Practical Info for Visitors

Currency and paying for things

The local currency is the Transnistrian ruble (PRB) — a currency specific to the region that cannot be exchanged outside it. Euros, US dollars, Moldovan lei and Russian rubles are all widely accepted at exchange offices once you are in Transnistria, and exchange offices are easy to find in Tiraspol and Bendery.

Bring cash. Card payments are accepted in very few places, and most ATMs will not work with a foreign bank card — plan to exchange enough cash for the day (or your whole stay) when you arrive.

[TO CONFIRM: current PRB exchange rate — deliberately not published here as it fluctuates.]

Mobile & internet

The local mobile operator is Interdnestrcom (IDC); international and Moldovan roaming inside Transnistria can be unreliable. If you are only visiting for a day, your Moldovan SIM (if you have one) generally works better than international roaming near the border. For a longer stay, a local IDC SIM card can be bought in-store with a passport.

Safety

Transnistria is a peaceful destination and welcomes thousands of tourists every year, including on organized day trips. Ordinary travel common sense applies. One specific rule worth knowing: avoid photographing military installations, checkpoints, and government buildings — this is treated more strictly here than in most of Europe.

Language

Russian is the most widely spoken language day-to-day; Moldovan/Romanian and Ukrainian are also official languages of the region. Basic English is understood in tourist-facing venues in Tiraspol and Bendery, but do not expect it everywhere.

Getting tourist information locally

The main Tourist Information Center is in Bendery, at Petr Panin Street 2 (right by the entrance to Bendery Fortress): phone +373 552 40148, open Tuesday–Friday 10:30–17:00, Saturday–Sunday 10:00–17:00, closed Mondays.

Smaller information points with free maps and brochures operate in Slobodzeya, Grigoriopol, Dubossary, Rybnitsa and Rashkov.

Before you go

For entry requirements and the migration card, see Entry Rules & Migration Card. For the exact checkpoints from Moldova, see Border Crossings into Transnistria. If you would rather have a guide handle all of this for you, see our Transnistria tours from Chisinau.