Transnistria Victory Day Tour

What's It All About?

This tour takes in the Transnistrian Victory Day celebrations and one of the only Soviet military parades left in Europe!

Officially known the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR), and often referred to as a Soviet time warp – Transnistria is one of the four unrecognized countries and frozen conflict zones that still exist in the post Soviet Empire today.

The trip begins in the lovely city of Bucharest. During the day here, we will tour its communist past before jumping on the retro train to Chisinau, Moldova – the least visited country in Europe. After a one day city tour and a night in a Soviet style hotel, we head for the highlight of the trip, Transnistria, and a big old world military parade!

On arrival, we begin our tour straight away. We’ll see gypsy towns, civil war scarred towns, USSR nuclear bunkers, WW2 history and much more!

We end the trip where we started by heading back to Chisinau and jumping on the train back to Bucharest together.

Trip Highlights

  • Bucharest Tour

    We'll arrange a city tour and night out in the old town.

  • Chisinau Tour

    Walking tour of Chisinau, Moldova's rather unique capital city.

  • Transnistria National Day

    Join the crowds at the parade to celebrate Transnistria National Day in Tiraspol.

Tuesday 5th May – Bucharest

  • Arrival at any time into Bucharest and check into our hotel (to be announced).
  • Pre- tour meeting at the hotel at 6pm.
  • Afterwards we'll head out for dinner at Care Cu Bare; a classic Rocky Road eatery!
  • Drinks in Bucharest’s quaint but loud old town.

 

Wednesday 6th May – Bucharest

  • A day tour of old communist Bucharest! We'll do a walking tour, seeing all the must see sites including the Parliament Palace, Revolutionary Square, and the old centre. 
  • Stock up on supplies for the retro Soviet night train to Chisinau, Moldova.
  • Overnight on the sleeper train.

 

Thursday 7th May – Chisinau

  • Early morning arrival into Chisinau and transfer to our hotel.
  • Check in and freshen up
  • City walking tour of Chisinau stopping by the World War II Memorial & Military Museum.
  • Central open-air flea market
  • See the parliament & Main Square.
  • Dinner and drinks at a traditional Moldovan restaurant
  • Overnight in Chisinau

 

Friday 8th May – Tiraspol

  • After breakfast we meet our drivers who will take us into the breakaway state of Transnistria.
  • On the way to Tiraspol, we'll pass by Russian border guards and KGB controls before checking into our Soviet era hotel.
  • Afterwards we will head out and explore Tiraspol.
  • Pobedi Park - A chance to experience the rides at the 60’s style amusement park!
  • Walk down October 25th street which has a large billboard of former President Smirnoff.
  • University of Tiraspol & City Hall. It has a massive bust of Lenin for great photos.
  • Visit the Russian Orthodox Church of Tiraspol. Newly renovated with golden domes.  Inside the girls must wear a scarf on their head.
  • Statue of the Russian General Suvorov.
  • Outdoor market - a perfect place to buy antiques and Soviet memorabilia at non-touristy prices
  • Visit the Eternal Flame at the Independence War Memorial.
  • See Parliament which houses the biggest statue of Lenin outside Russia!
  • Lunch
  • Pobedi Park for the 24-hour beer and vodka stall. A great place for people-watching!
  • Cross the river on a Soviet barge to the isolated village of Kitskani. Here we will visit the beautiful monastery, visit the bullet riddled head of Lenin and the Soviet house of culture.
  • Head to the WW2 memorial riddled with bullet holes from the recent civil war.
  • Return to Tiraspol for dinner and drinks.
  • Overnight at the Soviet hotel.

 

Saturday 9th May – Victory Day! Transnistria

  • We grab breakfast in a traditional local  restaurant.
  • Grab a great spot to watch the parade of one of the biggest days in the Russian calendar - Victory day!
  • Enjoy the Transnistrian military might on display in front of you
  • Head to Transnistria's second biggest city - Bender.
  • We see the oldest church in Bender & the City hall - still riddled with bullet holes from the Civil War!
  • We continue to the old Soviet Theatre and Lenin Park.
  • We then tour the Ghost Train Station, since the Civil War almost no trains go there. They still maintain it immaculately.
  • View a WW2 Soviet Train and war memorial.
  • Visit the old Soviet 1970s Amusement park on the river walk. Still functioning!
  • See the HQ of the Transnistria navy!
  • Saviet tank monument which of course we can climb.
  • See the old Red Army bunkers which go on for hundreds of Kilometres.
  • Return to Tiraspol and overnight.

 

Sunday 10th May – Dubasari

  • Stop in the village of Grigoriopol to view the Silver Lenin and Monument of Soviet Sorrow. Visit their old Soviet Library and take as many photos as we want. Stop at a massive Tank Monument overlooking the battlefields of WW2.
  • Stop in Transnistria’s third largest city Dubasari. We'll visit a Hydro Electric Dam controlled by the Russia Army. Nearby is a beautiful beach where locals sunbathe and we will enjoy a nice cold beer. 
  • Lunch at a Russian kebab Restaurant.
  • Visit the main monument to WW2 and the isolated Soviet Music College. It has one of the biggest Lenin’s in the world and a perfectly intact massive Soviet Emblem. We are given a full tour by the Director himself!

 

Monday 11th May – Tiraspol

  • After breakfast, we head to an isolated Soviet Nuclear War Bunker. Only 3 were built in the entire Soviet world! We Stop in the isolated village of Toshlick to view their intact little Soviet Cultural center.
  • Enjoy the view overlooking of the Dnister River.
  • Head for Ribnitsa - the third largest city in Transnistria.
  • We have lunch in the centre before heading to the Cultural Center & fantastic Soviet Mural.
  • See another isolated old Soviet Nuclear War Survival Bunker!
  • Spend a few hours exploring the Bunkers.
  • Overnight in Sorroca, the gypsy capital of Transnistria!

 

Tuesday 12th May – Chisinau

  • After breakfast, we'll do a tour of Sorroca.
  • See the Gypsy Hill - lined with some crazy looking gypsy mansions! We’ll see Soroca Fortress, a historic medieval fortress.
  • Return to Chisinau and board the afternoon train back to Bucharest, Romania.

 

Wednesday 13th May

  • 6:30am arrival in Bucharest
  • End of tour.
  • Hotels

    Hotel accommodation in twin share rooms.

  • Entrance fees

    All entrance fees (unless otherwise stated)

  • Guides

    Both an expert local guide and english speaking tour leader.

  • Transport

    All transport to complete the itinerary

  • International Fights

    Flights to and from Bucharest.

  • Food & Drinks

    All meals are extra cost.

  • Visa Fee

    Any associated visa fees.

  • Tips

    Tip are encouraged for your local guides.

Gallery!

Book Now!

Transnistria Victory Day Tour

895
  • May 5th - 13th (Start and finish in Bucharest)
  • 9 Days
  • Book now by filing out this form!
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