Tipping in Greece
 

Please fill me in. What are the expectations regarding tipping in restaurants and tipping taxi drivers?

Thanks!

And would you tip the guide of a walking tour (that isn't free)?

Tipping in Greece isn't considered an integral part of paying for services rendered, so it's really just up to you. I would not tip a taxi driver unless he did something noticeably over and above his normal driving duties.

If the tour was prepaid I probably wouldn't tip, but if I was paying at the time I'd probably round up.

Having said that, our guide on a four day trip around the peloponnese made it VERY clear that she expected to be tipped and that envelopes would be distributed on the last day. She addressed the entire bus in the subject on the first morning.

Cheeky.

What Greeks do :

Tipping taxi drivers - No
However if you prebook a transfer the taxi driver might expect a tip, as they got spoiled by tourists.

Restaurants - Cafes : Yes

In Cafes and for smaller amounts 1 Euro is enough
in Restaurants 2-3 Euros.
You just leave it on the table after paying.

On tours like the one you participated tour guides do expect tips, and they share them with the bus driver.
This is left at ones discretion of course,however i find it totally unacceptable that a tour guide made clear that tipping was exprected and even distributed envelopes !!

I would have reported it to the tour organizer without a second thought !

Then you would also recommend tipping the guide of a walking tour? Any idea what would be fair? One of the tours is pretty expensive - 80 euros - which makes me think their staff gets paid fairly well, since they require at least six people on the tour.

And thank you, clausar, for the very specific advice.

Do not tip the guide !
Tour guides charge usually 170 Euro for 4 hours and about 280 for 8 hours. ( plus all their expenses such as meals and accommodation on longer tours)

They also often get commissions from shops and restaurants..