Where to stay in Moldova

A traditional guesthouse in the village of Butuceni, near Orheiul Vechi, on the bank of the Răut. Houses in the old style, a restaurant serving food from its own garden, and rural activities.

The Hanganu family's agritourism guesthouse, in the village of Lalova, on the bank of the Dniester, some 100 km from Chișinău. Rustic rooms and traditional cooking.

A guesthouse at the foot of the cliffs on the bank of the Răut, in the village of Trebujeni, near Orheiul Vechi. The atmosphere of a grandmother's house and local traditions.

A 5-star hotel in central Chișinău, one of the best-known premium accommodation options in the capital.

A boutique design hotel in Chișinău, valued for its elegant atmosphere and personalised service.

A boutique hotel in central Chișinău, with comfortable rooms and easy access to the main sights.

Giowine is on Crinilor street, in Cricova, the locality north of Chișinău known for the wineries cut into the stone galleries — the cellar visit and the overnight stay tie together naturally here. The hotel has its own restaurant, a pool, a sauna and a bath, a spa area and a banqueting hall. The entrance and parking spaces are adapted for wheelchair access, and families with children are welcomed. For anyone doing the tasting at Cricova who does not want to drive back into the city, it is the nearest place to sleep.

IT Relax operates as a resort at Vadul lui Vodă, on the bank of the Dniester, some twenty kilometres from Chișinău — the capital's classic weekend area, with river beaches and floodplain forest. It welcomes families with children, and the entrance and parking spaces are adapted for wheelchair access. The complex has its own website, where the schedule and seasonal rates can be checked. In summer the area gets busy at weekends; out of season, this stretch of the Dniester bank is quiet and good for long walks.

The guesthouse is at Holercani, a village in the Dubăsari district set on the right bank of the Dniester, on one of the finest stretches of the river, with high banks and woodland. It welcomes families with children, and current information can be followed on its own page. No other services are detailed in the public data. Holercani is a good stop for anyone heading up the Dniester from Vadul lui Vodă towards Rezina and the cave monasteries. The area is quiet outside the warm season and, unlike Vadul lui Vodă, stays uncrowded.

Casa Veche is at Palanca, on the R31 road, in the south-eastern corner of the country, close to the mouths of the Dniester and the border with Ukraine — the closest point to the sea in all of Moldova. It is a bed and breakfast guesthouse that welcomes families with children, with booking possible through the usual platforms. The area sees few tourists and is worth seeing for exactly that reason: the lower Dniester floodplain, the border villages and the Purcari vineyards, less than an hour away, tie together well into a two-day route.

Moonlight is on Alexei Mateevici street, in Stăuceni, the commune adjoining the northern edge of Chișinău, close to the road climbing towards Cricova and on towards Orhei. The hotel welcomes families with children and has its own website for availability. No other services are detailed in the public data. The position is the main argument: you are outside the city, with easier parking and less traffic, but a quarter of an hour from the centre of the capital — useful if you are leaving early in the morning for the Cricova cellars or heading north.

Lidolux is on Decebal street, in Bălți, in an area set back from the town's administrative centre. The rooms have traditionally styled furniture, and the building stands out for its colour scheme. The facilities are above the local average: its own restaurant, an indoor pool and a gym. The entrance and parking spaces are wheelchair-accessible, and families with children are welcomed. It is one of the few options in the north of the country where you can swim whatever the season — useful if you are staying more than one night in the area.