I do postcards with my drawings and budget tours to top attractions and hidden gems of Transnistria. Transfer from Chishinau or start in Tiraspol. Honestly, I can’t make Maldives of my country, because it is not Maldives. But i can make an unforgettable journey through all contrasts of what it really is - beautiful panoramas and impressive soviet lost places, curious history and nowadays life in the country that doesn't exist, combining classic walk with forays for true explorers and adventurers.
Tour takes ~ 2,5 hours. It is not Stalinism, we are very volatile where to go and what to do, but default route covers must-see USSR era and modern bits of Tiraspol, plus my favorite nooks and crannies that I discovered doing my sketches. The trip won’t be exhausting, not boring at all, we will have time to talk about all peculiarities of past and present of Transnistria, real name is Pridnestrovie ☭
You won’t be meeting a guide, you will be meeting a friend!
- Anton Dendemarchenko -
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Transport - walking and private car. There is an option to try authentic trolley bus, made in USSR.
✔ Postcard for the memory! Cards, magnets and maps made by the guide himself available for purchase!
✖ Postcard set, magnets and maps of Transnistria available for additional price
Departure & Return
Departure:
,
Soviet canteen may be good meeting place, tasty cuisine and free WiFi.
It is actually Lenin street near the crossroad with 25 October street - “Stolovka SSSR naprotiv NAR SUDA” but adress is strada rosa luxemburg 66. You may set any venue point upon agreement!
Itinerary
1
House of Soviets
Default route covers best modern bits and soviet relics of Tiraspol. It is not strict consumerist kind of deal, we are free to decide where to go and what to do. There is enough to see for a two day tour so you can imagine - no matter how much I will tell and no matter how fast I speak - it will be just top of an iceberg. But we will dive as deep as possible. Take a look behind the iron curtain, discover Pridnestrovie- the most epic remnant among USSR debris.
Duration: 5 minutes
2
The Christmas Cathedral
Optional loop to the back of 100 rouble note
Duration: 5 minutes
3
The Suvorov Monument
Since 1972 generalissimo Alexander Suvorov is standing at the central square of Tiraspol, he is considered to be the founder of the city. No spoilers, more curious history during the tour itself!
Duration: 5 minutes
4
Green Market Center
and veggie market, surprisingly modern!
Duration: 5 minutes
5
Palacio Presidencial
Government building from soviet era with comrade Lenin in front. You can find it on the back of fifty rouble note. Transnistrian roubles, of course.
Duration: 5 minutes
6
The Tank Monument
Real combat tank that reminds of many important things, war and peace, darkness and sunshine. It is famous T-34. We will also walk out to the river bank, there is a nice view from the bridge.
Duration: 5 minutes
7
Kvint
Optional walk inside kvint factory, no tasting.
Duration: 45 minutes
8
Mig-19 Monument
Aviator memorial can be found at Balka dst. It commemorates thirty years of victory in the Great Patriotic war. I didn’t add all hidden gems in between these listed attractions, but they are great to make the tour really unforgettable and contrast! Highly recommend brutal tour - some lost places we have here are more impressive than Chernobyl. My wife says no one should go to Chernobyl, but every other traveler I meet either just came from there or is heading there next. Luckily there was no radiation here, it was ussr collapse. Finally we have an option to go to some eerie lost places from gone era that will satisfy lovers of Tarkovsky cinematography or post-apocalyptic movies, it is a way to explore “exclusion zone” without radiation risk or crowds of people you definitely see around in actual Chernobyl exclusion zone. I also can’t reveal these places here, just make notice, adventurers, it’s also tour of a lifetime!
Duration: 5 minutes
9
Tiraspol
For lovers of Tarkovsky cinematography, post-apocalyptic movies and USSR legacy there is a brutal version of the tour. Impressive soviet lost places and Chernobyl style cityscapes of Transnistria will make your heart beat faster and leave you speechless, I can’t reveal where we go without the risk of subsequent demolition of these eerie gems, but I guarantee unforgettable trip. It is also important to keep these urban wastelands a secret for keeping melancholic atmosphere of solitude, you know, the best and only way to explore such things is to do it alone, let’s keep it this way. No one can predict how long these communism remains will be accessible so the whole idea is to discover everything while it still exists and do it without overcrowd of people. In a way, this journey is a chance to explore a version of Chernobyl “exclusion zone” without crowds of tourists that overfill real Pripyat and actual Chernobyl exclusion zone. There is no radiation here luckily, not here.
Duration: 30 minutes
Additional info
• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Sightseeing walk is perfect and transparent for all genders and ages. Optional foray may be challenge - climbing a talk or tasting kvas. But it is not obligatory experiences.
• There are two versions of the tour - real and virtual. I would recommend to go in real life, border is open!
