Best Time to Visit Chisinau

Spring: short, fresh and easy to like

March is still grey and cold, with nights below freezing. By April it's a different city. Highs reach 17°C, the chestnut trees along Stefan cel Mare boulevard come into leaf, and you can walk all day in a light jacket. May is warmer and greener, though showers are common. They tend to pass quickly.

Early March has one local tradition worth knowing. Mărțișor is a small red-and-white string charm that people give each other on 1 March, and stalls selling them pop up all over the centre. Easter is a big family holiday here, so some places close for a day or two.

Summer: hot days, long evenings

June to August are warm to hot. July and August tie for the hottest months, both with highs of 31°C. August is also the sunniest and one of the driest. Afternoons can feel heavy on the shaded paths of Valea Morilor park, but evenings cool off nicely. That's the time for a terrace dinner of placinte (thin stuffed pies) or mamaliga, a soft cornmeal dish, with a glass of local wine.

June is the wettest month, at 71 mm over 12 days. Rain often comes as short storms, so you can still plan around it. Chisinau doesn't get packed with tourists, so summer is quiet compared to western Europe. The main reason to come is a wine trip. Cricova's underground cellars and Milestii Mici are an easy drive out of town, and they're pleasantly cool when the city isn't.

Autumn: the sweet spot for wine and walking

September matches May as our top pick. Days are around 25°C, rain is low, and the light is soft. Wine is the star. National Wine Day takes over the city in early October, with tastings and stalls around the main square. Locals take it seriously, and it's the busiest the centre feels all year.

By late October it's cooler, at about 17°C, and the trees in the Dendrarium park turn gold. November turns damp and dim, with only a few hours of sun a day.

Winter: for budgets and cosy cafes

December through February is cold and grey. January is the coldest month, with lows of -6°C, and you'll see little sun. Travelling on a budget? Winter is the quietest time. Christmas lights go up in the main square, and many people celebrate again on 7 January by the old church calendar. Museums and cafes make good shelters, and a hot bowl of zeama (chicken noodle soup) helps.

If you want one simple answer, go in late April, May or September.