Bender Fortress

Name: Bender Fortress
Address: Bender, Moldova, Transnistria, MD
Telephone: +373 779 08 728
Price range: budget
Rating: 4.7

16th-century Ottoman fortress on the Dniester · red-brick towers, defensive ramparts, and medieval dungeon museum

4.7 · 2442 reviews· Transnistria

Must visitBudget< 300 leiCasual70 min from ChișinăuBoth

What makes it worth it

Ottoman defensive walls from 1538 you can climb · underground torture museum · round tower with a view over the Dniester

The story

Built in 1538 by the Ottomans, Bender Fortress sits on the right bank of the Dniester River, its red-brick towers and massive stone walls intact after five centuries. You can walk the crenellated ramparts, climb the round tower for river views, explore the torture museum in the underground chambers, and wander the manicured courtyards. It's the oldest monument in Transnistria and one of the best-preserved fortresses in the region. Come in the morning for golden light on the brickwork, or late afternoon for a peaceful stroll along the fortifications. Entrance is very affordable (50 Transnistrian rubles for foreigners), and there's a small souvenir shop near the exit. English-speaking staff at the tourist info center can arrange guided tours.

What to expect

Best at

MorningAfternoon

Duration1-3 h

Ideal group1-50 people

LanguagesRO · RU · EN

Good for

Cultural discoveryWith familySmall groupTourist weekendFirst-time visitorRelaxed eveningAs a couple

Gallery

What people love

Very affordable entry ticket (50 Transnistrian rubles)
English-speaking staff at the tourist centre
Well-preserved walls and towers, free to climb
Interesting torture museum in the underground chambers
Tidy gardens and clean paths in the fortress courtyard
Panoramic view of the Dniester from the round tower

Photo moments

The red-brick round tower with the Dniester behind
Battlements of the defensive wall at sunset, casting long shadows
The inner courtyard with manicured garden and paved walkways

Ambiance

Family-friendlyGroup-friendlyInstagrammableWalk-ins OKParking

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What visitors wrote

“Beautiful place to visit. Entrance ticket price is joke. Visit all parts of the fortress and see museum of torture, climb the walls, and enjoy the view”
— Nastja Prodanic 5
“Worth visiting the fortress, beautiful aria and garden. There is a small museum, entrance fee 50 PMR for foreigners. Anna at information tourist center was very helpful with great speaking English”
— Evgeni Dimitrov 5
“Nice place to visit Bender Fortress is an interesting place to see in Transnistria 🤩 This 16th-century Turkish fortress on the right bank of the Dniester River. It is the oldest monument within Transnistria and one of the symbols of this unrecognized country. It no longer serves the military purposes it once did and is open to tourists in its entirety. We explore the fortress,…”
— Monika Karlińska 5