Tipping is tricky, wherever you go in the world! If you come from a tipping culture, it’s super awkward to leave your table at a restaurant without tipping, but it could be considered insulting if you do tip! And even if you visit a place where tipping is standard, what is their standard, anyway? 

Even more awkward? Sometimes tipping varies by city—like in Greece! Tipping culture in Athens is very different from tipping culture anywhere else in Greece, but how do you know that if you’re visiting for the first time? Lucky for you, you’re reading this post!

Quick Facts

• Currency: Euro
• Credit Cards: Accepted almost everywhere
• Local Custom: Generally not customary in most of Greece, but not offensive if you do tip (and appreciated); Largely expected in Athens, especially of non-locals

Also interesting: The 7 Things Your Tour Guide Wants You to Know

Restaurants:
Credit Cards Accepted; Some Outside Athens Prefer Cash

If you encounter a tip situation in Greece, it will be this one (unless you exclusively eat from grocery stores). So what’s the right answer? What’s the amount? That depends: Are you in Athens; on a popular, tourist-centric island; or somewhere else in Greece?

Athens and Islands

Tipping is largely expected in Athens and on the most popular tourist islands, but it’s not out of control like it’s becoming in the States. (25% tip suggestions on a coffee I have to order in the app and come to the counter to pick up myself? No.) Food is already relatively inexpensive in Greece, compared to most of the rest of Europe. And while waitstaff do expect a tip (thanks to tourism and high cost of living compared to wages), 10% is generous. Most of time, if you simply round up the bill or leave some change, that is sufficient. 

There was only one restaurant in Athens where we were asked twice if we wanted to leave a tip on our card (we didn’t, we wanted to leave cash), which was kind of awkward. Most of the time, however, we were able to just pay and leave a tip on the table. If you want to leave a tip on the card, you can. There may be some cash only restaurants in Athens, but even the smallest businesses we visited accepted a card in our experience. 

Keep reading: The Best Places to Eat in Athens in 36 Hours and The Best Restaurants on Santorini

Elsewhere on Mainland Greece

We went to restaurants in Kalamata, Thessaloniki, and Philippi on our most recent trip, and it seemed like the locals were not tipping. We generally chose to round up the bill or leave some change (around 5% of the bill), just in case, but there was zero pressure to do so. If you have good service, it’s not offensive here to leave a tip, even if it’s not expected. 

More here: The Best Foods You Have to Try in Greece

Taxis:
Cash is Best; Credit Cards Not Always Accepted

Athens and Islands

Taxi drivers won’t expect a tip from a local, but they will happily accept one from a tourist. Round up to the nearest Euro, or tip €1 or €2 on top of the cost of the ride, and your driver will be satisfied with that. Don’t be surprised if someone hands it back, but in general, it’ll be more customary in Athens and on the most tourist-friendly islands than it is elsewhere on mainland Greece. 

Essential info: Mistakes People Make When Planning a Trip to Greece (and how to avoid them!)

Mainland Greece

We actually tried to tip our taxi drivers in both Kalamata and Thessaloniki, but they all gave it back to us! Tipping is not expected or required for taxi drivers on mainland Greece. Some may accept a tip, but in our experience, even saying “Keep the change” or walking away did not equate to our taxi drivers accepting a tip. 

More here: The 10 Best Things to Do in Athens

Hired Drivers:
Cash

When researching online, I found that the general consensus for tipping a hired driver was €20 per day, per car (not per person). If you only have the driver for half a day, €10 is sufficient, and if you have a particularly long day of driving (say, from Athens to Delphi, Olympia, or Meteora), then €30 or so is appropriate. All of our drivers seemed delighted with this. 

Also helpful: What to Know Before You Visit Greece

Tour Guides:
Cash

Tour guides should always be tipped, and this especially applies to guides in Greece. Why? Because they have to have a degree in either archaeology or history, and they have to take a 2-year, masters-level tour guiding course on top of that. They are very knowledgeable, and very good at what they do! They’re worth it. It is up to your own discretion, but generally, your tour guide should be tipped €20 per group for a tour only, or €50 per group if they are with you all day. 

Read on: The Best Day Trip from Kalamata to Ancient Olympia, Greece

Porters:
Cash

My husband and I are generally pretty capable and like to keep track of our own luggage. However, if you need or want some help, a €1 or €2 tip per bag (usually no more than €5 total) is typical. Often the elevators are small, especially in older or more centrally-located hotels, and occasionally there may be no elevator at all, so you may need a porter to help you out, especially if you’re traveling as a family. 

Read more: Everything You Need to Know about Staying at the Grand Kalamata Hotel in Kalamata, Greece

Concierge:
Cash

Hotel concierges are a wealth of knowledge and a fountain of contacts. If one goes above and beyond to get information or make something happen for you, it’s appropriate to tip about €10 for their time and expertise. My husband and I often like to explore on our own or do our own research, but we have definitely used and appreciated concierges in our travels over the years. 

Keep reading: What It’s Like Staying at the Mediterranean Palace Hotel, Thessaloniki

Masseuse or other service provider:
Cash or Credit Card

This is a little travel luxury I allow for myself on occasion, especially after a long-haul flight or during a longer, multi-stop trip! But I never know for sure how much to tip. I did have a massage in Athens, and tipped 10%. That is not expected everywhere in Greece, but as with restaurants and taxis, Athenians are accustomed to receiving tips from international travelers.  

Read next: How to Practice Self-care on Travel

Want more? Get all the info you need on my dedicated Greece Page!

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