TravelTips24 : Europe : Eastern Europe : Moldova : Transnistria : Tiraspol
Tiraspol
Tiraspol, though the largest city in Transnistria, is not exactly the place-to-be. There are few things to see, though you might enjoy a visit to the main street with its parliamentary building boasting a relatively new Lenin statue and a tank from the "independence war" decorated with flowers. Also, be sure to notice the Soviet-style banners. However, a curfew is in effect, and nightlife is non-existent.
Infrastructure
The city has a relatively modern infrastructure. The state-run bus service is a simplistic method of transportation which is fairly accessible. It runs at peak hours during the day, but does not operate at night. The reasons for this is that criminal activity became rampant on the bus system as is became a vehicle for the drug trafficking in the Eastern Block during the mid 1990's. However, reforms by president Smirnov and his dedicated assortment of public officials created the ability for the bus-system to remain open for at least the better part of the day creating a much needed public service for the Transnistrian population.
There is neither an airport not a seaport in Transnistria. Tiraspool, the major city is landlocked and is largely shut in from the outside world due to a lack of transcontinental infrastructure. The closest airport is located in neighboring Moldova. It is an international airport, however, there have been many nations that have implied 'travel bans' on both Moldova and Transnistria.
Transnistrians do not have ready access to the Internet. About 5 of 100 homes have access to the world wide web. Most of these homes belong to the cultural and political elite. The government has limited the rights of free speech and thus is not apt to embrace technological change and development. The local sewer system and electrical grid is state of the art. Recently adapted from models based in western Europe, the Transnistrian basic infrastructure was built in the mid 1990s after the profits gained after the war of independence in 1992.
Tiraspol attractions and sightseeing
Tiraspol city tours
Tiraspol souvenirs & shopping
In order to purchase goods, services or souvenirs in Tiraspol, or in any Transnistrian locale you must exchange your outside currency into Transnistrian Roubles. The transnistrian central bank sets their own exchange rate and prints their own money, so the amount of Roubles you will get on any given day for your Euro's varies week by week significantly.
Tiraspol Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive
Tiraspol nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs
There are many shops and markets to purchase local food, drink and their famous Transnistrian Vodka drink commonly referred to as a "smirnovka" - appropriately named after president Igor Smirnov.
Tiraspol cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging
Get out
This page was last edited at 15:08, on 16 August 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Eric Polk and Todd VerBeek, Wikitravel user(s) Morph and W66LinkBot and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.
Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license