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San Sebastian Food Tour: Pintxos, Drinks, and Tapas with a Local

Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
San Sebastian, Spain
Popular pick
Booked 5+ times last week!
  • 3 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9
·
· Janet_M ·
Apr 2026
Wonderful experience, the selection of different pintxos was amazing together with a range of local drinks. Adelai was a great host and very knowledgeable. Would highly recommend.
· Cathy_J ·
May 2026
Such a good introduction to San Sebastian on our first day. Kayla took us to several different bars for drinks and pinxtos. Absolutely delicious! She was,a great guide, it was a fun, social evening.

Overview

    Sample Menu

    Starter

    Cider

    Cider (or "sagardoa" in Basque) is very typical of the Basque Country. It’s a big part of the local culture, with centuries of tradition behind it.

    Starter

    The not-to-be-missed Gilda

    The first ever-invented Pintxo! The owner of a small bar began experimenting with the combination of ingredients that would become the Gilda.

    Starter

    Ham tasting

    Going to taste and learn about Spain’s most famous food product - ham, in a specialised family-run store.

    Starter

    selection of traditional pintxos

    You get to taste a selection of traditional cold and classic hot and seasonal pintxos, prepared “at the moment” to taste, with its selection of wines.

    Dessert

    Basque Cheese Cake

    it is different to American one. It is very creamy, almost like custard, doesn’t have a crust, it is burnt on the outside, with a bit caramel flavour.

    What's Included

    • Alcoholic Beverages
      Alcoholic drinks in fixed amounts are included (only for over 18-year-old guests)
    • Meals
      This is an itinerant tapas tour. At the end of the tour, you will have eaten the equivalent of a meal in at least 4 stops
    • Water
    • English-speaking Local Tour Guide
    • Gratuities
      If you believe the Local Expert did a good job and you loved the food & drinks, consider giving them a Tip (it's not compulsory).
    • Any additional food or drink

    Meeting and Pickup

    Meeting point

    • Ijentea Kalea, 4, 20003 Donostia / San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain

      Please, meet your Local Expert for the Do Eat Better Experience near the Tobacco shop in front of the Town Hall

    End point

    • Church San Vicente
      San Juan Kalea, 15, 20003 Donostia / San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain

      Please, bear in mind that the end point may slightly change according to the availability of our partners.

    Itinerary

    1

    Donostia - San Sebastian

    15 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

    2

    Donostia-San Sebastián City Hall

    45 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

    3

    Konstituzio Plaza

    45 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

    4

    Fermin Calbeton Kalea

    45 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

    5

    Church San Vicente

    30 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Infant seats available
    • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • Please, be aware that the guide may speak both English and Spanish during the tour.
    • Please contact us for any food restriction before booking.
    • Minimum drinking age is 18 years old. Non alcoholic options are available.
    • For safety reasons, guests with severe or life-threatening food allergies are unfortunately unable to participate in this experience
    • Vegetarian options are available
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

    Traveler Photos

    Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

    Reviews

    4.9
    based on 161 reviews
    Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

    San Sebastian

    Diane_C, May 2026
    Our guide was exceptional. We were able to learn some fun facts and also really enjoy the food. Each places was unique.

    Do it!!

    Cathy_J, May 2026
    Such a good introduction to San Sebastian on our first day. Kayla took us to several different bars for drinks and pinxtos. Absolutely delicious! She was,a great guide, it was a fun, social evening.

    Basque pintxos

    GD_S, May 2026
    The tour is an excellent introduction to pinxtos, but also to Basque culture. Adela was very informative and friendly.

    Food tour of Old Town San Sebastián

    Robert_P, May 2026
    The tour and the guide were very good. However it’s about €40 too expensive. You shouldn’t be splitting a dessert on a €100 tour.

    Excellent tour guide and food

    Judith_R, May 2026
    Our guide, Kaya, was extremely knowledgeable about the food and introduced us to many wonderful pintxo bars. Her food and wine pairings were wonderful and her friendly disposition made us feel right at home.

    Ok not worth the price for what you get

    donna_A, May 2026
    Pricey for what you get and food included was the cheaper tapas not any of meat ones. If you are a picky eater this is not a tour for you

    Ask for Gonzalo!!!

    Eliza_B, May 2026
    Gonzalo was hands down the best tour guide we’ve ever had. The group was small, which allowed us to move around and occupy space comfortably. He had a sense of humor and kept us engaged and laughing. He adapted the food choices even when I wasn’t expecting him to, going the extra mile to make sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying their time. He also provided additional recommendations after the tour for us to explore the city more on our own. He truly cares about the guests he is working with and wants to create an experience everyone will remember. If he wasn’t taking a day off tomorrow we would book another to explore more! The group had so much fun, we continued hanging out afterwards!

    Great Experience!

    Nataliya_V, May 2026
    Great Experience! We tried some delicious food and learned a history of the beautiful San Sebastian!

    Pintxos in San Sabastion

    Beverly_T, May 2026
    Great walking tour with history of food and wine in San Sabastien. Good variety of traditional tapas.

    Our tour guide Kaya was...

    Amanda_J, May 2026
    Our tour guide Kaya was amazing! She is a wealth of information and knows all of the best places to go. Her knowledge of the most delicious pintxos and wine/cider and relationships with the shop owners and bartenders was impressive! Our tour experience exceeded expectations!

    We had a wonderful time...

    Dylan_E, May 2026
    We had a wonderful time exploring San Sebastián’s food scene and met some lovely people along the way. The food truly lived up to the hype. That said, we felt the tour guide experience could use some improvement. A few of our questions were deferred and never quite got answered, which left us feeling a little unheard. We also found that some complicated and controversial political commentary crept into the tour in a way that felt out of place for a food and culture experience. It’s not something we were expecting and it made parts of the tour feel a bit uncomfortable. Overall an enjoyable experience thanks to the food and the city, but we’d hope for a more neutral and focused guide in the future.

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, we’re really glad to hear you enjoyed the food, the city, and the people you met along the way in San Sebastián. We’re sorry to hear that some of your questions felt unanswered during the experience. That’s not the impression we want to leave, and we’ll make sure this is addressed with the guide. Regarding the political context mentioned during the tour, we understand it may have felt unexpected. Our intention is never to make the experience political or uncomfortable, but to provide cultural and historical context. In the case of San Sebastián, that context is inevitably shaped by a complex local history and identity in the Basque Country, which can sometimes include political dimensions. That said, we also understand the importance of keeping the focus balanced and ensuring guests feel comfortable throughout. We appreciate your perspective and will take it into account as we continue to refine how these topics are presented

    Wonderful experience, ...

    Janet_M, Apr 2026
    Wonderful experience, the selection of different pintxos was amazing together with a range of local drinks. Adelai was a great host and very knowledgeable. Would highly recommend.

    Not impressed

    Marie_C, Apr 2026
    Some of the pintxos and tapas reflected a Basque style which had a high number of anchovies and sardines. Also apple cider was quite different and we didn’t like it. The cider was very cheap so he should provide an alternative.

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Basque cuisine is deeply rooted in its traditions, and ingredients such as anchovies and sardines are iconic elements of many authentic pintxos. Similarly, the cider served during the tour is a true symbol of Basque culinary culture, produced in the traditional local style that has been enjoyed here for generations. We understand that these flavors may not appeal to everyone, especially if they are new to Basque gastronomy. However, one of the main purposes of our food tours is to introduce guests to the authentic tastes, ingredients, and traditions that define our region. Trying local specialties sometimes outside one's usual preferences is an important part of experiencing a culture. We appreciate your feedback

    An ideal introduction to San Sebastián

    Cormac_C, Apr 2026
    A wealth of information about local history and the incredible local food and drinks. This tour gives you the confidence to explore the city.

    San Sebastián Food Tour

    Derrick_P, Apr 2026
    Our food tour was excellent! Gonzalez gave us great insight and knowledge into the local food scene. We tasted lots of delicious food and had a most enjoyable evening.

    Old Town Tastings

    VALERIE_G, Apr 2026
    Fully recommend everything about this fantastic tour. Gonzalo was a fabulous guide, knowledgeable of the Pintxos, wine & areas of San Sebastián. I’d do it all over again 🙏

    Our family has gone on...

    Katherine_S, Apr 2026
    Our family has gone on food tours all over the world, and our guide Gonzalo has been one of the best! Touring San Sebastian with him felt like visiting a local friend who loves food and wants to share with you all his favorite places and show off the best his town has to offer. Delicious, personal, and entertaining! Thank you!

    Vibrant Tour Guide; Entertaining and Delicious Tour!

    Lesa_D, Apr 2026
    We had such a great time that we ended up hanging out at the last restaurant with another couple for an extra hour. Our tour guide, Kaya, was excellent. She had a deep knowledge of San Sebastián, Basque culture, and great food. Even in the pouring rain she made it fun and was able to pivot quickly to deal with it. I loved being served new foods and food combinations. The restaurants/bars were a great choice and we plan to return. Pro-tip: Book your tour on day 1 or 2 of your visit so that you can go back to those recommended places and try other things.

    PIntxos

    Kay_M, Apr 2026
    Great food experience in the Old Town. There are many pintxos bars but Gonzalo takes you to the ones with “special” and “unique” items. The walk is easy and pretty flat. Gonzalo gives you a good overview of the Basque history and culture.

    Nice vibe, but needed contextual information.

    Deb, Apr 2026
    The tour was friendly, 12 people and we tried a variety of local food. If you’re looking for historical context while tasting the food, choose a different tour. Maybe a local guide from San Sebastián would have deeper knowledge.

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    Thank you for your feedback and for highlighting the friendly atmosphere and variety of food you experienced we’re glad those aspects stood out positively. We would like to clarify that our tour is intentionally designed as a culinary and social experience rather than a history-focused one. The goal is to introduce guests to local flavors, traditions, and authentic food spots in a relaxed and engaging way. While our guides do share insights about the culture and the dishes, the tour is not structured to provide in-depth historical commentary. This is something we clearly aim to communicate in our tour description, so guests can choose the experience that best matches what they are looking for. For those interested in a deeper historical perspective, a dedicated history or cultural walking tour would indeed be more suitable. That said, we always appreciate feedback and will continue working to ensure expectations are as clear as possible.

    We left full!!

    Masha_h, Apr 2026
    Gonzalo was an absolutely fabulous guide. We had a great time learning and eating together. Highly recommend this great tour!

    Just wonderful

    Michelle_M, Apr 2026
    Gonzalo was wonderful - really warm and friendly and gave us a wonderful taste of food and drink all the way along whilst giving us an insight into the city

    Recommended!

    Jutta_M, Mar 2026
    Great tour. Learned lots about the history, culture and of course food and drink of the city. Excellent selection of different pintxos to try. Gonzalo was an excellent and fun guide.

    Just wonderful

    Damian_C, Mar 2026
    We had an incredible evening, being shown around San Sebastian by our guide, Gonzalo. We'd done a similar tour in Bilbao two days earlier, so did wonder if we'd done the right thing by booking a similar style evening. We shouldn't have worried as this was soooo much better than if we'd spent the evening trawling the city ourselves. We felt like we were taken to the best bars, where Gonzalo knew the speciality on each menu. He was an engaging guide, who was also able to tell us a lot about the city and the region. It was so good, we even ended up going back to one of the bars the next day for lunch. If you are wondering whether to book it...just do it. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

    Great experience and lots of fun

    JaimeeLee_W, Jan 2026
    Our tour guide Gonzo was excellent and took us to pintxo bars that weren’t on other lists or recommendations in guidebooks. We tasted foods and different drinks we would never have known to try and learnt about basque culture and cuisine. It’s worth doing the tour early on in your trip as it helps make the most of your culinary experience and Gonzo left us with a long list of recommendations.

    This was a wonderful...

    Kathryn_M, Nov 2025
    This was a wonderful tour! Gonzalo was extremely knowledgeable about the local food, culture, and history. I cannot recommend this tour enough!

    Not to be missed.

    Stephenprice227, Oct 2025
    Fantastic and in-depth local knowledge supported both a gastronomic and historical marvel of a trip. Our guide, Gonzalo, superbly led our tour. Thank you!

    Highly recommended!

    Paige_G, Oct 2025
    Gonzalo was an outstanding guide, winding through the old town and selecting amazing pintxos and drinks at several spots along the way. He also provided historical and cultural insights, making this a favorite part of our trip.

    Great Tour Guide

    Trevor_V, Oct 2025
    Gonzalo was a fantastic tour guide! Highly personable and knowledgable about the city, culture, wine and food. Was easily able to customize the experience to fit the groups interests.

    Grerat Food Tour with Local Knowledge

    Paul_F, Oct 2025
    Silvia took us on a tour through San Sebastian's old town food precinct, introducing us to the Pintxos food experience. There were several stops at different bars and restuarants, sampling their specialty dishes with different wines and beverages to match. She had excellent knowledge of the dish's history and the food preparation used to deliver it. A great food and wine experience.

    From $88.58

    per person

    up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

    Book ahead!
    On average, this is booked 37 days in advance.

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