Old Orhei Monasteries & Brănești Wine Tasting from Chisinau

Walk into a 13th-century cave monastery carved into cliffs, then taste wine underground in a forest winery.

A six-hour day tour from Chisinau explores the Old Orhei Monasteries Complex (a UNESCO World Heritage site with a cave monastery, ancient monuments and the village of Butuceni) followed by wine tasting and lunch at Brănești Winery, where two tasting halls (one underground) sit in forest isolation without cell service. A local guide leads the route. Air-conditioned transport and all tastings are included. Lunch is available as an add-on depending on the option you choose at checkout.

The experience

The tour starts in Chisinau and heads to Orheiul Vechi, where the Raut River has carved a narrow valley through hills that frame the Old Orhei Monasteries Complex. You'll walk to the cave monastery (a sacred site carved into the cliffs as early as the 13th century), and move through the complex of historical buildings and ancient monuments that make up this UNESCO World Heritage site. The Ethnographic Museum in the nearby village of Butuceni adds a layer of local context to the landscape and the structures you've just seen.

After the monastery exploration, the route turns to Brănești Winery, nestled in forest near Orheiul Vechi. The winery operates two tasting halls (one above ground and one carved underground) both decorated with wood and metal fixtures that reference vine cultivation and winemaking. You'll taste wines in one of these spaces. If your option includes lunch, you eat at the Stone Age Complex of Pivnitele, part of the winery grounds, where the absence of internet and mobile signals means you can sit without distraction in the quiet forest surroundings.

The guide speaks English, Russian or Romanian depending on the tour departure you book. Transport is air-conditioned, and the full day runs six hours from Chisinau. Children from age 10 are welcome, and the itinerary suits all fitness levels, though the monastery visit involves a short walk on foot.

What’s included

• Local guide in your choice of English, Russian or Romanian.
• air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from Chisinau.
• wine tasting at Brănești Winery in one of the two tasting halls.
• lunch at the Stone Age Complex (when your option includes it).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 09:30 and 10:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (10 to 17 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 4

Live guideEnglish, Romanian 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 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Moldovatovisit&tours

Is this one for you?Pick the lunch option if you want to spend several hours at the winery. Without it, you taste and return to Chisinau the same day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Russian and Romanian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (10 to 17 years). Children under 10 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Orhei Cave Monastery and how old is it?

The Orhei Cave Monastery is a sacred shrine carved into the cliffs at the Old Orhei Monasteries Complex, with origins dating back as early as the 13th century. It sits within a UNESCO World Heritage site shaped by the Raut River valley and is one of the main stops on the tour.

Does the tour include lunch, or is that an extra cost?

Lunch is available depending on which option you select at checkout. When included, you eat at the Stone Age Complex of Pivnitele within the Brănești Winery grounds, surrounded by forest with no cell service.

What happens at Brănești Winery during the tasting?

Brănești Winery has two tasting halls (one above ground and one underground) both decorated with wood and metal details related to winemaking. You'll taste wines in one of these halls as part of the tour. The underground hall is set into the forest landscape.

How long is the walk to the cave monastery?

The monastery visit involves a short walk on foot to reach the sacred site. The tour description notes it as a brief walk, and the itinerary is suitable for all fitness levels.