Chisinau - Post Report Question and Answers
Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Yes. Chisinau is in general much safer than anywhere I’ve ever lived. - Sep 2023
Be thoughtful about using credit cards outside of large hotels, as it is Eastern Europe, and theft of credit card numbers can be an issue. ATMs are very common and quite safe, though they will charge a fee for accessing a foreign account. Withdrawal limits at ATMs tend to be low, typically 5000 to 6000 Moldovan lei (about US $300-$350). Pro-tip: the ATM out at the Metro mega-supermarket out towards the airport has a limit of 15,000 lei (about US $850-900). - Apr 2019
You can use the ATM at the Embassy to be on the safe side but there are ATMs all over town that you can use too. You can use a credit card in stores for higher amounts. - Feb 2014
Used widely and no problems to date. ATMS can be found for dollars and even Euros at some locations. The embassy ATM dispenses both dollars and Moldovan Lei. - Aug 2011
ATM machines are easily found. There was a recent scam where a machine was rigged to steal cardholder data. For U.S. government employees, there is an ATM machine at the Embassy that provides both Moldovan Lei and Dollars on request. - May 2010
I have never had a problem. - Mar 2010
