Overview
Soroca is a town in the northeastern part of Moldova.
Understand
Soroca is the main city and the administrative centre in the Soroca District and is somewhat known as the "Romani (Gypsy) capital of Moldova". The town of Soroca is beautifully situated by the Nistru (Dniester) River which also marks the border with neighbouring Ukraine.
The town's history is very much bounded to the importance it has had as a military post between the 12th and the 18th century. At various points in time, Soroca has been affected by wars with Tartars, Cossacks, Poles and Russians. It was of vital military importance during the Pruth River Campaign of Peter the Great in 1711. At points in time the town has also been under rule of Poles and under occupation of Russia. The locality was greatly extended in the 19th century, during a period of relative prosperity. Soroca became a regional center featuring large squares, modernized streets, hospitals, grammar schools and conventionalized churches. In the Soviet period, the city became an important industrial center for northern Moldova.
The population is around 38,000, a number that has been stagnant for the last hundred years. At one point, the city had a Jewish population of around 18,000, which has shrunk to only around 100 today. The city has a sizable Romani (Gypsy) minority.
Get in
Buses go several times daily from Gara de Nord in Chișinău; and once an hour on the hour from Soroca, the last one at 18:00 (July 2018).
Get around
The city centre is walkable as most things are within 10–15 minutes from anywhere.
Minibuses (rutiere in Romanian; marshrutki in Russian) can take you certain places around town.
The ferry connecting Soroca with Tsekynivka (Ukraine) can only be used by Moldovan and Ukrainian passport holders, as it is a local and not an international border crossing.
You can leave Moldavia by ferry boat via the village of Cosăuți and enter Ukraine at Yampil. Take a taxi to the village of Cosăuți which is only 12 kilometers away from Soroca. Ask the driver to take you to the "feribot". There is a Moldovan customs point with a Duty Free section. It's an international border crossing point unlike the others in Soroca. The ferry boat is quite small and takes cars, motorbikes and pedestrians.
On the other side you'll arrive at the Ukrainian customs point of Yampil. If you're on foot from here you can take a taxi to the Yampil bus station.
In case of heavy rain or bad weather the ferry boat doesn't run.
See
Soroca fort. The Soroca fort was built by Stefan cel Mare in 1499. It was an important link in the chain of fortifications which today are located in Moldova and Ukraine along the Nistru river. Hours can be sporadic especially in the winter.
The Candle of Gratitude. On the road into town, 5 km to the south of Soroca there is a Monument called "The Candle of Gratitude". You can reach the 29.5-m (98 feet) summit by walking up the 600 stairs.
Roma houses. The hill on the west side of town has numerous ornately decorated Roma houses
- One of the points of the world heritage listed Struve Geodetic Arc, near the village of Rudi about 30 km northwest of Soroca. The marker is near the Otaci-Soroca highway. A smaller road leads off the highway and then there's a path to the white pedestal with a while globe on the top of it, a marker stone in the ground, and an information sign.
Do
Nistru riverfront stroll. Stroll along the Nistru riverfront, thinking about how nice it would be if someone just tended it a bit. Strike a converation with all the fishermen catching today's dinner.
Buy
Piața Centrală. Market square hosting stalls with clothes, foods, etc.
Eat
Nicolaes. Looks a bit shabby, but this restaurant has really good and cheap local food. No English menu.
Drink
Parus. Nice pub/bar with roof terrace looking out over the Nistru river and into Ukraine.
Sleep
Hotel Central. Fair priced hotel in the middle of the city centre. The hotel is very nice, clean and up to standards. Friendly and service minded staff.
Make Soroca your own.
Before committing, pick one main reason for this visit and two nearby experiences that support it. Check the guide’s transport sections against current operator information. A convenient base can save more time than adding another attraction.
- Choose your arrival point and one base. Write down the real transfer time, not just the map distance.
- Build a first-day plan with room to settle in. Cluster the places you want to see rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
- Use actual accommodation and transport quotes in your budget. Add fees to the quote before comparing it.
- Keep one uncommitted block. Weather, energy and a good local recommendation can all change your plan.
Source transparency
This guide adapts licensed text by Wikivoyage contributors. It is not a claim that Lakhou has visited or independently verified every listing. We converted the source to plain text, selected practical sections and removed price sentences and private contact information. The planning framework and any related-business booking recommendations above are Lakhou editorial additions.
Original revision 5071345 · Contributor history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Reused text and adaptations on this page are available under that license. Source revision date: 2025-06-02. This is not a date of field verification.
For current entry conditions and travel advisories, consult your government and destination authorities. We do not determine visa eligibility.