Hey, I’m Elena Plescan.

A guidebook writer, video storyteller, and guided tour creator.

I wrote the Chisinau guidebook and I’m currently writing one about Moldova. I’m organizing Chisinau walking tours that help tourists explore the city through local eyes.

You can also find me on YouTube, where I share travel videos and expat interviews.

If you’d like to know how it all started, continue reading.

Here's my story

I was born and raised in Chisinau, Moldova — a small country that few people can find on the map, yet one that's endlessly fascinating once you do.

After getting my bachelors in Marketing, I left to explore the world. I worked and lived in India and China — years filled with new cultures and a growing curiosity about how people connect through place and story.

After a few years, I moved to the US to pursue my MBA at Kellogg Business School. I expanded my world in a different way — networking, questioning, and reinventing ideas. During that time, I spent a summer in San Francisco interning as a product manager at Twitter, where I learned how digital products are created.

I started to work as a product manager in Ukraine, but my love for travel only grew stronger. I started my YouTube channel — first as a hobby, then as a true passion. I filmed slow, documentary-style videos about everyday life and expat stories, trying to capture what makes each place unique.

Then, in 2022, I found myself back home in Moldova. The world had changed, and so had I. Seeing Chisinau again with fresh eyes, I realized how much there was to rediscover — the layered history and quiet beauty hidden behind Soviet mosaics and shaded courtyards.

That's when the idea for the Chisinau Travel Guide was born — a curated book of 100 handpicked places, from wine bars and markets to parks and landmarks.

What I do now

Nowadays, I spend my time researching and writing about Moldova — sharing both well-known sights and forgotten gems.

You’ll also find me leading walking tours in Chisinau for travelers who want a deeper understanding of the culture, history and local way of life.

Thank you for being here and if you’re ever in Chisinau, I’d love to show you around.

xoxo,
Elena

Let’s talk

If you’d like to collaborate, hire me for a project, or invite me to speak at your event,
email me at [email protected].