Reviewing holidays in Moldova.

If you're anything like me, you might blink, stop, and whisper, "Is that even a country?" when someone brings up Moldova. Spoiler alert: yes, indeed. Moldova is one of those spots that discreetly declines to vie for attention with the significant, glitzy European attractions, buried neatly between Ukraine and Romania. That is rather its attraction.

Tourism here is more than Instagrammable lattes or selfie locations every five steps. It concerns undulating hills, limitless vineyards, and scenery that makes you wonder why you ever considered city life interesting. Moldova has developed a reputation for being, say, under-the-radar, but that only implies you can roam its streets free from elbowing through hordes of visitors too preoccupied with checking their phones to take in the local culture.

Let's discuss wine, as no trip to Moldova is complete without it. Residents most likely smile so much because their nation boasts some of the world's most extensive wine cellars. Walking around Cricova and Mileștii Mic nearly subterranean cities devoted to wine, feels like entering a hidden underground society where the password is "more red, please." If you've tasted more than a few samples, it's fantastic, overwhelming, and frankly a little disorienting.

The capital, Chisinau, is a strange combination of Soviet architecture, tiny parks, and the odd hip cafe where baristas obviously care about their Instagram feed as much as your typical influencer. Though it's not Paris or Rome, it has its own beat and walking around is strangely fulfilling. Statues, fountains, and monuments to things you had never heard of—such as agricultural heroes or someone's great-grandfather who supposedly did something heroic in 1974 abound.

Outside the capital is Orheiul Vechi, a monastic and archaeological complex that seems to have been taken right out of a fantasy book. Though it's a workout, scaling the cliffs to view the cave monasteries and expansive views is definitely worthwhile, particularly if you reward yourself with some regional cuisine afterwards. Consider robust stews, fresh bread, and cheeses that taste like angels produced them.

One thing to be ready for is that English isn't everywhere, so your smiles, hand movements, and sporadic, frantic Google Translate attempts will become your closest companions. Welcome it. At times, you might feel like a mime, which enhances the experience.

Though perhaps it should be, Moldova is probably not on your bucket list yet. It has a subdued beauty, the sort that surprises you as you're sipping wine in a dimly lit cellar or strolling around silent alleys where history whispers from every nook. It's genuine, and sometimes that's precisely what makes trips worthwhile; it's not elegant, it's not perfect.

Moldova might not grab your eye, but once you get to know it, it will gently steal your heart in a way that more well-known places could only fantasise about.