Tipping in Portugal isn’t as straight-forward as it is in other countries, like the United States. Here in Portugal, there are no rules about how much you should give as a tip in a restaurant and it can often be very confusing.
Speak to five different Portuguese people and they’ll all give you a different answer. Ask how much you should give a taxi driver, hairdresser, or tour guide, and you’ll get even more varied responses.
To put together this guide, we spoke with both Portuguese people, expats living in Portugal, and those working in the service industries in Portugal. Although we received a lot of different opinions, we were able to get a rough idea of what the best tipping etiquette is for each situation.
The short version is that 10% is a good amount for restaurants, although if you want to offer more, that will definitely be appreciated. Other situations are less straightforward. There are no rules, as mentioned, but hopefully this guide will give you an idea.
A tip is always appreciated
It’s worth pointing out that although Portugal doesn’t have a tipping culture like the United States, a tip is always appreciated. And many people work in bars and restaurants, particularly the touristy ones, on the assumption that their earnings will include tips. Like servers in the US, they’re relying on people to tip.
Some people stop tipping when they move to Portugal and acclimatise, but this is a country with an incredibly low minimum wage and tips are needed to top that up. People won’t necessarily run down the street to thank you for a tip, or give you dirty looks if you don’t tip, but they will appreciate it. If you’re not sure whether to tip or not, it’s better just to tip.
Always tip with cash if you can. While some card machines allow you to leave a gratuity, that doesn’t necessarily mean the person serving you will get it.
Tipping in Restaurants
Tipping in restaurants isn’t particularly common in Portugal, although sometimes people will use the round-up method on a large bill.
As someone visiting or living in Portugal, there are a few different approaches that you could take:
- Don’t tip at all
- Tip a percentage of the bill (usually somewhere between 5-10%, but more if you wish)
- Round up: if the bill comes to €37 or €38, someone might leave €40. If it comes to €32 or €33, they would leave €35
Tipping, particularly tipping a percentage of the bill, is more common in restaurants that are frequented by tourists and expats and less common in those that only have Portuguese clientele. Because there’s no rule on how much you should tip in Portugal, tourists and expats vary on their tipping approach, usually basing it on what’s done in their own country.
However, even though tipping isn’t common in Portugal, tips are always appreciated. Portugal has one of the lowest minimum wages in Europe, but the cost of living, particularly for rent, is comparatively very high. Adding a few Euros onto your bill won’t make a huge difference to you, but it could make a big difference to someone else.
Note: check the bill before leaving a tip. Some touristy restaurants will add a 10% service charge to the bill. If this is the case, you don’t need to leave a tip.
Tipping in high-end or Michelin star restaurants
Tipping is common in upmarket and Michelin-star restaurants. Here it’s usually 5-10% of the bill.
Tipping in cafés
A coffee (bica) usually costs less than a Euro. Even with a cake it’s only going to come to a few Euros. If people leave something in a café it’s usually a case of rounding it up to the nearest Euro.
Tipping in Bars
Tipping in bars is not common in Portugal. As with cafés, if a tip is given it’s usually done by rounding up to the nearest Euro or five Euro increment, depending on the size of the bill. If you’re drinking in a cocktail bar or somewhere where the waiter is doing a lot more work than simply pouring a glass of wine, tipping is likely to be more commonplace.
Tipping Taxi Drivers
Tipping taxi – or these days, Uber and Taxify – drivers is not common in Portugal. It’s a nice thing to do, though. Most people round up the bill or leave an extra Euro or two. Apps like Uber and Bolt allow you to tip from within the app, and it’s best to do it as soon as the trip is over – just in case the option disappears or you forget.
If you’ve had help with your bags, it’s definitely courteous to leave a tip (usually a euro or two per bag).
Tipping Maids
Housekeeping staff are usually at the lowest end of the wage pile, particularly if they’re not from Portugal. Leave €1 or €2 per night stayed.
Tipping Other Hotel Staff
Concierges and reception don’t tend to receive tips, although they’ll obviously appreciate a tip if you give it. If you have your bags carried, it’s courteous to tip €1-2 per bag carried (usually up to around €5). It’s polite to give €1-2 as a tip if you order room service as well.
Tipping hairdressers
There’s no fixed rule, but if you leave a tip it’s usually a case of either rounding it up or following the 5-10% rule. If it’s for a special occasion (for example a wedding) or if you’ve had special service, a tip is more common.
Tipping tour guides
You aren’t obligated to tip your tour guide or driver. However, because they work in the tourism sector tipping is more common than it is in other sectors. There are no fixed rules on this but people tend to tip between €5-10 for a half day and €10-20 for a full day.
Note: this is a tip on top of whatever you have paid for the guide or the driver. There are also “free” walking tours, where the tour guides make their money exclusively from tips. You should absolutely tip these guys as this is their only source of income. There is no fixed amount, but most people usually tip €5 or €10.
What if the service was bad?
A tip is really for quality service. If the service was bad, you absolutely don’t have to tip.
It’s important to note that good service in Portugal isn’t anywhere near as upbeat or friendly as it is in other countries like the US, so don’t compare the service you get in Portugal to what you’re used to back home. Don’t expect people to fawn over you, or to be incredibly attentive either: that would actually be exceptional by Portuguese (and basically European) standards.
You’ll know bad service when you experience it, though, and, in these situations, there’s absolutely no obligation to leave a tip.
How do you tip in Portugal? Have you run into any other situations where you’re not sure how much to tip? Let us (and other readers) know in the comments below.
