Visit Moldova
Begin in Chișinău with markets, parks and wine bars, then move out towards limestone villages, monasteries and the Răut River valley at Orheiul Vechi. Moldova rewards travellers who slow down enough to notice domestic food, cellar traditions and the meeting of Romanian, Russian and other influences. Wine is a practical route into the country's history and agriculture, with enormous underground galleries at Cricova and Mileștii Mici as well as smaller producers. Beyond the cellars, rural guesthouses and fortified religious sites offer a closer view of everyday landscapes than a capital-only weekend. Book winery tours before travelling, use established transport outside Chișinău and check the current regional situation. The FCDO advises against all travel to Transnistria, so keep it out of a leisure itinerary and monitor developments linked to neighbouring Ukraine. Add this to your list and give an overlooked corner of Europe your full attention.