Moldova gastronomic route launches across 1,500 km of flavors
The Republic of Moldova is launching one of the region's most comprehensive and authentic culinary experiences: the Romania-Republica Moldova Cross-Border Gastronomic Route.
Spanning over 1,500 kilometers within the country, this Moldova Gastronomic Route itinerary unveils the rich tapestry of Moldovan flavors: from traditional Moldovan dishes like sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls) and plăcinte (pies) to the distinct tastes of the Gagauz, Bulgarian, and Ukrainian local communities.
The cross-border tourism Route traverses the Republica Moldova from north to south, connecting 25 tourist attractions across 17 districts.
A guesthouse in Stoianovca village, Cantemir district, is set to surprise visitors with miurdea, a powerful mix of ground aromatic herbs blended with oil, typically served with fresh bread.
"I wash the thyme and parsley, dry them, then I grind them. When I take the baked bread out of the oven, I break off a piece and eat it with miurdea. It's truly delicious," says Irina Beșir, a guesthouse representative.
Mămăliga (polenta) and the famously small sarmale are essential features of the Culinary Route.
"When people see them, they can't believe we shape them by hand. Everyone asks us how we manage to prepare such tiny sărmăluțe. I can make a whole cauldron of them in two and a half to three hours," says Lilia Lungu, representative of a guesthouse in Lalova village.
Another highlight is the traditional method for mămăliga.
"We add the cornmeal very slowly and wait for the water to boil, which prevents lumps from forming. Just a little more. Once the cornmeal has boiled, the water's texture changes, and it becomes much easier," explains Aliona Butacova, owner of a guesthouse in Teleșeu village.
Tourists will also have the opportunity to discover Kyrgyz cuisine.
"This is navat, an unusual sugar; it’s a crystallized sugar on a thread that is added to tea. We also have ciac ciac, which we sometimes call minciunele (sweet fried dough)," says Larisa Ambrosie, representative of a guesthouse in Leordoaia village.
Traditional restaurants, charming guesthouses, wineries, gastronomic workshops, and unique locations, such as the Bread Museum or the country's only trout farm, are all included stops on the Moldova Gastronomic Route.
"We are two steps away from entering the European Union. What are we bringing with us: our authenticity, our national value," notes Ana Sandra, interim director of the National Tourism Office.
"The locations were selected based on the uniqueness of their traditional dishes. We placed emphasis on our ethnicities, as we have a vast diversity, including Bulgarians, Gagauz, and also Kyrgyz," says Valentin Ceban, Head of the Tourist Infrastructure Section.
Along with 30 objectives from Romania’s North-East Region, the combined route now forms one of the most complex and authentic culinary experiences in the broader region.
"This covers the six counties of Romania bordering the Republica Moldova and Ukraine. We have plăcinte poale în brâu (traditional pies) and, for desserts, I think of alivancă. There is also the ciorbă ciocăneșteană, a soup made from trout and mushrooms," says Roxana Șlemco, director of the Regional Development Agency, Romania.
According to the World Tourism Organization, the Republic of Moldova is in the top 10 global destinations with the best tourist performance in the first half of 2025. The number of tourists has surged by 62% compared to the pre-pandemic period.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
