Travel Guide to Hînceşti, Moldova
Ra's Travel Guide to Hînceşti
An escape from the traffic and hustling and bustling of city life in Chișinău; a complete travel guide to Hincesti.
Located an hour away from Chișinău, Hîncești is a small city in the southwest of Moldova where a few local events and concerts take place throughout the year. Many of the locals commute daily to and from Chișinău for work, since Hincesti is a quiet city for families and offers a more affordable living cost. There are a few places to visit in Hîncești during your visit to Moldova. For expats, Hîncești is a place to consider staying in if you’re looking to escape the city and find more affordable rent. Continue below for the ultimate travel guide to Hincesti to learn how to plan your visit!
Getting to Hînceşti, Moldova: Transportation Options and Travel Tips
When visiting Hîncești, you will first need to come through Chișinău, the capital of Moldova. Regardless of where in Chișinău, you will need to find your way to Gara de Sud/Vest (Southwest Bus Station). If you’re coming from the airport, you can take bus mini-bus 165 or trolleybus 30 to the city center. Once in the city center, take trolleybus 9 or the Gara de Sud/Vest minibus directly to the Southwest Bus Station. At this time, the minibus and trolley bus cost 6 Moldovan lei per ride. If you’re not coming from the airport, omit the part of the instructions that refer to the airport and follow the rest.
Another easy way is to use Google Maps and select the bus icon, which will show you the trolleybus route you need to take from where you are in order to reach the Southwest Bus Station. Note that Google Maps will not show the minibus routes. However, if you’re not comfortable or confident with public transport you can always call a taxi/grab a taxi, or use the app YandexGo either to get to the Southwest Bus Station or directly to Hîncești (I will explain more about taxis below).
Once at the Southwest Bus Station, you will need to purchase a bus ticket to Hîncești from the Casa Billet (Ticket House). Depending on the times, the Ticket House may direct you to mashrutkas that have Hîncești on the sign or explain that you need to go to one that stops at Hîncești along the way. For the mashrutka timetables, visit the official Autogara website here. If you’re not flying into Chișinău, or would like more assurance for your travel route, consider checking on Rome2rio, to compare travel methods and prices.
Where to Stay in Hînceşti, Moldova?
Due to Hîncești’s proximity to Chișinău, it is possible to stay in the capital and do a daytrip to the city. However, if you would like to take your time and stay overnight, I suggest reserving a stay at La Hanul Lui Gheorge. It’s a modern hotel located in the city center and it is also the ONLY hotel in the city that is currently open.
When I visited Hîncești, I came to the city as a daytrip arriving early in the morning and leaving in the late afternoon. At this time, the mashrutka to and from Chișinău costs 20 Moldovan lei each way. With this travel guide to Hincesti, you will be able to plan which option works best for you.
Getting Around Hînceşti, Moldova
Car
Easily rent a car from Chișinău airport for convenient travel throughout Moldova, allowing you to explore the countryside and other cities without relying on public transportation, but ensure you familiarize yourself with road signs and laws before driving.
Bus/Mashrutka
In Hîncești, hop on a mashrutka or bus to get around the city and its municipality, simply ask the driver or locals for route information as it might not always be displayed on the van, with city routes costing 6 Moldovan lei.
Bike
While locals use bikes for commuting, be cautious of the lack of bike lanes and uneven roads, always wear a helmet and stay vigilant as cars might not yield to bikes.
Taxi
Uber and Lyft are not in Moldova. Instead, call local taxi services at +373 788 41 101 or use the iTaxi and YandexGo apps, but be aware that these apps mostly operate in the capital city, and finding available cars in Hîncești can be challenging. To ensure your safety, use marked taxis affiliated with a taxi company, avoid unmarked cars posing as taxis, and ask for price estimates beforehand, especially if you don't speak the local languages.
Walking
Embrace walking as the ideal way to explore Hîncești, as it's a compact city with abundant sidewalks, a popular mode of transportation for both locals and tourists, and don't be surprised to see people walking long distances between cities and municipalities throughout Moldova.
What to Do in Hînceşti, Moldova?
Vinaria Hîncești
Located just outside the city center, follow the signs that will bring you to a fabulous wine tasting of Hîncești’s locally produced wine! Taste from a variety of reds and whites, while learning about the history of the winery. Make sure to call and reserve your tasting in advance.
Hîncești Sign
Capture your visit to the city by taking a photo with the large Hîncești sign located right in the city center. Be prepared to walk up the large set of stairs if you wish to get a closer sign picture.
Monuments and Statues
Throughout the city there are a variety of large statues, monuments, and mosaics dedicated to the preservation and remembrance of Hîncești’s and Moldova’s culture and history. Not all of the locations are marked on Google Maps, so I highly suggest walking around the city to make sure you don’t miss any.
Manuc Bey
Built in 1861, this hunting house and palace has experienced different events and gatherings throughout the centuries such as the home of politicians, cultural arts center, headquarters for a construction college, and more. Manuc Bey was built by the architect Alexandru Bernardazzi and was decorated in the styles of Armenian, Turkish, Moldovan, and European. Across from the palace is a museum which elaborates on the history of the building and Moldova. Reservations must be made in advance for guided tours. Visit Manuc Bey’s website for reservation information.
Zipline Hîncești
For my adrenaline seekers… Fly through nature on the highest and longest zipline in Moldova! The zipline is only open during the warm months, so be sure to check the company’s Facebook page for updates and information.
Hîncești Museum of Ethnography and History
Explore a collection of artifacts from the 19th century that were collected by locals in Hîncești’s villages.
Hiking
Not far from Manuc Bey and the city center is a lake where you can walk the hiking trail that takes you around the lake. During the warm months you may be able to catch sightings of swans or ducks swimming.
Hincu Monastery
Visit one of the oldest monasteries in Moldova, founded in 1678. Be aware that this city is located a little outside of the city, so you will need to travel here with a car or taxi.
Hîncești, Moldova offers a great escape from the capital and an opportunity to explore a new city of Moldova. With this travel guide to Hincesti, you will maximize your experience!
Travel Tip
Moldova is primarily a cash-based economy, so you will need to always have cash available. Bus tickets are purchased in cash.
My Playlist for Hînceşti, Moldova
"Так устроен этот мир" by Dima Bilan
"Никак" by JONY
"Почему" by Zemfira
"Soarele și Luna" by Pasha Parfeni
"Vals" by Smiley, Feli
