Alicante: Tapas & Wine Tour with Central Market & Local Bars

You're standing in Alicante's Central Market before the crowds arrive, and the guide is already pointing out which fishmonger has the catch of the day.

You walk the Central Market with a guide who knows the vendors, taste tapas and wine in two traditional bars, and finish with a full meal in a family restaurant. The tour covers Alicante's old town on foot, connecting the food to the city's Muslim heritage and the stories behind each dish. Small groups, morning or afternoon slots, all entry and tastings included. You just show up hungry.

Step-by-step itinerary

Alicante gastronomy and city tour

• Visit Central Market or traditional bar
• Enjoy typical snack
• Walk 60 minutes through city center
• Learn about Muslim cultural influence
• Stop at traditional tapas bar
• Sample croquettes, salad, pintxos, and wine
• Walk old town and hear city stories
• Dine at traditional family restaurant
• Taste classic local dishes and sweets

The experience

The Central Market opens early, and that's where this tour starts: in the thick of it, surrounded by vendors who've been selling from the same stalls for decades. Over 100 years old, this place is one of Spain's largest markets by square meters, and it's loud and alive in a way that no photo prepares you for. You'll taste a typical Alicante snack right there between the butchers and bakers, and the guide will explain what you're eating and why it matters to the city. If you book an afternoon slot or a Sunday tour, the market closes, so you'll hit a traditional bar instead: same snack, same story, different room.

Then comes a 60-minute walk through the old town, and this is where the tour stops being just about food. You'll pass through Mushroom Street and past the Town Hall, and the guide fills in how Muslim influence shaped the city's culture and, honestly, what ended up on your plate. The streets themselves tell you something about Alicante that the guidebook doesn't: the small turns, the way light falls, the details that make it feel like a place people actually live in rather than a postcard. You're learning the city's bones while moving through it.

The next stop is one of the oldest bars in Alicante, the kind that's been serving the same croquettes, salads and pintxos since it opened because they got it right the first time. Fresh local ingredients, cooked simply, served hot, and a rustic red wine that fits the food like it was made for it. You get two tapas per person here, and the wine comes in a regular glass, not a tasting pour. After that, you walk a bit more through the old town, and the guide keeps talking, not lecturing, just pointing out how the city has changed, the small stories and curiosities that make this about the real Alicante, not the one in the brochure.

The final stop is a family restaurant where several generations have cooked. Croquettes, potatoes, tortilla, aioli, fried fish: the classics, the ones locals actually order. A glass of wine with Mediterranean aroma, and then a traditional sweet to close it out. By the time you leave, you've eaten at some of the most emblematic places in the city and you understand how the food and the history are tangled up in each other. You've got a list of recommendations in your pocket for places to come back to on your own.

What’s included

• Ham and cheese board to share.
• official tourism guide.
• 2 tapas per person in each of the two bars.
• 1 glass of wine, beer or soft drink at each bar.
• 1 dessert or sweet per person.
• tasting of typical sweets.
• list of recommendations for future visits.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to ThursdayDepartures at 10:30 and 17:30

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (15 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 14 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Local Tours Alicante

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to eat your way through Alicante's real neighborhoods without planning the stops yourself. The guide handles the route, the timing and the stories, so you just taste and listen.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 14 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What if the Central Market is closed when I book?

The tour switches to a traditional bar for the opening snack and tasting. The rest of the itinerary stays the same.

How many glasses of wine do I get?

One glass in each of the two bars, plus one with the final meal, three total. You can choose wine, beer or a soft drink at each stop.

How long is the walking part?

About 60 minutes through the old town, between the market and the first bar. The pace is slow and the guide stops often to talk about the history and the streets.

Are there vegetarian options?

The tour includes ham and cheese, croquettes, salads, tortilla, aioli and fried fish. Speak to the operator when you book if you have dietary restrictions.

What time does the tour start?

Morning and afternoon slots are available. Check the booking page for exact times.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and the pace is suitable for all fitness levels.