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.
Rule #1: 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.
Portugal has some of the lowest wages in the European Union, and tips can make a big difference to people’s quality of life. 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.
Also: 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.
Thanks for the useful article on tipping. Am staying in Albufeira and in desparate need of a decent haircut. Hotel receptionist helpfully pointed me in the direction of two barbershops. Will put your advice to good use.
Glad I could help!
How about food delivery if I have already paid for the food + transportation online. Should I tip the delivery guy in cash for short amount?
Yes, people who tip food delivery drivers would still tip regardless of whether they paid for it online or not. Also, I don't imagine the delivery driver sees any of the transporation fee so I wouldn't consider this to be the tip.
It's definitely a bit weird giving someone a Euro or two (I think single American dollar bills are more suitable for tipping) but, if you want to tip, this is how you'd do it.
Hi Im planning to go to Porto this February, these tips are really helpful 🙂
Is there any other tips you can give me while Im in Porto?
thank you
Thank you off to Portugal tomorrow for a second time.
Hope you have a really great time!
Hi Lisa,
So glad you like Portugalist.
Yes, you guys definitely know how to do customer service! It's not really comparable to anywhere in Europe.
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You're very welcome Gustavo!
This is a special circumstance I know, but my husband has been hospitalized in Portugal for the past 25 days due to many medical problems. I was wondering if we should do anything special for the staff that has been so attentive when we leave?
Hi Trudi,
It wouldn't be the norm, and I have no idea if the staff will have any rules about accepting gifts, but I think that tips, gifts, or even just a thank you card are always going to be appreciated.
Hi what about dive centres. I did a dive this week with my 13yr old son and one instructor stayed with us I wasn’t sure if I should tip.
As far as I know it's not the norm, but I'm not sure why might tip a paid tour guide and not a diving instructor. Sometimes there is a tips box for boat crew, and it's always nice to put something in there.
Tips are always appreciated, though, so, if you want to give a tip, it'll definitely be appreciated.
I live in Germany, where the service is usually more efficient, but not always as warm as in Portugal. I often feel that the service in restaurants in Portugal is an ad hoc arrangement that includes time for Benefica or the national team. But when they finally get to the table they are cheerful, helpful and skilled. As you mentioned, the friendliness is never the aggressive attention you get in the USA, so often simply a play for a bigger tip.
Hi Ken,
That's a good observation the way waiters also manage to make time to watch the football while they work 🙂
Thank you for the great info
Spending 2 weeks in Portugal very nice!!
Thank you for the information it’s very helpful. We’re Canadian so the norm is to tip.
Thanks Kerri,
In Canada is it a percentage like in the US?
Super great info, thank you. Didn't find it "biased" by any means.
You're welcome.
We have found the service in Portugal to be very good. We have been tipping a little above 10% but they don't know they are getting that until after the service. Most tourists don't seem to be leaving tips. If we leave a tip and go back to the same place we usually get great service.
Also Canadian. In Ortega’s now. Tipping as usual and receiving looks of incredulity in coffee shops.
To add to the US-Europe comparison: yes, service in the US tends to be chirpier, but to many European, it often comes across as irritating and fake. Just different cultures.
Haven't had that experience all of the time in the US, but there have definitely been a few occasions.
Wow, very surprised to hear some of these comments. We have been in the Algarve area for the last 3 weeks, and have had nothing but cheerful, helpful, polite servers.
Being Canadian, we usually tip anywhere between 15-20%, as we do at home depending on the service.
Hi Barb,
Glad you've had a great time in the Algarve, and I hope you'll continue to get great service if you go to other parts of Portugal as well.
Thanks for commenting on the tipping percentage as I wasn't aware what it was in Canada.
The Algarve isn't Portugal. Mystery solved.
Yes, things are different in the Algarve compared to other parts of Portugal.
one thing to learn if you travel to a foreign country is to adhere to local custom. But as we know too well, US/Canadian travelers don't do this usually, they prefer to behave like a bull in a China shop and rather destroy local custom.
"We do like at home" - really? So all non-Americans should tip like they do at home when visiting the US? Tipping nothing like it's common in China or Japan? or just round up a $ or two like it's common in my country? When I was in the US, I did tip according to local US custom, and when traveling to other places US nationals or Canadians should do the same and respect the culture of the country they are visiting.
Glad to learn from the report here that I did my tipping right in Portugal so far.... and as for UBER - you can now tip them via the App and the drivers are happy to get an extra Euro or two, if you wanna do it via cash, just leave the tip on the seat and alert the driver, to avoid direct contact in these lunatic Corona times
This is so true! Canadians are not generally rude that way.
I would agree with LoboAlemao that local culture should always be respected when traveling, however, I have only come across a few situations around the world where tipping big was not appreciated. In those few situations, the individual insisted a tip was not necessary once the tip was already in place so I withdrew and offerend a genuine Thank You and a handshake instead. Every other time, I will directly ask the local bartenders in both local bars and touristy locations what the usual customs are, including over-tipping, which can sometimes be taken as a slight rather than the intended appreciation.
As I am a bartender by trade who live off of tips (in the US), I make it known that I'm overtipping when given great service because of comraderie and appreciation. I generally use the local bar staff as informational resources for my excursions so I treat them well and for the most part know when someone is being genuine or not and tip accordningly. Everyone has been only appreciative as my intentions were genuine and even in the few instances mentioned above where tips were not welcome, the gesture was in respect.
WAY MORE IMPORTANT than tipping is the attitude of the customer vs the employee. In America; attentiveness, "chirpy" attitudes and prompt service with a smile is expected and often unacceptable if not given, whereas other locales around the world are definitely not, with no offense or slight intended. Satisfying your overly demanding needs because you're dropping a few bucks just isn't on the menu in most areas of the world, fortunately in my opinion.
My general rule is to be aware of the norm and of any potential for offense, then to play it by ear using sound judgement and when in doubt, ask.
Hi Chue,
It's a good point. There are definitely countries where tipping isn't appreciated and I know of a few Portuguese people who don't like being tipped.
Personally, however, I've worked in bars and restaurants and, even though I don't think tipping culture is a good thing, I've never turned a tip down. I'm always happy to let my ideologies slide for a little money 🙂
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In hospital you shouldn't tip, but sometimes we might give gifts or a thank you note.
I'm sure the cafes and restaurants in Portugal have experience with tourists and won't turn down a tip anywhere. After all, it's just an expression of gratitude and a part of another country's culture. Personally, I'm used to leaving 15-20% tips even living in Eastern Europe. If you want to tip wisely too, you can see what tips are considered good for different professions on the tip calculator. There you can also calculate the amount of tip if you are sitting in a large group.
We are heading to Portugal next week. Went through a travel agent. Part of our private tour includes a river cruise on the Douro. Don’t know what it will be like - larger boat with others, small private boat with crew. I’ll check with our travel agent on this, but what do you recommend for tipping crew members?
I don't think there's a typical amount, but ask your agent may be able to tell you what other people tipped in the past. Portugal doesn't have a tipping culture, but in a country with the lowest wages in Western Europe, tips are always appreciated.
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