Nearest Airport
: Barcelona, Girona
at 70
Kilometres
Nearest Ferry
: Barcelona
at 60
Kilometres
Nearest Train
: Sant Pol de Mar
at 500
Metres
Nearest Motorway
: Sant Pol de Mar
at 1
Kilometres
Nearest Beach
: Sant Pol de Mar
at 500
Metres
Car: not necessary
Sant Pol de Mar is a small picturesque village on the Maresme coast in Catalonia north-east of Barcelona. The weather is great, in summer we have temperatures in the mid to high twenties, and there's always a refreshing breeze. There are no or very few mosquitoes, you can leave the windows open at night to let the breeze get in. Why go further south, suffer in the sweltering heat and be bitten by mosquitoes?
Sant Pol has it all: Beaches, restaurants, shops (incl. a supermarket), a market on Fridays, a few hotels, an internet café, four banks, a museum and nice architecture with buildings of various styles (incl. Art Nouveau). The sand at the beach is rather coarse, so it doesn't stick to the skin and get everywhere.
Sant Pol de Mar is the only village on the stretch between Barcelona and Blanes that has maintained its village character and has escaped major development (however, you can find a few chunky 'architectural eyesores'). This is due to the activities of a local citizens' initiative whose motto is: 'We are a village. We are not for sale'.
Sant Pol is well connected to Barcelona. It's a train ride of an hour to get there, and the train runs every 20-30 minutes. Check the timetable here. You can also take the train to Maçanet-Massanes and connect to the line from Barcelona to France, which will take you to Girona and Figueres (with the famous Dalí Museum). In case you spend a night out in Barcelona and miss the last train, you can also catch a bus.
Sant Pol offers many activities, apart from going to the beach, of course: There is a small jazz festival in June and the summer festival 'Festa Sant Jaume' in July. Check the local town administration's website for details. There's a lot of culture going on in the area: Barcelona has its summer festival, and Girona has the Porta Ferrada Festival. Or check out a human pyramid.
The neighbouring towns are also worth a visit: Canet de Mar with modernist buildings by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Arenys de Mar and Caldes d’Estrac. Or explore the hinterland with its 'Parc Natural del Montnegre i el Corredor' in the locality of Vallgorguina.
Sant Pol is easily accessible by car (National Highway N-II (N Two), freeway C-32) and by train (see item above).
One word about the beach culture: Many beaches in Spain are 'clothing optional'. Beaches around Sant Pol de Mar are no different. The rule is: The further you are away from the central village beach, the less clothing people wear. Women go topless almost everywhere and if you walk a little, you find people who left their bathing suits at home. Most stretches of beach are mixed, people of all states of undress mix, and no one seems to care or be offended. On weekends in summer when more people come up from Barcelona, the situation changes a little. Conclusion: Find a spot where your feel comfortable and do as the others do.
Please visit our website: www.vista-santpol.com to see a photo gallery of Sant Pol.
