Monumentul lui Ștefan cel Mare
The Monumentul lui Ștefan cel Mare stands at the entrance from Bulevardul Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt into the public garden of the same name, and is Chișinău's central landmark. The bronze statue of the ruler, raised in the 1920s, is where flowers are laid on important dates and the point from which the whole centre takes its bearings.
What you'll see
The bronze statue depicts Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt (Stephen the Great, Moldavia's fifteenth-century ruler) with the cross raised, set on a massive plinth on the boundary between the boulevard and the public garden. It is the most symbolically charged object in the capital's public space: wreaths are laid here on national dates, people gather here at important political moments, and the monument's image appears on almost all the city's promotional material.
The stop takes a quarter of an hour, but it is worth making with an eye to context — the monument was moved and brought back several times during its turbulent twentieth-century history, which says a great deal about the city around it. The ruler and his era are covered in detail in the notable figures section.
Getting there
The address is Bulevardul Ștefan cel Mare și Sfînt, right in the city centre, at the entrance to the public garden. From anywhere in the central perimeter it is a few minutes on foot, and all the trolleybus lines crossing the boulevard stop alongside. The approach is flat and listed as wheelchair-accessible.
When to go
Access is permanent, round the clock, every day. Early in the morning the monument can be photographed with no passers-by, and in the evening the boulevard's lighting sets it off well. On 2 July and other commemorative dates the area is taken up by official ceremonies — worth seeing then for the atmosphere, worth avoiding if you want quiet.
What to combine it with
It is the point zero of any day-long route through Chișinău. Behind the monument you step straight into the Grădina Publică „Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt" and the Aleea Clasicilor; a few minutes' walk away are the Triumphal Arch, Piața Marii Adunări Naționale and the run of museums on Strada 31 August 1989 — the Muzeul Național de Artă and the Muzeul Național de Istorie a Moldovei.
A realistic plan for 48 hours in the capital starts here. Guided walks through the centre are in the tours and excursions section, the places to eat within the perimeter in the restaurants section, and the remaining sights in the Chișinău guide.
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Unde dormi și unde mănânci lângă Monumentul lui Ștefan cel Mare
Places to stay, eat and taste from our directory, sorted by distance. Every one rates at least 4 stars on Google with over 100 reviews.
Restaurantunder 1 kmGusto Italiano
Italian cooking on Bănulescu-Bodoni, a central street, with the longest hours in the selection: daily until 23:30. The rating, 4.1 from 306 reviews, is more modest than that of its Italian neighbours, so it is worth seeing as a late-evening option rather than as a destination in itself. Breakfast, vegetarian options, terrace and wheelchair-adapted seating; bookings accepted.
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Restaurantunder 1 kmCafé Central
Café Central shares its boulevard address with The Penthouse — Ștefan cel Mare 103 — but has a different profile: hours of 09:00–22:00 instead of round the clock, and a 4.4 rating from 777 reviews. It has a terrace onto the boulevard, serves breakfast, can be booked and takes children and groups. Parking is on the street. It has no website of its own, so bookings go by phone.
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Restaurantunder 1 kmMyata Café & Bar
Myata Café & Bar stays open until 02:00 every night, which takes it out of the daytime café category and closer to an evening venue, on Bănulescu-Bodoni, in the centre. The rating is 4.3 from almost 1,200 reviews. It can be booked, takes groups, has a terrace, breakfast and vegetarian options. It has no parking of its own and does not accept dogs — worth noting before coming by car.
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Restaurantunder 1 kmThe Penthouse Café
On bulevardul Ștefan cel Mare, at number 103, The Penthouse Café is the only address in the selection that combines a high price level with round-the-clock hours. Its 4.2 rating from over 1,200 reviews is below the average for cafés in the centre, but the volume shows a venue with constant traffic, at any hour. It has a terrace, serves breakfast, can be booked and takes groups; parking is on the street.
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Restaurantunder 1 kmMojito
With over 5,000 reviews, Mojito is one of the busiest addresses on bulevardul Ștefan cel Mare. The main reason is the hours: open 24 hours a day, every day of the week, which makes it useful both for an early breakfast and after midnight. It has a terrace, takes groups, accepts bookings and has wheelchair-accessible seating. Free parking. Mid-range prices, rating 4.2.
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Restaurantunder 1 kmBonjour Cafe
The location is the main argument: Bonjour Cafe sits in Parcul Catedralei, with the entrance from strada Eugen Doga, right in the centre. It opens at 07:00 and closes at 23:00 every day, serves breakfast and has a terrace — a rare combination for a morning coffee in the park. It takes no bookings, you simply turn up. It accepts dogs, is suitable with children, has free parking and 4.6 from over 1,900 reviews.
See detailsCazare lângă Monumentul lui Ștefan cel Mare
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Frequently asked questions
Întrebări despre Monumentul lui Ștefan cel Mare
Where is the monument?
At the entrance from Bulevardul Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt into the public garden of the same name, in central Chișinău. It is a few minutes on foot from anywhere in the central area.
What are the visiting hours?
The monument stands in open public space, freely accessible round the clock, every day of the week. There is no entry ticket.
Is it wheelchair-accessible?
Yes, the approach is flat and listed as wheelchair-accessible. The area is also marked as suitable for visits with children.
Organise your stay
Where to stay
Real hotels and guesthouses, with prices compared on the map across Booking, Airbnb and other platforms.
SeeWhere to eat
Restaurants in Chișinău, from traditional kitchens to modern rooms.
SeeWhen to come
The calendar of holidays and festivals, season by season, so you can time your visit.
SeeVezi tot ce merită în Chișinău
Muzee, parcuri, monumente și cel mai bun traseu de 48 de ore prin capitală.
