Tipping in Greece
Tipping expectedService Breakdown
Notes by Service
10% is standard; round up or leave €2–5.
€1–2 per night for housekeeping; €1–2 per bag.
Round up to the nearest euro; 10% is generous.
10% is a good benchmark.
Leave coins or round up; not strictly required.
€2–3 is polite.
€5–10 per person for archaeological or island tours.
€1 is appreciated.
About Tipping in Greece
Overview
Tipping is part of Greek hospitality culture and appreciated across the service industry, particularly at restaurants and on guided tours. A 10% tip is a reasonable standard in tourist-heavy islands like Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes, where servers have come to expect it from foreign visitors.
When to Tip
Tip at sit-down restaurants, with taxi drivers (rounding up), hotel housekeeping, tour guides on archaeological sites and island excursions, and at spas. In neighbourhood tavernas off the tourist trail, smaller tips are appreciated but large amounts may feel out of place.
How to Tip
Leave cash on the table at restaurants rather than adding it to the card payment — cash reaches staff directly. For tavernas and casual spots, rounding up the bill or leaving €2–5 is plenty; for formal meals and longer tours, 10% is appropriate.
Cultural Context
Greece's economy experienced prolonged strain in the 2010s, and hospitality workers on the islands typically work intensely seasonal schedules from May to October. Tips aren't just politeness in areas heavily dependent on tourism — they're part of the economic fabric of the season, contributing to income that must stretch through the winter months.