Cimişlia is in Raionul Cimişlia, Moldova, on the banks of the river Cogîlnic.
It is located 73 km from the capital, Chişinău, at the intersection of several of the country's more important roads: it is on the route from Chişinău to Bolgrad or Giurgiuleşti, and is also on the Tiraspol - Leova road.