Transportation in Chisinau

Being the largest and most populated city in Moldova, Chisinau offers several modes of transport both within and out of the country. Getting around Chisinau couldn't be more fun than jumping on the public transport network, or renting a car to get around or why not let a taxi driver take you around while you relax in the back seat. Trains are also a great means to tour this beautiful city.

Whatever mode of transportation you choose, make sure you take the time to take in all that Chisinau has to offer!

The Chisinau Transportation guide gives you all the transport information required to get to, from and around Chisinau. To discover and experience what the city of Chisinau has to give, we have selection of tours available. For additional transportation information on how to get to, from and around Moldova, visit our Moldova Transportation Guide.

Chisinau Transportation Guide

Getting to Chisinau

By Air

Moldova's only airport is located at Chisinau, and has direct flights to all major European locations, especially eastern European capitals such as Budapest, Bucharest, Sofia, Rome, Prague, Kiev, Moscow, Vienna, Timisoara, and Istanbul, and many other locations as well. The two major air operators are Moldavian Airlines and Air Moldova.

The quickest way to enter the country is via this Chisinau airport, but be aware that flights to Moldova can be expensive.

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By Train

Travelling by train is the most affordable way to come to Moldova. While flying into the country will get you only to Chisinau, if you travel by train, you will get to visit many other cities as well. The drawback is that trains are quite slow here. A good option is to fly to Bucharest and then take the overnight train to Moldova. Trains usually leave Bucharest (Gara de Nord) at 19:30 and arrive at Chisinau at 09:00 the next day, after a thirteen and a half hour journey. Sleeper trains are quite comfortable, although toilets might not be as good as on most European trains. The wheels of the train will be changed at Ungheni, located on the Romania-Moldovan border. Return tickets usually cost around Euro 50.

Getting around Chisinau

There are several modes of  transportation in Chisinau that are available to get around such as public transport, private transport and taxis. Public transport in Chisinau consists of buses, jitneys and trolleybuses.

By Jitney

The most commonly used form of public transport is the jitney, which has many routes that interconnect the city. You will not have to wait more than one to three minutes for a jitney and you will have to pay only 3 Moldovan leus per journey.

By Trolleybus

Trolleybuses are also quite common in Chisinau, but they do not have as many routes and the wait to catch one is usually longer. They are cheaper than the jitney, though - only 1 leu per journey. Be sure you are given a ticket on a trolleybus, where it is required, unlike on jitneys where you will not receive a ticket.

By Bus

Buses are not very common in Chisinau, run on very few routes and usually have a much longer waiting time than jitneys and trolleybuses. Bus tickets cost 2 leus and you will need to get a ticket as proof of purchase for your journey.

By Taxi

There are numerous taxis in Chisinau and it is relatively easy to get a taxi in the city. There are many different taxi services, so it could be hard to choose but the price for the same journey by different taxis doesn't differ too much.

Most taxi trips cost between 50 and 100 leus. Coming from Chisinau airport into the city will likely cost more, since it is located outside the city. It is always cheaper to phone for a taxi at the taxi-office rather than flag one down on the street as it works out much cheaper that way.

By Hire Car

Personal transport is the preferred method of transport in Chisinau for those who have to move within the city several times a day. Since the city is not too large, it usually only takes 40 minutes to reach most places. The number of cars has significantly increased in the past few years and there can be traffic jams in certain locations of the city, although most jams will clear up in 15 minutes. There are car rental services in Chisinau if you prefer to have your own vehicle for the duration of your trip.

The city of Chisinau is well connected to other places within Moldova via a network of buses. There are many train services connecting cities and towns within Moldova as well. The best way to travel to neighbouring countries is by train, bus and airplane.