Tipping in Portugal: A Comprehensive Guide for Tourists & Expats

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Written by: | Last updated on March 28, 2024 | Est. Reading Time: 5 minutes

Tipping in Portugal isn’t as straight-forward as it is in other countries. While you may or may not agree with the tipping culture in the US, at least it’s straightforward.

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. There are no rules.

Note: a tip is always appreciated. Wages are low in Portugal (and property prices are increasing) so a tip is always appreciated. However, even though wages are low in Portugal, unlike the US, servers aren’t paid with the expectation that they’ll be getting tips on top. Instead, it’s a bonus.

Key Points:

  • There is no rule for tipping in Portugal and Portugal doesn’t have a tipping culture. However, a tip is always appreciated.
  • Good service in Portugal might differ from US standards. Don’t expect overt friendliness; Portuguese standards are more reserved.
  • No tip is required for poor service (unlike the US where you might give 10% instead of 20% or more).
  • Try to 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 is usually for exceptional service, when someone went above and beyond what their job required them to do. Just tip if you feel you had exceptional service, otherwise it’s not expected.

While tipping in Portugal isn’t as customary as in some countries, it’s always appreciated. Here’s a breakdown to help guide you:

Restaurants

  • Tipping isn’t common (but may be more common in touristy places like Central Lisbon and the Algarve).
  • Typically, if locals do tip, they round up the bill or tip a small percentage (5-10%).
  • Some restaurants add a 10% service charge – in that case, no tip is required.
  • In high-end or Michelin star restaurants, tipping is more common. However, there the service is usually better and in Europe you tip for great service, not because you have to.
  • Sometimes paying by credit card doesn’t allow you to add the tip, so carry some coins to reward the waiter/waitress if they provided good service.
  • No one asks for a tip when paying or has a tipping option on the receipt. Just pay for what you want and move on.
  • Servers 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. No one will refuse the extra 20% or a little more.

Cafés

  • Tipping isn’t the norm.
  • If you want to tip, rounding up to the nearest euro is an easy way to do it.
  • Given the low cost, major tipping isn’t expected.
  • However, as always, a tip is always appreciated.

Bars

  • Rarely involves tipping, unless it’s a specialty bar such as a cocktail bar.
  • If tipping, rounding up is the norm.
  • Bar and café staff do not expect a tip if you are just drinking. If you become a ‘regular’ at a bar or coffee shop, are recognised and treated well, maybe add a drink for them on your final order.

Taxi & Ride-Sharing Services (e.g. Uber)

  • It’s not mandatory to tip but a little more common.
  • Rounding up or leaving an extra Euro or two is a kind gesture.
  • Tip within the app immediately after the ride, if using Uber or Bolt.
  • Extra tip (€1-2/bag) if the driver helps with luggage. In the Azores, a bag handling fee may be automatically added. This is less common in mainland Portugal.

Hotel Services

  • As always, tipping isn’t mandatory. However, as with any business in the tourism industry, tipping is a little more common than outside of it.
  • For housekeeping, leave €1-2 per night.
  • For concierges and reception, it’s rare to tip. However, it is appreciated.
  • If someone brings your bags to the room, it’s definitely polite to tip anywhere from €1-€5 per bag.
  • If you order room service, it’s polite to tip €1-€2.

Hairdressers

  • Either round up or tip 5-10%.
  • It’s more common to tip a hairdresser or barber for special services or occasions.

Tour Guides

  • Tipping tour guides is not obligatory. Again, however, it is appreciated and is a little more expected than in other industries.
  • There’s no set amount, but any tip is appreciated.
  • For “free” walking tours, tipping is expected (typically €5-€10 per person).

Parking

In most locations, there are people that “find” you a parking space in return for a euro or two. Even though you could have found the parking space yourself, it’s a good idea to tip as some will key your car if you don’t.

While it’s a racket that shouldn’t exist, it’s better just to pay the €1 rather than deal with the damage.

Final Thoughts

Try to throw out everything you know about tipping in the US. The culture is very different in Portugal. In fact, many locals are quite against tipping as they fear that the increased number of expats and tourists will lead to a US-style tipping culture that will increase prices for locals. Others note that tourists often get better service than locals as those working know they’re more likely to get tips from looking after them.

Remember, while tipping is appreciated, it isn’t as deeply ingrained in Portuguese culture as in some other countries. Always tip based on the service quality and your own comfort level.

If you’ve encountered unique tipping situations in Portugal, feel free to share in the comments!

Written by

James Cave is the founder of Portugalist and the author of the bestselling book, Moving to Portugal Made Simple. He has visited just about every part of Portugal, including Madeira and all nine islands of the Azores, and lived in several parts of Portugal including Lisbon, the Algarve, and Northern Portugal.

You can contact James by emailing james@portugalist.com or via the site's contact form.

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There are 38 comments on this article. Join the conversation and add your own thoughts, reviews, and stories of life in Portugal. However, please remember to be civil.

Comments

  1. 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?

    Reply
    • 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.

      Reply
  2. 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.

    Reply
  3. 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.

    Reply
    • 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 🙂

      Reply
  4. 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

    Reply
  5. 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.

    Reply
  6. 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.

    Reply
    • 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.

      Reply
  7. 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.

    Reply
  8. 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.

    Reply
    • 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.

      Reply
  9. 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?

    Reply
    • 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.

      Reply
  10. I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wished to thanks on your time for this wonderful read!! I positively having fun with every little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to take a look at new stuff you blog post.

    Reply
  11. This web page is mostly a walk-by way of for all of the information you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse right here, and also you’ll positively discover it.

    Reply
  12. 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.

    Reply
  13. 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

    Reply
  14. 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?

    Reply
    • 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.

      Reply
  15. 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.

    Reply

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