Transnistria, officially known as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republican, is the unrecognised de facto state located between Moldova and Ukraine. Last of the true Soviet States with its own flag (which bears the hammer and sickle) – Young Pioneer Tours will take you deep into the country that doesn’t exist, to experience a genuine Soviet state within Eastern Europe. This tour has been specially created to highlight what daily life was like during the mighty Soviet Union – in terms of ideology and Soviet relics, little has changed. Join us on an epic tour to Transnistria!
Your adventure begins in the least visited country in Europe – Chisinau. Here, you’ll see the impact of capitalism on a former Soviet Republic. We’ll visit and explore key sites in the city with hidden Soviet relics in the backdrop of brutalist architecture – Chisinau has so much to offer and is incredibly underrated.
The journey continues into Transnistria – a real step back into time. For a state that doesn’t officially exist, you’ll be using their currency, eating in cafes filled with Soviet memorabilia, travelling in vehicles with their own registration plates and dancing along to retro Soviet rock music with the locals!
What makes YPT stand out from the rest is that we don’t only explore Tiraspol (the capital of Transnistria), we’ll delve into towns and cities where foreign nationals rarely visit, including Bender, Grigoriopol, Dubăsari and Ribnita. We’ll show you Soviet bus stops, mosaics and memorials from various conflicts as part of your adventure. However, the best are the restaurants and bars frequented by the locals, who are always happy to see guests.
Come join us on our Undiscovered Transnistria tour and experience the country living in the true Soviet Union.
Wednesday 4th October – Chisinau
Thursday 5th October – Chisinau
Morning
Afternoon
Friday 6th October – Chisinau – Bender – Tiraspol
Morning
Afternoon
Saturday 7th October – Tiraspol
Morning
Afternoon
Sunday 8th October – Tiraspol – Grigoriopol – Dubăsari
Morning
Afternoon
Monday 9th October – Dubăsari – Rîbnița – Chisinau
Morning
Afternoon
Having visited Transnistria on many occasions and recently managing and assisting on our tour for the Victory Day celebrations in early May 2023 – I’m frequently asked a series of valid questions about the self-governed state, even more so no …
Read MoreAlongside Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia, Transnistria is one of the many grey zones on the map of Europe that appeared in the turbulent years after the fall of the USSR. Transnistria’s territory roughly corresponds to the territory betw …
Read MoreTransnistria may be called ‘the last of the USSR’ but trust us, the days of Soviet food are long gone. Well, almost. The old stereotype of Eastern European food being bland and unexciting is dead. As the crossroads of various empires throughout history …
Read MoreWhen it comes to spending money in Transnistria, your credit card is largely useless. There are a tiny fraction of ATMs that will accept Western cards but we don’t recommend using them. In breakaway states, cash is king! Thankfully, there are plentiful …
Read MoreAfter running tours there for ten years, it’s no secret that Transnistria is one of our favourite countries (that technically doesn’t exist). After breaking away from Moldova in a civil war during the collapse of the Soviet Union, Transnistria exists t …
Read MoreIf you ask most people what they associate with the country Moldova, many can’t think of anything to respond. For those that can, the most common reaction is ‘poverty?’ Well… they’re right. Moldova has earned the brand, without trying, of Europe’s leas …
Read More100 years ago today arguably the biggest event of the 20th century took place, Russia’s October Revolution. Under the leadership of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the Bolshevik Party took power from the Provisional Government. It then started the chain of even …
Read MoreWant to extend your YPT adventure? Join one of our great tour extensions
We have expert guides ready to help answer any questions you may have.
©YoungPioneerTours.com 2023. All rights reserved.