To Sighetu Marmatiei there are two direct trains from Cluj, one from Bucharest and one from Timisoara. Check timetables on [http://www.infofer.ro/ infofer.ro].
There is also a cross border train from Hungary to Satu Mare, which has some carriages coming directly from Budapest; check for timetable on [http://www.elvira.hu/ elvira.hu].
There are buses to Baia Mare from cities in Spain, France, Switzerland, the Czech republic and Hungary as well as from major cities in Romania. Check for timetables [http://www.autogari.ro/BaiaMare/?sbd=BaiaMare&lang=UK autogari.ro].
Maramures is one the best kept Europe's secrets, the place where the time hasn't moved for decades, a place where the traditions, the wooden art and the human kindness are well preserved. Close to the Ukrainian border, Maramures covers 3381 sq km of valleys, beautiful villages, hills and mountains (up to 2303 m high). On this small surface are preserved 5 UNESCO listed wooden churches, a natural reserve also protected by UNESCO, about 60 villages and small towns, the only narrow gauge industrial steam train still in use in Europe, and many other attractions.
1. Sighetu Marmatiei town, with its museums and churches.
2. Vaser Valley, where runs the only steam powered train.
3. '''The wooden churches protected by UNESCO''' (Poienile Izei, Ieud-Deal, Budesti-Josani, Desesti and Barsana-Jbar), erected between XVI-XVIII centuries, in "Maramures gothic style" and painted hundreds of years ago.
4. '''The Merry Cemetery''' from '''Sapanta''', unique in the world, famous for its colourful tombstones with native paintings describing, in an original and poetic manner, the persons that are buried there as well as scenes from their lives, today an worldwide known tourist attraction.
5. '''The tallest wooden church in the world''' (78 m high, erected at '''Sapanta''', between 1995-2003).
6. '''Pietrosu Rodnei Natural Reserve''', UNESCO listed since 1979, estabilished in 1932, part of the "Rodna Mountains National Park", protecting edelweiss, gentians, marmots, chamois, ''etc''.
7. '''Maramures Mountains Natural Park''', the largest and wildest in Romania, covering 1480 sq km, protecting 1260 plant species, bears, wolves, lynxes, ''etc''.
8. '''Breb Village''', adopted by the HMS Prince of Wales (he bought there three old wooden houses).
9. '''Sarbi Village''', group of water powered machines (fuiling and watermills, thresher, alcohol distilleries, whirlpools).
10. '''Budesti Village''', the best preserved traditional Maramures settlement.
If you have any questions about Maramures's attractions, please contact Adela or Teo (adelaalma@gmail.com or teofilivanciuc@yahoo.com), which speak English and French.