Glodeni, Moldova

Capital City

With a population of just 7,284, Glodeni is hardly a bustling metropolis. This sleepy town in northwestern Moldova offers a quiet, provincial existence, but don't expect much in the way of amenities or excitement. The local economy is sluggish, and the Moldovan language is spoken by less than half the inhabitants, with Russians, Ukrainians, and Romanians making up significant minorities. Bureaucratic headaches are a persistent issue, and the town's Jewish population was all but wiped out during the Holocaust. If you're seeking a slow-paced, rural lifestyle in Eastern Europe, Glodeni could be a reasonable option, but most will find it too isolated and underdeveloped.