How does tipping work in Athens?

Tipping in Athens is appreciated but never obligatory, and the amounts are modest by American standards. In sit-down restaurants, rounding up the bill or leaving 5–10% is the norm; Greeks typically leave the change rather than calculating a percentage. The most practical method is to hand cash directly to your server when paying rather than adding it to a card transaction, since card tips don't always reach the staff. At casual tavernas and mezedopoleia, leaving a euro or two per person is entirely appropriate. Café culture runs on small tabs, so rounding up to the nearest euro on a coffee is sufficient. Skip the tip entirely at fast-food counters and bakeries. Taxi drivers don't expect a percentage; just tell them to keep the change, typically rounding up by a euro or so. Hotel housekeeping responds well to one or two euros left on the pillow daily. Nobody will chase you down for more, and nobody will be offended if you leave nothing.

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