Your adventure begins in the least visited capital in Europe – Chisinau. Here, you’ll see the impact of capitalism on a former Soviet Republic. We’ll visit and explore key sites containing hidden Soviet relics against a backdrop of brutalist architecture – Chisinau has so much to offer and is incredibly underrated.
If you’re into Soviet brutalist architecture, then this is definitely worth a quick visit if you’re in the city. We’ll visit and explore key sites containing hidden Soviet relics against a backdrop of brutalist architecture – Chisinau has so much to offer.
What is included
This is a private tour for yourself or private party
Step into the Soviet era without ever leaving Chișinău on this private walking tour. Trace the rise and fall of the USSR through the city’s architecture, monuments, mosaics, and forgotten spaces. Listen as stories of history, everyday existence, and personal memory intertwine, painting a vivid portrait of life under communist rule.
The Soviet Dawn. Start at the Railway Station, a place of both advancement and profound sorrow. The nearby Deportations Monument speaks of the repression, famine, and forced exiles that defined the early decades. Then, a visit to a bustling second-hand market reveals how Western consumer goods—like jeans and bubblegum—secretly fueled capitalist dreams. Explore the vacant grandeur of the Cosmos and former Intourist hotels, symbols of a carefully controlled isolation. A brief trolleybus journey takes you to the WW2 Victory Monument and Military Museum, where you’ll examine the complex, costly meaning of “victory” in the Stalinist era.
The Promised Epoch. Walk onward to the Circus, an emblem of the state’s pledge of mass culture and leisure. Nearby, the Komsomol Youth statue and sprawling housing blocks spark discussions on government-issued apartments and the illusion of equality. Pause for a canteen-style lunch, sampling dishes born from scarcity and Soviet culinary ingenuity. Around the Opera and Ballet Theatre, learn how performance was censored and how monumental mosaics became the “public art of the USSR.” At the Parliament building, conclude this chapter by uncovering how political power operated in a Soviet Republic.
Dissolution & Legacy. The final segment opens at the deposed Lenin statue in Valea Morilor—a toppled personality cult now haunting a park. At a former publishing house, unravel the mechanics of censorship and suppressed dissent, while two neighboring churches recount the struggle of faith under “scientific atheism,” from desecrated sanctuaries to exiled clergy.
There is no single supplement surcharge for single travellers as this is a private tour. The more travelers in your private group the bigger the discount for the private tour.
Cancellation fees – Cancellation fees may apply to any cancellations by the traveller of a service provided by Get-Locals.com. Unless otherwise specified, the cancellation policy is as follows:
Cancellations for custom itineraries (“Create Your Own”) are as follows:
In the event of bad weather forecast we will contact you the day before and offer you either a refund or an amended tour for the following day.
We always advice to wear suitable clothing for the day of the tour as not every day is guaranteed sunshine.
Our guide will meet you in your hotel lobby
