Tipping
Tipping in Portugal is not mandatory, but a nice gesture that is appreciated. The amounts are significantly lower than in the USA, but slightly higher than in some southern European countries.
Guidelines
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Restaurant (simple) | Round up or leave €1–2 on the table |
| Restaurant (upscale) | 5–10% of the bill |
| Café/Bar | Leave small change (20–50 cents) |
| Taxi/Uber | Round up to the next euro |
| Hotel (porter) | €1–2 per piece of luggage |
| Hotel (maid) | €1–2 per day, at the end of the stay |
| City tour | €5–10 per person (mandatory for "Free Tours"!) |
| Hairdresser | €1–2 or 10% |
Important: Tipping in Portugal is given in cash — leave it on the table or hand it over directly. Adding a tip to the credit card bill is uncommon and often does not reach the staff. If you pay by card, leave the tip separately in cash.
In simple Tascas and with daily special prices of €7–10, it is perfectly fine to just round up to the next euro or leave a few coins. No one expects 15–20% like in the USA.