Basque Cider House (Sidrería) Tour from San Sebastián: Worth It?
Updated October 20, 2026 · 6 min read
Worth it if you want the whole ritual explained and do not want to organise a ride out of town. The traditional cider house tour with lunch takes four hours, costs €83 per person and has 4.9 stars from 193 reviews. It is less compelling if your trip falls in summer and you only want a long lunch, or if you are happy to arrange a table yourself.
What a sidrería is
A sidrería (sagardotegi in Basque) is a cider house, usually a farmhouse with a cellar full of big barrels. The famous ritual is called txotx: someone calls “txotx!”, a thin stream of cider shoots from a barrel, and you hold your glass at an angle to catch it, taking a small amount and drinking it in one go. You then queue to the next barrel. The cider is natural, still and sharp, closer to a tart apple wine than to the sweet fizzy drink many visitors expect.
When the barrels are open
The txotx season runs from the start of the year to spring: guides put it at mid-January to late April, and one house runs it to the end of May. Outside those months, a cider house may still serve a meal, but the barrel ritual is the thing most people travel for, so ask about it before you book.
The GetYourGuide listing promises the txotx ritual, a visit to the cellar and the surrounding apple orchards, and natural Basque cider in a traditional farmhouse. It does not give a season, and the booking page is where to check whether your dates are covered.
What the tour includes
According to the listing, you travel from San Sebastián for a guided tour of a cider house, its cellar and the orchards, and you taste the cider at the barrels. The tour title includes lunch. The listing does not say which dishes are served, whether vegetarian options exist, or how the cider is poured, so ask the operator if you have dietary needs.
The classic set menu in a cider house, as guides describe it, is a cod omelette, fried cod with green peppers, a thick grilled steak, then local cheese with quince and walnuts, with cider included. Do not take that as the menu for your tour; take it as what a traditional meal looks like.
Tour or on your own?
Many of the cider houses cluster in Astigarraga, a small town a short distance from the city. Guides describe individual houses as roughly five kilometres out or even about five minutes by car. That makes it a manageable trip, and the difference between the two ways is short:
Going on your own costs you the booking and the transport. Guides quote around €40 for a traditional set menu, but menus and prices vary by house and year, so ask when you reserve. You also decide how long you stay.
The tour gives you someone to explain the process and a seat at lunch. The listing says the trip starts from San Sebastián but not whether the return journey is included in the price; confirm that on the booking page. For a four-hour programme with orchards, cellar and lunch, €83 is a fair price for the guidance and programme, not a bargain on the meal alone.
How the two options compare
| Option | Time | Price | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional cider house tour with lunch | 4 hours | €83 | 4.9 from 193 reviews | Most people |
| Basque cider house tour | 4 hours | €175 | 4.4 from 18 reviews | The more expensive, less reviewed option |
| Booking a table yourself | your choice | around €40 for a set menu, per guides | not rated here | Travellers with a car or a taxi plan |
Check dates and prices for the cider house tour with lunch
Both listings are day-trip products. Neither tells you the season, so the date check is the same.
Practical points
Plan the ride home. Traditional menus come with cider, as guides describe them, and the barrels invite you to keep tasting. If you go on your own, do not plan to drive back.
It is a farm, not a restaurant. Expect cellars and orchard paths, so choose shoes you do not mind getting dusty. The listing does not mention accessibility, so check with the operator if you use a wheelchair or walk with difficulty.
What else to eat
If you want pintxos rather than cider, our guide to the pintxo tour question compares the main tours. For a hands-on option, see the Basque cooking class, and the full list of Basque cooking classes and cider houses is on its own page.
