Gagauzia tour from Chișinău: Manuc Bey Mansion and wine tasting

Six hours through Gagauz heritage: mansions, museums and a traditional feast

A guided day tour from Chișinău into Gagauzia, the autonomous region in southern Moldova, visiting the 19th-century Manuc Bey Mansion in Hâncești, the capital Comrat with its National Museum and Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and the Museum of Gagauz Culture in Beșalma. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional guide fluent in English or Russian, a traditional Gagauz lunch with local wines, and access to the architectural and ethnographic sites that define the region's distinct Turkic and Moldovan blend.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Gagauzia and Manuc Bey Mansion

• Depart from Chișinău to Gagauzia
• Tour Manuc Bey Mansion in Hâncești
• Visit Comrat and Gagauz National Museum
• See Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
• Enjoy traditional Gagauz lunch
• Explore Beșalma village and Museum of Gagauz Culture

The experience

The tour departs from your Chișinău hotel in the morning and heads south into Gagauzia. You'll start at the Manuc Bey Mansion in Hâncești, an elegant 19th-century structure built by the Armenian merchant and diplomat Manuc Bey. A guide leads you through the halls, museum exhibits that trace Manuc Bey's life and the region's history, and the surrounding gardens and park.

Next is Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, where you visit the Gagauz National Museum to learn about the Gagauz people's history, lifestyle and traditions, and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, a central spiritual landmark. You'll meet locals and taste authentic Gagauz cuisine as part of the cultural immersion. The tour then moves to a traditional Gagauz lunch: a Gagauz Sofrası feast featuring kavarma (slow-cooked lamb or beef stew), placinta (savory pies with cheese, potatoes or greens), bulama (yogurt and chicken), and local Gagauz wines. This meal happens in a warm, hospitable setting designed to deepen your understanding of Gagauz culinary traditions.

The final stop is Beșalma, a village known for its deep-rooted Gagauz culture. You'll visit the Museum of Gagauz Culture, established in 1966 as the first ethnographic museum in the region. It houses traditional clothing, tools, household items and historical photographs that show how the Gagauz people have lived. The village itself offers a chance to experience the hospitality and cultural heritage firsthand, with traditional meals, local music and folklore performances available.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Chișinău.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• professional art historian guide.
• entry to the Manuc Bey Mansion, Gagauz National Museum, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and Museum of Gagauz Culture in Beșalma.
• traditional Gagauz lunch with local wines.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:10

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 4

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 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Moldovatovisit&tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guide leading you through Gagauzia's cultural sites and history in one day, with a winery visit and traditional lunch included: no decisions needed about what to see or how to get there.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

What is inside the Manuc Bey Mansion that I'll see on the tour?

The mansion's elegant halls, museum exhibits about Manuc Bey's life and the region's history, and the picturesque gardens and park surrounding the building are all part of the guided walk-through.

Does the tour include lunch, and what kind of food is served?

Yes, a traditional Gagauz lunch called Gagauz Sofrași is included, featuring kavarma (slow-cooked lamb or beef stew), placinta (savory pies), bulama (yogurt and chicken), and local Gagauz wines served in a hospitable setting.

What will I learn at the Gagauz National Museum in Comrat?

The museum covers the history, lifestyle and traditions of the Gagauz people, with exhibits that explain the region's distinct cultural identity and its blend of Turkic and Moldovan influences.

Is the Museum of Gagauz Culture in Beșalma different from the one in Comrat?

Yes. The Beșalma museum, established in 1966, is the first ethnographic museum in Gagauzia and focuses on artifacts (traditional clothing, tools, household items and photographs) that show the everyday life and heritage of the Gagauz people.