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One day tour in Transnistria
5.0
51 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
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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
(51 Ratings)
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Mateuszse3407uh
Aug 24, 2024
Transnistria with locals - The trip was well planned and covered all of the Transnistria “must see” places, Tatiana was very knowledgeable about the region and very helpful, the nice touch was lunch at Tatiana’s and Dina’s place with local food and homemade wine, in general highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Juan
Aug 19, 2024
An amazing experience! - The tour provides so much more than you would expect! It’s definitely an experience that you shouldn’t miss while visiting Moldova.
The guide Tatiana and her parents are amazing people, who also know every detail about the region and the places they show you. Also, her dad makes the best home-made wine in Moldova for sure ;)
If you’re in doubt whether to book this experience or not, trust me that you will not regret it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daniel_h
Aug 18, 2024
Best day ever in Transnistria - I could not have had a better day when visiting Transnistria. Tatiana and his father, Dimitri, made us feel very welcome and safe both in Moldova and Transnistria. They showed us the most important spots in Bender and Tiraspol, as well as other places that we wanted to see. The lunch at their home was also delicious. If anyone has the opportunity in the future to have such experience, don’t hesitate to go with Tatiana and Dimitri.
Review provided by Viator
723enik_b
Aug 11, 2024
Amazing! - It was an unforgettable trip, very informative and extremely interesting with the unique experience of having lunch at someone’s home, which was absolutely wonderful!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Flofloflo23
Aug 11, 2024
Wonderful day tour - Great tour!
Tatiana and her dad are great people. We saw a lot, got great information and Tatiana tried to fulfill every wish. (Even a little cooling by the Tiraspol gardeners ;-)).
Tatiana's mother's food was quite excellent, you won't find it better and more authentic in any restaurant!
And you could bathe in Tatiana's dad's homemade wine! Sooo delicious and really a pleasure.
I say thank you very much for this great day and recommend it to everyone to book this tour!
See you next time dear Tatiana!
Greetings to the family
Florian
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dreamer59757831286
Aug 10, 2024
A great, authentic experience in Transnistria - We were a total of 4 guys on the tour and I as a solo traveler immediately had nice contact with the others. The tour is well organized and you get a very good insight into the life and history of Transnistria. The local lunch was delicious and abundant with homemade wine. I can definitely recommend the tour with Tatiana!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rasmusthger_c
Aug 8, 2024
Great trip in every way - It was a very enjoyable trip, both in terms of the actual content and the guide.
The pick up was just outside my accomodation and the communication went smooth via WhatsApp.
The guide was very welcoming, good at English and answered in a balanced and neutral way all questions during the trip.
As part of the trip, I was invited for a private lunch with home cooked food. It was very enjoyable.
I can only recommend using this host. It felt safe and it was a very rewarding and informative trip.
I cannot think of any improvements. And the price was also very reasonable.
/Recommendation from Danish visitor.
Review provided by Viator
Stevemo3761rs
Aug 7, 2024
Great day in Transnistria - Brilliant day with Tatiana. She show’d us around Transnistria which was really interesting. We saw all the main sites and had a stop for lunch at her house to sample her mom’s home cooking and her dad’s Dmitry’s home made wine. What are great experience. I can’t recommend the tour enough.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lottan701
Aug 6, 2024
First time in Moldaviai - We have the best trip with the best guide.
We went to the family and have dinner it was amazing food.
The give us al what we whant to se in Transnistien
Thank you family Tatiana💕
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Flyer42202550314
Aug 6, 2024
Amazing, must do in Moldova! - This day was magical, I highly recommend! Tatiana and her father are wonderful guides, they explain everything very well and the places shown are very interesting. Despite what you can see online Transnistria is safe and is really interesting to visit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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