As you probably know by now, I love taking food tours. All over the world, I explore a destination through its food, on a food tour in Mexico City, a farmers’ market tour & cooking class in Bogota, and a chocolate-making workshop in Belize, among others! The downside with guided tours is they can be expensive for budget travellers, so when I heard about the self-guided food tours from Bitemojo I wanted to give it a try. As soon as I booked my flights back to Barcelona I arranged a Bitemojo self-guided food tour in Barcelona – read on to see how I got on.
You might also want to check out these wine tours in Barcelona
How to Use the Bitemojo Food Tour App
Bitemojo’s self-guided food tours are available in several cities in Europe, Israel, and Asia, including Barcelona, Berlin, Budapest, Jerusalem, Ljubljana, Rome, Tel Aviv and Singapore.
These food tours are similar to guided food tours, in that they take you around various stops in an area, to sample delicious food, and tell you some information about what you see on the way. How they differ, of course, is that you are alone.
Doing a food tour on your own, or in a small group, without a guide means much more flexibility, as you can choose when to do the tour, how long to take, and if you want to detour along the way. You can also stop partway through the tour and come back to it another time.
Before you buy the tour, the app lists the bites, or food samples, that you will try along the way, and some extra information about the route, and when the route is available, i.e. when the shops and restaurants will be open, and the bites will be available.
The Bitemojo Food Tour in Barcelona
There are currently two self-guided food tour options available in Barcelona; one in the Gothic Quarter, and one starting on La Rambla at the Boqueria Market, continuing into the Raval area. I lived in the Gothic Quarter for four years, so decided to try the Market and Raval tour to see what new hidden gems in Barcelona I could discover!
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Check out these blog posts for more inspiration for your Barcelona vacation, or click here to read all of my Spain posts.The Boqueria Market in Barcelona
The most famous market in Barcelona, the Boqueria, is an excellent place to start any food tour. You could spend hours wandering around, enjoying the sights and smells of the busy market.
The two stops on the food tour were towards the back of the market, away from the main entrance where tourists tend to gather to take photographs, so it was nice to see more of the real market. The first stop was a fish stall, selling all types of bacalao (salted cod).
The bit here was a portion of buñuelos de bacalao, salt cod fritters, which are one of my favourite tapas dishes. This was a great start to the food tour, the fritters were freshly cooked, crispy on the outside on deliciously soft on the inside.
The second stop in the Boqueria Market was a cheese stall, where I spent some time admiring the many different types of cheeses on sale while the owner served another customer.
The bite was a portion of manchego cheese and fuet cured sausage, which I happily devoured. The tour had started very well, and as I munched I read the extra information in the app about the owners of the stalls.
Exploring El Raval in Barcelona
The next stop on the app was a point of interest, the gegants. Gegants are oversized models of people dressed in traditional clothes which are used on parades and local festivals.
Unfortunately, the building where they were was covered in scaffolding, so I couldn’t really see the gegants properly. I had wandered around the plaza several times trying to find them when I finally realised where they were.
I continued the food tour, following the app to the next stop. The bite I was expecting here was a Mexican-style pork tapa, but when I went into the restaurant the staff were confused about the tour and didn’t know what I was talking about.
The owner was out of town, and apparently hadn’t passed on the information about the bites, and without authorization from the boss (understandably) they didn’t want to give away any ‘free’ food. Disappointed, I left to head to the next stop.
I had more luck here, at a café bar in a square I had walked past a hundred times but never investigated. The bite was a tapa of artichokes and a beer, but the owner kindly switched the beer for wine as I don’t drink the brown stuff.
The artichokes were delicious, and the wine was crisp and dry, a perfect accompaniment. I sat on a stool by the window and watched the world go by for a while. Here was a good place to take a rest, the previous stop also had space to sit down, but I’d been on my feet since I started the tour, so also made use of the bathroom here too.
Feeling fully refreshed, and the wine settling nicely on my stomach, I set off to find the next stop, which would be a sweet bite. It was 7 minutes’ walk away according to google maps, so I set off, trying to take in more of the world around me instead of staring at my phone. The route took me through the Rambla del Raval, where the famous Botero statue of the fat cat has its home.
When I found the next stop, it was closed. The shutters were down and there was no sign of life. I checked the details of food tour on the on the app, thinking that I had got there too late, or mixed up the days. Nope, according to the app it should have been open. With nothing else I could do, I continued to the final stop, hoping I would have more success!
I had mixed success. The next stop was also a sweet bite, of a chok, or donut. There are two different shops which have the same brand name, and I went to the one that was listed in the app, only to be told it should have been at the other one, another 5 minutes’ walk away.
Off I went, only to be told there that I was right the first time, and I should have had my bite at the first stop where I had just been. Luckily, she took pity on me and gave me my donut, which I happily took. I sat on a bench in a nearby square, and munched on the delicious donut.
What I loved about Bitemojo self-guided food tour in Barcelona
The food was delicious, and the bites included a variety of different foods to try.
I thought I knew Barcelona pretty well, I lived here for three years, and have eaten a lot of good food here, but this self-guided food tour took me to places I have never been to, and might never have found without the Bitemojo app.
The freedom to choose when you start and end the tour, and how long you take.
If you don’t get chance to complete the tour, you can convert the remaining stops, or bites, into credits to use against other bites in Barcelona or anywhere else the tour is available.
What I didn’t like about the tour
Having to be on my phone the whole time made me feel quite self-conscious, and at times I felt I couldn’t really enjoy the surroundings as I was concentrating on not getting lost.
I know from past experience that Barcelona is rife with pickpockets, and having my attention on my phone all the time felt like I was more vulnerable to this. However, on a normal food tour, groups of tourists also draw attention, so it probably makes no difference, it was just here I was alone.
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There are some operational issues that a traditional guided food tour in Barcelona would have avoided. For example, one of the points of interest along the way was covered with scaffolding, and I spent a good five minutes trying to find it before I realised it was hidden away. A human tour guide would have known straight away.
There was also some confusion in two of the stops, and with a real guide this could have been avoided as they would be more familiar with the route and if they couldn’t solve the problem they could have perhaps come up with an alternative.
I also think it has to do with the app being quite new, as not many people have taken this tour yet. I imagine that as the tour gets more popular, the staff will be more familiar with the requirements and how it all works. In the other three locations which were open I had no problem at all, it all worked smoothly.
One of the stops was closed when I took the tour. Again, with a guide, they would probably have known the stop wasn’t going to be open that day, or could have taken me to an alternative stop – as I had already paid for the tour at this point, and I didn’t know the area there wasn’t an alternative to go to.
The app does allow you to save your unused bites to use another day, or in another location, which is useful if you are around for another couple of days.
So Do I Recommend the Bitemojo Self-Guided Food Tour in Barcelona?
Overall, I love the idea of a self-guided tour, the freedom and the lower cost compared to a normal tour have obvious benefits to a budget traveller or people backpacking Barcelona.
The food I tasted was delicious, and once the tour becomes more popular, I’m sure the operational challenges I came across will be solved. This isn’t the fault of Bitemojo, it seemed to be miscommunication in the restaurants and shops themselves, so that should be solved the more popular the tour becomes.
When walking around, be mindful of your surroundings, and don’t just stay glued to your phone – this way you will enjoy the tour more, and reduce the risk of pickpockets.
Top Tips for a Successful Bitemojo Self-Guided Food Tour
Check the times and days the tour is available before you book, to make sure you have time to fit in your schedule.
Take the tour early in your trip, so if you don’t manage to complete the tour on that day, you still have time to use any unused bite credits during the rest of your trip.
Take a bottle of water with you. There was a drink included in one of the stops, but the others were just food, so take a drink with you or buy one along the way.
Make sure you have plenty of battery left in your phone. Being on wifi, and using the location settings and app used quite a lot of my battery. You may want to take a portable phone charger with you if you plan to be out sightseeing all day.
Make sure your phone plan includes wifi for Spain, or take a portable wifi hotspot with you, otherwise the app won’t work – you need to have access to the internet to open the bite vouchers.
What do you think, would you take a self-guided food tour in Barcelona? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
If you would prefer a guided food tour in Barcelona, try the Barcelona Taste Food Tour, or check out these options with GetYourGuide:
Barcelona Travel Tips
Recommended Guide Books for Barcelona
Getting There
- Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights to Barcelona. Barcelona El Prat (BCN) is the closest airport to the city.
- Public transport is the cheapest way to get around Barcelona, buy the Hola Barcelona transport ticket for unlimited use of the metro, buses, trams and local trains, including the train from the airport to Barcelona.
Where to Stay in Barcelona
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- Use Hostelworld to find the best prices for hostels in Barcelona. Take a look at these recommended hostels:
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- For hotels in Barcelona, check out Booking.com or Hotels.com for the best deals. Recommended hotels include:
Barcelona Tours and Activities
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- If you're staying in a hostel, check out their tours and activities which are usually free or very cheap - and a great way to meet people!
- I use GetYourGuide to book skip the line entry tickets and tours in Barcelona
- Recommended Tours and Attractions in Barcelona:
Beware of pickpockets
- Although Barcelona is a safe city, pickpockets are a problem here, particularly in popular tourist areas and on the metro. Do not keep your wallet or cash in trouser pockets and keep your hand on your bags at all times.
- When you are eating at a restaurant or café, keep your bag on your lap, not hanging over your chair and avoid leaving your wallet or phone on the table – especially if eating outdoors. It only takes a second for someone to distract you and grab it!
Get Travel Insurance
- Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. I never leave home without travel insurance, so consider getting insurance for your trip to cover things like stolen items, adventure sports and activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
- Get a quote for your trip from True Traveller if you're based in the UK, or World Nomads or SafetyWing which both offer travel insurance for backpackers and long-term travellers. Alternatively, use a comparison site like Travel Insurance Master to find the best cover for you.
Check Your Travel Documents
- Don't forget to check the validity of your passport and any other documents for your trip. Use iVisa to check if you need a visa to visit Spain, and get up to date official travel advice from your government, for example on the Department of State website in the US or the UK government website.
Get Cheap Currency
- When travelling to Spain, using a travel bank account like Wise means you get great deals on Euros - including a fee-free transfer of up to £500 or USD equivalent when you use this link to sign up.
HIRE A CAR IN BARCELONA
- While you don't need a car to get around Barcelona, if you want to explore more of Catalunya and the Costa Brava get a quote for car hire with Discover Cars who compare car rental deals from many companies so that you can choose which is best for your trip.
Top Money Saving Tip for Backpackers
- Work exchanges are a great way to travel for longer and extend your trip as you can save a ton of money on accommodation. Get an extra $10 discount on Worldpackers here or learn more about work exchanges.
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My self-guided food tour in Barcelona with Bitemojo was complimentary in exchange for a review, but as always all opinions are my own.
I totally prefer self-guided rather than group tour. I like having the freedom of changing plans, and not being constrained to a group. That’s just me personally!
I haven’t heard of this app before. I love the idea. I was in Barcelona 10 years ago, would love to go back and would definitely try this app there and other countries in Europe. I have not really been on a food tour before but love the idea doing it with an app 😀
Food tours are always fun especially when down on your own avoiding the whole rush. This self-guided Bitemojo tour in Barcelona looks really awesome. I will love trying this out for sure. Thanks for sharing.
Bitemojo sounds so cool! One of my very favourite things to do while traveling is explore the local food scene, so I would love giving this a go!
Bitemojo sounds like a really unique experience. I also LOVE food tours, so I’d like to give this a try. Although, I think I would also feel a bit odd being on my phone the whole time. I do like the flexibility it allows though!
OMG I love this idea. I’m so not a fan of guided tours but being able to go at my pace definitely appeals. I also like the idea of starting on one day and finishing on the next
I love the idea of a self guided food tour! I do love group tours, but self guided is so much easier from the point that you can take it at your own speed. I wasn’t aware that companies had the self guided option via an app, so this is fab! Thanks for the tip on Bitemojo’s self-guided food tour, Barcelona was one of my favorite food experiences, especially with Boqueria, so I will recommend this to others. Thankyou for the honest overview of the pros and cons though, I guess the mixed success is the difference in taking a group tour when you have a local guide who knows the exact places to go, there’s less chance for confusion, and you make a very valid point about being self conscious re always looking down at your phone, so things to consider, but it still sounds like a great app. Appreciate the tip!
That app comes in handy when exploring a city one’s unfamiliar with. Although the emphasis is on food, there’s an opportunity to explore more of the area on your own unlike those of guided tours.
Love the idea of self-guided food tours that help you discover the speial places but at your own pace (and on your own budget!) I also really appreciate that it gives you a good overview before you buy so you can decide whether the tour is one you will enjoy. For me, knowing some specific places to go rather than aimlessly wonder through a market like Boqueria would be of value. But as you say I’d be disappointed that a place didn’t honour it’s agreement though, it’s a poor effort when an owner doesn’t ensure all staff are aware of all offers he has made, or that another was closed when it should be open. And with limited mobility I’d be super cross to be pingponged between branches of another place, it suggests that they haven’t done a great job of ensuring that places they include are genuinely on board with the tour.
I love self-guided food tours! But we never do a guided one because of our food preferences never match the mainstream, so it would end up being a waste of time. This is a great post to reference so I’ve pinned it.
What a great idea! I’ve downloaded the Bitemojo app and can’t wait to try it out. I like the flexibility it provides. Also, Barcelona looks like an amazing city for foodies! You tend to think of Barcelona as an architectural city and I would never have thought of exploring Barcelona specifically for its food.
This sounds like a really great way to do a food tour. It does always drive me a little mad being in a large group and showing up at a food spot, so I like this alternative! And it looks like it brings you to some fabulous spots!
We love to experience food tours when we’re on the road and yet we never heard of Bitemojo before. You’re SO right when you say that doing it on your own means more flexibility, more often than not we had to give up because the tours were too long or on the other side of the city, so we couldn’t make it. Thank you!