Luarca, Asturias with Kids: The White Harbour Town
Luarca is called the Villa Blanca, the white town: whitewashed houses climbing up from a small fishing harbour where the Río Negro meets the sea. It’s about half an hour west of Novellana, where we stayed in July 2021 with Damian (8) and Marc (5), and it was our afternoon stop on the day we did Cadavedo and Cabo Busto.
The short version
- Where: western Asturias, 39 km west of Cudillero.
- Don’t miss: the walk up to the Atalaya for the chapel, the lighthouse and the view down on the harbour.
- Beaches: Primera and Segunda playa in town, and Salinas with its striped beach huts.
- Time: an afternoon, or a full day with the Fonte Baxa garden.
Short on time? Our top 3 picks for Tapia and Luarca
Hotel Panorama Tapia – Tapia de Casariego, family-run and good value, easy to reach from the A-8.
Hotel La Cuesta – Tapia de Casariego, family-run, by the harbour in the village centre.
Hotel Villa La Argentina – Luarca, an 1899 indiano mansion with a pool and family rooms, above the town.
The harbour
Luarca’s port is the centre of everything: fishing boats, the white amphitheatre of houses above it, and seafood restaurants all around. The Mesa de Mareantes, where the town’s sailors’ guild used to meet, is marked with 14 ceramic panels telling Luarca’s history.
The Atalaya: chapel, lighthouse and cemetery
Climb up from the harbour to the Atalaya headland. Up there are the Ermita de la Blanca, an 1862 lighthouse, and one of the most beautiful cemeteries on the Cantabrian coast, where the Nobel Prize winner Severo Ochoa is buried. It’s a short, steep walk and the best view of Luarca there is.
The Kiss Bridge
Several small bridges cross the Río Negro in town. The Puente del Beso comes with a legend of two lovers, which is the kind of story that makes children stop and look.
Beaches in Luarca
- Primera and Segunda playa: the town beaches by the harbour, about 500 metres of darker sand between them.
- Playa de Salinas: around 250 metres, known for its colourful striped beach huts.
Jardín de la Fonte Baxa
A large private botanical garden above the town, open daily from 10:30 to 19:30, with adult entry around €3. Allow about two hours. Check current times before you go.
Luarca on a western Asturias day trip
We paired Luarca with Cadavedo and Cabo Busto. Tapia de Casariego is 37 km further west.
More: Our Asturias road trip · Cudillero · Novellana
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Luarca known for?
Luarca is known as the Villa Blanca, the white town of Asturias, for its whitewashed houses around a fishing harbour. It is also known for its clifftop cemetery, where Nobel Prize winner Severo Ochoa is buried.
Is Luarca good for kids?
Yes. The harbour, the short climb to the Atalaya lighthouse, the Kiss Bridge legend and the town beaches make an easy afternoon with children.
What are the beaches in Luarca?
Primera and Segunda playa by the harbour, and Playa de Salinas, known for its colourful striped beach huts.
How far is Luarca from Cudillero?
About 39 km. Cadavedo and Cabo Busto are on the way, so they make a good day together.
