Chisinau attracts 68% of tourists, mainly from Ukraine and Romania
Over 90,000 visitors arrived in the Republic of Moldova last year, an increase of about 34% from 2022, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. Most were day trippers, primarily coming for rest and recreation.
According to official data, in 2025 travel agencies provided services to over 604,000 tourists, an increase of nearly 9% compared to the previous year. This growth was seen in both the number of foreigners visiting our country and the number of Moldovans choosing to spend their holidays domestically.
The total number of tourists accommodated in various lodging options, including hotels, guesthouses, and villas, reached 525,100, marking an increase of almost 11% from 2024, when 474,200 visitors were recorded.
Of the total number of tourists, 54.5% are foreign visitors, while 45.5% are residents.
The largest group of foreign tourists comes from Ukraine (35.1%), followed by Romania (20.4%). Other notable countries of origin include the United States (4.7%), Germany (3.3%), and Turkey (3%). On average, a foreign tourist spends about three days in our country, with the typical length of stay in accommodation facilities being four days.
In terms of geography, the municipality of Chisinau attracts 68% of all tourists, while the Gagauz autonomy draws in approximately one percent of the total number of visitors.
Tourists from four continents, conquered by Moldova
On the streets of the capital city center, tourists can be found at the Arc de Triomphe or near the main tourist attractions.
Ivana, who came from Peru, says she discovered the Republic of Moldova after reading online about the Transnistrian region.
"I found information about the Transnistrian region and that caught my attention. I would like to see how it is developing now, to see it in contrast. I ate cherry pies, they were very good. I ate soup here, I like soups," said the visitor.
Vadim Cilia, from Malta, says that his experience in Moldova pleasantly surprised him. “I appreciate your lifestyle, I love your food, I like to drink, I feel very good. It’s very good here, it’s very different from Malta. I will definitely come back.”
Kesia Cienfuegos, from Colombia, arrived in Chisinau to attend a traditional Moldovan wedding. “I like the people here. People like the taxi driver and the people at the hotel are very nice. Yes, come and visit Moldova,” she urged.
Jarno van den Noort, a photojournalist from the Netherlands, had previously visited Ukraine and decided to discover Moldova as well. “I have never been to Moldova before, I am curious to see what life is like here and what I could see in the city,” he declared.
Favorite destinations and challenges
Elena Stepanov, the executive director of the National Association for Inbound and Domestic Tourism of Moldova (ANTRIM), states that the country's tourism offerings are comparable to those found in Europe.
"We do not position ourselves as a country with a cheap offer; our prices and services do not differ significantly from those of European countries," she noted.
After visiting Chișinău, most tourists choose to explore the Cricova wineries, followed by Orheiul Vechi. Visitors who stay for several days often venture to the southern region of the country as well.
However, the tourism sector is affected by the regional context. "A major issue currently faced by the organized tourism sector is the feedback we receive from partners and tour operators. Many embassies do not recommend visiting the Republic of Moldova, citing it as a risk area," Elena Stepanov added.
Despite these challenges, statistical data indicate a trend of increasing tourist numbers and a growing interest in the Republic of Moldova as a destination for city breaks or cultural vacations.
