city.

The Cvin network of stores are also located in the Botanica district and are quite famous for their delicatessen departments.

Shopping Centres 

The city has many new shopping areas over the past few years and shopping at these new areas is a pleasant experience.

There are usually several boutiques in one shopping centre, so you can shop in one place with ease. For rest and relaxation in-between bouts of shopping, there is a seemingly unending supply of bars and restaurants in Chisinau. The Sun City Centre located on Pushkin Street has the largest range of cafés and restaurants. Other busy shopping centres in Chisinau with lots of exciting stores are Grand Hall and Elat.

To be more competitive and attract more shoppers, most shopping centres are constantly improving their facilities and offering extras such as car parking, beauty shops, children's rooms, ateliers, fitness centres and much more.

There are many other smaller shopping malls located in every district of Chisinau, which may not be as large or as famous as those listed above, but are sure to be just as good and will provide all the requirements for a home. These are also quite well situated for all the 'bedroom communities' of Budapest, Europa, Sofia, Linacs and Moscova.

Fashion in Chisinau

If you walk down the city centre, you will see names of world famous clothing and accessory brands, such as Mango, Hugo Boss, Benetton, Mustang, Adidas, Eugen Klein and many more. The quality of goods and service at these Chisinau shops is excellent. Moldovans are a fashionable people and are very fond of the seasonal gifts and shopping discounts that most of the city's stores offer.

Souvenirs 

If you are looking for a Chisinau souvenir to take back home, then head to the Arts Square, which is an open-air art exhibition. One store to definitely visit is Fantezia located in the city centre, where you are sure to find some memorable keepsakes. Art and culture play a large part in Moldovan life, so there are lots of choices in art and home décor, and especially traditional Moldovan tales that are turned into beautiful craftwork by Moldovan craftsmen  and much more that you can take back to remind you of your holiday to Moldova.

One of the best gifts to take back from Moldova is from the Chisinau perfumery boutiques, which are quite famous across the world. Moldova's leading perfumery is represented by world famous names such as Parfum Lux, Capriz and Ovico.