Cricova
Cricova is, without overstatement, one of the most remarkable wineries in the world. Just 15 km north of Chișinău, it turns a former limestone mine into an underground maze of 120 km of galleries, 80 metres below ground.
The galleries are large enough that visitors travel through them by car or minibus. The underground streets are named after grape varieties — Cabernet Street, Pinot Boulevard — and the constant temperature of 12-14°C creates ideal conditions for keeping wine.
The Cricova collection holds more than 1.2 million bottles, and a few of them carry extraordinary histories. Kept here are wines from Hermann Goering's personal collection, confiscated by the Red Army, alongside wines belonging to Soviet cosmonauts who marked their landings with a Cricova.
A visit includes a guided tour of the galleries, a tasting of premium wines and, optionally, a meal in one of the tasting rooms built into natural caverns.
Gallery
What sets Cricova apart
Signature wines
Practical information
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Where to sleep and eat near the winery
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.
Wineryunder 1 kmCricova
One of the largest underground wine cities in the world, with more than 120 km of galleries north of Chișinău. Tours by miniature train, old collections and sparkling wines.
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Winery1.2 kmRadacini Winery
Rădăcini Winery is located at Cricova, north of Chișinău, in an area that the map of Moldovan wine associates first and foremost with limestone cellars. The producer, however, operates above ground, with its own vinification and bottling line, and the premises on Petru Ungureanu street belong to the working side of the industry rather than to tourist scenery. The posted hours cover weekdays only, from 08:00 to 16:30, with Saturday and Sunday closed, so a visit has to be arranged entirely in advance. It is a worthwhile stop for anyone who wants to see what a contemporary Moldovan producer looks like at its ordinary pace, and who can fit the route into a working-day window.
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Stay1.5 kmVILA FAMILY
Vila Family is at Cricova, on Crinilor street, in the locality best known for the wineries cut into the rock on the edge of Chișinău. In practice you are barely twenty kilometres from the capital, but already outside it. It is a small, villa-type property that welcomes families with children. Information about services is limited, so details relating to meals are worth clarifying directly. Its location makes it useful for anyone visiting the Cricova cellars who does not want to return to the city in the evening, or for a stop on the way north.
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Stay1.5 kmGiowine Hotel & Restaurant
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.
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Stay4.9 kmSky Land Camping & Resort
Sky Land operates at Hrușova, in the Criuleni district, on the hills between Chișinău and the Dniester valley — less than an hour from the capital, but already in open country of fields and forest. The complex sits in the higher price bracket for the area, welcomes families with children, and the entrance and parking are adapted for wheelchair access. It has its own website for bookings. A good weekend base if you want space and open air, with Orheiul Vechi and the bend of the Dniester half a day away.
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Stay5.7 kmMoonlight Hotel
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.
See detailsWhere to stay near Cricova
Hotels and guesthouses nearby, with prices compared across Booking, Airbnb and other platforms. Worth it if you are coming for a tasting and would rather not drive back.
Map provided by Stay22. Bookings are completed on the partner platforms.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about Cricova
Can you visit Cricova without booking?
No. Cricova admits visitors only with a booking confirmed in advance — it is the only winery in Moldova where the requirement to book is stated explicitly on the official website.
How long does the tour last?
It depends on the package: around 70 minutes for the basic option, 90 or 110 minutes for the extended ones. You move through the galleries on an electric train.
How far is Cricova from Chișinău?
About 14.5 km to the north, roughly 20 minutes by car. It is the closest large winery to the capital.
What is the temperature in the galleries?
A constant 12–14°C, all year. Bring a jacket even if it is 35 degrees outside — the tour runs over an hour.
Can I drive after the tasting?
No. If your tour includes a tasting, go with someone who is not drinking, or take a tour with transport included.
Plan your visit
Where to stay
Real hotels and guesthouses, with prices compared on the map across Booking, Airbnb and other platforms.
SeeTours & day trips
Organised trips with transport included — useful above all if you are going tasting.
SeeGetting there from Romania
Plane, coach, train or car — real journey times, border crossings and the documents you need.
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