Moldova Gastronomy tour

Moldova Culinary Tour Highlights

• Taste a variety of traditional Moldovan specialties
• Enjoy mamaliga and homemade stew in Lalova
• Visit the Tipova rock monastery overlooking the Nistru River
• Sample roast lamb and dumplings in Palanca
• See the medieval frescoes of the Causeni church
• Discover Tihon’s historic windmill in Talmaza
• Taste rabbit stew, pork kebabs and roasted zucchini
• Visit Chateau Cojusna Winery for a guided wine tasting

Day 1: Arrival in Chisinau

Upon arrival at Chisinau International Airport, a company representative will meet you and accompany you to your hotel. You will receive an information package with maps, travel guides and important contact numbers.

Your Moldova Culinary Tour begins with a welcoming dinner featuring a choice of Moldovan, Gagauz, Bulgarian or Ukrainian cuisine. This first meal provides an introduction to the diverse culinary influences that have shaped Moldova’s regional food traditions.

Day 2: Chisinau, Lalova and Tipova Monastery

Begin your first full day with a panoramic sightseeing tour of Chisinau. Known for its leafy streets, relaxed atmosphere and warm hospitality, Moldova’s capital offers an engaging introduction to the country’s history and culture.

During the tour, you will also learn about Chisinau’s gastronomic heritage and the traditional foods that remain an important part of everyday Moldovan life.

Lunch will be served at Hanul lui Hanganu, an agritourism guesthouse in Lalova village. Guests may have the opportunity to pick fresh vegetables from the garden before enjoying a homemade meal prepared with local ingredients.

Traditional dishes may include zeama, a comforting chicken soup with noodles; mamaliga, a cornmeal dish often served in place of bread; friptura, a rich Moldovan stew; and placinte, savory pastries filled with potatoes or other local ingredients.

In the afternoon, continue to the historic Tipova Monastery, one of Moldova’s oldest monastic settlements. Carved into the cliffs high above the Nistru River, the complex includes approximately 18 rock-cut chambers and offers impressive views of the surrounding landscape.

Day 3: Calarasi Codri, Palanca and Chateau Cojusna Winery

After breakfast, travel into the beautiful Calarasi Codri region. Surrounded by wooded landscapes and birch-lined paths, you will visit Hirjauca Monastery, once used as the summer residence of the Bishop of Moldova.

Continue to Casa Parinteasca, a traditional guesthouse in Palanca village. Here, you will discover Moldovan folk costumes, rural customs and time-honored culinary traditions.

Guests may participate in baking bread in a wood-fired oven before sitting down to a homemade lunch. The meal may include roast lamb with eggs, dumplings served with sour cream and local Moldovan wine. Organic herbal tea accompanied by quince jam provides a memorable finish to the experience.

Later, visit Chateau Cojusna Winery, another highlight of this Moldova Culinary Tour. The winery’s atmospheric cellars and medieval-inspired tasting rooms create a distinctive setting for sampling local wines. During the guided tasting, you will learn about Moldovan grape varieties, winemaking traditions and the characteristics of the wines served.

Day 4: Causeni and Traditional Cuisine in Talmaza

Your day begins at the Adormirea Maicii Domnului Church in Causeni. This remarkable historic church is known for its medieval frescoes and unusual position partially below ground level.

The church’s sunken design is connected to restrictions imposed during the period of Tatar rule, when Christian churches were not permitted to stand higher than a soldier on horseback.

In the afternoon, travel to Talmaza village in the Nistru Valley. The area is known for its fertile agricultural land, vineyards, organically grown vegetables and traditional crafts.

Talmaza is also home to Tihon’s windmill, one of the few surviving historic windmills of its kind in Moldova.

Hunting traditions remain an important part of local culture, giving visitors an opportunity to sample distinctive regional dishes. Your meal may include roast rabbit with potatoes, pork kebabs and roasted zucchini, offering another authentic taste of Moldovan village cuisine.

Day 5: Chisinau and Departure

After breakfast, enjoy free time to explore Chisinau, shop for souvenirs and purchase Moldovan chocolate, pastries and other local specialties.

At the scheduled time, you will be transferred to Chisinau International Airport for your departure.

Experience the Flavors of Moldova

This five-day Moldova Culinary Tour combines traditional cuisine, local wine, rural hospitality and historic sightseeing. From cooking and dining in family-run guesthouses to visiting ancient monasteries and village landmarks, the itinerary offers an authentic way to experience Moldova through its food, culture and people.