2 Excursions in One Day - Cricova Winery,Tiraspol City and Bender Fortress!
Traveler rating
4.5/5
Based on 11 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is 2 Excursions in One Day - Cricova Winery,Tiraspol City and Bender Fortress! worth booking?
2 Excursions in One Day - Cricova Winery,Tiraspol City and Bender Fortress! is a 8-hour experience in Chisinau, Moldova, from $227 per person. It scores 59 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.5/5 rating across 11 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 59 / 100
- Rating
- 4.5/5 (11)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $227 per person
Excursion to Cricova winery and Tiraspol city, Transnistria, 2 excursions in one day. You will depart to one of the most fascinating places in the world, Cricova cellars. Founded in 1952, the cellars are situated undern
What you get
About this experience
Excursion to Cricova winery and Tiraspol city, Transnistria, 2 excursions in one day. You will depart to one of the most fascinating places in the world, Cricova cellars. Founded in 1952, the cellars are situated underneath the small Cricova town and form an underground city. Your trip will continue in the Transnistria region, Tiraspol city, the capital of the unrecognized Transnistrian Moldovan Republic. The town was founded thanks to the Peace Treaty of Jassy, which was concluded after the Russian-Turkish War (1787-1791) between Turkey and Russia.
What's included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Lunch
- Professional guide
- Local Driver/guide
- Wine tasting
Not included
- Food and drinks except indicated
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
What you'll see and do
Cricova Winery
In the morning, after breakfast, we will departure to one of the most fascinating wonders of the world - Cricova cellars, that was founded in 1952. The basements were formed after limestone extraction from the mines. Later, from cellars winemakers formed avenues and streets with wine, which are stored in the surrounding niches: Cabernet, Aligote, Sauvignon, etc. These avenues and streets have a length of 120 km in total.
180 minutes here · Admission included
Pmr-tours
Transnistria region, Tiraspol city - the capital of the unrecognized Transnistrian Moldovan Republic.
180 minutes here · Admission included
Bendery Fortress
You'll visit the Bender Fortress!
45 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 5 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Thu, Sun
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- BESTMoldova.md
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 1 paying adult
- You MUST have your passport with you to cross the Transnistria border
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 11 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Food and drink
5 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
4 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
11 verified traveler reviews for 2 Excursions in One Day - Cricova Winery,Tiraspol City and Bender Fortress!. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Tour confirmed but noone showed up.
The tour was confirmed by Viator but noone showed up or responded to my messages. The company behind this tour does not operate any more.
via Viator
Brilliant day trip - worthy of the name Best Moldova
I loved this tour, however my friend loved it more. We'd really wanted to visit Transnistria and had seen some mixed messages about doing it on your own - you really need to speak Russian or Romanian when you get to the border if you go on your own by bus, so we decided to opt for a tour which also included a winery stop and booked this one through TripAdvisor. In the end, it was just the two of us in a car for the tour. Gheorge, our driver, was outside our hotel as planned and whisked us out of the city to Cricova. We got there before it opened, so had to wait a bit, but it meant we were on the first English language tour - I've written a separate review of Cricova. We were then driven back in to Chisinau and picked up our guide Anna, who was a lot more talkative. We drove to the border as Anna explained the history of Transnistria and answered all of our questions brilliantly. We beat the bus to the border crossing, which was good as it meant that we didn't have to wait - Anna arranged everything and Gheorge kept safe hold of our immigration cards which we needed to exit again. We then headed to Bender Fortress and had a local guide there, also called Anna, who showed us around - again I've reviewed this separately. We then headed into Tiraspol to lunch, which was in a traditional restaurant and had a selection of different dishes (all included in the price). Anna also showed us some Transnistrian money so that we could see what it looked like. We were then driven a bit further into Tiraspol and Anna took us on a walking tour around some of the different sights which was great. We were picked up at the Lenin Statue and then driven back to the border post (much quicker leaving) and then back to our hotel in Chisinau. Overall, Gheorge and Anna were both fantastic. One thing struck me at lunch as one of the other tour groups in the restaurant were using Google translate to communicate with their guide, but Anna's English was fantastic. If you want to visit Transnistria, I'd really recommend this tour as you get to the see the capital, as well as a visit to a really interesting winery.
via Tripadvisor
Very good tours. But be aware about the payment
I took two trips. In both cases i was alone but i was not charged any extra and the Company respected the days what I found very professional. The only issue is the payment. If you pay by credit card, you will be charged in local currency plus a 3% mark up. That means that with another conversion to your currency and the foreign exchange fee of your card, you will be paying additional charges of 10% on top of the promoted prices.
Response from the operator: Dear guest! Thank you very much for your review! We really sorry about this %, but we don't have any possibilities to change the situation in relation with bank commissions. But let us thank you about our company, it makes us more responsible in doing our job! With best regards, BESTMoldova.md team
via Tripadvisor
EXCELLET!
Me and my wife (we are a couple from Sweden, 55+) visited Chisinau in Moldova for a long week-end by the end of May 2019. "BestMoldova" was the local tour agency that organised this tour. Without to many details and word, they simply have done an EXCELLENT job! All was perfect, the flexibility to try to help us due to our delayed flight, the high knowledge of all guides, drivers, the warm hearts, the genuine spirit. And speaking about the tours, very interesting to visit Bender and Tirasopol in Transnistria, to hear and feel on my own this complicated part of Europe, the wine testing at Cricova was very good, professional and once again, the local guise in Cricova plus the driver of the minitrain were extremely friendly and took good carer of us. All went well, more than well and for sure a great 2 x Tours! THANK YOU ALL!!!!
Response from the operator: Dear Cezar, We are very happy that you enjoyed your stay in our little country! And don't forget that there is much more to see and explore! So, se you soon! BESTMoldova.md team, wishes you and your family all the best! Warm regards from Moldova!
via Viator
A day trip to remember!
Had a wonderful day with BEST Travel on tour to Transnistria, Bender and the winery. The guide and driver were both lovely and with a lot of interesting stories to tell. The guide also helped out with the money exchange, because you don't really need much money in Transnistria and you couldn't use your bankcard. I actually didn't use/change any money at all, but the tour guide had a few coins left and gave them as a souvenir to take home. Thank you so much! I considered saving the pennies and taking a bus by myself, but I am glad I didn't because it is really good value with all the stops I would never have seen otherwise, the yummy traditional lunch included (thanks for offering veggie options!) and the wine tour and of course... free tasters!
Response from the operator: Dear Niltasariel, Thank your for your review! We are glad to hear that! That's what makes our job worthwhile :) BESTMoldova.md team, wishes you all the best!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Thu, Sun
- Price range
- $227 to $295
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by BESTMoldova.md, who run 15 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 51.0.
See everything BESTMoldova.md runsWhy this scores 59
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
2 Excursions in One Day - Cricova Winery,Tiraspol City and Bender Fortress!: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Chisinau.
How much does 2 Excursions in One Day - Cricova Winery,Tiraspol City and Bender Fortress! cost?
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Prices start at $227 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Chisinau usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does 2 Excursions in One Day - Cricova Winery,Tiraspol City and Bender Fortress! take?
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Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Chisinau is not rushed.
Is 2 Excursions in One Day - Cricova Winery,Tiraspol City and Bender Fortress! worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 59 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.5/5 across 11 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Chisinau, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule 2 Excursions in One Day - Cricova Winery,Tiraspol City and Bender Fortress!?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is 2 Excursions in One Day - Cricova Winery,Tiraspol City and Bender Fortress! suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book 2 Excursions in One Day - Cricova Winery,Tiraspol City and Bender Fortress!?
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Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Chisinau can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Chisinau and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does 2 Excursions in One Day - Cricova Winery,Tiraspol City and Bender Fortress! start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Chisinau within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Chisinau?
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On Outty we rank every Chisinau experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Soviet Era Tour of Transnistria from Chisinau Moldova, Tiraspol and Bender Back in the USSR Tour, One day tour in Transnistria. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Chisinau?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Chisinau?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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