Moldova by campervan: food and supermarkets
Where to buy food in Moldova, which supermarkets to use, opening hours and practical tips for eating on the road. What to know before you go.
Published 18 September 2026Last checked 19 September 2026
Currency
Moldovan leu
MDL, not the euro. 20.11 lei to €1 on 18 September 2026
Language
Romanian
Russian is widely spoken
Driving
Right
No motorways. Open road limits run 80 to 110 km/h
Vignette
From €4
Every foreign vehicle. Seven days for a car or motorhome
Tap water
Do not drink it
UK health advice: bottled or boiled water only
Emergency
112
Operators may speak only Romanian or Russian
Food and wine
Food and wine
Wine is the point of Moldova, and it is underground. Two cellar complexes within half an hour of Chișinău are world class. Mileștii Mici, 20 km south, was founded in 1969 and holds the largest wine collection in the world recognised by the Guinness Book of Records, over 1.5 million bottles, in more than 200 km of limestone galleries kept at a constant 12 to 14 C. Cricova, 15 km north, dates from 1952, runs its tunnels at 60 metres depth and was the first Moldovan producer of traditional-method sparkling wine.
Where to shop
- Best value: Linella.
- Full range: Kaufland or Metro.
- Camper access: Kaufland and Metro branches outside central Chișinău have the simplest access.
What eating out costs, reported
- Cheap restaurant meal
- 170 lei
- Draught beer, 0.5 l
- 35 lei
About 8.45 euros at 20.11 lei to the euro, the National Bank rate for 18 September 2026. Reported range 120 to 300, Numbeo September 2026
About 1.74 euros at the same rate. Reported range 18 to 60, Numbeo September 2026
Three cellars worth planning a trip around
| Cellar | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Mileștii Mici | About 20 km south of Chișinău | Founded 1969. Largest wine collection in the world per the Guinness Book of Records, over 1.5 million bottles. Over 200 km of limestone galleries at a constant 12 to 14 C. On the UNESCO tentative list. |
| Cricova | About 15 km north of Chișinău | Founded 1952. Galleries at 60 metres depth, the National Cellar of rare and historic wines, and the first traditional-method sparkling wine made in the country. |
| Brănești | Near Orheiul Vechi | A third option in the galleries of a former limestone mine, 60 metres down, with 75 km of tunnels. Combine it with Orheiul Vechi rather than with the capital. |
Stocking the campervan
- Buy bottled water in quantity. UK health advice is bottled or boiled only, so plan water the way you would in a hot country rather than a European one.
- Markets are morning and cash. Supermarkets in the towns take cards.
Eating out
- Plăcinte are the everyday food: thin filled flatbreads, with cheese, cabbage, potato or apple, sold from bakeries and stalls.
- Mămăligă is polenta, served with sheep cheese, sour cream and often fried fish or pork.