Tipping in Greece: When You Can Do It and How to Tip Like a Pro
Key Takeaways
- Tipping is a common practice in Greece, especially in the hospitality industry. It is a way to show appreciation for good service.
- It's recommended to have cash on hand for tipping purposes. While some establishments accept credit cards, it's easier and more convenient to tip with cash, especially for smaller amounts.
- While tipping is common in restaurants, cafes, bars, and hotels, it may not be expected or necessary in other establishments such as fast-food restaurants or small shops.
- Whether you choose to tip or not, it's always polite to verbally thank the service provider for their efforts and expresses your satisfaction with the service they provided.
Polite visitors to any country follow local customs to have positive experiences worldwide. According to social studies, these habits show that you respect the citizens, and they often return the respect. No country would become a vibrant and frequent travel destination without mutual appreciation.
Consider the habit of tipping for goods and services. You’ll want to tip in Greece if there's a custom for it. Many workers rely on tips for more income, such as tour guides.
Tipping culture can be a bit tricky to pin down. For example, restaurants in the U.S. expect tips, but tipping would be insulting in a restaurant in Japan. To ensure you don’t have a social hiccup, here’s what you need to know about tipping in Greece.
Consider this your Greece tipping guide that will get you out of sticky situations. A 'get out of jail free' card, if you will, in the form of extra money.
Do You Tip in Greece?
Greece has a more relaxed social policy on tipping, though if you do tip, make it count. Tourism only functions because employees and volunteers work long hours to ensure you have as much fun as possible.
It would be very polite to add a tip even, which, although not mandatory, it is culturally appropriate.
The workers always value the gesture, even if it's just a small tip in the tip jar or a few coins to the wait staff, along with the final bill for the table service in one of the Greek restaurants.
If you have a habit of leaving tips for tourist-related services, like taxi drivers or waitstaff, keep up the good work.
How Much Should You Tip?
Tipping in Greece doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all mentality. You won’t need to calculate specific percentages or do too much math for Greece tipping. You also don’t want to lowball your tip unintentionally.
If you tip, the amounts should generally match the type and quality of service you received. You would tip differently during a Cretan food excursion than for a street art tour in Athens. Each occasion calls for a different tip range, though all tips should come in euros.
Tipping Taxis in Greece
While you may habitually tip taxi drivers, you don’t need to worry about tipping them in Greece. The price of the cab may concern you more instead.
We recommend using a phone app for safe taxis in Athens and Thessaloniki at reasonable prices and exceptional service. Otherwise, be mindful of the service charge of each taxi driver and the usual taxi meter costs, which often look like these examples:
- Flag-down fee: 1.80€
- Minimum taxi fare: 4€
- Price per kilometer: 0.90€
- Price per kilometer at night: 1.25€
Drivers have improved over the past few years, with many providing good service and delighting in conversation. If you enjoy your ride, consider rounding up the actual amount and telling your driver to keep the change or a few coins, provided that you'll pay by cash that you've got in the nearest euro exchange.
Greeks don't expect you to tip if you pay by card like in other European countries, though you can try to add some money if you insist; a modest tip will suffice.
Tipping at Restaurants in Greece
Tip sizes in restaurants vary more than you’d see in taxis. Their price ranges depend on what you want to give, but typically they’re around the following amounts:
- Good service, inexpensive meal: 1€ - 2€
- More expensive meals or great service: 5€ - 10€
- Exceptionally generous tips: the sky is the limit.
Restaurant workers in Greece don’t expect you to tip, though the restaurant may sometimes charge a service fee. That fee can function as a tip instead, though it may go to the restaurant instead of the server.
If you want to see your waiter receive the tip, you’re better off leaving coins with the bill. You can also pay more than needed and tell them to keep the change. Try these methods while making stops during your Acropolis food tour or after having breakfast with your friends.
Bar and Club Tipping Habits
Tipping differences depend on whether or not you pick up your drinks. You can follow restaurant tipping etiquette if you’re in a place where staff comes to you to deliver your order. Leaving a few euros behind when you leave shows gratitude.
You don't need to tip if you go up to the bar to pick up your drinks yourself. If you want to tip regardless, you can round up and give enough for the bartender to keep the change.
Tipping at a Greek Hotel
You have no tipping requirements in hotels, even in the luxurious ones around Mykonos. If you feel inclined to tip the staff, let it be out of respect for their work!
Typical tips for porters and cleaners range around 5€, like tips for restaurant waitstaff. Speak with the concierge about how the cleaning service providers typically take tips. Doing so allows you to adapt to their habits and show appreciation.
How Much You Should Tip Tour Guides
Tour guides take a lot of time out of their day to make your trip special. They can spend anywhere from an hour to four hours or more showing you the city they know and love. Some tours may be free and tip-based, so if you participate, consider tipping.
Tours that are well-executed may prompt a 20€ tip. Private or free tours can result in tips of up to 50€. How much you tip your tour guide depends on how much you enjoyed the excursion.
A Short Summary of Greek Tipping Culture
Despite Greece’s financial hardship in the last few years, the citizens consider politeness and admiration some of the best tips. They likely wouldn’t appreciate a tip from a rude person.
You should also ensure you do not tip when you receive a service you don’t like. If you tip a person, they expect that you liked what that person did. Not tipping cements the fact you did not enjoy the occasion and can prevent disputes. If, however, the service was good, not tipping is considered rude.
If you forget bits and pieces of tipping in Greece etiquette, try to remember these keynotes about tipping in Greece:
1. You’re not always expected to tip, but most times, you are, and it's a nice gesture.
2. Don’t worry about percentages like in other countries.
3. At a restaurant, give at least 5 euros for stellar service -unless the meal is really cheap, where one or two euros will do the trick.
4. A good guideline to follow is that when in doubt, round up and say, ‘Keep the change.’
5. Don’t tip if you received service that wasn't satisfying.
6. The longer or more exclusive the tour, the larger your tip. As a result, private tours require bigger tips than a group tour would.
7. Being kind and courteous is as important as tipping when visiting Greece.
Polite visitors to any country follow local customs to have positive experiences worldwide. According to social studies, these habits show that you respect the citizens, and they often return the respect. No country would become a vibrant and frequent travel destination without mutual appreciation.
Final Thoughts
Being respectful of a country's customs is something you should be proud of! However, when it comes to tipping in Greece, you shouldn't sweat it. While it is customary to tip people in Greece, in the end, it is entirely up to you whether you will leave a tip or not, as is the amount of the tip.
If you want to show your gratitude through money, we aren't going to stop you. Feel free to express yourself and make those around you smile big!
