Away With The Steiners

Crossing the Romania Moldova border from Oancea to Cahul. 

Sarah Steiner

If you are travelling in the far east of Europe and considering where to go next the chance is you are looking at the Romania to Moldova border crossing and wondering which option to take.  We drove from Bucharest to Chisinau through the Romania Moldova border crossing from Oancea to Cahul. 

There isn’t much online about the specific details of the crossing.  (How long does it take? What is the road like? Do you need a vignette for Moldova?). 

We had so many questions.  And there is something about the lesser travelled border crossings in Eastern Europe that despite what Google Maps confirms as the most direct route always has us wondering exactly what it entails.  

So, without further ado here are all the details of the Romania Moldova border crossing from Oancea to Cahul (Bucharest to Chisinau). 

About the Romania Moldova border

The border between Romania and Moldova is a fluvial boundary following the Prut River and Danube River.  The entire boundary between the two countries is 681.3 kilometres long including 570 kilometres along the Danube.

And the border of Romania to Moldova is part of the external border of the European Union that runs from Criva in the north-west of Romania to Giurgiulesti in the south. 

The following is everything about the Romania to Moldova border crossing from Oancea to Cahul (Bucharest to Chisinau). 

The turn off to Moldova from the border town of Oancea, Romania.

Options for the Romania Moldova border crossing 

There are six road crossings and three rail crossings from Romania to Moldova. 

The following details the Romania Moldova border crossing from Oancea to Cahul and how to drive from Bucharest to Chisnau. 

About the Romania Moldova border crossing from Oancea to Cahul 

There is a Romania Moldova border crossing at Galati where we stayed the night before.  But with an early start we headed further north to the larger (slightly) crossing from Oancea to Cahul.  

We couldn’t’ find much information online about the Galati border crossing and that coupled with an early start and need for coffee plus the desire to see a bit more of the Romanian countryside we had heard about saw us setting off from Galati north to Oancea. 

The drive from Bucharest and Galati to Oancea 

The drive from Galati to the Oancea border crossing was stunning in parts.  The small towns and villages we passed through are a far cry from the grandeur of Bucharest and neo-Classical Soviet architecture of the city.  Here the villages were quiet and the houses quaint with tiled latticing and thatched rooves, rose gardens and vegetables. There are small chapels and water wells every few kilometres.  

There were men sitting on the roadside and working in the fields.  The ladies were pulling a wheeled grocery basket and their heads wrapped with coloured scarves.  Huge tractors and farming machines work the large agricultural plain between Romania and Moldova separated by the Prut River in the distance. 

The roads are narrow but picturesque.  Exactly as one might think of rural Romania.  Albeit we were averaging 70km an hour due to the said narrow roads.  But it wasn’t busy, and we spent much of the drive feeling glad we took this route. 

On the road to Oancea following the Prut River that separates the two countries.

The Romanian border town of Oancea

Oancea is not much to write home about.  But somehow it has appeal in its quaintness.  And the reality is it won’t ever be any more to write about if people like us aren’t stopping for a cup of tea to help it grow.  

There is a beautiful church on the main road (of course).  And the school, the Town Hall and small hospital nearby.  There is lots of parking and a few humble coffee shops come convenience stores with the bare necessities in stock.  

It’s seriously easy to drive right on by the turn off to the Romania Moldova border crossing terminal halfway through the town.  But just saying (in case you do, too) it’s also easy to turn around. 

A friendly local in Oancea at a small cafe before crossing the Romania Moldova border.

Exiting Romania

Don’t wait in line with the trucks.  Take the blind corner around past them and approach the border terminal.  There is a 3-lane checkpoint (with likely one lane operational). The border staff here are friendly and efficient and made for a swift exit from Romania. 

Hand over your documents: 

We were the only vehicle at the crossing and the exit from Romania took less than ten minutes. 

Heading down towards the Prut River and the Romania border terminal.

Crossing the Romania Moldova border

Drive across the bridge between the two countries and advance forward to the Moldovan customs over the bridge. 

Entering Moldova 

The entry to Moldova took around 20 minutes.  Again, we were the only vehicle in the line but there was the usual line-up of trucks, and we were instructed to pull over to the side and park while they processed our documents.  

On the Moldovan side we were asked to provide: 

The entry from Romanian into Moldova took around 20 minutes for us to process customs and immigrations and just five minutes to purchase the vignette for Moldova. 

Driving across the Prut River from Romania to Moldova.

Is a vignette required for driving in Moldova? 

Yes.  A vignette is required for driving a private vehicle in Moldova.  

The vignette for Moldova is available for purchase online and at the Romania Moldova border crossing from Oancea to Cahul.  And (see below about the roads and driving in Moldova) for sure the Moldova vignette is one of the most reasonable for driving in Europe. 

Fee and purchase options of vignette for Moldova: 

See below for how to purchase a vignette for Moldova at the Oancea to Cahul border crossing from Romania.  

Purchasing a vignette for Moldova at the Romania Moldova border crossing (Oancea to Cahul)

We had a moment of heart-sinking wondering if they would have card payment available at this seemingly small Romania Moldova border crossing.  But we needn’t have worried. 

There is a building to the left of the customs kiosk and as soon as you enter there is an electronic vignette machine at the entrance. 

The purchase of a vignette for Moldova is all automated and you can pay using Visa or Mastercard.  

You need to input: 

Payment is accepted by cash at the desk or by card on the machine. 

Getting some Moldova Lei at the border town of Cahul. (But don’t worry; you can purchase a vignette for Moldova using card payment).

Moldovan border town of Cahul 

As soon as you leave the border station you can see the gold-topped domes of the Cathedral of Michael and Gabriel the Archangels in Cahul. 

The border town on the Moldovan side of the Romania Moldova border crossing is less than 10 minutes from the terminal and a friendly start to this far Eastern European country.  Cahul has a population of around 30,000 and is a popular domestic tourism destination as a spa and health resort.  

Visiting by motorhome to Moldova and crossing the border from Romania, Cahul is a friendly and welcome first stop on the road.  

There is a large, central green park with kids’ playgrounds, fountains and the historic Cathedral of Michael and Gabriel the Archangels. 

It’s easy to park by the central park and there is a Maib ATM on the corner of Strade 31 August and Strada Ion Voda cel Cumplit. 

The bustling market in Cahul, Moldova.

From Cahul to Chisinau

It is just a short drive (less than 10 minutes) from the Moldova border terminal to the nearby border town of Cahul. 

*See below for the description of road from Cahul to Chisinau, however…

Driving in Moldova / driving a motorhome in Moldova

Without beating around the bush, the roads in rural Moldova are dreadful. Truly shit. Like the shittiest of bad.  But to give ever so slight boost to the allure of bringing a motorhome in Moldova I can say it is totally worth it. 

And in between the shitty dreadful roads there are pockets of fabulous highways (commissioned by the EU).  Like the M3 between Oceana and Chisnau.  (Albeit it doesn’t go all the way in that condition of smooth tar seal perfection).  But for the other parts of the M3 Highway the drive is stunning.  The road travels alongside farmland and past vineyards with stretches of road lined with walnut groves. 

But from Comrat to Chisinau, I’m sorry to say the road is back to the original condition. 

And Tiraspol? That’s another story as to why and how. (Story coming soon).  But the roads into Transnistria are comparatively smooth and luxurious. 

So, for the drive from Romania to Moldova and onwards to Chisinau make sure to leave plenty of time (and pack some patience).  Take the time to enjoy the views of vineyards and walnut trees and bump (slowly) along the pothole regions. 

Fuel stations aplenty in Moldova (with a bar included).

Where to park with a motorhome in Chisinau

We found a great park for the night in Chisinau, Moldova with our motorhome and ended up there for two nights of our travels in Moldova. During the daytime in Chisinau we parked at the NR1 hypermarket.

CHISINAU, STRADA GHIOCEILOR

About: This is a great (free) parking spot in Chisinau just near to the beach (yes; in Moldova) and promenade around the lakeside.  

We had a quiet couple of nights stay here.   Although it is worth noting not to be alarmed if when the park does get busy in the late hours of the afternoon and vehicles may double park assuming you are staying the night.  People are friendly and we found it a good location to head into a daytime carpark in the city to explore.

Checking out our park for the night at the beach(!) in Chisinau, Moldova.

Useful links for your travels in Eastern Europe and beyond…

These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel. 

Read more about travel in Europe by motorhome

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