Balti, the northern capital

Northern Moldova

With a population of 125,000, Balti is Moldova’s second-largest city. Its homes, public buildings, churches and schools are a mix of architectural styles, including early 19th Century Romanian, Soviet and neo-Romanian. Balti’s streets are quieter than Chisinau’s bustling thoroughfares.

Where

Bălți

Northern Moldova · ~106 km from Chișinău, as the crow flies

On the map

A rough sketch. The distance is in a straight line, not by road.

About this place

But it isn’t boring, and it offers a few mysteries. For example, why is a tank sitting in the main square, and why does the city have two airports instead of one? To clear up those conundrums, you’ll have to come see the city yourself.