Cricova Winery, Old Orhei & Curchi Monastery tour from Chisinau

Cricova's cellars run for miles underground, carved into limestone and stocked with over a million bottles.

A full-day tour from Chisinau visiting three of Moldova's most significant sites: Cricova Winery's vast underground cellars with wine tasting, the archaeological complex at Old Orhei on the Raut River, and Curchi Monastery with its two churches and classical architecture. Hotel pickup and drop-off, local guide, and snacks are included. The tour runs about seven hours total.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Cricova, Old Orhei, and Curchi Monastery

• Pick up at hotel/apartment
• Drive 45 minutes to Cricova
• 2-hour wine cellar tour at Cricova
• Drive 1 hour to Old Orhei
• 1-hour exploration of Old Orhei site
• 1-hour relaxing lunch/dinner
• Drive 1 hour to Curchi Monastery
• 1-hour visit to Curchi Monastery
• Drive 1 hour back to Chisinau/hotel

The experience

Cricova Winery is one of the world's largest underground wine cellars, carved into limestone and holding over a million bottles. You spend two hours exploring the tunnels with a guide, tasting wines and learning how the cellars were built and maintained. The drive there takes 45 minutes from Chisinau, and the return journey is another hour, so most of your time on the road is bookended by the two main stops.

Old Orhei sits about 60 kilometers from the capital on the Raut River, an archaeological and historical complex spread across three villages: Butuceni, Morovaia and Trebujeni. The site includes two museums, an ancient rocky church carved into the landscape, and traditional-style hotels built in the villages themselves. You get an hour to walk the grounds and take in the scale of it: the river valley and the way the settlements nestle into the terrain are the real draw here, not a single monument. Lunch or dinner happens at one of the local spots, usually at Butuceni Eco Resort, where the food is homemade and the setting overlooks the river.

Curchi Monastery comes last on the route back to Chisinau. The complex sits on two terraces near the village of Buzesti and is enclosed by a stone wall with corner towers. Two churches make up the ensemble: the summer Svyatodmitriyevskaya and the winter church built in 1810, which blends classical and baroque styles. The monastery also includes nine residential buildings, a garden and a small stone pool, all dating to the early 20th century. The site is quiet and the architecture is the kind that rewards a slow walk through.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• local guide in English or Russian.
• two-hour excursion through Cricova's underground wine cellars with wine tasting.
• access to the Old Orhei archaeological complex with its museums and ancient rocky church.
• visit to Curchi Monastery.
• snacks throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Hi Moldova DMC

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guide narrating the wine cellars and Old Orhei monastery together in one day, with hotel pickup included. Choose the shared version if you'd prefer to join other travelers and save cost.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

What exactly is inside Cricova's underground cellars?

Cricova holds over a million bottles of wine stored in tunnels carved into limestone. The cellars span for miles and are maintained at a constant temperature. During the two-hour excursion, you walk through the tunnels with a guide and taste wines. The cellars are one of the largest underground wine storage facilities in the world.

How much time do I spend at Old Orhei?

You have about an hour to explore the Old Orhei archaeological complex. That covers walking the site, visiting the museums, and seeing the ancient rocky church. Most visitors also eat lunch or dinner at one of the local restaurants in the villages, which takes another hour and is included in the tour.

What is Curchi Monastery like?

Curchi Monastery is a walled complex on two terraces near Buzesti, featuring two churches built centuries apart. The winter church, completed in 1810, combines classical and baroque architecture. The site also has nine residential buildings, a garden and a stone pool, all set in a quiet rural location.

Does the tour include wine tasting?

Yes, wine tasting is included during the two-hour visit to Cricova's cellars. Snacks are also provided. Lunch or dinner at Old Orhei is not included in the tour price, though it happens at a local restaurant and you can order and pay separately.

How long is the entire tour?

The full tour takes about seven hours from pickup to drop-off. That includes 45 minutes to Cricova, two hours in the cellars, one hour at Old Orhei, one hour for lunch, one hour at Curchi Monastery, and one hour back to Chisinau.