From Wikitravel

Transnistria [1] (Russian: Pridnestrovie) is a region in Eastern Europe that has declared independence from Moldova. It roughly corresponds to the territory between the Dniester River and Ukraine.

[edit] Understand

Transnistria (official name Transnistrian Moldovan Republic; in Russian Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublika, PMR) is a part of Moldova that declared its independence in 1990, entailing a civil war that lasted until 1992. Transnistria has not been recognised by any country, but maintains its functional autonomy with military and other support from Russia.

[edit] Regions

Transnistria is divided into 5 administrative regions and two free cities.

[edit] Cities

• Tiraspol - 168,000 inhabitants according to local government
• Bendery
• Rybnitsa

[edit] Other destinations

[edit] Understand

Official languages in Transnistria are Russian, Moldovan (which is fundamentally identical to Romanian), and Ukrainian. Moldovan in Transnistria is spelled using the Cyrillic alphabet, although some people insist on spelling it with the Latin alphabet, which is a matter of dispute.The most common language used in shops, bars and taxis is Russian which practically everyone understands, Moldovan and Ukrainian are understood and spoken too but to a lesser extent.

[edit] Get in

As a non-Moldovan and non-Ukrainian citizen, you can get into Transnistria via bus or train or car from Moldova (namely Chişinău). If you enter Transnistria from the Ukrainian side and then enter Moldova, you will not get a Moldovan entry stamp, and when you leave Moldova, border guards may claim that you have entered the country illegally.

When crossing the border between Moldova and Transnistria, you will be checked only by Transnistrian officials. There are also peacekeeping Russian and Ukranian soldiers who may stop and search vehicles. You have to pay a fee to the Transnistrian authorities for your stay there. Rates may vary, especially depending on the type of currency you are paying with. It costs 4 Ukrainian Hryvna, 8 Moldovan Lei, or 5 Transnistrian Rubles, as of January 2007. However, this can vary as individual border guards sometimes change the rates to try to pick up a few dollars or euros for themselves. This is not condoned by the Transnistrian government, but occasionally happens in practice.

If you are holding a passport from a non-CIS state, you can expect delays at the border, and will most likely be asked to pay a bribe. The Transnistrian government does not condone this, but in practice the individual border guards are known for targeting non-CIS passport holders in an attempt to extract bribes. The situation can vary considerably. Certain crossings (Dubasari) are known for being easier to cross for non-CIS nationals than others (Bendery). The best course of action is to have a back up plan, and to be flexible. If you don't get in at one crossing, try another crossing or the same crossing another day. Your situation depends entirely on what guards are working the border at the time you cross, and often what kind of mood they are in. If you speak one of the official languages of Transnistria (especially Russian), you will have a much easier time at the border as a foreign national.

If you are turned away at the border, there are many buses and Marshrutkas (minibuses) that will take you back into Moldova or Ukraine, and that these can be hailed on the non-Transnistrian side of the border after they have passed through both borders. You will be expected to pay cash, and the cost can vary. Taxis also can often be found at the border. From the Bendery crossing to Chisinau, a taxi costs 100 to 150 Moldovan Lei.

It is no longer necessary to register with the police: this is now done at the border.

[edit] By plane

Transnistria does not have its own international passenger airport (it has a military or freight airport), so the best way is to fly to Chisinau in Moldova and travel from there. It is also possible to access from Odessa in Ukraine via bus.

[edit] By train

The only major railway stations are Tiraspol and Bendery. Train connections have been suspended for several years. There are no trains between Odessa, Transnistria and Chişinău as of September 2007.

[edit] By car

Cars can enter but expect delays of up to an hour at border crossings in busy times. Note that foreign nationals driving their own vehicles are prime targets for renegade border guards trying to extract bribes.

[edit] By bus

There is a relatively frequent (about every 30 minutes from 7AM to 6PM, less frequently as early as 5AM and as late as 10PM) bus service connecting Chişinău and Tiraspol. Ask for return times when you arrive. Marshrutkas (minibuses) also run this route.

[edit] Get around

There are hardly any train connections within the country, so the bus -- if available -- will be your only choice. Marshrutkas (minibusses) zip between cities much faster (and often more frequently) than buses. They cost a little more, but travel much faster and can be hailed anywhere along their route.

[edit] Taxis

Taxis in Tiraspol are very common and are quite cheap. Be wary of scams however--make sure to negotiate a price before you get in the taxi.

[edit] Talk

The three official languages of Transdniestria are Russian, Moldovan and Ukrainian, although everybody speaks Russian, and Russian is the language of government.

Some people speak English, German, or even French. After the official languages, English and German are the most common. Young people especially may speak some English. However, don't expect many people to be fluent in English--the quality of English education in Transnistria is quite low, and is expected to remain that way given the difficulties of recruiting native speaking teachers due to the country's political situation.

Furthermore, even people who speak some English (or another foreign language) can be quite shy about it, and may deny that they speak it even if they have been educated in it. Keep in mind, there is essentially zero tourism in Transnistria. If you are a native speaker of a foreign language, there's a good chance that you're the first native speaker the person you are talking to has ever spoken with.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Tiraspol does not exactly boast a shopping mile; shops are few and have a limited choice. Official currency is the Transnistrian Rouble (which can only be used and exchanged in Transnistria), though most shops and sales stands will accept Moldovan Lei. There are exchange offices (at least in Tiraspol) that will change your Euros or Dollars and a few other currencies. There are excellent deals in brandy made locally to a world class standard, about $3 a bottle. Cigarettes are very cheap too. There are also arts and crafts to buy as well. A good exchange point is the Kvint store in downtown Tiraspol--there is an exchange office with good rates right inside the shop. There is also an exchange booth at Tiraspol the bus/train station. Be sure to exchange your money before you leave Transnistria. It is truly Impossible to exchange Transnistrian Roubles outside of Transnistria due to the unrecognized status of the government. International credit/debit cards and Travel checks are not accepted anywhere in Transnistria because of economic blockade.

[edit][add listing] Eat

There are many restaurants serving Ukrainian, Moldovan, and American. There is no McDonalds but there is a pizza shop that is popular.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Local wine and cognac are excellent and cheap. The Kvint factory is in Tiraspol, and Tiraspol has a Kvint store, offering incredible deals on Kvint products. Expect to pay less than 3 US Dollars for a half liter of standard Kvint, and no more than 15 US Dollars for 750 ml of high quality cognac, often aged at least 5 years. Kvint produces arguably the best Cognac in the former Soviet Union, but is extremely hard to come by in Western countries. A trip to Transnistria is not complete without a sample. However, the factory is closed to tourists.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

There is a choice of cheap and nearly cheerful hotels. A five star hotel is due for completion in 2007 at Sherrif stadium. Be aware that in some hotels hot water and showers are not standard. They often cost extra on top of the price of a basic room, although often no more than a few dollars on top of the base price. Hotel Timoty is currently the best hotel in town until the 5 star Sherrif hotel is completed. Rooms at Hotel Timoty with standard Western amenities are available for around $50, depending on the size of the room, the date of your reservation, and your nationality. Note that many hotel rooms at cheaper hotels may not come with a private bathroom. And even if you have a private bathroom, hot water is not guaranteed. Ask in advance.

A cheaper alternative to staying in a hotel is to rent a private apartment.

[edit] Stay safe

The phyiscal dangers of Transnistria are almost non-existent. The major cities are much safer than Western European and American cities of similar size and economic makeup. And despite the political situation with Moldova, there is essentially no threat of being caught in a military action. As of this writing (Jun. 2008), there has not been fighting in Transnistria for almost 15 years. Indeed, Transnistria is a very safe place for travel. By far the biggest threat to the traveller is scamming.

Despite scare reports, Tiraspol is very welcoming, mainly because it gets so few tourists. Young people speak English and are helpful. The city is well policed. Crime is low.

Many Transnistrians are excited to see foreigners, and will be very welcoming, if a bit shy at first. Some, however, see foreigners as being sources of easy money. Always negotiate the price of a taxi before you get in. Use a pen and paper if you are not a Russian speaker. Ask about the prices of items before you order them at a bar or restaurant. It is not common to be scammed, but it is far from rare. However, even when scams are attempted it is often for no more than a few euros.

Be wary of Police Officers. If you look foreign, they will stop and ask to see your passport. Often they will request bribes, but it should not take more than a few US dollars or Euros. This practice is not condoned by the Transnistrian government, however in practice it is fairly common.

[edit] Stay healthy

Medical care is almost entirely non-existent in Transnistria, especially for non-citizens. Furthermore, even if you have travel health insurance it will often not be valid in Transnistria (but valid in Moldova). It's advisable to check in advance with your insurer.

[edit] Contact

For general news, read the Tiraspol Times [2], an English language newspaper.

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