In my homeland Moldova you get two Christmases! How is that possible? As an orthodox country, the majority of population here celebrate Christmas on January 7, but there are some people who do that on December 25, so the festivities start in the middle of December. So, you have a chance to get yourself two little Christmases, and visit the Christmas fair in Chisinau.
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Christmas fair in Chisinau 2025
According to the latest news that I have heard, the Christmas and New Year festivities will start on 5 December and last till 18 January.
The main festivities will take place, as usually, on the main square of Chisinau in front of the Government House of Moldova and in the park opposite it where the cathedral is located. Again, it will be Christmas trees, markets, Father Frost’s cabin, entertainment for kids.
At least 3 concerts are planned on the main square:
- on 24 December from 5 pm till 10 pm
- on 31 December at 7 pm
- on 6 January from from 5 pm till 10 pm
It looks like the decorations will be the same as previous years, so you can take a look at the pics below ๐
Christmas fair in Chisinau 2023
The Christmas fair is already here! The square in front of the Opera and Ballet Theatre is entertaining guests: there is a Christmas tree, a slide, a Ferris-wheel, and some stalls with placintas, a local specialty (around 1 EUR per piece, some are 2 EUR), and mulled wine. It was announced that this fair will be open from 1st December till 14th January.
The main Christmas tree of Chisinau was decorated on the 23rd December in the main square of the city, and there is another Christmas fair next to it. There are many decorations in the main street of Chisinau, but in the adjacent areas as well.
I finally had time to go and see the fair of this year, and I am sharing here my impressions.
I love the decorations! The city centre and streets around Chisinau are full of light and colour: just have a look at the angel, mask, deer, dancing couple above. But, at the same, time, I have to admit, that part of these decorations isn’t new, but reused from the previous year. Still, everything is beautiful and festive.
When it comes to the fair itself, I am disappointed. I am not sure what I expected, but every stall sells the same things: placintas, some donuts, hot dogs and mulled wine, and that’s pretty much it. Oh, and some handmade things. As a local, I don’t see anything appealing in it, though I realise that for travellers from other countries it feels differently. Anyway, my sincere recommendation is to walk around to see the decorations and feel the atmosphere, and then just go to a nice place nearby and have a meal: you can go to La Placinte which serves a lot of traditional food, Andy’s Pizza, Karl Schmidt, Crรจme de la Crรจme for some French atmosphere, Fuior which is more expensive than the others but serves traditional food with a modern twist.
All the pictures above are of the current decorations. Below you can see my pictures from the previous years and some things you can do at our Christmas fairs.
Pictures from Christmas 2022
Christmas fair in Chisinau 2019
New Year and Christmas are taken pretty seriously in Moldova, just like in, I guess, every former Soviet republic. It always involves lot of preparation: buying presents, flocking in the supermarkets, spending a whole day cooking the traditional food, receiving carolers or going caroling. Very busy time of the year ๐
A nice way of feeling the festive mood far from this fuss is visiting the Christmas fair in Chisinau. Our local authorities decided to have a proper fair and designated a special area for it. While I really liked it, I have to admit that kids will have much more fun there than adults ๐
Now, about year 2019. So, that year the main Christmas fair was in the park in front of the main cathedral. Just like every year, there were stalls with Moldovan and not only food, mulled wine, a ferris-wheel and merry-go-around. The fair opened in December 21, but more or less festive things started unrolling in December 1 and lasted till January 10. The Christmas town by Orange was at the square in front of the National Opera and Ballet Theater.
There was a Christmas market in our exhibition center Moldexpo (str Ghioceilor 1). It lasted from December 20 until December 24, and here guests could buy accessories for celebrating Christmas like baubles, candles, Bengal lights, sweets etc. In addition, there were masterclasses, lotteries, contests and carol singing.
Before the current events there were four main places with Christmassy things in Chisinau, and many of them will most likely be in place this year as well.
Christmas in the center of Chisinau
The usual place for a Christmas tree is, of course, the city center in the main street of Chisinau: Stefan cel Mare Boulevard. One year we had an exceptionally dazzling beautiful Christmas tree and huge decorative baubles. Let’s see if they put something there this year.
The Christmas fair in Chisinau
Previously the main festivities unfolded in a proper Christmas fair not far from Stefan cel Mare Boulevard, just in front of the National Library and the National History Museum. This was the very place to have the biggest fun.
What to eat and drink in the Christmas fair in Chisinau
When it is cold outside, it is the right time for tea, coffee and something stronger. Being a wine-producing country, we are really proud of our grape juice, and we showcase it everywhere we can ๐ The Christmas fair is not an exception, so you are welcome to taste it ๐ While wine is not hot enough for a cold weather, you have the option of drinking mulled wine or izvar in Moldovan/Romanian: pretty every kiosk sells it. The prices are very affordable by European standards. For example, a cup of tea costs 10 lei (0,50 EUR), coffee and mulled wine are 15 lei each (0,75 EUR). For now I have only the old prices here and below.
As for food, there are many options starting with cakes, continuing with Asian noodles and ending with Georgian cuisine. To my surprise, the traditional Moldovan food is limited to placintas, the so-called cakes with different fillings like cheese, potatoes, cabbage and cherries. Placintas are very delicious, especially if you get one right hot and hot. The price is 15-20 lei (0,75-1 EUR).
The Christmas fair in Chisinau for kids
Kids will love the enchanting atmosphere of the place! I am an adult, but I loved the cabin of Father Frost or Moศ Crฤciun in Moldovan/Romanian. Imagine a lighted entrance, an illuminated path with gigantic baubles and a fairy-tale little house where magic awaits! Well, you will have to queue for the magic, especially in the evening ๐
Another place to line for is the merry-go-round. If your kid wants to ride a horse, you will have to grant him this wish ๐ The downside is that the kid should be younger than 5. While the visit to Father Frost is free, for the carousel you will have to pay 25 lei (1,25 EUR) till 9 PM and 35 lei (1,75 EUR) after that.
Of course, kids canโt miss a photo session at the Christmas tree ๐ Just wait for the crowds to go away ๐
What about adults? ๐
I am pretty sure, you canโt go away without dozens of selfies in front of the Christmas tree either ๐ Then, again, eating and drinking with friends is an exceptional experience.
Can you skate? There is a small skating-rink, and if you canโt skate, you will fall, get up and fall again ๐ Or, you will just clench the railings ๐ And you will have this pleasure for 30 lei (1,5 EUR) till 9 PM and 60 lei (3 EUR) after that time. I guess, kids will have more fun here ๐ Just keep in mind that the rink gets really crowded in the evening.
And you can always listen to the live concerts with local celebrities every evening.
The Christmas fair in Chisinau by Orange
Another place for Christmassy things is the village erected in front of the National Opera and Ballet Theater by one of the main telecommunications companies in Moldova, Orange. It is very much like the main fair of Chisinau, offering the same food and drinks, and merry-go-around thing. But there are some differences.
If there are baubles in the main Christmas fair, Orange mounted illuminated sculptures of reindeer, hares, sheep, snowmen, pandas (!?) and penguins. Father Frostโs cabin is not as fancy, in fact, it is a tent.
Unfortunately, we donโt have snow this year, so there is no possibility to make snowmen or sled downhill, which is really a pity. But Orange made it partly possible by mounting an artificial slide for kids. For 20 lei (1 EUR) you can get your kid the winter spirit ๐
Christmas in Malldova
Another place with Christmassy things is the biggest shopping center in Chisinau, Malldova. It is not a fair, but the shopping mallโs management always decorates a tree (and does it very well) and organizes some activities like stage plays, competitions with prizes, etc. I do not know about Europe, but here it is a tradition to recite poems to Father Frost and get presents for it, and kids can do it in Malldova.
This year there is a castle around the Christmas tree, and kids can write a letter with their wishes to Father Frost. Still not sure what they do with these letters afterwards.
Final words
Do you know what I liked most about these places? Besides the atmosphere of happiness, of course ๐ The Christmas trees in these 4 places are absolutely different: every time, when you look at the main symbol of the holiday, you feel like you go to different celebrations ๐ So, have fun at the Christmas fairs in Chisinau ๐
More on Chisinau, Moldova:
Thanks so much for making and updating this page. Iโm visiting Moldova for 10 days from Friday 2nd December. Can you recommend the best place to go buy Christmas gifts at a Christmas Market (I know itโs a bit early). Iโm also really looking for Moldovan (Russian) wooden dolls to bring home to family โบ๏ธ Thanks so much.
Hi Emily!
Thank you for your nice comment!
As for your question: there will be some stalls selling souvenirs at the fair itself, which, looks like, this year will be in front of our Opera and Ballet Theater. And there is a souvenir shop on Alexander Pushkin St 30 (it’s in the very center of the city), they sell lots of folk and art things, and I think I saw Russian dolls (matreshkas) there. Another place you can try is the market at the Cathedral Park on Columna St: there some locals sell their creations like paintings, some embroidery, wooden things, and they used to have Russian dolls.
I hope this helps! Have fun in Moldova!