Transnistria travel guides are hard things to come by on the web because many, even those in Europe, don’t know what or where this place is located. It’s understandable. Moldova is not the most popular of Eastern European destinations these days. While in Hong Kong, Pyrodes took note of their United Buddy Bear (oh man, that’s a whole other post for another day), and well, this photo of the bear’s belly about sums it up. But, don’t despair, there is fun to be had here, mainly in the form of finagling your way into a breakaway region called Transnistria, or the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic for short. The US State Department advises you not to go, and Pyrodes was recently informed by the embassy that you would be “on your own” if you ventured into the area. But, hey, what do they know? As usual, Pyrodes is on the ground and quite curious. So, let’s get our Soviet jail cell faces on after the jump…

“Compared to Moldova, this is like the Riviera,” or so says the rather funny tourism site to this tiny breakaway nation. Transnistria occupies a sliver of land between the Dniester River and Ukraine. It proudly sports the old Soviet hammer and sickle on the flag and the coat of arms, and several thousand Russian troops hang out in the region. That said, it is an independent culture in a beautiful land (they self-advertise their “great whether;” Pyrodes remains skeptical) with no shortage of Lenin statutes for your Facebook profile, so here’s how to get in and stay alive.

Get in: Trains and planes: forget it; you’re bussing it in. You can come into the region through the Ukraine, but if you do so, don’t continue onto to Moldova because you will not have been given a Moldovan entry stamp at the Transnistria border. The easier route is from the Moldovan capital of Chisinau. At the border, you will meet a veritable rainbow of border guards, all looking for something you are doing wrong, so they can collect a “fee” (read bribe). Pants too baggy? Sideburns uneven? Blink too much? Get ready, there’s a fee waiting for you. Think of it as a cover charge to the “I’ve Been to Transnistria Club.”

Have Fun: Ok, once in the center of Tiraspol, take stock of your situation and find a place to stay. Officially, you are in a place at war, rife with human rights abuses and corruption from an oppressive regime. But, actually, according to all reports on the ground to Pyrodes, Tiraspol is full of welcoming citizens who are happy to see tourists in their fair land. There hasn’t been military action in years, and corrupt cops are no new things to the well-traveled among us. Taxis and buses will take you around the city and around the nation at large. Avoid those in uniform and you’ll be just fine.

Give Love to Pyrodes: Enjoy the video and links below. If you do join us in Transnistria, let us know how it goes. As always, Happy Travels **toasting the vodka**. Make sure to check out our Store for some rare opportunities to own pieces of Transnistria.

Photos, Official Site, in case you missed it.

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