If you only visit one winery in Moldova, make it Cricova — and the good news is that it could hardly be easier. The famous “underground wine city” lies just outside Chișinău, roughly a 15–30-minute drive from the centre, and its labyrinth of former limestone tunnels runs to about 120 kilometres beneath the town of the same name. Founded in 1952, Cricova is the classic Moldova day trip: half a day is enough to descend into the galleries, tour the cellars and taste the wines, with time left over for an evening in the capital. This guide covers getting there, what you will see underground, and the small practical details that make the visit run smoothly.
Why Cricova Makes the Perfect Day Trip
Cricova combines three things travellers love: scale, story and convenience. The scale is hard to grasp until you are underground — the tunnel network stretches for about 120 kilometres, carved out of the limestone that once built Chișinău. The story is just as rich: the winery was founded in 1952 and has grown into a national symbol of Moldovan wine. And the convenience is unbeatable — in the central Codru region, a short drive from the capital, Cricova fits into almost any itinerary, from a one-day stopover to a full wine route. Guided tours are commonly offered in English, Romanian and Russian, and tastings usually include several wines.
Getting from Chișinău to Cricova
You have three practical options. Joining an organised tour with transport is the simplest — pick-up in the city, a guided visit and a tasting, with no logistics to worry about. A taxi is the flexible middle ground and lets you set your own schedule for the roughly 15–30-minute drive. A rental car works if someone in your group is happy to be the designated driver. Whichever you choose, the golden rule of wine touring applies: if you plan to taste, do not drive yourself.
Watch: A Tour Through the Underground Wine City
This full tour video shows the journey from Chișinău into Cricova’s tunnels — the galleries, the storage halls and the tasting — so you know exactly what to expect.
What You Will See Underground
The visit begins with the descent. The galleries are former limestone workings, and their most important feature is invisible: a naturally constant, cool temperature that makes them ideal for storing and ageing wine. Tours follow set routes through the tunnels, passing row after row of resting bottles and barrels, before finishing in the tasting halls, where you sample several of the winery’s wines with a guide explaining what is in your glass. Highlights most visitors remember include:
- The sheer scale of the tunnels — about 120 km of them, stretching away in every direction
- Long galleries of maturing wines stored in near-perfect natural conditions
- The underground tasting rooms, where the tour finishes with a guided tasting
- The contrast between the industrial limestone mine and the ceremony of the tasting hall
Step-by-Step: Planning Your Visit
- Book your tour in advance. Cricova runs scheduled guided tours and popular times sell out, especially in harvest season and on weekends.
- Choose a tour with transport included if you intend to taste — it removes every logistical headache.
- Pack a jacket or sweater. The cellars stay cool all year round, whatever the weather above ground.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You will be walking on underground tour routes.
- Allow roughly half a day including the drive from Chișinău, the tour and the tasting.
- Eat beforehand. Tastings usually include several wines, and lunch in Chișinău afterwards is the classic finish.
Should You Add Mileștii Mici on the Same Day?
It is tempting: Mileștii Mici, the Guinness-record cellar with around 200 kilometres of tunnels and roughly 1.5 to 2 million bottles, is also in Codru and also a short drive from the capital. Doing both in one day is possible, and many organised itineraries offer exactly that — but it makes for a long, wine-heavy day. If your schedule allows, give each cellar its own outing, or pair one big cellar with a smaller estate visit instead. If you truly have only one day in Moldova, the combined trip is an unforgettable greatest-hits package.
Read also: Moldova Wine Routes: 1, 3, and 5-Day Itineraries and The Best Time to Visit Moldova for Wine Lovers
Conclusion
A Cricova day trip is the single easiest way to experience what makes Moldovan wine tourism special: monumental underground cellars, a proper guided tasting and a story that starts with a limestone mine and ends in your glass. Book ahead, bring a jacket, let someone else drive — and leave half a day in your Chișinău itinerary for the underground wine city.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Cricova from Chișinău?
Cricova is a short drive from the capital — roughly 15–30 minutes by car, depending on traffic and your starting point in the city.
Do I need to book a Cricova tour in advance?
Yes, booking ahead is strongly recommended. Tours run to a schedule with limited places, and the most popular slots fill quickly in autumn and on weekends.
What should I wear for a cellar tour?
Bring a warm layer — the underground galleries stay cool year-round — and comfortable shoes for walking the tour routes.
