Packing list for Moldova, travel insurance for Moldova and taking your belongings

What to take to Moldova: brief

To pack and check:

• Documents: a passport that is valid for at least another 6 months. Check the latest visa requirements and passport validity rules before departure. Keep a digital copy of your travel documents and travel insurance details as well.
• Money: Moldova uses the Moldovan leu (MDL), not the euro. In Chișinău and larger towns, you can pay by debit or credit card in many places. If you are travelling to rural areas, carrying cash is important.
• Clothing: dressing in layers is your best bet. Summers can get pretty hot, while winters can bring freezing temperatures and snow, so think hats, scarves and gloves! Bring a warm layer for spring and autumn too. A raincoat or umbrella is a must all year round.
• Shoes: comfortable shoes are fine for cities and villages, with sandals for summer (or slippers for indoors in winter). Sturdier shoes or trail runners are useful if you plan to visit wine regions, walk rural trails or explore nature areas. Avoid bringing your favourite irreplaceable shoes, as the streets in Moldova can be pretty tough on them. In winter, warm, waterproof shoes are a good idea.
• Personal care and hygiene: sunscreen, hand sanitiser and your usual toiletries. Sun protection and insect repellent are especially useful in summer.
• Packing and protection: a rain cover for your backpack and, if needed, a dry bag for your phone, documents and electronics.
• Insects and animals: insect repellent for warm summer evenings and tick tweezers if you spend a lot of time outdoors.
• Outdoor gear and useful extras: a reusable water bottle, sunglasses, a small daypack and a scarf for visiting monasteries.
• Medication and first-aid kit: your personal medication and a small first-aid kit.
• Technology and equipment: a phone with offline maps is useful if you travel outside Chișinău. A travel adapter for type C and F sockets.

To consider:

• Knowing where this little country actually is, so you can point it out on a map.
• Leaving some space in your luggage for a nice bottle of local wine.
• A power bank is useful for long day trips if you use your phone for navigation, translation and transport.
• (Vegan) snacks for the journey, as they can be difficult to find locally.
• Installing an offline translation app with Romanian and Russian before you go. Learning a few words in Romanian or Russian can also go a long way towards making friends.

Are there dangerous insects or animals in Moldova?

Are there mosquitoes in Moldova?

• Mosquitoes can be around, especially during the warmer months. You are most likely to encounter them near water, in nature areas and in the countryside.
• At present, there are no major mosquito-borne disease concerns in the country, but, as in other parts of Europe, West Nile virus is getting closer.
• Insect repellent is not necessarily essential, but it can be useful when hiking or spending warm summer evenings outdoors. If there are many mosquitoes, wearing light, long clothing can help too.
• Read more about mosquitoes.
• Read more about the use of DEET, as well as other ways to protect yourself against mosquitoes and insects.

Are there sand flies in Moldova?

• Sand flies occur throughout Moldova, particularly in rural areas and places where livestock is present. They are mainly a nuisance because of their itchy bites. Leishmaniasis is not currently a major concern, but it could become one in the future.
• Read more about sand flies.
• Read more about protection against sand flies and sand fleas.

Are there ticks in Moldova?

• Yes, ticks are found in Moldova, especially in grass, bushes, forests and other natural areas. They can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE).
• If you are hiking or spending a lot of time outdoors from late spring to early autumn, covering your skin, using insect repellent that specifically works against ticks, and checking your skin and clothing afterwards are all important. Tick tweezers are worth packing too.
• Read more about ticks.
• Read more about protection against ticks and leeches.

Can you buy DEET or other mosquito repellents in Moldova?

• Insect repellents are available at pharmacies and larger shops in cities, but the choice is not huge, and you may find that much of the packaging is written in a language you cannot read.
• If you want to use a specific product, such as one containing DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus or picaridin, it is better to bring it with you from your homecountry.
• Check which insects the product works against. Not every product protects against both mosquitoes and ticks.

Can you buy weed or a joint in Moldova, or bring it into the country?

• Cannabis is subject to strict laws in Moldova and is certainly not freely legal. Simply possessing, using, selling or importing cannabis, whether for medical or recreational purposes, can have serious legal consequences.
• The exact consequences depend on factors such as the circumstances and the quantity involved. For example, personal possession of up to 2 grams of dried cannabis or 10 grams of fresh cannabis has been decriminalised. This does not mean it is freely allowed, but rather that you will not be prosecuted. You can still risk a fine or up to 40 hours of community service.
• Bringing cannabis into Moldova is therefore not worth the risk, even if you bought it legally in your home country.