The 8 Best Small-Group History Tours in Spain

1.Madrid Tapas & Taverns Small Group Food & History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,664 reviews · 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $95Our pick

Start near Puerta del Sol with vermouth and a tapa at Casa Labra, then visit family-run taverns for Asturian cider, mushrooms, garlic shrimp, wine, and more. Your English-speaking guide, such as Arantxa, Cassie, Sam, or Javier, adds Madrid history between stops. Plan this as dinner and wear comfortable shoes.

“My experience on the Tapas and Taverns small-group history tour was absolutely fantastic. Our guide, Cassie, was amazing—she spoke perfect English and took us all over Madrid, sharing fascinating facts about the city that I never would have learned on my own. She brought us into unique, niche bars I never would’ve stopped at and introduced us to incredible local foods and drinks that truly captured the spirit of Madrid and Spain. I’m so glad I did this tour, and doing it with Cassie made it unforgettable. I would 100% recommend this experience to anyone visiting!”

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2.Ultimate Seville Tapas, Wine & History Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,766 reviews · 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $101

Walk Seville’s old Jewish Quarter with an English-speaking food guide and a group capped at 10. You’ll visit four traditional stops for 9 or more tapas, four drinks, and dessert, including Iberian ham, orange wine, manzanilla, and artisan ice cream. Guides such as Mario, Paula, Elena, and Manuel bring food, local customs, and city history together.

“A great evening visiting traditional family run bars and restaurants and getting a great taste of both local wine and food/ tapas. Our guide and host Guillermo provided a fun packed evening around the tapas and wine of Seville but also a great insight into the history of the city. We would highly recommend to anyone that wants to food and wine culture of the city.”

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3.Alicante Historic Small Group Tour with Tapas Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 559 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35

Spend 2.5 hours seeing Alicante from market to mountaintop to old town. Guides such as Isaac and Francisco lead a small group through the Central Market, Santa Bárbara Castle, and Santa Cruz, with market snacks, private transport uphill, and a drink plus one large tapa at the end.

“Frank was an amazing tour guide. He showed us all the hidden gems of Alicante and its rich history! Our kids learned a lot during this tour.”

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4.Tarragona and Sitges Small Group Tour – Roman History & Culture

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 339 reviews · 10 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $119

Leave central Barcelona by air-conditioned minivan for Tarragona’s Roman aqueduct, forum, circus, cathedral, and amphitheater. Stop at Roc de Sant Gaieta, then spend three hours in Sitges for lunch, shops, cafes, and possibly a swim. English-speaking guides have included Sergio, Rod, Xavier, Enrique, Stephen, and Jordi.

“The guide himself, felt like we were out with a favourite uncle. Enjoyed free time and the bonus festival of Santa Tecla in Tarragona. Topped off with beautiful weather and great food.”

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5.Bilbao Historical Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 159 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $31

Spend about two hours walking Bilbao’s Casco Viejo with a local English-speaking guide, often Samuel or Sam. Visit Plaza Nueva, Plaza Miguel de Unamuno, La Ribera Market, the cathedral area, Bidebarrieta Library, and the Nervión riverside while learning about Basque culture, food, language, and city history. Groups are listed at up to 10 or 12 people.

“Sam walked all through the Casco Viejo area of Bilbao and explained the history of the city and the significance of the local sites and events that shaped Bilbao. He shared the politics of the Basque region as well as the culture. His tour made the rest of our trip easy as we navigated the city.”

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6.Savor Spain: Food, Wine, History & Culture Small Group Tour in Old Barcelona

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 140 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $134

Start on La Rambla at 3:45 pm and follow a local guide through El Raval, the Gothic Quarter, and El Born. You’ll sample 15 regional dishes, enjoy six listed drinks, and visit several bars and landmarks. Guides have included Blanca, Brian, Hope, Daniel, Eveline, and Sevan.

“Brian was our guide, he was fantastic and full of knowledge! He created a great atmosphere and our group got along great!”

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7.Bilbao Historical Tour in small group

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 52 reviews · 2 hours · from $22Best value

Walk Bilbao’s old town with a local English-speaking guide such as Samuel, Iñaki, or Vanessa. See San Nicolás Church, Plaza Nueva, Ribera Market, Santiago Square, Dog Street, the Bolsa building, and the Municipal Library. Groups are limited to 10, making it easy to ask questions and keep a steady pace.

“Samuel was excellent. I ended up being the only person on this tour around the old city of Bilbao but he still went ahead and made it interesting and informative. Thank you Samuel, it was great to wander around this part of Bilbao with someone who knew so much about it 😊”

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8.Small-group historical walking tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 19 reviews · 2 hours · from $22

Join an accredited English, French, or Spanish-speaking guide for a two-hour walk through Madrid de los Austrias. With no more than 10 people, you’ll see Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de la Villa, San Miguel Market, Almudena Cathedral, and the Royal Palace. Guides such as Osmel add dates, stories, and food tips along the way.

“Excellent visit, great guide Osmel and amazing Time in Madrid. We recommend 100%.”

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