When you are on holiday in Portugal, it is useful to know in which situations tipping is customary and what amounts are considered a good guideline. After all, you do not want to accidentally offend or embarrass someone. Tipping culture varies from country to country, so it is a good idea to spend a few minutes learning about it so that you do not end up in awkward situations!
In this article we will discuss whether and how much tipping is customary in Portugal .
A tip in Portugal is always appreciated
In Portugal, tipping is not mandatory, but it is always appreciated . Tipping is not only a way to show appreciation for good service, but also a way to support the employee and the local economy. As in many other countries, tips are an important source of additional income for many employees in the hospitality and tourism industry.
Little geek side note : According to the World Bank, the UK had a gross average income per capita of €50,924 in 2020, while Portugal had an average income of €23,499. This means that the gross average income in the UK is almost twice as high as in Portugal. If we look at the minimum wage, the minimum wage in the UK in 2020 was €1,653 gross per month, while the minimum wage in Portugal in the same year was €665 gross per month. This means that the minimum wage in the UK is almost 2.5 times as high as in Portugal! That extra euro of tip is therefore appreciated two and a half times as much in Portugal as in the UK 😉
Tipping in restaurants
In restaurants, as elsewhere in Europe, it is customary to tip if the service was good. In no restaurant in Portugal is a tip added to the bill and the customer is expected to tip themselves. The most common amount is 5 to 10 percent of the total bill.
If you have a small bill, for example for a cup of coffee or a drink, you can round up the amount. If I go out for dinner with my girlfriend and the bill is €45, I round it up to €50. Then I let her pay. (Just kidding) If the bill is €2.75, I round up to €3.00.
Tipping in top restaurants or Michelin star restaurants
In top restaurants or restaurants with Michelin stars, it is possible that a service charge is added to the bill . In that case, it is not necessary to give an extra tip, unless you found the service exceptionally good. In that case, you can give an extra amount that matches the quality of the service. A good guideline is again to give between 5 and 10 percent extra of the total bill.
Tipping in cafes
In cafes it is not customary to give a tip, but if you are satisfied with the service you can leave a small amount. Think of 50 euro cents to 1 euro per drink. There is no need to give more, as cafes are often less formal locations than restaurants where the personal attention and service is anyway somewhat less than in an a la carte restaurant.
Tipping in bars and clubs
When you go out to a bar or club, it is customary but not obligatory to give 1 euro per drink as a tip. If you are sitting at the bar and the bartender serves you personally, you can give a little extra if you are satisfied with the service.
Tipping taxi drivers
In Portugal, it is customary to round up taxi fares to the nearest whole amount. For example, if the fare costs €8.60, you can pay €9 and leave the change as a tip. If the fare is longer, 5 to 10 percent of the total fare is a good guideline for tipping.
If you use an app like Uber, you can fill in the tip in the app itself afterwards. The driver will see this as soon as you get out.
Tipping chambermaids
In Portugal, it is customary to tip 1 to 2 euros per day to the chambermaids in the more luxurious hotels or apartments. Although it is not obligatory, it is very much appreciated. It is best to tip daily rather than at the end of the stay, so that the chambermaids know that their work is appreciated. Also, it may vary from day to day who cleans your room.
Tips for other hotel staff
It is also customary to give a small tip to other hotel staff, such as the concierge, porters or room service. A tip of 2 to 5 euros can be given to the concierge if they have helped with booking activities or excursions. A tip of 1 to 2 euros per bag can be given to the porters and a tip of 1 to 2 euros per delivery can be given to room service. It is not customary to tip the reception staff, but of course they will not be angry if you do.
Tips to hairdressers
In Portugal, it is customary to tip hairdressers, especially if they have done a good job. A tip of 5 to 10% of the total amount is a good guideline. When I go to the hairdresser myself in Lagos, I always round up €18 to €20.
Tipping tour guides
On organized tours and excursions it is customary to tip the tour leader, skipper or guide, especially if you feel they have really made an effort and have taken the tour to a higher level. A tip of around 3 to 5 euros per person on a tour of €50.00 pp is a good guideline for a full day tour.
What if the service was bad?
If the service was bad, there is no obligation to tip. They probably know when they are having a bad day. If the service was only mediocre, a small tip of 5% is fine. However, remember that in Portugal, tipping is seen as a reward for good service, not an obligation.
More of our local tips for your Portugal adventure
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📌 Discover the top towns and cities to visit in the Algarve here
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