Classic Car Tour of Old Orhei and Cricova Wine Cellars

7 hours 30 minutes Free CancellationPickup availableInstant confirmationMin age 3+Guided Operated by Moldovatovisit&tours 4.9 from 120 reviews

Why we love it?

The Tour to Old Orhei, Cave Monastery, and Cricova cellar offers a comprehensive exploration of Moldova's rich cultural heritage over a duration of 7 hours and 30 minutes. Participants will visit the picturesque Butuceni Village and the historical Curchi Monastery, as well as the Old Orhei museum, which showcases the region's archaeological significance. The tour also includes a visit to the renowned Cricova wine cellars, making it suitable for history enthusiasts and wine lovers alike. This experience is distinctive for its combination of spiritual, historical, and gastronomic elements, providing a deep insight into Moldova's traditions and landscapes.

Exclusions

  • Lunch
  • Cricova wine tasting

Itinerary

Curchi Monastery

The Historical and Cultural Heritage of Old Orhei museum

The museums of Old Orhei help visitors explore and learn about the area’s history and cultural heritage. The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology has two permanent exhibitions with about 186 thematic pieces, including two human skeletons found in archaeological excavations. The village of Butuceni offers an Ethnography Museum where visitors can learn about local architecture and cultural heritage. At the heart of this is the traditional Moldovan country house with a roof covered with reeds, and on the inside the iconic elements remembered by Moldovans spending their holidays at their grandparents', where the porch, traditional oven, pantry with handwoven carpets, festive clothes and dowry boxes are preserved.

The Cave Monastery

Butuceni village.Old Orhei. The true spirit of Moldova.You might know Moldovan traditions, the Moldovan way of being, local cuisine, and you might even feel on your skin what country life in Moldova is like… all in a single weekend spent in Butuceni. And we think that all the feelings and emotions you’ve gathered there will make you come back for a country weekend.

This Monastery of the Birth of Virgin Mary is located in Butuceni village and dates back to the 15th- and 16th centuries when there was a little church made from wood at the site of the current building. The work of the monastery is closely linked to that of the Peștera (the Cave) hermitage. Over the course of the next three centuries, there is no evidence of the activity of the hermitages in the area.

The Old Orhei cave monastery “Peştera” located at the northern edge of Butuceni village, is one of the main attractions for visitors to Orheiul Vechi. The monastic complex dates back to the 15th century and consists of two basic units: the church and the body of monastic cells. Above the monastic complex, on the surface of the Butuceni promontory (ridge) is installed a stone cross (17th-18th centuries) and Bell Tower (1820).

Eco Resort Butuceni is the perfect place to stop for lunch. Traditional Moldavian dishes are served, and sometimes you can even see local women cooking nearby, preparing food for the winter season.

Cricova Cellar winery tour (optional)

Cricova Winery, Moldova with wine tasting. It is a real underground wine city with wide streets, warehouses, and tasting rooms. The total length of this enterprise is 120 km

Visit to Cricova Winery:

Wine tour: €28 per person

Wine tour + tasting: €35 per person

paid directly at the winery)

back to the hotel

After the tour, you’ll return to the hotel by car or minivan 

Please Note

  • Cricova wine cellar is an underground one cellar please take a jacket, 12  to 13 degrees Pickup details: Pickup is available from any hotel or accommodation in Chișinău city center. Please indicate your exact pickup address (hotel name or private apartment address) at the time of booking. The driver/guide will meet you at the main entrance of your accommodation. Pickup time will be confirmed one day before the tour.

Know Before You Go

  • Infants must sit on laps

Cancellation Policy

Fully refundable until 1 day before start

Non-refundable after 1 day before start