The Best Tapas & Pintxos Tours in Spain: City by City
The best tapas and pintxos tours in Spain: San Sebastián, Seville, Madrid, Granada, Barcelona, Córdoba and Málaga, tapas vs pintxos, what to order, and how to book.
The short version: Spain’s best tapas and pintxos tours are in San Sebastián (pintxos on the bar, Txakoli and Basque cheesecake), Seville (classic Andalusian tapas and sherry), Madrid (the La Latina and Huertas bar crawl), Granada (a free tapa with every drink) and Barcelona. Tours last about three hours, visit four or five bars and include drinks, so book an evening one and skip dinner. Here is how the cities compare.
Spain’s tapas cities at a glance
| City | Style | Order this | Read the guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Sebastián | Pintxos lined up on the bar, plus hot pintxos to order | Gilda, txuleta, Basque cheesecake, Txakoli | Pintxos tours |
| Seville | Classic tapas bars, standing at the counter | Jamón, salmorejo, espinacas con garbanzos, fino | Seville tapas tours |
| Madrid | Bar crawl through La Latina and Huertas | Patatas bravas, croquetas, bocadillo de calamares | Madrid tapas tours |
| Granada | A free tapa with every drink | Whatever comes with your caña | Granada tapas tours |
| Barcelona | Tapas and Basque-style pintxos bars, vermouth | Bombas, pan con tomate, vermut | Which neighbourhood? |
| Córdoba | Tavern tapas with Montilla wine | Salmorejo, flamenquín, Montilla-Moriles | Córdoba tapas tours |
| Málaga | Seafood tapas and sweet wine | Pescaíto frito, espetos, Málaga wine | Málaga food tours |
Tapas vs pintxos
Tapas are small plates, found across Spain and especially in Andalusia and Madrid; in Granada and parts of Jaén they still come free with a drink. Pintxos are the Basque version: bite-size creations, often on bread with a skewer, laid out on the bar in San Sebastián and Bilbao, plus hot pintxos cooked to order from a blackboard menu. Either way, the custom is the same: one or two bites and a small drink per bar, then move on.
Why take a tour
The best bars are packed, menus are often only on a board and each bar has one specialty you must order. A guide gets you to the counter, orders the right things and keeps you away from tourist traps. In San Sebastián that is the difference between a good night and a great one. Hungry for more? See Santiago de Compostela for Galician octopus, and our sherry guide for what to drink in the south.
Our pick: the San Sebastián Gourmet Pintxo Tour is the benchmark: award-winning bars in the Old Town with wine and Txakoli. For classic tapas, the Seville Tapas Crawl is the Andalusian equivalent.
Frequently asked questions
Which Spanish city is best for tapas?
Seville and Granada for classic tapas, Madrid for a big-city bar crawl, and San Sebastián for pintxos, which many consider the best bar food in Spain.
What is the difference between tapas and pintxos?
Tapas are small plates found across Spain; pintxos are the Basque version, bite-size and often served on bread on the bar.
What time do tapas tours start?
Most start between 6:30 and 8pm, when locals begin their evening round of bars.
Book a tapas or pintxos tour
Compare tapas and pintxos tours across Spain.
