Tipping in Greece, in general, is not expected or required, but it is very much welcomed everywhere, especially if you are paying by cash. As a Greek, I know exactly the culture and how much the employees in the tourism sector appreciate tipping in Greece, so I will give you my tips (pun intended!).
As a rule of thumb, everyone in Greece will be happy with a 10-15% tip. In taxis, it is not generally expected, but you could round the amount of money the meter says. In restaurants and cafes, a 10-15% tip should be ok, but your service won’t be affected and you won’t have any issues, even if you don’t tip at all. Overall, tipping is highly recommended when you are paying by cash, as it’s guaranteed it goes directly to the hard working people of the “tourism industry” in Greece, who are extremely underpaid.
Pavlos Inglesis
(Greek, Travelled in almost all of Greece)
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Tipping in Greece
So, here is my advice on tips in Greece, but at the end of the day, it’s really up to you:
Tipping a Taxi in Greece
A taxi driver in Greece is never expecting to tip him or her, but in general, it is a good idea to round the amount of money you are told to pay. If for example, the taxi meter says 18.5 euros it is a good idea to just pay 20 euros. Cash is king in a taxi.
Tipping at a restaurant or cafe in Greece
People who work in the hospitality sector in Greece are extremely underpaid, and even if they get the minimum wage, it is usually not enough. Moreover, they usually work incredibly long hours and days and, in many cases, in poor conditions, as the heavy industry of Greece (that is, tourism) is very poorly regulated. So, go ahead and tip as much as you can. You will make someone’s day.
Tipping a tour guide in Greece
Tipping at your Hotel in Greece
Tipping in your hotel in Greece is generally not expected, but it depends, to be honest.
If you are staying in a small family-run boutique hotel, then you wouldn’t tip the owners (by all means go for it if you feel like tipping them, though!), but if we are talking about a larger hotel with hard-working employees dedicated to a task and you get excellent service, attitude, and help from someone, then I would highly recommend tipping a 5 or 10 euros as it’s helping them in this tough industry.
To conclude, I advise everyone to tip as much as possible while in Greece, especially if you are paying by cash. Tipping by card through the POS basically goes to the owner’s pocket and not to the hard-working employee who basically does the job.FAQs
Do you tip in Greece?
How much do you tip at restaurants in Greece?
At restaurants and cafes in Greece, a 10-15% tip is standard and highly advisable for good service. It is best to leave the tip in cash rather than adding it to your credit card payment, to ensure the money goes directly to the waiter or waitress.
Do you tip taxis in Greece?
Taxi drivers in Greece do not expect a tip. However, it is common practice to round up the fare. For example, if the taxi meter says 18.50 euros, it is a good idea to hand the driver a 20 euro bill and let them keep the change.
How much do you tip a tour guide in Greece?
Tipping your tour guide is not required, but leaving a small amount such as 2 to 5 euros per person is highly advisable. If you are participating in a ‘free’ walking tour, tipping is expected since the guide relies entirely on those tips for their income.
Do you tip at your hotel in Greece?
Tipping at hotels in Greece depends on the property. At small, family-run boutique hotels, you generally do not tip the owners. However, at larger hotels, it is highly recommended to tip staff members (like porters or housekeepers) 5 to 10 euros for excellent service.
