Madrid is landlocked, but the Mediterranean beaches of Valencia are only 1.5 hours by train or three hours by car. The third largest city in the country, it has three fine stretches of beach - Las Arenas, Malvarrosa and El Cabañal - 15 minutes from downtown. Wild beaches like El Salir with dunes and vegetation are nine miles (15 km) away. There's no LGBTQ beach per se, but Malvarrosa is popular with gays and water sports fans. Platja de l'Arbre del Gos is a clothing optional gay beach between El Salir and Pinedo up to an hour away by bus. Take #14 to the last stop to Pinedo. Look for an old factory chimney.