Christmas Fair

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Targ de Craciun (Christmas fair)

The Romanian name for the seasonal Christmas market format that Moldexpo runs in Chisinau in December: a hall-based mix of gift, decoration, craft and festive food stands aimed at end consumers rather than at trade-only wholesale meetings.

2

Moldexpo

Moldova's main exhibition centre and the venue for this fair. It is the Chisinau fairground where national and sector trade shows, as well as consumer events such as this Christmas fair, are staged in partitioned halls and outdoor areas.

3

MDL (Moldovan leu)

The local currency, divided into 100 bani. Stall prices, taxi fares and trolleybus tickets in Chisinau are quoted in MDL; foreign visitors should budget in lei and check the live exchange rate before travelling. Some larger stands accept cards, but small artisan sellers usually prefer cash.

4

Trolleybus

The electric bus that forms the backbone of Chisinau public transport, alongside ordinary buses and minibuses. Chisinau's trolleybus network is the usual low-cost way to reach central districts and the fairground area; route and stop data are published on municipal and journey-planner sites.

5

Marshrutka (minibus)

A shared minibus running fixed routes in Chisinau and across Moldova. Faster and more frequent than some bus lines but with cash payment to the driver and informal stop requests; useful for reaching the city from districts and suburbs.

6

RMO (Chisinau International Airport)

The airport code used for Chisinau in current airline and booking systems. Older pages and some booking engines still show the legacy code KIV for the same airport, so travellers comparing fares should search both forms.

7

Stand / stall

The exhibitor unit at Moldexpo. For a consumer Christmas fair this is usually a modular stand with a counter, shelving and a lockable back area; power, lighting and extra display furniture are normally ordered from the venue or organiser in advance and are chargeable.

8

Vin fiert

Mulled wine, the standard hot drink of Moldovan and Romanian winter fairs, usually red wine heated with cinnamon, clove, citrus and sugar. Sold by the cup at food and drink stands; non-alcoholic hot alternatives such as tea and compote are normally available alongside it.

9

Placinte

Moldovan stuffed flatbreads - round, pan-fried or baked, filled with cheese, potato, cabbage, pumpkin or meat. A staple fair and market food in Chisinau and a reliable indicator that a food stand is cooking on site rather than reselling packaged goods.

10

Handmade / lucru manual

The artisan designation used on Moldovan fair signage for goods made by hand rather than imported or factory-produced: ceramics, felt, wood, weaving, embroidery, glass, candles and natural cosmetics. Buyers at this fair often pay a premium for a maker story and a visible workshop origin.

11

Corporate gifting order

A bulk purchase of gifts, hampers or branded packaging for staff, clients or partners, typically agreed during the fair for delivery before 25 December or before Orthodox Christmas on 7 January. These orders are usually quoted separately from retail stall prices and confirmed with a deposit.

12

Orthodox Christmas (7 January)

The second Christmas date observed by the majority Orthodox community in Moldova. It extends the gifting season past the Western 25 December holiday, which is why a fair held on 17-20 December can generate reorders and second-round purchases into the first week of January.

13

e-Visa

Moldova's online visa application channel for nationals who are not covered by the visa-free regime. Travellers should check the current country list and the application lead time on the Moldovan government's e-Visa portal before booking flights.