Basque Best Bites - #1 Food & Wine tour of Bilbao
Description
We are food passionates and our aim is for you to have a very fun evening while tasting the best Basque tapas/pintxos of Bilbao and discovering the local history and traditions. With us you will taste at least the top 8 pintxos (traditional and modern Basque bites) all paired with a lovely variety of local drinks from wines to vermouths (we have options for all preferences). This tour runs in English and in small groups only so it is much more personal. Our focus is in high quality food and drink, so the perfect choice for the most demanding foodies, just like we are! This experience is as well a fabulous introduction to the history of Bilbao and the Basque Country as we walk around 3 of the most historic neighbourhoods of Bilbao. After the tour you would have learnt the "essential local rules" to order the best food when you are on your own. You will experience it like Basque people: walking around town and hopping from bar to bar pairing local food specialties with drinks.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discover Bilbao through its flavors on an unforgettable culinary walking tour. Led by a passionate local guide, this experience will take you through the city’s lively streets, the Old Town, and atmospheric bars where tradition meets creativity. You’ll taste the best of Basque cuisine — from delicate seafood and award-winning pintxos to hearty local specialties — all paired with the region’s most iconic drinks: crisp Txakoli, refreshing Basque cider, silky Riojas, and vermuts. We have non-alcoholic drinks available. Along the way, we’ll stroll past Bilbao’s most charming neighborhoods, take in riverside views of the Nervión, and uncover hidden corners that most visitors miss. You’ll hear stories about Basque history, culture, and the art of pintxos — plus learn insider tips on how to eat and drink like a true local. By the end, you’ll have savored the essence of Bilbao — its flavors, its warmth, and its vibrant spirit.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour is not suitable for vegans
- Only available for +14 year old
Reviews(303)
Overall, a very good experience. Usoa was very kind and solcitous, and made sure that any eating restrictions were satisfied with alternatives. The first place she took us was by far the best: that spider crab pinxos was delicious, followed by a mushroom with truffles. The other places were good. There was more than enough to eat and drink. Along the way, Usoa told us a bit about the history of Bilboa and also of the Basque region and language.
Great tour, nice tuning of Basque information and ditto dishes.
We really enjoyed the tour along with the local context shared by Usoa. The variety of venues and pintxos was also appreciated.
Excellent locations and foods. Our guide pleasantly made changes in the planned selections if we did not like something. Highly recommend.
Usoa was our guide in what turned out to be a very small group (only four guests). She was very knowledgeable not only about the specific focus of the tour (the pintxos and wines characteristic of the region) but also Basque history, culture, language, and its social and political relationship with the nation of Spain. Maximizing the benefits of a small group, she was very responsive to our questions and interests while still assuring the focal points were covered. Beyond just being a great guide, Usoa was a wonderful host. She made sure that we had water along with our wine at each of the four stops (Bilbao was still in the midst of a heat wave on our evening), and adjusted the specific pintxos she ordered to address food issues within the group. We enjoyed three different wines (white, blush, and red), a cider, and a liqueur, along with eight different pintxos and a desert. It was a delightful three hours on an early summer evening.
Just brilliant from start to finish. Excellent communication prior to the tour, on the day and afterwards. Arrate was our tour guide, she's was amazing!. So friendly and knowledgeable, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend and will definitely use again when travelling in Northern Spain.
Very pleasant tour with a festive guide. Nice people in the group
Fun evening with a great guide. Interesting history about Bilbao and basque. Perfect tour with a lot of food
A lovely evening with a great guide
Wow! Best food tour ever!!! Ousa, our guide, was outstanding! She shared her knowledge of the food we ate, Bilbao and Basque culture and history. We went to 4 different bars and had a total of 7 pinxtos plus a dessert AND a drink at each stop! All were absolutely amazing. We were stuffed! The tour also included both the center of Bilbao and the old town, without too much walking. Many other tours I looked at went only within the old town and this allowed us to see and learn about much more of Bilbao. While we stood up at the first stop, we were seated comfortably at a table for all of the other stops. She was also able to replace wine for beer for one person. Definitely go with this tour.
