Half day · Hincesti · Milestii Mici
A palace, then the largest cellar in the world.
Manuc Bey Palace, Milestii Mici. Six hours, back in Chișinău by half past three.
Half a day, two completely different scales. In Hincesti, the palace complex of Manuc Bey: the Princely Palace, the Steward's House, the hunting lodge of Countess Cadir and the watch tower. Then 40 km on, at Milestii Mici, the largest wine cellar complex in the world: 250 km of galleries, 120 of them in use, and a Guinness-record collection of more than 1.7 million bottles.
Price
One price per car with guide, not per person.
The half day, hour by hour
Hincesti first, Milestii Mici after.
Manuc Bey Palace
Palace complex in Hincesti: the Princely Palace, the Steward's House, the hunting lodge of Countess Cadir and the watch tower. Guided visit.
To Milestii Mici winery (40 km)
Milestii Mici winery
The largest wine cellar complex in the world: 250 km of galleries, 120 km of them in use, and the Guinness-record wine collection of over 1.7 million bottles. You choose the program: the basic one is the shortest, a guided tour with the story of the cellars and no tasting; other programs come with a tasting.
Paid on site: winery tour and tasting, the price depends on the program you choose
Lunch at the winery (optional)
A set lunch of a first course, a main course and dessert, no ordering from a menu, with live traditional music. Tell me in advance whether you will have lunch: I book the table ahead for the number of guests. On the way out of the cellars, a wine bar for a glass of wine, tea or coffee.
Paid on site
Back to Chișinău (20 km)
No surprises
What's in the price, what you pay on site.
What's in the price
- Professional licensed guide, car and fuel for the whole half day
- Tour in your language: English, German, Russian or Romanian
- Pick-up and drop-off anywhere in Chișinău
- Bottled water 0.5 L per person
Paid on site
- Entry tickets to monasteries, museums and wineries
- Wine tastings (paid on site, cash or card)
- Meals (lunch estimates given per tour, paid on site)
The winery tour and the tasting at Milestii Mici are paid on site and the price depends on the program you choose. Lunch at the winery is optional.
Why this half day
Why this half day and not another.
Two stops that could not be more different: a palace complex you walk through with a guide, and a cellar counted in kilometres instead of rooms. Six hours door to door, so the rest of your day in Chișinău stays yours.
What guests say
Guests who have spent a day with me.
"Excellent and very professional guide. The tour was amazing and we enjoyed everything."
"For his erudition, his sense of humor, and the love for his homeland, literature, and history that he radiates. We travel a lot, and this trip is one of the best."
"Corneliu is more than a car rental, he is also an excellent guide. We got to know many corners of the country with him over a week that we would never have found alone."
"I spent three days with Corneliu in Moldova and had a wonderful time. He was reliable, punctual, and dedicated. More importantly, his heart is in the right place and he's a wonderful person."
Practical bits
Questions guests usually ask.
Group size and price
Toyota Prius+ takes up to 4 guests, €240. Opel Vivaro up to 6 guests, €340. Mercedes Sprinter up to 20 guests, from €750, the exact price once I know your exact number. Every price is for the car and the guide for the whole tour, not per person. For a bigger group, write to me and I will quote it.
Languages
English, German, Russian, Romanian. Italian, Spanish, Turkish and Bulgarian with a guide from my team. Tell me which you prefer when you book.
Pick-up
Anywhere in Chișinău. Hotel, apartment, airport. Send me the address by WhatsApp.
What you pay at Milestii Mici
The winery tour and the tasting are paid on site and the price depends on the program you choose. Lunch at the winery is a set menu, optional and paid there too.
Payment
Cash (EUR, MDL, USD) or bank transfer. Half on booking confirmation, half at the end of the tour. Entry tickets, tastings and lunch are paid on site.
Cancellation
Your date is secured once you pay the deposit: that way you know the tour is yours, and I know I'm expecting you that day. Until then, the request commits you to nothing, but the date isn't reserved either, and another guest may book it. Cancellation: a week before the tour or earlier, we refund everything you've paid. Less than a week before, we refund 50% of what you've paid. On the day of the tour, what you've paid is not refunded, except for documented emergencies.
Weather
We tour year-round. Most of this day is spent inside, in the palace and in the galleries, so the weather rarely changes anything. Take a warm layer for the underground part.
Children
Welcome. Child seats available on request, 9 months and up.
Mobility
The palace is visited on foot with a guide, and part of the way through the Milestii Mici galleries is by car, as in Cricova. Tell me in advance if walking is a problem and I will check what is possible at each stop before we go.
Can we share the tour with other guests?
Yes, choose “Group tour” in the booking form. We can join you with other guests on the same route and day. If a group comes together, the price is lower: we count it individually and confirm it in advance. If not, you travel privately at the price shown on this page. The group closes 3 days before the tour.
What if no guide is available on my dates?
It happens in peak season. The fallback is a car with a professional driver, English-speaking on request, without the guided part. Write me on WhatsApp with your dates and I will tell you the same day what I can offer.
Book this day
Ready to plan?
If you have more time
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