Orheiul Vechi is about 60 kilometres north of Chisinau, and independent travel requires a bit of planning.
By public transport: Take a marshrutka (shared minibus) from Chisinau's central bus station to Orhei — departures are frequent throughout the day and the journey takes about 1.5 hours. From Orhei, local taxis are available to the site (about 15-20 minutes drive). There is a very infrequent village bus, but it doesn't run reliably or to visitor-friendly hours.
By car: The drive from Chisinau takes about 1 hour via the M2 highway north to Orhei, then follow signs for Trebujeni and Butuceni. The approach road descends into the river valley and the panoramic view of the river loop is visible on the way in — stop at the roadside viewpoint before descending to the site.
Organised tours: Most visitors come on day tours from Chisinau, which typically combine Orheiul Vechi with a winery visit. This is the most practical option for first-time visitors and removes all the transport logistics. Several tour operators in Chisinau offer this combination.