Bilbao food tour: Casco Viejo markets, pintxos & Guggenheim

Four to five hours eating through the markets, bars and family taverns that rebuilt Bilbao.

A full-day food tour of Bilbao led by a live English-speaking guide, moving through Casco Viejo's markets, pintxos bars and historic bodegas to taste how the city transformed itself. You'll start at Mercado La Ribera with market specialties and Basque breakfast sandwiches, visit a preserved-fish shop to learn about salt cod, taste artisanal cheeses and modern takes on classics like tortilla and cod pil pil, and finish with Carolina pastry and a walk to the Guggenheim. Breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks are included throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Bilbao's cultural and culinary sites

• Visit San Anton Nikolas Eliza Church bridge
• Explore Mercado La Ribera market
• Walk through Casco Viejo Old Town

The experience

The tour opens at Mercado La Ribera, one of Europe's largest covered markets, where you'll taste market specialties before stopping for classic Basque breakfast sandwiches and cider. From there, the guide takes you to a preserved-fish shop to learn why salt cod became an obsession in Bilbao, then on to a century-old bodega for pintxos and txakoli. The stops move through the narrow streets of Casco Viejo, the historic heart of the city just steps from the river and its iconic bridges.

Along the way, you'll taste artisanal cheeses, modern takes on classics like tortilla and cod pil pil, and afternoon pintxos at a beloved family tavern. Each stop is chosen to show how Bilbao rebuilt itself, not through grand gestures, but through the markets, bars and institutions that have shaped the city for generations. The guide walks you through that story as you eat.

The tour finishes with Bilbao's whimsical Carolina pastry and a walk to the Guggenheim, where the city's remarkable rebirth comes full circle. Breakfast, lunch, snacks and alcoholic beverages are included. The guide speaks English and the pace suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Breakfast with Basque sandwiches and cider.
• tastings at Mercado La Ribera and a preserved-fish shop.
• pintxos and txakoli at a century-old bodega.
• artisanal cheeses and modern takes on classics like tortilla and cod pil pil.
• afternoon pintxos at a family tavern.
• Carolina pastry.
• a live English-speaking guide throughout the full day.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:30

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Youth (7 to 12 years) · Infant (under 7)

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled 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

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Culinary Backstreets Walks

Is this one for you?The tour takes four to five hours of walking and stopping, so you'll need a morning or afternoon free and comfortable shoes. It suits anyone curious about how food shaped a city's comeback, whether or not you're a serious eater.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 12 years); Infant (under 7).

What is Mercado La Ribera and what will I taste there?

Mercado La Ribera is one of Europe's largest covered markets, built in the 1920s and located in the heart of Casco Viejo. You'll taste market specialties and stop for classic Basque breakfast sandwiches and cider before moving on to the other stops.

Why does the tour visit a preserved-fish shop?

The shop teaches you about salt cod, which became central to Bilbao's identity and food culture. The guide explains why this ingredient mattered so much to the city's history.

What kind of food will I eat at the century-old bodega?

You'll taste pintxos, the small Basque bites served in bars, and txakoli, a local white wine. The bodega is one of Bilbao's oldest establishments and shows how traditional Basque dining still works.

Does the tour include drinks?

Yes, alcoholic beverages are included throughout the day, including cider at breakfast and txakoli at the bodega, along with snacks and meals at each stop.

How does the tour connect to the Guggenheim?

The tour ends with a walk to the Guggenheim, the modern museum that symbolizes Bilbao's transformation from an industrial port into a cultural capital. You'll finish there after tasting your way through the city's markets and bars.