Tipping in Portugal is, thankfully, less confusing than in other destinations. Mostly, there’s no expectation of a tip or mandatory amount to leave, though gratuities are usually gratefully received.
Still, there are some cultural and customary tipping considerations worth keeping in mind when visiting Portugal. These can vary slightly between larger cities and smaller towns, and more so between the mainland and Portugal’s two archipelagos, Madeira and the Azores.
If you’re confused by couvert or wondering how much to tip in Portugal when dining out, sipping vinho on a winery tour, or taking a taxi, here’s everything you need to know.
Understand the Local Tipping Culture
Lisbon
Tipping when dining out in Portugal is reserved to acknowledge good service. Portugal has a standard minimum wage across all industries, so tips are always a customer reward and are not used to top up wages.
However, the recent tourism boom in Lisbon and Porto has made tipping more common due to international visitors leaving more generous gratuities—arguably necessary, as tourism has influenced the cost of living, which has risen far more than wages.
As such, if you decide to tip for good service—keeping in mind that service in Portugal is usually more relaxed than in the USA—it’s advisable to tailor your tip depending on where you are, both in terms of if it’s a large city or small village, and the type of restaurant.
Decide Tip Amounts Depending on Where You Dine
Café in Portugal
In cafés, snack bars, pastelarias, or padarias, Portuguese for pastry shops and bakeries, it’s common for locals to say fique com o troco, meaning keep the change, round-up or leave a euro or two on the table. If you’ve had lunch, you might want to tip 5% for excellent service.
Some of these more informal eateries operate as pré-pagamento, or a prepayment system, where you order and pay at the counter in advance, meaning tips are certainly not expected.
Restaurant in Portugal
It’s more common to leave a gratuity in restaurants, such as traditional tascas, grill houses called churrascarias, or seafood-focused marisqueiras. Again, a few euros on the table is fine for adequate service and is a customary amount for locals, though 5-10% has become more common in recent years for recognizing good service.
At Fado houses, where meals are accompanied by performances of Portugal’s most melancholic musical genre, tip the serving staff as outlined above. There’s no need to tip the singers or guitar players directly and it isn’t common, although some patrons may decide to say a personal thank you to the performers and deliver a tip at the same time.
If you dine in high-end or Michelin-starred restaurants, or if the service has been exemplary elsewhere, you may want to leave around 15%, which is considered a very generous and almost excessive gratuity in Portugal. Regardless of where you dine, avoid leaving the smaller copper coins as tips, as this could be considered rude.
Service Charges & Poor Service
Restaurant in Portugal
Service charges aren’t standard in Portugal. However, some high-end or tourist-focused restaurants have started charging them, especially for groups of six or more. Therefore, it’s worth reviewing the check before leaving a tip.
If you receive poor service, simply don’t tip—there’s rarely any pressure to do so. At all Portuguese businesses, you’ll see signs advising of a Livro de Reclamações or Complaints Books. However, these aren’t for recording service complaints but for officially documenting consumer rights issues.
Couvert Isn’t a Mandatory Cover Charge
Appetizers
Nearly every restaurant in Portugal will serve some form of couvert, a selection of bread, olives, spreads, and perhaps cheeses or other items, which are delivered to the table at the start of a meal.
These are neither mandatory nor complimentary, and if you eat them, they will be added to the check. Sometimes, they are fairly and individually priced, while other restaurants have an overinflated, bundled fee for couvert—either way, it should always be displayed on the menu. If you don’t want these small plates, politely decline them and the server will take them away.
If you do accept the couvert, it shouldn’t impact how much you tip in Portugal. Unlike other European countries, like Italy, where the coperto charge is a fixed-price cover charge, Portugal’s couvert price only covers the smaller appetizers. It doesn’t act as a service charge.
IVA Isn’t a Service Charge
When reviewing your check, you might notice an IVA line with a percentage next to it before the total. This isn’t a service charge but rather VAT, or the sales tax, attributed to food or drink items. It’s usually 16%, 22%, or 23%, depending on if you’re in the Azores, Madeira or continental Portugal.
Therefore, it shouldn’t affect how much you tip in Portugal or change the prices from those listed on the menu. All prices in Portugal are displayed with sales tax included; the taxes are simply itemized on the receipt for invoicing purposes.
Carry Cash
Cafe in Portugal
When traveling in Portugal, it is always advisable to carry cash in the local currency, euros. Some smaller restaurants and businesses don’t accept card payments, so you won’t have to search for an ATM in a hurry after a meal.
It’s also essential when tipping in Portugal, as few restaurants can process gratuities on their card payment terminals. Therefore, leaving a tip in cash is not only more appreciated but often the only option.
Tipping in Bars isn’t Common
Bar in Portugal
While the lines between bars, snack bars, and cafés are often blurred in Portugal, particularly on al fresco terraces, it’s not customary to leave a tip when stopping for a quick drink, such as a coffee or glass of wine.
If there’s table service and you’ve stayed for a while, you might want to round up the check to the nearest euro or leave an extra coin or two.
The exception is in fancier cocktail bars, rooftops, beach clubs with lounger service, or bars where you’ve ordered petiscos, Portugal’s small sharing plates similar to tapas. In these instances, consider leaving around 5% for excellent service.
Tipping Tour Guides
Sintra
Across Portugal, you’ll find a plethora of guided trips and tours, ranging from free city walking tours to full-day trips to Sintra’s palaces or guided hikes along Madeira’s levada trails.
Tipping in Portugal for this kind of activity is similar to the rest of the world and deciding how much to give depends on the duration and whether you’ve joined a group tour or a private experience.
For group trips, tipping is less typical, though giving a couple of euros, up to a maximum of five, at the end of the tour is appreciated. If it’s a bus tour, you might wish to give a euro or two directly to the driver or add it to the collection often organized by the guide.
Lisbon
The exception to this rule is “free” walking tours, typical in Lisbon, Porto, and Funchal, where a tip is expected at the end, although not mandatory, in lieu of an official price. Depending on how informative you felt the guide was and how long the excursion was, expect to give between €10-€20 per person.
On private tours, consider a similar amount, depending on whether your driver or guide went above and beyond, such as purchasing local pastries during your excursion or arranging access to an otherwise closed attraction.
Tipping Taxis, Tuk Tuks, or Toboggans
Tuk tuk
There’s no need or expectation to leave a tip when using a taxi for short journeys in Portugal, although it’s common to simply round up the metered figure to the nearest euro for ease. Common rideshare apps, like Uber or Bolt, allow for tips to be left on the app.
In Lisbon, Tuk-Tuk tours have become a common way to see the city. Although there may sometimes be pressure to tip, the price is often inflated enough that additional payments are unnecessary.
In Madeira or the Azores, where it’s more common to hire a taxi for a few hours or a day to reach hiking trails or natural attractions, payments are often fixed by hour or for a predetermined amount. In these instances, while not obligatory, consider leaving a tip as you would for a guide, especially if the driver has been extra-helpful.
Carreiros do Monte, Madeira
One of Portugal’s most usual transport methods is Madeira’s Carreiros do Monte, human-pushed, wicker toboggans dating back to the 19th century. Riding one of the sleds has become a popular tourist activity on the island and as such, there is sometimes pressure to leave a tip at the end of the ride. If you’ve enjoyed a good camaraderie with the carreiros who pushed you downhill, have a few coins ready but don’t feel obliged to tip.
If you decide to rent a car, be aware that “parking attendants,” operating in public car parks or on-street parking, aren’t official, and requests for a tip after helping you find a space are a scam. It’s best, where possible, to ignore their directions and park elsewhere to avoid confrontation.
Tipping in Wineries & Port Lodges
Wine tasting in Douro Valley
Whether exploring Porto’s Port lodges, the Douro’s farmed vineyards and wineries, or visiting Madeira’s wine lodgers, chances are high that you’ll join a tour or tasting.
While leaving a gratuity in these situations is entirely optional, deciding how much to tip in Portugal while learning more about the country’s centuries-old wine production will depend significantly on the service you receive.
If it’s a short group tour of a Gaia Port Lodge, a thank you very much or muito obrigada/o in Portuguese should suffice.
However, if your guide, vintner, or sommelier has gone the extra mile—perhaps pouring an extra glass or popping open a specific vintage at your request—you might want to leave a €5 or €10 note or slip it into a handshake when departing.
Tipping on Boat Trips
Whale watching in Azores
Whether spotting whales on a marine biologist-led boat trip departing Ponta Delgada in the Azores or hopping between the secluded Portuguese beaches of the Arrábida Natural Park south of Lisbon, ocean lovers will likely find themselves on a boat trip in Portugal.
As with all other activities in Portugal, tipping isn’t expected when taking a boat trip, but it is discretionary and depends on the service. For example, if your skipper decides to stay out on the water for an extra 30 minutes than scheduled so you spot a pod of dolphins or see an orca rather than return disappointed, you might want to leave a note as a thank you.
On some boat trips, especially half- or full-day sailings along the Douro River, a formal lunch service is also included. While the meal is already built into the excursion price, leaving a tip for your server as you would at a land-based restaurant is customary.
Read: Most Beautiful Places in Portugal
Tipping at Spas & Hot Springs
Furnas in São Miguel Island, Azores
Tipping in Portuguese spas or at the Azorean hot springs in Furnas on São Miguel Island isn’t standard or expected, especially if just using the pools or spa circuit. If you opt for a massage or other treatment, you might want to give a cash tip directly to the therapist.
Tipping in Hotels
If you stay in Lisbon for a few nights, you might wonder how much of a gratuity to leave for hotel staff. Generally, for porters, €1 per bag is standard, although this service is only offered in high-end hotels. Tips for cleaning staff are at your discretion.
Don’t Overtip
Restaurant in Porto
When deciding how much to tip in Portugal, it’s also worth considering how much is too much. While a tip of 20% might be standard in certain countries, overtipping in others—especially those where tourism is a large part of the economy—can distort the local job market and sometimes offend.
While the latter is unlikely to happen in Portugal, where tipping isn’t seen as insulting as in, say, Japan, it’s important to remember that Portugal’s standardized minimum wage ensures that service staff aren’t underpaid.
Read: Lisbon vs. Porto: Which Should You Visit?
Lisbon
Now that you’re informed about tipping in Portugal, it’s time to put it into practice as you explore Lisbon’s side streets or Madeira’s mountains. Browse Celebrity’s cruises to Portugal to plan your dream vacation.
