Tipping in Portugal (Read this First!)

There are no strict rules on who, how much, and when to tip in Portugal. Still, you have to keep in mind some local customs to avoid unnecessary complications. Follow this guide, and you’ll get complete knowledge of the tipping culture in Portugal.

So, do you tip in Portugal? The short answer is no, not really; you don’t have to tip in Portugal. But at the same time, tips are much appreciated, and it’s up to you whether you’re reasonable, polite, and thankful to people who make your vacation pleasant and comfortable.

What people say on Reddit

I’m working abroad and I came now to Portugal on vacation. And I was shocked. Even when I was living in Portugal I always tipped if the service was good. On group dinners they go to the cents, my friends didn’t even wanted to round the bill. In the other day I had a huge fight with one of my friends because I wanted to give a 5€ tip to the waiter, fancy restaurant where the bill for two people was 85€. My friend told me that I was crazy, that was too much. Maybe I’m already too much American.

foradeportugal

No one asks for tip when paying, or have on receipt a option for tip, Just pay for what you want and move on. You are paying for a product, you’re not their boss. People here works for their monthly wage so the tipping culture is rarely seem in Portugal

Reidasmarteladas

I would say not necessary, but appreciated. We don’t have a rule of percentage. Usually, you leave 1-2 euros in a restaurant if you are pleased. Or just round the bill up by 1 or 2 euro a couple or in a group, you will give a round up to the next euro per pax.

anakinpt

Not mandatory but surely appreciated.

Employees wages are paid by the revenue generated by the restaurant for serving it’s customers. Noone expects that customers directly pay for employees wages.

zerato9000

How much and where to tip in Portugal

What about locals?

The Portuguese traditionally do not tip a certain percentage or anything, but what they may do is leave some coins behind on top of the bill.

What about us travelers?

I prefer to think about it in that way—Portugal is a fantastic place, with great food, service, people, sights, and beaches. It’s still relatively cheap here for you if you’re coming from the US, Germany, France, etc. But it’s a bit pricey for the locals. So it is always appreciated if you do tip because the wait staff is usually at the bottom of the food chain.

Here is the short summary:

Tipping in restaurants in Portugal

The first important thing is that tipping is not expected at restaurants in Portugal. Some of them add a 10% service charge to the bill, and you can leave an additional small tip if the service was good.

If you want to leave a tip for wait staff, I would not recommend putting the tip directly on a table and leaving the restaurant. You should pay the wait staff directly or go up to the cash register in the restaurant and pay there. If there is a tip jar, you can put it there. Otherwise, I would go right up to the wait staff and just give it to them at that moment. They’ll appreciate it.

Portuguese word for the "tip" is Gorjeta [ɡorˈʒeta].

To leave a tip with the card, ask the wait-staff about it before they bring the bill. It’s not always possible to tip with a card in Portugal but it’s more common than with tipping in Spain. If the restaurant doesn’t accept tipping by card and you don’t have some extra cash, just let it go. Nobody will be offended.

Useful vocabulary:

• Tip — Gorjeta
  [ɡorˈʒeta]
• Can I have the bill, please? — A conta, por favor
  [a 'konta, poɾ fa'voɾ]
• A coffee please — Um café, por favor
  [um ka'fɛ, poɾ fa'voɾ]

At bars and coffee shops

If you drink a coffee (it is called bica), wine or beer, order some snacks, have breakfast or lunch – you are not expected to tip at all.

But if you still want to leave a tip, 1-2 euros or rounding up would be appropriate. Unlike giving tips in Italy, you should not leave small coins of 10-20 cents as a tip here, it would be insulting to some of the staff.

Tipping taxi drivers

The concept is the same as with the restaurants. Leaving a tip is not expected in a Portuguese taxi. But you can give a taxi driver €1-2 (or whatever you want to give), and only if you’re satisfied with the service.

Being satisfied with the taxi service to me means a couple of different things:

• if I have luggage, do they help me (although most of them usually do)
• are they nice
• do they choose a convenient route

Want to pay less for a taxi in Portugal? Try these mobile apps:

• Bolt (Apple iOS | Google Android)
• Free Now (Apple iOS | Google Android)
• Uber (Apple iOS | Google Android)

In hotels

In a hotel, you are usually taken care of 24/7, with various services to make your stay comfortable and pleasant. Probably, it is the only place where commonly accepted rules of tipping apply. Therefore, leaving a tip in the hotel is welcome. 

How much to leave? It depends on the star rating of the hotel as well as the service. For a 3-4 star hotel you can follow these best practices: 

• Porters ~€1 per bag
• Room service / Housekeeper €1-2 per day (leave in the room)
• Concierge, €5-10 (only for exceptional service)
• Doorman €1-2 (if they help you with luggage)

At Spa centers

Spa-center is the place where you are expected to get a relaxed and pleasant stay, surrounded with care and attention. Therefore, you may leave some extra 5-10%, but again, it’s only up to you.

Tipping your tour guide

Tour guides provide an important service, giving travelers a glimpse into the history and culture of a new place. In Lisbon, Porto and other places, tour guides are generally not tipped, as their pay is included in the tour price. However, if you feel that your tour guide went above and beyond or provided an extra value, it is considered to leave a tip of €10-15. For example, if your tour guide took you to an insider’s spot that was not on the original excursion itinerary, leaving a tip is fair enough.

If you go with the group, consider talking to group members before expressing your gratitude—there might be other people to join you, so you can tip as a group.

At nightclubs

First, it is not customary to tip the staff members who work at the club, such as the bartenders or door staff. Second, if you plan to spend time in a VIP area, it is common to tip the host or hostess to take care of you. Finally, it is always appreciated if you leave a small tip for the DJ at the night’s end.

At other places

You’re probably asking yourself if there are any other places where you can give tips. You’re probably thinking, “What about the bartender? What about the the airport staff?” etc.

The answer is no. The places mentioned in this article are where tips are more commonly given, and these are also places where I would give tips.

FAQ