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Cricova

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

City

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Practical info — Cricova

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🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

You must book your underground wine cellar tour well in advance; walk-ins are rarely accommodated.
Bring a jacket! The underground wine galleries maintain a constant temperature of 12-14°C year-round.
Take a taxi or public bus from Chișinău; it's safer and easier if you plan on participating in the wine tasting.
Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time to sort out tickets and boarding.

🍽 Food

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Wine and cheese pairings

Enjoy local cheeses and cold cuts served during the official cellar tastings.

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Mămăligă cu friptură

Traditional cornmeal with roast meat, available at traditional restaurants near the winery entrance.

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Sărmăluțe

Stuffed cabbage or vine leaves, a classic Moldovan dish found in town center eateries.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

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Spumant de Cricova

Purchase their famous traditional method sparkling wine directly from the underground cellar shop.

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Wine accessories

The winery shop gives unique local pottery and wine-related souvenirs.

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Town center park

A small, well-kept park good for a quiet stroll after your underground tour.

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Surrounding vineyards

Take a walk along the edges of the town to see the expansive vineyards that supply the cellars.

Cricova is a town in central Moldova, located approximately 15 kilometers north of Chișinău, world-famous for its vast underground wine labyrinth. First mentioned in 1431, the settlement originally developed as a mining site for limestone, used extensively in local construction. In the 1950s, the abandoned tunnels were converted into wine cellars, which today stretch over a total length of 120 kilometers. Known as the 'underground wine city', Cricova houses the National Wine Collection, featuring over a million bottles, including rare historical vintages. The tunnels are so spacious that they function as real streets with traffic signs, named after various grape varieties. The town serves as a major tourist hub, attracting tens of thousands of international visitors annually to its tasting halls and production facilities. Beyond winemaking, the local economy continues to benefit from limestone quarrying in the surrounding areas. Cricova is a cornerstone of Moldovan national identity and frequently serves as a venue for high-level diplomatic events.

Location: Moldova
Top sights: Arcul Cricova · Map of the underground wine town Cricova · Teatrul de vară
Nearby: Stăuceni (5 km)
Population: ~7.400

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug, Sep.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	-4	-2	4	10	17	21	24	24	18	10	4	-2
Rain mm	41	33	38	40	52	70	61	36	39	46	42	40

Geography

Population

7,400

Coordinates

47.13330, 28.86170

Facts

The underground tunnels of Cricova reach depths of up to 100 meters.
The Cricova wine complex was officially established in 1952.
The settlement was officially granted town status in 1975.
Part of Hermann Göring's famous wine collection is stored in the cellars here.
The town's population is estimated at around 10,500 residents.
Cricova was the first winery in Moldova to produce sparkling wine using the classic method.