Tiraspol does not exactly boast a shopping mile; shops are few and have a limited choice. The official currency is the Transnistrian ruble (which can be used and exchanged only in Transnistria), but most shops and sales stands will accept Moldovan lei.
There are exchange offices (at least in Tiraspol) that will change your Euros or Dollars and a few other currencies. Official exchange rates can be found at the website of the Trans-Dniestr Republican Bank .
There are excellent deals in brandy made locally to a world class standard, about $3 a bottle. Cigarettes are very cheap too. There are also arts and crafts to buy as well. A good exchange point is the Kvint store in downtown Tiraspol--there is an exchange office with good rates right inside the shop. There is also an exchange booth at Tiraspol the bus/train station.
Be sure to exchange your money before you leave Transnistria. It is truly Impossible to exchange Transnistrian rubles outside of Transnistria due to the unrecognized status of the government.
International credit/debit cards and Travel checks are not accepted anywhere in Transnistria. However, there is an international ATM on 25th October Street that dispenses US dollars and Russian Rubles.
There is a large open-air market in Tiraspol, close to the Suvorov's monument, and another in Bendery, located a few meters away from the bus and marshrutkas station. They are probably not fashionable for those looking for something closer to the western style, but interesting to see.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Transnistria
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Transnistria - updated Apr 2024
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Transnistria Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
