A fuel cell comprises an anode oxidizing a fuel, a cathode reducing an oxidizing agent, a polymer electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode, whereby an assembly is constituted by the anode, cathode and polymer electrolyte, a pair of gas diffusion layers disposed at both sides of the assembly of the anode, and the cathode, a bipolar plate for providing the fuel to the gas diffusion layer, and another bipolar plate for providing the oxidizing agent to the gas diffusion layer, wherein at least one of the gas diffusion layers includes a porous gas diffusion layer substrate having a hydrophilic surface layer, and wherein particles of a water-repellent material are dispersed in pores of the porous gas diffusion layer substrate. This results in a higher cell voltage and a higher power at a high current density, prevention of a flooding and a longer cell lifetime.