Food, Tapas and Wine Tours in Barcelona

By Joan. I live here, so I do not need a guide to find dinner. If I had two days in a city I did not know, I would book one.

Quick answer: for a first night, book an evening tapas crawl. They visit three to five bars with several tapas and drinks included per stop, typically from 70 to 110 euros for around 3 hours, and someone else does the ordering while you work out what you like.

A guided food experience is the fastest way to eat well in a city you do not know. These Barcelona tapas, market, cooking and wine tours include the food, the drinks and a local who knows where to go. Prices change, so check the current one before you book.

Guided tapas crawls

Evening walking tours visiting three to five bars, with several tapas and drinks included per stop and a guide who handles the ordering. Typically from 70 to 110 euros for around 3 hours. This is the one I would pick if I only booked one thing, because it fixes the hardest night of a short trip.

Food tours with market visits

Daytime walks that pair a covered market such as Santa Caterina or Sant Antoni with tastings of jamon, cheese, olives and pastries. A calm introduction to Catalan ingredients, from roughly 65 to 95 euros. Better for people who want to understand what they are eating than for people who just want dinner.

Paella and cooking classes

Hands-on classes where you shop at a market and then cook paella with tapas and sangria. From around 95 to 120 euros, usually 4 hours, ending with the meal you made. A good plan for a rainy afternoon, or for a second day when you want to sit still for a while.

Wine tasting day trips

Half and full-day trips to Montserrat or a Catalan farmhouse winery, pairing the scenery with tapas and gourmet wines. From around 60 euros. This is the only one on the page that also does your sightseeing for you, which on a short trip counts for a lot.

Which tour to pick

Want a good first night, take the tapas crawl. Want to learn the ingredients, take the market food tour. Want something hands-on, take the paella class. Want scenery and wine on your second day, take the Montserrat tasting trip. If you are travelling with children, the cooking class is the one that usually works, because there is something to do with their hands.

I know this is the page where a local is supposed to tell you to skip the tours and wander. Wandering is better if you have a week. If you have two days, buy back the time.