Crossing the border
No, anybody can enter the country without a visa. Please note that our republic is totally landlocked and doesn’t have a working airport, you might need a visa to enter the Republic of Moldova on your way to Pridnestrovie. You can check if you need a Moldovan visa on their website.
Currency & Payments
Unfortunately, since early 2020 and political pressures, Western cards such as Visa and Mastercards don’t work anymore in the republic. So far, only Russian MIR cards and local cards are accepted in the banks and ATMs.
If you run out of money during your trip, the best options for you are either to cross into Moldova to get some cash from the nearest ATM or to transfer some money to yourself via Western Union.
Language & Etiquette
Some people do, but it is not very common. As a general rule, English might be spoken mostly by the younger generations (under 30), while German and French is usually found among older people (over 50).
You might struggle to find somebody able to speak English or your preferred languages, even in the most touristic places (such as hotels or restaurants), so you might want to use our cheat sheet or an online translator (link to a more detailed page about it).
Russian is the main language, but many people speak at least one of the two other official languages, Ukrainian or Moldovan (which is basically a dialect of the Romanian language, so Romanian speakers will be able to understand Moldovan speakers, but might not be able to read it since it is written in Cyrillic).
Food & Drinks
While vegetarianism and veganism are not as frequent in Pridnestrovie as in other countries, you will most likely find some options on the menu. Here are some suggestions :
- …
- vareniki
- …
During lent (???dates???), most restaurants offer a special menu …
Best to communicate. Here is a small card you can print or show on your screen.
Transportation
Yes, of course! It is a very convenient way to visit the country, as you won’t be dependent on public transport and can therefore visit and stay in remote places.
A few points to consider:
- when entering Pridnestrovie, you need to pay the road tax (in cash, using American dollars, euro, or Moldovan Lei), a certificate will be delivered to you upon payment, you will have to show it again when leaving the country
- during winter (1st December to 1st March), you are expected to equip your car with winter tires (or all seasons) – Note that unpaved roads might become VERY MUDDY and are better avoided when it is wet and during the winter season, unless you drive a 4×4
- if you plan on buying some petrol for your car (unleaded 92, 95 and 98 are usually available, as well as diesel), you won’t be able to pay with your international car. In most stations, you will be served by a worker. If you don’t speak Russian, show him the fuel you want and hand him the cash (usually we tell them how much we need, for example 200 rubles). Some stations might also accept a selection of foreign currencies (most likely USD, EURO, MDL, albeit at a poorer exchange rate)
- The police rarely stops drivers on the road (unless you broke the rules), but if it ever happens they will likely ask you to show: driving license, green card/insurance, car registration, road tax receipt
- If you get fined for any reason (likely speeding or not letting a pedestrian cross the street safely), you will be required to pay the fine before crossing the border when leaving the country
There is currently no working airport in the republic. The airport in Tiraspol is currently used for parade rehearsals and car races, and the old airfields in the other cities were either dismantled or abandoned. You can fly to Chisinau Airport (KIV) in Moldova, and then reach our republic by bus or taxi.
Didn't find an answer to your question?
Drop us a line and we will try to answer it as soon as possible!