10 Best Food Tours of Bilbao

Bilbao is a well-known municipality located in the north of Spain and its traditional gastronomy is characterized by being very varied. You can taste the famous pintxos accompanied by a glass of wine or craft beer. You will also have the opportunity to taste the popular preparations with cod and hake, among others.

In fact, if you want to learn about the culinary culture of the city, you should connect with a gastronomic tour, an activity that stands out among the best things to do in Bilbao. This way, you will learn about the history behind each of the preparations while tasting them, stroll through the traditional Ribera market, take part in a cooking class and much more.

Whether you plan to be in Bilbao for 1 day or a longer period of time, walking through the city to discover its gastronomy and history is usually a good option.

You will meet the guide in charge of the activity at a pre-arranged location in the center of the city. This way, you will begin the culinary experience of approximately three hours, which will take you through some of the main tapas bars in Bilbao, visited daily by the locals.

During the activity you will enjoy a wide culinary offer that incorporates different versions of pintxos and other local preparations such as rabas, Txampis, Bacalao al pil, Callos a la vizcaína, etc. You can also accompany these tastings with a glass of wine, craft beer or any other non-alcoholic beverage offered on the tour.

As the tour progresses, the guide in charge will tell you the history of the restaurants, the origin of each of the preparations and some interesting facts about the city. He will also answer your questions and suggest new routes to enjoy the flavors of Bilbao.

Details of interest

• Price: from 99€ per person.
• Duration: 3 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transportation: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will enjoy the traditional gastronomy of Bilbao and, at the same time, you will learn about the history of this beautiful city.
• Disadvantages of this option: this activity usually incorporates a limited number of tastings.

During your stay in Bilbao you can join a different gastronomic tour, where with the help of a professional chef you will learn how to prepare some traditional meals. In addition, you will explore Castro Urdiales, considered one of the 10 best villages in Bilbao.

Once you connect with this culinary adventure, you will board a private car and travel approximately 25 minutes to the fishing village of Castro Urdiales, where you will walk the streets of the village, admire the scenery and have a drink. All this while the chef-guide tells you the history of the place.

Next, you will go to a traditional Basque village where the chef's house is located. You will get to know his vegetable garden and begin to prepare the dishes, which vary according to the season, the most popular being marmitako of tuna, gilda, pintxo and panchineta. Afterwards, you will taste each meal accompanied by a glass of wine.

This type of tour usually starts and ends in the area around the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Therefore, when you return you will have enough time to incorporate the visit to this important site.

Details of interest

• Price: from 218€ per person.
• Duration: 5 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: car or minibus.
• Advantages of this option: not only will you do tastings, but you will also learn how to prepare some traditional recipes, thus obtaining a more personalized experience.
• Disadvantages of this option: this is not a suitable activity for people in wheelchairs.

If you are a wine culture enthusiast and you visit Bilbao in summer or any other season of the year, then you will find it appropriate to be part of a tour of the wineries of this locality. In addition, you will have the opportunity to taste some traditional products.

The route of this type of day trips from Bilbao can vary, as there are several wine cellars in the city. For example, you can visit the Gorka Izagirre Winery and the Uriarte Winery, which are located 14 and 23 minutes from the city respectively and the distance between them is only 15 minutes.

Also, approximately 35 minutes from Bilbao there are other options:

• The Berroja Winery.
• La Bodegas Itsasmendi.
• La Bodega Gure Ahaleginak.
• La Bodegas Virgen De Lorea.

Whichever route you choose for your tour, you will enjoy the best wine tasting in Bilbao, visit the vineyards in the company of an oenologist-guide and learn about the process of making the famous txakoli. In addition, you will taste a variety of pintxos made with local seasonal products.

Details of interest

• Price: from 135€ per person.
• Duration: 4 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: private car or minibus.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know the wine cellars of the city, taste wines and taste delicious pintxos of local production.
• Disadvantages of this option: although this activity can be done all year round, during the winter season you will not be able to enjoy the colorful vineyards.

The Mercado de la Ribera is another destination to incorporate into your gastronomic tour of the city. There, you will taste a wide variety of Basque gastronomic delicacies and buy fresh seasonal products.

You can visit the market on your own from 8:00 am until at least a couple of hours before midnight, which is the time when the building closes its doors. You also have the option of connecting with a gastronomic tour and, thus, take advantage of the comments of the specialized guide while you make the tour.

In either case, you can visit the old fishmongers of the market with the freshest fish and seafood of the town. You will also have access to the butchers, bakeries, greengrocers and stores selling cheese, mushrooms, pickles, frozen foods, among other products.

You will also find gastrobars on the second floor of the market. These are bar-restaurants with several high-level culinary proposals, including the widest selection of pintxos in Bilbao. All this, accompanied by exquisite drinks, a pleasant musical atmosphere and a privileged view of the Bilbao Estuary, depending on the gastrobar you are in.

Details of interest

• Price: from 54€ per person.
• Duration: 3 hours (Approx).
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will visit the oldest market in Bilbao and, at the same time, you will enjoy the delicious Basque gastronomy in the gastrobars of the place.
• Disadvantages of this option: this tour does not usually include the transfer service to and from the hotel.

Visiting the main bars of the city to experience the pintxo culture is a great activity to do in Bilbao at night. You will delight your palate and learn how to order the best Basque tapas.

The three-hour tour starts at sunset. You will walk in search of the best traditional and modern bars of this town. Such is the case of Baste in the old town, Charly, in Plaza Nueva, among others.

Without a doubt, you will visit the best places to eat pintxos in Bilbao and you will taste in each of them the different versions of this famous Basque tapa. For example: the delicious onion, tomato and cheese sandwiches, cod, mushrooms, lamb, txaka, stuffed mussels, among other tapas.

Also, you will eat the special pintxos made by the chef on the spot and, in many occasions, they are award-winning preparations in culinary contests. In addition, the guide will teach you how to select the best drink to accompany your pintxo. You will be able to taste cider, white wine, red wine, beer, etc.

Details of interest

• Price: from 100€ per person.
• Duration: 3 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will experience the culture of pintxos with a local guide, who will teach you how to choose them and with which drink to accompany them.
• Disadvantages of this option: generally, this tour does not allow pets.

A guided gastronomic tour that incorporates a photographic experience is another of the best tours of Bilbao that you can participate in during your stay.

The activity usually lasts a maximum of three hours, during which you will walk around the city with a local guide-photographer. You will discover some hidden bars and restaurants, where you will taste different versions of pintxos, cod, anchovies, foie, octopus, local cheese and traditional desserts. In addition, you will drink some wines, ciders and beers.

Throughout the tour, the guide in charge will put you in context with respect to the history of the food and places visited. Likewise, he will help you take professional gastronomic photographs of each preparation, indicating the best angles to enhance the attractiveness of the food and create suggestive images.

At the end of the experience, you will have visited at least five bar-restaurants, on a route that will take you through Plaza Moyua, the Cathedral of Santiago, the Ribera Market, the Fuente del Perro and the Old Town. However, these destinations are only approximate, as the route varies from tour to tour.

Details of interest

• Price: from 125€ per person.
• Duration: 3 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will get professional gastronomic photographs and, at the same time, you will know and taste the traditional preparations of the city of Bilbao.
• Disadvantages of this option: sometimes, drinks are not included in the tastings, so you will have to pay an additional cost for them.

Make the most of your stay of at least 2 days in Bilbao and include in your itinerary a route to discover the street food of the city. This is an activity that you can do on your own, although it is best to connect with a tour to save time and gain culinary knowledge.

During the tour you can approach the Plaza Venezuela. There, you will find the Popemobile with potatoes stuffed with chorizo, salad or octopus. Also, during Bilbao's Semana Grande (the nine days after August 15), you will find the Hambroneta with hot dogs and hamburgers on the City Hall Bridge.

Also, you can try international street food salty, sweet and some vegan preparations. For example:

• On Berástegui street, you will find a salchichauto with delicious classic hot dogs with German sausage.
• Afew steps from Casco Antiguo, you will find Pizza Via with artisanal Italian preparations.
• On Ercilla street, you will taste cream and chocolate waffles, among other desserts.
• In Casco Antiguo you will enjoy organic vegetable sushi, craft beer and other vegan food at Camelia.

Interesting details

• Price: from 50€ per person.
• Duration: 3 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will discover a range of different flavors and aromas, tasting Bilbao's street food options.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour is not suitable for people with mobility difficulties, as it takes place on foot through different destinations in the city.

If you plan to spend about 3 days in Bilbao, you might consider escaping the city for a day and visiting the town of San Sebastian. You will visit the traditional market of the region and the Cheese Interpretation Center. In addition, you will do some cheese tasting.

The tour starts with a pick up at the door of the hotel (optional). Afterwards, you will travel approximately one hour and a half to the town of Gipuzkoa in San Sebastian. There, the guide will take you directly to the colorful Ordizia Market, to observe and taste a variety of local products: fruits, cheeses, vegetables, among others.

Afterwards, you will access the Idiazabal Cheese Interpretation and Tasting Center, to take a tour of the cheese factory, learn about the history of the place and admire the scenery. Then, you will go to the Old Town to explore the place and visit some bars and restaurants.

In this way, you will be able to taste some pintxos accompanied by a couple of glasses of wine or craft beers. Also, if you wish, you can go up to Monte Igeldo by car or by funicular, to enjoy a privileged view of San Sebastian before returning to Bilbao.

Details of interest

• Price: from 90€ per person.
• Duration: 10 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: car or minibus.
• Advantages of this option: the tour includes entrance to each of the attractions.
• Disadvantages of this option: food and beverage tastings are usually limited.

Taking a gastronomic tour of Bilbao is a highly recommended option, as this is a city with a great culinary variety. Therefore, by participating in this type of tour you can discover all the flavors that characterize this town in northern Spain.

In addition, because the gastronomic tours are conducted in the company of an experienced local guide, you can learn the history behind each of the preparations tasted. Also, this person will give you some curious facts about the restaurants visited and the city in general.

To be part of a gastronomic tour of Bilbao you need to take into consideration the following basic tips:

• Do not eat before the tour, as you might lose your appetite at the time of tasting.
• Wear shoes that allow you to move comfortably, as this type of gastronomic experiences are carried out on foot through the streets of the city.
• Take cash with you, because you might need to give a tip.