Tavernas and restaurants
Tipping in Greece is voluntary and fairly modest. At a simple taverna, round up the bill; at a restaurant with good service, 5–10% is normal. Some travel blogs recommend 10–15% in tourist hotspots – generous, but not expected. The same goes for Athens and the islands.
Rather than adding it to a card payment, most people leave the tip in cash on the table, often on the little plate the bill arrived on.
No cover charge
Greek rules ban a cover charge (κουβέρ, kouvert) for cutlery, plates and napkins. Bread and bottled water may only be charged if you agreed to them first – if they arrive unasked, you can send them back. If a bill does show a service charge, which is unusual, treat it as the tip.
Kafeneia, cafés and beach bars
Whether it’s a frappé at a kafeneio, a coffee in town or drinks at a beach bar, round up or leave the change. Nobody works out a percentage here.
Taxis
Round the fare up to the next euro. If the driver helps with heavy bags or it’s a longer ride – from Athens airport into the city, for example – 5–10% is usual.
Hotels
- Porters: €1–2 per bag.
- Housekeeping: €1–2 a night.
- Concierge or reception: only for special help, like arranging an excursion.
- Pool bar and room service: round up.
Tours and guides
On group tours of the Acropolis or Delphi, €2–5 per person for a half day and €5–15 for a full day is typical. Private guides get around 10% of the price. On free walking tours in Athens or Thessaloniki, €5–15 per person is fair.
Tipping by card in Greece
Since late 2024, card terminals linked to a till have a separate tip function. The tip is recorded apart from the bill and counts as the staff’s income. In practice, many terminals don’t ask – so tell the server what total you’d like to pay before they run your card, or do as most Greeks do and leave the tip in cash.
Useful phrases: “To logariasmó, parakaló” (the bill, please) and “Kratíste ta résta” (keep the change).
Worked example: a taverna on Naxos
Four friends, a bill of €73.50:
| Tip | Amount | Total | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round up to €75 | €1.50 | €75.00 | €18.75 |
| Round up to €80 | €6.50 | €80.00 | €20.00 |
| 10% | €7.35 | €80.85 | €20.21 |
At a simple taverna, €75 is fine; for good service, €80 (just under 9%) is a nice tip. Going on to Turkey? There, bahşiş is even more of a given.
Sources
Last reviewed: . Based on official tourism boards, laws and public authorities, consumer organisations, and established travel guides and media. Tipping is always voluntary – all figures are guidelines.
