About this guide
When foreign friends started visiting Moldova and asked me what to do here, I quickly realized I didn’t have a good answer. To my surprise, there's a big lack of guidebooks in English, which makes planning a trip here harder than it should be. The available travel guides are old, imprecise and only a few pages long.
As a result, most visitors stick to the Chisinau–Big Winery–Orheiul Vechi circuit, and leave thinking Moldova is “boring” or simply “the poorest country in Europe.” That’s why I decided to write this travel guide — to correct misconceptions and share hidden gems.
I spent months traveling across Moldova: hidden monasteries, family-owned wineries, scenic countryside trails and centuries-old manors. I can show you what Moldova is really like and, as a local, I can point you toward authentic places you’d never stumble upon on your own.
With this guide you're going to have a blast in Moldova!
Elena
Old Orhei & Curchi Monastery Travel Guide
Updated August 2025This guide is your shortcut to exploring two of Moldova’s most remarkable landmarks—without the overwhelm of piecing together scattered information. From dramatic cave monasteries at Orheiul Vechi to the serene golden domes of Curchi, this guide takes you beyond the surface, weaving in history, practical tips, and hidden corners most visitors miss.
I’ve done the research for you, so instead of spending hours sorting through blogs and forums, you can focus on the experience itself—hiking the ridges of Trebujeni, stepping into a traditional village home in Butuceni, or soaking in the silence of Curchi monastery.
What’s Inside:
- A deep-dive into Old Orhei’s history and landscapes, with detailed landmark description: museums, churches, ruins and viewpoints.
- The story of Curchi Monastery with step-by-step tips for exploring its grounds, plus suggestions for combining your visit with Donici Manor and forest trails.
- Practical info for visiting both villages: what’s worth doing (and what’s best avoided), tried-and-tested itineraries, real budget examples, transportation options, and the latest bus timetables.
- Where to eat and where to stay if you’d like to extend your trip. Local food recs highlighting the most delicious and authentic dishes.
- Essential Moldova travel advice to make your trip smoother: safety, when to visit & packing, transportation, internet, money and language.
If you’re seriously considering to visit Moldova— check out this guidebook. It's 63 pages of insanely useful and up-to-date Orheiul Vechi and Curchi information for only $4.99 for eBook.