Cricova Winery & Old Orhei & Curchi Monastery
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 3 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Cricova Winery & Old Orhei & Curchi Monastery worth booking?
Cricova Winery & Old Orhei & Curchi Monastery is a 6-hour experience in Chisinau, Moldova, from $155 per person. It scores 58 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 3 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 58 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (3)
- Duration
- 6 hours
- From
- $155 per person
The tour is planned in such way, that you never get bored: - Pick up at hotel/apartment - 45 minutes drive to Cricova - 2 hours excursion in the wine cellars - 1 hour drive to Old Orhei - 1 hour exploration of the s
What you get
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Local guide
- Private tour
- Professional guide
- Wine tasting
- Snacks
About this experience
The tour is planned in such way, that you never get bored: - Pick up at hotel/apartment - 45 minutes drive to Cricova - 2 hours excursion in the wine cellars - 1 hour drive to Old Orhei - 1 hour exploration of the site - 1 hour for relaxing lunch/dinner - 1 hour drive back to Chisinau/hotel Total time needed: 7 hours
What's included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Local guide
- Private tour
- Professional guide
- Wine tasting
- Snacks
Not included
- Lunch
- Drinks
What you'll see and do
Cricova Winery
Cricova Winery is the most luxury and one of the biggest underground wine cellars in the world. Sounds good right?
120 minutes here · Admission included
Old Orhei
One of the most popular places of interest in Moldova is a touristic zone called Old Orhei(Orheiul Vechi), which is situated on the Raut River (Răut Rău). It is a nation’s patrimony, which is located about 60 km away from the capital city Chisinau, among three villages: Butuceni, Morovaia and Trebujeni. Orhei Vechi is an archaeological and historical complex, which consists of two moderate but very old museums, ancient rocky church and also several private old-fashioned hotels in a very traditional style, located in villages Butucheni and Trebujeni. Old Orhei is an exceptionally quiet and delightful place with impressive landscapes and huge historical background which bring the tourists to discover Moldova's ancient roots.
180 minutes here · Admission included
Butuceni
Butuceni Eco Resort is located in a picturesque place that fascinates with its beauty. It is a rocky area with endless green areas on the river Raut. Butuceni village is located 47 km from Chisinau and 18 Km from Orhei. The householders of Eco Resort Butuceni had set an objective that whoever would pass in their house to fell as good as an Moldovan feels at mother’s home. The “lejanca” – bed with clay walls that is heated with fire from the inside, with tasty “placinta”-homemade pie and homemade wine will make a special impression that may be never forgotten. The householders are also proud to present their house farm, with a large variety of animals and birds. From the farm you can make your child happy with a trip on the pony or horse. enjoying the landscapes of Butuceni. Here you can taste the fruits and vegetables which are grown in the orchard of the Eco Resort Butuceni.
60 minutes here
Manastirea Curchi
The complex of the Curchi monastery is located in one of the most amazing places in the center of Moldova, in the vicinity of the village of Buzesti. It is located on two terraces and is surrounded by a stone wall with several corner towers.The ensemble of the monastery consists of two churches - the summer Svyatodmitriyevskaya, built at the expense of Iordace Curchi, and the winter Christmas of Our Lady, built later, at the beginning of the XIX century. Of particular interest is the winter church erected in 1810. With its construction, the architects turned to the best traditions of classicism, applying in parallel some baroque techniques. In addition, the structure of the monastic architectural ensemble included nine buildings with cells and the abbot's quarters of the structure of the beginning of the 20th century, a garden and a small stone pool. Previously, a hotel, school and orphanage operated at the monastery.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 10 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- ru, en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 6 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Hi Moldova DMC
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Minimum drinking age is 18 years
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 3 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
3 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
2 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Food and drink
2 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Physical effort
1 mentionExpect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
Pace and timing
1 mentionSeveral reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
Traveler reviews
3 verified traveler reviews for Cricova Winery & Old Orhei & Curchi Monastery. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Excellent Wine Tour
A must do. I did the evening tour with tasting. Tour of the expansive underground cellars which included salt displays and visiting the tasting rooms. You ride through the cellars on a motorized trolley which takes you to several of the major cellars. It is basically an entire city with street names underground. If you can, do a tasting tour as they do really formal seating with delicious samples. There is a video at the beginning in their bar/theater which explains the history & process. The tour is done by Crickova staff not your tour guide, and you may select the language. There is a superb gift shop.
Response from the operator: Thank you for sharing your experience with us. All the best wishes for you. Hi Moldova Team
via Tripadvisor
Perfect day spent in Moldova
The tour started with hotel pick up at 10AM. Our tour driver, Veaceslav, was waiting for us when we walked down about 10 minutes prior the scheduled time. We headed off to our first destination, Old Orhei, which is about an hour or so from our hotel in Chisinau. On the way, he shared really interesting information about Moldova. Before our stop to Old Orhei, he took us to two "unplanned" stops that were amazing. The first stop was a lookout far away from the monastery but had absolutely stunning views from lookout. The second stop was ruins of a bathhouse in the area. He explained the significance of it for it's time. At the site, we visited an archaeological museum that showed several pieces of history throughout the area dating back to early BC periods. He then showed us a common house of the village. We then walked made a quick walk up the stairs to the monastery itself. He showed us around in the monastery and then walked us up to the church and showed us inside the Russian Orthodox church. Afterwards, Veaceslav suggested a great little lunch place were were stopped and had an authentic Moldavan lunch for incredibly cheap (not part of the tour but worthwhile!) The food was delicious and the service was prompt. Our guide even showed us around the property, the cellars the store the food and another house in the village. After lunch, we made our way to Cricova Winery. The drive was shorter and we arrived a little early. At this point, Veaceslav, waited for us to do the tour with the winery. Unlike Milisti Mici, Cricova has large golf cart buses type things that you ride around in for the tour. Our tour guide showed us the impressive winery that houses some the world leaders wines (my favorite part of the winery!) and through the underground tunnels. There we watched a brief movie about the winery and were able to enjoy our first wine, a dry sparkling wine. We then moved on to the tasting, a red wine, white wine, and sparking sweet wine. They also provided a few snacks for our tasting. The winery here was far more impressive than Mici but felt a little intimidating. I did enjoy the wine more at Cricova. After our tour of about 2 hours in the winery concluded, we met with Veaceslav who took us back to the hotel. Overall, it was a really great day. The tours were perfect combination for my husband who loves to be outdoors and me who loves wine. I would HIGHLY recommend Veaceslav as he was a great tour guide who very clearly loved Moldova.
Response from the operator: Thank you for sharing your experience with us. All the best wishes for you.
via Tripadvisor
A great way to see the countryside
I traveled to Orhei and Cricova on my second day in Moldova. Fortunately, I knew my guide Nicolai and, therefore, knew that I would learn much and have an enjoyable day. I definitely did. In the morning, Nicolai drove us to a lovely church and provided great insight. We then journeyed to Old Orhei, stopping in several places to take great photos. As always, Nicolai proved to be a great guide, answering all my questions and being a great companion. In the afternoon, we visited Cricova. Cricova is a bit fancier than Milestii Mici; more elaborate (but not as fun to visit). I recommend visiting both Milestii Mici and Cricova, though, such that the wineries can be compared. Once again, I must thank Nicolai for being a great guide and taking such good care of me. cheers
Response from the operator: Thank you, Marcus for your kind review! All the best, Hi Moldova
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 6 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 18+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $155 to $309
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 1
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 58
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Cricova Winery & Old Orhei & Curchi Monastery: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Chisinau.
How much does Cricova Winery & Old Orhei & Curchi Monastery cost?
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Prices start at $155 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 Cricova Winery & Old Orhei & Curchi Monastery take?
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Plan for about 6 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 Cricova Winery & Old Orhei & Curchi Monastery worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 58 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 3 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 Cricova Winery & Old Orhei & Curchi Monastery?
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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 Cricova Winery & Old Orhei & Curchi Monastery suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 18. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 6-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Cricova Winery & Old Orhei & Curchi Monastery?
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Around 1 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 6-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Cricova Winery & Old Orhei & Curchi Monastery 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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