10 Best Food Tours of San Sebastian

One of the best things to do in San Sebastian is a gastronomic tour. Among the biggest attractions of Donostia is undoubtedly its Basque gastronomy and on a tour you will be able to taste that characteristic flavor. The best thing about the tours is that you can go directly to the best bars and restaurants while a local guide tells you secrets of the history and preparation of the typical dishes.

In these gastronomic tours you will also have the opportunity to get to know the streets of San Sebastian, especially those of the old town. You can stroll through its cobblestone streets and enjoy the afternoon or evening, depending on the time you choose. In addition, some tours include a cooking class so you can prepare the famous pintxos when you return home.

Do you want to take a tour of San Sebastian and also taste the delicious food hidden in this city? Then I recommend you to take this tour with lunch. You will get to know La Concha Beach and the old town of Donostia in a single five-hour tour for about 150 € approximately.

The best thing about this tour is that your guide will take you to places where you will find culinary gems. At La Concha Beach, one of the best beaches in the Basque Country, you will be able to visit a restaurant and have a small wine tasting. In this area your guide will tell you many facts about the culture and history of the city. Little by little you will get closer to the old town.

When you get to the Old Part of the city you will see a lot of restaurants. You are sure to go to one of these for a pintxo lunch. To accompany your dish you can order a wine or a cider, a traditional drink of the Basque Country. If you have any doubts about its preparation, don't hesitate to ask your guide, but chances are that while you eat he will tell you everything you need to know.

At the end of this tour you can continue enjoying the city on a boat trip around San Sebastian. Some of these tours are cruises that include dinner or tasting, so take the opportunity and live the experience!

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 150 €.
• Duration: about 5 hours.
• Means of transport: the tour is done on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you can explore several parts of the city in one tour.
• Disadvantages of this option: some people find the walk from the beach to the old town too long.

Do you like to get to know the new flavors of the places you visit? Imagine being able to learn how to prepare them? If you like that idea then I definitely recommend this gastronomic experience that includes a Basque pintxos cooking class. It has an average duration of four hours and an average cost of 100 €.

To start this plan you must meet your group and a local chef where you are indicated. The class is usually small, so you can ask as many questions as you like. The chef will start the class by showing you the most common ingredients of traditional Basque cuisine. This way you will be able to take a gastronomic culture tour through the seven Basque provinces.

After the introduction you will be able to prepare six of the most iconic pintxos from the restaurants and bars of San Sebastian. As you prepare these dishes, the teacher and chef will tell you the secrets and tricks to cook like a Donostia chef. Among the ingredients you will use in these Basque tapas are pork, fish, various vegetables and dairy products.

At the end you will also be able to make a Basque cheesecake for dessert. Finally, you can decorate a table with all your creations and take a nice picture. After the photos feel free to taste all the food.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 100 €.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Means of transportation: you will walk or take the means of transportation of your choice to the restaurant.
• Advantages of this option: with this experience you can learn how to cook so that when you get home you can taste again the flavor of San Sebastian.
• Disadvantages of this option: you must work on your plate to be able to eat something tasty, if you do not like to cook, this is not an ideal plan for you.

Want to try the different types of pintxos found in San Sebastian? If you are looking for something to do during the night and want to try this typical dish, I recommend this tour. For about three hours and for about 100 € you can visit different breweries and restaurants with a local guide who will tell you curious facts about the places and the food.

In the old town of San Sebastian there are different places that you will love to visit. The tour can be done on foot without any problem. It usually starts at Cervecerías La Mejillonera, a lively and nautical-themed place where you can accompany your pintxos with craft beers.

To try the Iberian ham your guide should take you to a store like Zapore Jai. This is a magical spot where you can sample Basque gourmet products. After a few minutes there, you can go to the main square of the old town to visit other bars in this area.

Among them are Bar Txepetxa, 148 Gastroleku and Gipuzkoa. In these places you can try the best pintxos made with tender sirloin steak and other ingredients. Each dish is accompanied by a good glass of aged wine. Finally you can try a typical dessert of San Sebastian.

Interesting details

• Price: around 100 €.
• Duration: approximately 3 hours.
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: it is a fun opportunity to eat something different and at the same time get to know San Sebastian by night.
• Disadvantages of this option: for some people a night gastronomic tour can be very heavy for your digestive system, so you'd better be cautious.

For all the people interested in buying some Basque products to take home, this is the ideal plan. La Bretxa Market is almost an obligatory stop in San Sebastian. On this three-hour tour you can stroll through it and then take a tour of several restaurants to try some of the best pintxos in Donostia.

After meeting your guide you can head to the Bretxa Market. There you will be able to see products such as olive oil, vegetables, fish and charcuterie products. Your guide will direct you to a special store where you can do a little gourmet tasting before going for the main courses. This tour will gradually get more interesting!

After leaving the market you can visit the Old Part of San Sebastian. There you will visit at least a few restaurants where you can eat pintxos and accompany them with a local wine or cider. Your guide will tell you curiosities and stories about these drinks and foods, and then you can stroll through the streets of this side of the city.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 100 €.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: with this tour you will be able to visit a local market and find products that you can take home.
• Disadvantages of this option: you should consider bringing extra money for the purchases you wish to make at the market.

Fancy getting to know the sweeter side of San Sebastian? If you've already tried the typical pintxos I think it's time for dessert and this is the best option. In this four-hour tour you will visit several cafes, bakeries and stores in the city to taste the best sweets of Donostia.

After meeting your guide you will start touring at least seven specialty shops. You will taste freshly brewed coffee, candies made in the French Basque Country, traditional Basque cake, chocolates, churros and even cider dessert. Get ready for an adventure of flavors and desserts!

Among the places you will visit you will probably find one of the best bakeries in the city. One of them is Galparsoro Okindegia Bakery where you will find a wide variety of delicious breads. For sweets and desserts your guide will take you to other places that are also emblematic of the city.

In total there will be about 10 food tastings. At each stop you will be able to drink wine or water to accompany your meal. Keep in mind that the tour is on foot, so your guide will be able to tell you facts about the city and the locals. When the tour is over you can continue exploring San Sebastian in a tourist bus.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 100 €.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to try something different from the typical pintxos for which this city is best known.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you cannot eat gluten or sugar it is better to avoid this type of gastronomic tours.

Traveller Tip
If you decide to do a dessert tour I recommend you to have had breakfast or lunch before as most of the tastings have a lot of sugar.

A trip to San Sebastian is not complete without a gastronomic tour. For this plan you should keep in mind that the main food you will taste will be pintxos. These dishes are always prepared with seafood, chicken, beef or pork. Some people are allergic to these foods or simply cannot eat them due to dietary restrictions. Keep this in mind before going on a tour.

In case you can eat pintxos without any problem then you have nothing to worry about. Just keep in mind that you should go on an empty stomach to be able to eat everything the bars and restaurants have to offer. If you are going to eat desserts, better wait at least three hours after your first meal of the day.

On the other hand, when you go for tapas in San Sebastian you will notice something different in its bars. In many of them the pintxos are already served at the bar, but as you go on a guided tour you will most likely be served hot pintxos. In case you go on your own, ask the waiter for your favorite pintxos from the menu with a glass of wine or cider.

If you are traveling as a couple, a gastronomic tour for dinner will be an ideal plan as San Sebastian is considered one of the most romantic cities in the world. Take advantage of the time you spend in Donostia and enjoy its landscapes and cozy atmosphere. I recommend that you choose tours for small groups if you want something quieter and more personal.

If you do a gastronomic tour in San Sebastian on your own, I recommend that you do a little research so that you can get restaurants with good prices and excellent quality. Some people who travel to the city don't manage to get the best bar, as they don't plan their visits ahead of time. Because of this they can go to the least recommended places and have a bad time.

I personally recommend gastronomic tours because you will always be accompanied by a local guide. This person knows all the restaurants in the city and will be able to take you to the best ones. Also, with a gastronomic tour you get to taste more than one dish. On the other hand, if you go on your own this is more complicated and more expensive.

In addition, gastronomic tours offer much more than just the tasting of different dishes. With this tour you can discover new or hidden places that as a tourist you may overlook. Also, on the tours the guide will always tell you the history of the city or teach you something new and you can even learn how to cook.