Czech
AREA and LOCATION
Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova (Republica Moldova) is an East European landlocked country, situated between Romania and Ukraine. A former Soviet Union country, Moldova has been an independent state since August 27, 1991. Moldova’s territory extends over 33,846 square km and is divided into 32 districts, three municipalities and two autonomous territories
BORDERING COUNTRIES
Romania (681,3 km) and Ukraine (1,222 km)
THE CAPITAL CITY and MAJOR CITIES
Chişinău is the country’s capital as well as the largest city with approximately 647,513 inhabitants (metropolitan area, 2005). Other large cities include Tiraspol (159,163 inhabitants, metropolitan), Bălţi (122,778 inhabitants, metropolitan), Bender (97,027 inhabitants, metropolitan).
CLIMATE
Moldova’s climate is moderate/continental with warm summers (average temperatures about 20 C) and fairly mild and dry winters (January temperature averaging to -4 C). Heavy rainfall occurs in early summer and October (common thunderstorms).
AREA CODE
+373
CURRENCY
Moldovan leu (MDL)
DISTANCES
Chişinău is situated 158 km from Odesa, Ukraine; 404 km from Kyiv, Ukraine; 644 km from Sofia, Bulgaria and 727 km from Budapest, Hungary.
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
General emergency line 112 (to be implemented by 2010)
Police 902
Ambulance 903
Fire Service 901
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
Chişinău International Airport
http://www.airport.md/
Cahul International Airport
LANGUAGE
The official language is Moldovan – the 1991 Declaration of Independence mentions Romanian as the official language, while the 1989 Stage Language Law denotes the Moldo-Romanian linguistic identity. Russian has a position of a “language of interethnic communication” and is widely used. French language is the most frequently used from foreign languages.
MOBILE OPERATORS
Orange Moldova http://www.orange.md/
Moldcell http://www.moldcell.md
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS (2010)
1 Jan New Year’s Day, 8 Jan Moldovan Christmas, 8 Mar International Women’s Day, 28 Apr Easter Monday (Orthodox), 1 May Labour Day, 9 May Victory and Commemoration Day, 27 Aug Independence Day, 31 Aug Limba Noastra (National Language Day).
POLITICAL SYSTEM
Parliamentary republic
POPULATION
3,559,500 (2015)
POWER NETWORK
220 V/50 Hz, Europlug, Schuko
PRESIDENT
Maia Sanduová
RAIL TRANSPORT
Railway of Moldova
http://www.railway.md
ROAD TRANSPORT
BUS:
Eurolines
RENT A CAR:
4 Rent
SMOKING
Most restaurants and places still allow smoking, there are few non-smoking restaurants in the country.
TAXIS
Taxis are most convenient and inexpensive way to travel for tourists and foreign visitors. Within the city limits, it will cost approximately 20 – 30 lei ($2-$3). Getting to airport will cost between 50 – 100 lei.
Calling a taxi from Chisinau (when calling from outside the city, add the prefix 22): 1400, 1404,1405, 1406, 1407, 1408
TIME
Standard time zone: Easter European Time (EET), UTC/GMT + 2 hours, Summer (DST) – EEST (UTC + 3)
MORE INFORMATION ON MICE DESTINATIONS:
www.mice-cee.com/destination-world
