One day tour in Transnistria
5.0
20 Ratings
Bender
Discover hidden Transnistria on a one-day tour. Explore Soviet monuments, taste local delicacies, and immerse in Moldovan culture. Join us for an unforgettable adventure.
Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Bendery Fortress - Our journey begins at the deserted amusement park in Bendery, once a lively place for children. Now, it stands with rusted rides and an abandoned Ferris wheel. Next, we explore the 615-year-old ancient city of Bendery, home to a significant XVI-century castle complex built by the Ottomans. This site witnessed intense battles between the Russian and Ottoman Empires 250 years ago. Today, Bendery Castle is a vast monument showcasing unique Turkish architecture. We also visit a 19th-century Orthodox church and the torture museum, where you can climb the fortress’s highest tower. At the castle, you can read Münchhausen’s tale ‘Ride on the Cannonball’ and even experience a cannon ride! The Swedish king Charles XII resided here for three years in the XIX century. Discover his fate during your visit!
  • The Memorial of Military Glory - We then take a city walk through Bendery, visiting sacred sites for the locals. These memorials honor fallen soldiers, featuring an eternal flame and a combat vehicle. A bell tower stands at the center, with the names of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the fatherland engraved on the walls.
  • Bender - Our city walk in Bender, Moldova, takes us to the right bank of the Dniester River. We visit the bustling vegetable market, offering fresh produce, herbs, and dairy products. We also explore a Soviet canteen, a favorite among international guests, adorned with samovars, portraits of Stalin and Gagarin, flags, newspapers from the USSR, and memorabilia from the Moscow Olympics, providing a deep dive into history.
  • Parcani - We visit the village of Parkany, home to the Bulgarian minority. Learn about their history in Moldova and enjoy a culinary journey at the traditionally designed inn Usadba Acasa. Sample homemade specialties like Mamaliga (Moldovan polenta), placinta with meat and sheep’s cheese, chicken soup Zeama with noodles, and walnut cake. Wine tasting, featuring both red and white wines, is a must! Moldova is renowned for its musical talent, and you can experience it firsthand by playing the accordion. Lunch and wine tasting cost 15 EUR per person.
  • Tiraspol - In the afternoon, we explore Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria, founded in 1792 by Russian Empress Ekaterina II and Field Marshal Alexander Suvorov. Tiraspol is a charming, clean city on the left bank of the Dniester River, with friendly locals eager to meet international visitors. Here, you can purchase plastic coins, the local currency still in circulation, and buy Soviet, Russian, or Transnistrian flags at a bookstore.
  • Lenin Monument - The Lenin Statue in Tiraspol, erected in 1987, is a younger counterpart to the Lenin Monument in Berlin, serving as a reminder of the past.
  • “Back in the USSR” Restaurant - Enjoy an afternoon coffee at another Soviet-themed restaurant, where you can photograph vintage Soviet-era items like furniture, photos of Lenin, radios, televisions, plates, tables, refrigerators, and portraits of Stalin, Karl Marx, Lenin, and Suvorov.
  • The Suvorov Monument - This 9-meter-high horse statue, located in central Tiraspol, was erected in 1979 to honor Russian general Alexander Suvorov, the city’s founder. Learn why he is one of Russia’s most celebrated generals.
  • The Tank Monument - This iconic tank is part of a memorial site in the city center, where you can even climb onto it. Nearby are the government building and other significant monuments for the locals.
  • House of Soviets - We will also visit the renowned ‘House of the Soviet,’ built in the Empire style, featuring a massive portrait of the first man in space on Gagarin Avenue.
  • Green Market Center - The Tiraspol vegetable market offers a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, dairy products, and spices. Local farmers sell their homegrown produce here.
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Entrance tickets to the Bendery castle complex
  • Certified experienced tour guide
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Dear travelers to Moldova!
I would like to warmly greet you in my home country and introduce you to our small country. On the map of Eastern Europe, Moldova is still an unexplored country. On our one-day tour we will visit a place that Moldova can surprise with - state within Moldova - tiny Transnistria, which cannot be found on the world map. We show and tell you about people’s everyday lives, our culture and values, and typical Moldovan delicacies. Lunch is served by the locals at the inn in the Bulgarian village. The promise: after the tour you will sing songs in Romanian and Russian. On the tour we visit the Bendery Fortress, on the city walk we get to know the historical events that shaped this region. We see the Soviet monuments, Lenin and Suvorov monuments, the majestic buildings and places of remembrance, even the abandoned amusement park.

Location
Bendery Fortress
Petra Panin 2
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(20 Ratings)
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Lorcan
Jun 11, 2024
Wine and dine in Transnistria! - This is tour is definitely worth every euro! So many new experiences all packed into one day. The sites are very unique if you’re looking for something different to the rest of europe. Tatiana is the best guide and is very knowledgeable about the local history, telling facts you would never know on your own. Paired with her charismatic father who is the driver and still makes you laugh even when speaking Russian. The highlight of the tour is lunch at their family home in transnistria. All the food is locally made and prepared by Tatiana’s mother and is so fresh. You will also learn Moldovans love their wine and you will too as it’s the best I’ve ever tasted! This combined with great company it was like visiting the family from Moldova that I never knew I had. If you’re worried about safety you shouldn’t be as it was completely normal just a border crossing. I can’t wait to come back and see more of this amazing country!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T4115phjenniferk
Jun 7, 2024
A perfect day with lots of insights, fun and good food - That was a perfect experience! So many things that we discovered in one day. Tatiana is a great guide, very knowledgeable. She gave us insights with a lot of informations and different point of views to understand that part of Moldova. The tour was a combination of sight-seeing and taking part in everyday life, like a visit on a farmers market and a short ride with the bus. The lunch at her families house was really amazing and tasty! We got an additional cooking class by her lovely mother and a wine tasting with her friendly father with a lot of stories about the life in Transnistria. Everything was well organized and prepared. There was not a minute, that I was afraid of something. Thanks for all, Tatiana! I am happy that I did this tour and I absolutely recommend it to everyone.
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Iain_t
Jun 7, 2024
Truly excellent experience. 100% recommended. Great guides, great fun, fascinating and great food. - We weren't sure which tour to take, but we are glad that we chose this one. Tatiana and Dmitry met us promptly and were friendly, welcoming and helpful all day. We learned so many new things and enjoyed every second of the day. We were delighted with the lunch we had with Tatiana - the food and wine were absolutely delicious and there was too much for us to eat! It was a true banquet. Tatiana really is knowledgeable and the tour is very well planned. She can show you so many interesting places and teach you so many interesting things. I could talk about it all day, but I want to leave some surprises for you! In summary, please choose this tour. 100% you will be glad.
Review provided by Viator
Lindsay_n
Jun 4, 2024
Interesting day trip to Transiatria with a great guide! - Incredible day trip with Tatiana! The trip departed on time and as planned. The drive was smooth and Tatiana checked in on us throughout th day to make sure we had everything we needed (water, bathroom breaks, etc) and is incredibly knowledgable and enthusiastic. She accommodated everyone's specific needs in a way that kept us all happy but still on schedule. We made it back to the city on time with some bonus stops. Wonderful day and very interesting experience.
Review provided by Viator
Paradise705355
May 31, 2024
Family Affair with Flair - If there is one thing you must do while visiting Chișinău, it is this tour! You will not regret it. Tatiana and her family are a treasure of kindness and knowledge. What a wonderful experience. From visiting the fortress in Bender, to exchanging money, buying fresh produce at the local market, riding an old public bus, seeing monuments and memorials to experiencing an authentic meal beautifully prepared by Tatiana’s amazing mother, and wine by her charming father, I could not have had a better day. We even had a cooking lesson in making Plăcintăs. I learned so much about a fascinating part of Moldova and made friends in the process. So memorable. Fresh cherries from their yard were an added special bonus. Tatiana even helped me the day after the tour when I reached out to her. My heart is so grateful for this rich experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Raasaa8
May 27, 2024
Awesome Tiraspol, Bendery fortress and scrumptious food for lunch and wine tasting! - Awesome Tiraspol, Bendery fortress and scrumptious food for lunch and wine tasting! Really amazing one day tour to Transnistria from Chisinau, Moldova, Wonderful trip with pickup and drop off from Chisinau, Get ready to time travel to this beautiful country with lots of vineyard and produce agriculture farms in a countryside landscape and lavender fields!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Davidrd4130ym
May 27, 2024
With Tatyana you will feel like at home in Transnistria - Tatiana is an amazing guide who provides for an outstanding and personalized experience in this unique destination. Don't expect to be just toured or bused around by a guide, but be prepared to feel one day at home in Transnistria. Thank you Tatiana!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
715eduardk
May 24, 2024
One of the best tours I ever had! - I had an incredible daytrip by Tatiana. She showed me Bender and Tiraspol, while her father drove us around. I was picked up around 9am and I was back home around 8pm. So it took the whole day. I saw the fortress and the city of Bender, went to a market there and to an old sovjet cafe. Her mother made me an incredible lunch and later we went to Tiraspol where we saw all the old monuments. She knows the history and could tell me a lot about everything. I also had enough time to take photo's of everything I wanted. I would definatly take a tour with her again. Incredible!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eduard_k
May 24, 2024
One of the best tours I ever had - I had an incredible daytrip by Tatiana. She showed me Bender and Tiraspol, while her father drove us around. I was picked up around 9am and I was back home around 8pm. So it took the whole day. I saw the fortress and the city of Bender, went to a market there and to an old sovjet cafe. Her mother made me an incredible lunch and later we went to Tiraspol where we saw all the old monuments. She knows the history and could tell me a lot about everything. I also had enough time to take photo's of everything I wanted. I would definatly take a tour with her again. Incredible!!
Review provided by Viator
913wissemm
May 21, 2024
An unforgettable trip with an amazing guide - Tatiana is such a warm personality and highly motivated and funny guide (very recommendable!), She showed us every detail in the region and she gave us such valuable informations. I truly enjoyed with her my day trip to Transnistria. The places were very beautiful, it was a relieve to walk in such beautiful and historical places. The atmosphere was so special that it really felt like we all know each others since a long time. All respect for Tatiana who does a great job there; a true exemple of excellent tour guide. She invited us as well to her parents house to have a local lunch, it was so good and delicious. Her dad was so funny and kind and he gave me a very tasty kompot that i liked a lot. Thank you so much Tatiana to you and to your welcoming parents for this amazing day. Transnistria worth really a visit, booking this tour is a very good option to enjoy the trip that i recommand a lot :)
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June 2024
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