Remarkable Sightseeing and Things to Do in Orhei, Moldova
Orhei is a city in Moldova. The city is situated in its eponymous district and at the edge of its eponymous National Park. Majority of the things to do in Orhei are centered around this national park. As far as the city is concerned you only have a museum and a few monuments to explore to explore history. There are parks and water parks among places to visit in Orhei city for leisure. But beyond that, there is not much in the way of Orhei sightseeing in the city itself.
The biggest attraction for people to visit Orhei is the national park and the archaeological site. This historic site is spread over 220 hectares of area and is known as old Orhei. The city is named after this ancient settlement which dates back to 4th century B.C.E. The site contains several ruins, monastery, fortifications, public baths and more. There are caves close to this site as well which were carved into monastery.
The archaeological site and many other historical builds are part of the Orhei National Park, which was the first of its kind in Moldova. Alongside these historical sites there are many fascinating things to see in Orhei including river valley, hills, forests and wildlife. You can explore the forest through a safari like tour, on foot or on bicycle.
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Table of Contents
Top 7 Tourist Places to Visit in Orhei
1. Old Orhei Archaeological Complex (Orheiul Vechi)
This is the most important archaeological site in Moldova. The history of this site dates back to 4th century BCE Dacian settlements. There are couple of places to visit in old Orhei including city ruins, Dacian fortifications, Turkish wash houses, orthodox monastery and so on. You would need at least half a day from Orhei travel for this place.
2. Manor of the Balioz Family
This is one of the oldest estate parks in Moldova and belonged to Balioz Family. It is one of the Orhei tourist attractions close to the archaeological site, so you can visit it on your way there. You would need like 30 to 45 minutes to explore this old manor house when you visit Orhei.
3. Orhei National Park
This National Park is among the top things to do in Orhei, Moldova as it encompasses majority of other attractions in the region. The national park includes the archaeological site, caves, forest, monastery and more. You will need a day at least to enjoy this National park when you visit Orhei.
4. Museum of Ethnography (Muzeul de Istorie şi Etnografie din Orhei)
This museum focuses mainly on the history of Orhei and its people. It can be added to Orhei sightseeing if you have time to kill and want to learn about the regional history and culture. It will take you about half an hour or so to explore this museum.
5. OrheiLand
This is a large amusement park with a variety of rides, entertainment events, leisure experiences and more. It is especially a great Orhei tourist attraction for families. You can easily spend an entire day at this park without getting bored.
6. Cricova Winery
This winery has been built over limestone tunnels which have existed since the 15th century. You can tour this winery and enjoy some fine Moldovan wines. The cellar also holds some antique wines and has hosted several well known people like cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and Russian President Vladamir Putin. You will need about an hour for this experience during Orhei travel.
7. Magnetic Anomoly
Along Orhei-Chisinau road, there is a fountain near Safari restaurant. In this small region the magnetic field is rather strong. If you put your car in neutral here, it will start moving by itself. It is among the lesser known Orhei attractions you can explore. You won’t need more than a couple of minutes for this place.
Check out the section below for more things to do in Orhei.
Things to do in Orhei
Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Orhei
- Old Orhei Archeological Site
- Vasile Lapu Monument
- Museum of Ethnography
- Manor of the Balioz Family
- Orheiul Vechi Monastery
- Curchi Monastery
Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Orhei
- Orhei National Park
Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Orhei
- Orhei Land Water Park
- Ivanos Park
Shopping in Orhei
- Vasile Lupu Street
Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Orhei
- Hiking
- Jungle Safari
Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Orhei
- La Strada
- Diez Cafe
- Oregano
- Forte Pizza
- Ellada
- Dolce Vita
Where to Stay in Orhei?
There are very few mid-range and budget hotels to stay in Orhei
Custom Tours Package in Orhei
How to Reach Orhei?
By Air
The closest airport for Orhei travel is the Chisinau International Airport. You don’t get transportation directly from the airport. You will first need to get to Chisinau city to get on a bus to reach Orhei.
By Road
The bus network is quite good in Moldova, so you can get direct or connecting bus to visit Orhei from several cities and town in the country.
If you are planning to drive to Orhei, you should head for route M2 or R20. Either of these routes will take you to the city. However, if you directly want to go for Old Orhei tourist attractions or Orhei National Park, you should choose route R23.
By Water
There are no direct water routes connected to Orhei.
Image Reference
- Old Orhei Archaeological Complex (Orheiul Vechi) – Dave Proffer / Flickr
- Manor of the Balioz Family – Agenția de Inspectare și Restaurare a Monumentelor din Republica Moldova / Wikimedia Commons / Facebook
- Orhei National Park – Crissty90 / Wikimedia Commons
- Museum of Ethnography (Muzeul de Istorie şi Etnografie din Orhei) –
- OrheiLand – Photobank MD / Flickr
- Cricova Winery – Cepaev / Wikimedia Commons
- Magnetic Anomoly –
