San Sebastian Ultimate Pintxos & Wine Tour in the Old Town
About this activity
Highlights
- Enjoy a full meal across 6 of the city’s best pintxos bars.
- Discover the story behind Basque cuisine.
- Step inside one of San Sebastian’s most important bars for the freshest seafood in town.
- Try classic pintxos the way the locals do: in a packed bar standing elbow to elbow!
- Check all of San Sebastian’s must-visit bars off your foodie bucket list.
Full description
The first stop on your pintxos tour has been a local favorite since the 1970s. A selection of the best mussels in town awaits you here, complemented by a dry Basque cider. You’ll learn all about the cultural practice of “TXOTX!” as well as try your hand at pouring cider from a height straight into your glass. This first stop is the perfect primer to teach you what going out for pintxos in San Sebastian really means.
Next, it’s time to get acquainted with one of Spain’s most famous specialties: cured Iberian ham. At a family-run gem full of Basque and Spanish gourmet items, you’ll try two classic cured hams handpicked by the owner. You’ll leave understanding the distinct difference between the two and get a sense of your favorite type!
On the way to the next bar, we’ll take a detour around the corner to the Old Town’s picturesque main square. Traditional bullfights were held here during the 19th century, and if you look up to the surrounding houses, you’ll see the numbers that used to mark the bullring boxes where locals would watch the fights from!
Just a block away is a bar that makes the best homemade marinated anchovies in the city. Not a fan of anchovies? Prepare to have your mind blown—this bar has swayed many anchovy doubters over the decades! Here, we’ll also discover the story of the very first pintxo ever to be invented and sip some sparkling wine from the Basque Country.
One of the city’s most renowned pintxos bars awaits. This place is famous for fusing traditional recipes with innovative cooking techniques. The mouth-watering pintxos here are a testament to their methods, but make sure to save some room!
Next, we’ll stop by another local hotspot for a classic pintxo of tender sirloin steak. Top it off with a glass of barrel-aged Navarra red wine.
Of course, we’ll finish on a sweet note! Our last stop of the evening will take you to a restaurant that’s been a local favorite since it was opened in the 1950s. Get ready to try a local dessert you can’t find elsewhere, accompanied by a flavorsome sherry.
By the end of the tour, you’ll have an impressive knowledge of traditional pintxos—and exactly where to find them in San Sebastian!
Sites Visited
6 tasting stops, San Sebastian Old Town, Plaza de Constitución, Gastronomic Society, Calle 31 de Agosto
Included / Excluded
- Local English-speaking guide
- Expertly guided walking tour
- 8 pintxos and 5 drinks
- Hotel Pick-up/Drop-off
- Gratuities
Meeting point
Start Location
Alameda del Blvd., 8 , Donostia-San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa, ES
https://www.google.com/maps/place/San+Sebastian+Turismo/@43.3227115,-1.9843835,18z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0xd51a54dfb067fbf:0xd0c0e731a1410d77!8m2!3d43.3227018!4d-1.9833964
Get directions →Important information
Know before you book
- The tour is in English.
- We will be standing up in all the bars, in true Basque style.
- The tour covers dinner.
- Guests with serious food allergies will need to sign an allergy waiver at the start of the tour
- This tour is adaptable for Vegetarians, Pescatarians, Gluten free (not celiacs), Dairy free, Non-alcoholic options & Pregnant women, , please note it when booking.
- This tour is not recommended for vegans.
- Our group tour utilizes multiple areas that are not wheelchair accessible. Those with wheelchairs should contact us so we can arrange your visit.
- Due to the risk of gluten cross-contamination, this tour is not adaptable for those with celiac disease
- This tour is not suitable for children
Know before you go
- Meeting time is 10min before the tour star time to check in. If a guest is more than 5min late, they should go to first stop (stated in confirmation email).
- Avoid backpacks, bulky purses and strollers
Cancellation policy
Cancellations received greater than 24 hours prior to tour commencement are fully refundable. Cancellations received within 24 hours of tour commencement are nonrefundable. Amendment requests are subject to availability and price changes. Late arrivals and no-shows are non-refundable. This is applicable to any tour participant that fails to arrive or arrives after tour departure.
Reviews
If you’re reading this, book it now! You’ll be one of the first on the boat and get the best spot before anyone else. Daniela (aka “Daniel”) treated us exceptionally well from start to finish. Her knowledge of the falls and the stories behind them was the perfect balance of informative and entertaining. She keeps you laughing throughout the tour and enjoys the experience right alongside you as if it were her first time seeing it. 10/10 — I would recommend this tour to anyone. As an added bonus, our group had only four people, which made the experience absolutely incredible and much more personal. Thanks again, Daniel! 😉
The tour was great and having priority on the boat was excellent
The tour was great and having priority on the boat was excellent