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Welcome to Transnistria with the capital city Tiraspol a place where time has stopped and you have the
opportunity to see what life was like in the Soviet Union nowadays. Transnistria is an interesting place for those who have not experienced the Soviet Union firsthand.
In our 16 things to do in Tiraspol, you will find the best places in the city that you should definitely discover if
you are planning a trip to this unrecognized country.
Table of Contents
Where is Transnistria?
Transnistria is an unrecognized country officially the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR) that
separated from Moldova after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990-1991 when an independent government was established with Tiraspol as its capital. The capital city of Tiraspol is located near Ukraine (634 km) and is surrounded by the Dnieper River on the other side and Moldova behind. Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, is only 72 km from Tiraspol.
Tip: The official date of establishment of Transnistria is September 2, 1990.
If you want to focus more on the politics of Transnistria and understand more about the situation after the fall of the Soviet Union, it would be better for you to do your own research, because after reading various sources freely available on the Internet, we were even more confused than wiser.
ABOUT TRANSNISTRIA
Crossing borders
For your visit to Tiraspol, you will need a valid passport. There are a few checkpoints at the borders of the
unofficial country where they will ask you how many days you plan to visit it, where you stay and they ask us also if we have a camera.
It is your responsibility to book accommodation before entering.
At the checkpoint, they will print a migration card for you, which will be required from you upon exiting the country. In our case, passport control was done quickly, in 5 minutes, even though local people were already waiting for us in the minivan. We were the only tourists in the vehicle.
Note: There is no passport control from the Moldovian side.
Local currency / ATMs
The local currency of Transnistria or the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR) is the Transnistrian ruble.
When we were there, €1/$1 was 17.5 Transnistrian rubles (PRB). The only place where you can change money to local currency is in Transnistria, as Moldova does not recognize it as a country. It is best to take cash with you to the country and change it there.
Even though the maps showed us more options where to change money, the exchange offices looked sketchy with no reviews, so we changed money at the local SHERIFF supermarket, where they have a kiosk and change currencies on weekdays.
If you were planning to exchange money at an ATM that you can find everywhere near supermarkets, don’t even try, these ATMs only accept local bank cards. This is one of the harder things to do in Tiraspol.
Transnistrian passport
Interestingly, local people with a Transnistrian passport can hardly travel at all. This region is not recognized as a separate country around the world, only in the self-proclaimed republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, this passport is valid. Usually, local people have dual citizenship, often times they have a Russian,
Ukrainian, or Moldovan passport.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT TIRASPOL?
The best time to visit Tiraspol is between May and September when the average daytime temperatures are
around 20°C/68°F – 26°C/78°F. During your visit to Tiraspol, there may also be precipitation, which is
common all year round, and storms in the summer months. During our visit in Tiraspol, we had beautiful sunny weather without a cloud.
THINGS TO DO IN TIRASPOL
Presentation of the Child Jesus Church
You can see the green roofs of this church if you walk from the Tiraspol train/bus station. It is a Russian
Orthodox church located in the middle of a small, peaceful Kirov Park. The entrance to the park is through a gate of a similar style to the church itself, with three golden onion-shaped domes and bells. The church is a
900m walk from the station.
Church of the Nativity
It is the largest and newest cathedral in Tiraspol, which serves as a Russian Orthodox church and was
completed in 1999. It is one of the main attractions of the capital, beautiful on the outside as well as on the
inside with colorful frescoes adorning the walls of this church. The light of the sun’s rays penetrates through
the windows of the cathedral, which gives the place a heavenly atmosphere. You can spot it from the main
street of the city (25 October Street).
Green Market
Another attraction of the city is the outdoor markets (Piața Verde) near the cathedral. Here you can buy fresh
local vegetables, fruits, honey, flowers, nuts and other things. We bought home-made strawberries here, they tasted like they were from grandma’s garden and they didn’t cost a fraction of the prices we’re used to. A great place to observe the locals and their daily lives.
“Catherine the Great” Park
There is a large park near the Green Market that leads to the main 25 October street. In the park, you will find many benches, a fountain, local musicians, and refreshment stalls, as well as a statue of Catherine the
Great. A nice place to relax after exhausting shopping at the Green Market. The park ends where the river
Dniester begins.
Suvorov Monument
There is a monument of Alexander Suvorov, also located in the park of Catherine the Great, near the
monument there are magnificent flags of Transnistria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia nicely together because
no other countries recognize them. The surroundings are really nicely arranged, full of roses and other
ornamental flowers.
Tiraspol Cinema
The Tiraspol cinema is also located on the main street of the city near the magnificent fountain and the sign
Tiraspol, where tourists go to take pictures. There is a white carriage in front of the cinema, from afar we
thought it was a cool place to sell cinema tickets until in the evening we found out that it was a coffee machine.
In the evening, very loud modern music plays around the cinema, the fountain plays with colors and many
local people and tourists meet here.
Tank Monument
This monument is located in the Memorial of Glory complex. It is a Russian tank on a pedestal. A great
contrast to see a Russian tank and right behind it the orthodox St. George the Victorious Chapel.
Memorial of Glory
A large monument commemorating veterans and those who died in the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet-Afghan War, and the Transnistrian War.
Behind the Orthodox chapel is a modern skate park with graffiti.
Tip: Read our article about an interesting trip to Mauritania, where we ride an Iron Ore train through the Sahara Desert!
Dniester River
In close proximity to the monument is also the Dniester River with a few bars and restaurants with music. The bridge also connects both sides of the river where the city beach is located. If you come in the summertime you have nice relaxing things to do in Tiraspol.
Museum of Local History
The museum focuses on WW2 and the Transnistrian conflict. The rooms of the museum are filled with history, from the weapons of the uniforms to various posters and artifacts from the wars.
Lenin Monument & Transnistrian Government
A typical Soviet building, the Tiraspol parliament building with a Lenin monument on a pedestal in front of it. The building was built in the 1980s and is located near the main 25 October street.
Tiraspol City Hall
Also called the House of Soviets, it is the city office with the Lenin Monument. The interesting thing about the building is the tall pillars depicting the flag of this non-existent country. It is located on the opposite side of 25 October Street.
Yuri Gagarin billboard
Yuri Gagarin’s billboard is one of the hidden things to do in Tiraspol. In the street near the House of Soviets. You can find it in close proximity to Gagarina Boulevard.
Victory Park
This park, 2.3 km from the center, is suitable for relaxing or taking a walk, also has a children’s playground, a cafe, and the Monument to Kotovsky. The tradition of this place is that young men steal Kotovsky’s saber as a sign of heroism, when we visited the park Kotovsky had his weapon firmly in his hand.
Monument to Aviators
A memorial MIG-19 fighter mounted on a pedestal in the background with the tallest building in Tiraspol. It is a monument to the aviators, unveiled on May 8, 1975, the evening before the 30th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.
The monument is located in the park with the same name, Aviators Square, it is 4 km from the center, so this is one of the further located things to do in Tiraspol, but you can visit it by trolleybus or minivans running around the city. We visited this place on foot as well as all the other attractions of Tiraspol, it was a nice walk thanks to which we got to know the city a little more than just from the tourist side. The next day our legs hurt from so much walking we made more than 24,000 steps.
Aviators, you can visit it by trolleybus, minivan (Marshrutka), or on foot.
Tip: Are you not sure about your independent visit to Tiraspol? You can book guided tours to Tiraspol. A couple of hour-long sightseeing tours of Tiraspol with the possibility of pick-up.
⬇️ Check all available tours in Tiraspol ⬇️
Bonus things to do in Tiraspol
Thing bonus things to do in Tiraspol we noticed that this city is full of beautiful cats, they were visible almost everywhere except the noise center, we tried to find non-traditional routes through various blocks and housing estates with old courtyards for the residents of the blocks, where there are benches, people dry their clothes and the whole thing looks like that as in the country of our basin 20 years ago.
It was magical to go back in time, we had the most fun feeding the cats in the evening when they went out into the streets. The cats were grateful and let themselves be petted, and we were satisfied that the food was not wasted. Thanks to them, we will never forget our visit to this cat city.
Tip: Tiraspol is an easily walkable city. The only thing further away from the center is the Monument to
WHERE TO STAY IN TIRASPOL?
You have various accommodation options in Tiraspol.
There are hotels and a few hostels here. You can usually pay by card or cash at the accommodation. We
stayed in the Like Home Hostel with room for ourselves. Interesting decorations from the Soviet Union
welcome you as soon as you enter the accommodation.
The accommodation also offers a kitchen where you can cook simple meals, which we used.
Tip: Check all available hotels in Cairo on Booking.com. It’s our favorite booking platform.
If you are more budget traveler you can check Hostelworld where you find cheaper options with shared facilities.
WHERE TO EAT IN TIRASPOL?
In Tiraspol, you can find various types of catering facilities, their cuisine is influenced by Moldovan,
Romanian, and Russian influences. You can find classic pierogi or Romanian classic stew in almost every
restaurant. Don’t worry, in a city like Tiraspol you can also find international cuisine, such as pizza.
Transnistria is also known for exporting caviar and cognac.
During our visit to Tiraspol, we ate at the classic Cantina URSS, considered the city’s cheapest option. The selection was not wide, but the food was very cheap and the taste reminded us most of the school canteen. It was simply delicious and one of our favorite things to do in Tiraspol.
Tip: The exact location of Cantina URSS
Another well-known location is the restaurant Back in the USSR, we went to visit this establishment, and we only
had coffee there, looked at the Soviet decoration, and enjoyed the large sunny terrace.
Another dining option is to buy groceries at the local SHERIFF supermarket, and if you have a stove and
basic cooking utensils available at your accommodation, you can cook for yourself like we did. We made simple pasta dishes twice in a row for dinner.
If you don’t plan to cook and want a proper taste of Moldovan food, there are food tours in the city with
professional guides who will take you to the best gastronomic establishments in the city.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is Tiraspol worth visiting?
Certainly yes. There are many unique things to do in Tiraspol. Good experience and a place where you have an outdoor Soviet museum at every step.
Is it possible to enter Transnistria?
Yes, even if we don’t know how it is from the side of Ukraine now. We crossed the borders of Transnistria
from the Moldovan side, it is best to visit this unrecognized country from Chisinau, which is only 70
km away. The best way to visit is to use a local minibus ( Marshrutka) the check took a few minutes.
What currency does Transnistria use?
The local currency is the Transnistrian ruble, which you can exchange only in Transnistria.
Is it safe to travel to Tiraspol?
In general, visiting Tiraspol is safe. The border control is not long and no one causes problems for tourists there as long as you respect the locals and do not break the laws.
Is it safe to travel to Transnistria?
There is a clear answer to this question on the Internet: DO NOT TRAVEL TO TRANSNISTRIA. But
we have a different opinion on it, we only have good experiences there.
OUR FAVORITE TRAVEL RESOURCES
Accommodation: We use Booking.com where we always find great deals for hotels.
For hostels, we use Hostelworld where we find cheaper options and meet new people.
Rental cars: To rent your car with free cancellation check out Discover Cars.
Ferries: For cheap ferry tickets worldwide we use Direct Ferries.
All travel options in one place: Omio.com we use for easy travel planning where we can find trains, buses, ferries, and more.
Tours and other activities: Wherever we go we look at GetYouGuide to find the best tours and many other activities around the world!
Travel insurance: Never travel without travel insurance! Ekta works all over the world and has 10 years of experience in the industry. It is your right choice!
Reviews: Before we travel somewhere we always look at Tripadvisor, where we always find a summary of restaurants, places to visit, or hotels with current ratings and photos from people who have visited this place recently.
Luggage storage: Radical storage is such a helpful Luggage storage network! When we have a late check-in or an early check-out we don’t need to carry our luggage with us, we just simply put it in the Radical storage which operates in over 70 countries!
E-sim card: The best way how avoid all the stress of searching for local SIM cards or wifi signals and save time after you arrive in your new country is to get Airalo e-sim. Download and install a digital data pack from 200+ countries/regions!
