Tipping Customs Across European Countries

Countries Where Tipping Is Expected

France: 5-10% in restaurants though service is included. Round up taxi fares. French law requires service compris (service included) in prices, but small additional tips show appreciation. Leave €2-5 for good service at bistros, €5-10 at nicer restaurants.

Italy: 10% in restaurants not uncommon, though not mandatory. Leave coins for cafe service. Coperto (cover charge) of €1-3 per person appears on bills. This isn't a tip - it's for bread and table service. Add 5-10% for good service beyond the coperto.

Spain: 5-10% in restaurants in tourist areas. Less common in local places. Spaniards rarely tip more than rounding up or leaving small change. Tourist restaurants in Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville expect more European-style tipping.

Portugal: 10% in restaurants is appreciated. Round up for small purchases. Portugal's tipping culture falls between Spain and France. Locals round up; tourists often leave 10%. Both are acceptable.

Eastern Europe sees developing tipping culture. Prague, Budapest, and Krakow restaurants expect 10% in tourist areas. Local establishments expect less.

Countries With Minimal Tipping

Germany: Round up bills to nearest euro. 10% is generous. Germans typically round €47 to €50 and say "stimmt so" (that's fine). Servers don't expect more unless service was exceptional.

Austria: Similar to Germany, round up or 5-10% maximum. Vienna follows German customs. €5-8 tips on €75-80 meals are standard.

Switzerland: Service is included. Rounding up is sufficient. Swiss prices already incorporate service charges. Additional tipping isn't expected. Round €48.50 to €50 and you're being generous.

Netherlands: Tipping not expected but appreciated. 5-10% is generous. Dutch restaurants include service. Locals rarely tip more than rounding up. Tourists tipping 10% won't offend anyone.

Belgium: Similar to Netherlands. Service included, small tips appreciated. Round up or leave 5% for good service.

Scandinavia: No Tipping Culture

Denmark, Sweden, Norway: Tipping isn't expected or common. Service charges are included in prices. Scandinavian servers earn fair wages without tips. The system doesn't depend on gratuities.

Rounding up is polite but unnecessary. Swedes might round 287kr to 300kr but this is convenience, not obligation. No one expects tips.

Tourists tipping American-style (15-20%) confuse servers. Don't feel obligated to tip in Scandinavia. It's genuinely not part of the culture.

Finland follows similar patterns. Service included, tipping rare and unnecessary.

UK and Ireland

Restaurants: 10-12.5% is standard. Check if service charge is included first. Many UK restaurants add automatic service charges to bills. If "service" or "service charge" appears on the bill, don't add more.

Pubs: Not expected for drinks ordered at bar. Tip for table service. If you order at the bar and carry drinks to your table, no tip. If servers bring drinks to your table, 10% is appropriate.

Taxis: 10% or round up to nearest pound. £18.50 fare rounds to £20. Longer journeys or help with luggage warrant closer to 10%.

Hotels follow similar patterns to continental Europe. £1-2 per bag for porters, £2-5 per night for housekeeping.

Eastern Europe

Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary: 10% in restaurants is standard. Tourist areas expect this consistently. Local restaurants see more variation - some diners tip 10%, others round up.

Tipping culture is developing in tourist areas but less expected in local establishments. Prague's Old Town expects tips like Western Europe. Residential neighborhoods operate more like traditional Eastern European customs.

Romania and Bulgaria have emerging tipping cultures. Tourist restaurants expect 10%. Local places appreciate rounding up but don't expect specific percentages.

Hotel Tipping

Porters: €1-2 per bag when they help with luggage. If a porter carries three bags to your room, €3-5 is appropriate. No tip needed if you carry your own bags.

Housekeeping: €2-5 per night for good service, leave on checkout. Leave cash in an envelope marked "housekeeping" with a thank-you note. Don't leave money lying around - make clear it's a tip.

Concierge: €5-10 for special arrangements like restaurant reservations. Standard information doesn't require tips. Securing hard-to-get restaurant bookings or arranging complex logistics warrants €5-20 depending on effort.

Room service: €2-3 if service charge isn't included on the bill. Check the delivery bill first.

Taxi Tipping

Round up to nearest €5 or 10% of fare in countries with tipping culture. €23 fare becomes €25. €48 becomes €50.

App-based rides (Uber, Bolt) include tipping in the app. This is optional. Apps remind you to tip but European drivers don't expect it like American drivers do.

Airport transfers and longer journeys warrant larger tips. If a driver helps with luggage, waits for delayed flights, or provides excellent service on a long journey, tip closer to 10-15%.

No tip needed if service is poor. Don't tip drivers who take unnecessarily long routes, refuse card payment when possible, or are rude.

When Service Is Already Included

Check bills for "service compris" (France) or "servizio incluso" (Italy). Additional tipping is optional. You're not obligated to add more, but leaving €2-5 for exceptional service is fine.

Some restaurants include 10-15% service charge automatically for groups. This appears as a line item on the bill. Don't add additional percentages - the tip is already there.

Coperto in Italy is NOT a tip - it's a cover charge. You can still tip beyond the coperto if service was good.

Scandinavian prices incorporate all fees. Nothing is added at payment. The price you see is the price you pay.

How to Tip in Cash vs Card

Cash tips go directly to servers. This is preferred when possible. Leave cash on the table or hand it directly to your server when paying.

Card tips through payment terminals work but may be split or taxed differently. European card terminals often include a tip option when you pay. Servers may not receive 100% of card tips depending on restaurant policies.

Leave cash on table or hand directly to server in small establishments. This ensures your server gets the full amount.

For card payments, you can ask to pay the bill by card and leave a cash tip separately. This is common practice.

Special Situations

Bad service doesn't require tipping. Don't feel obligated to tip for genuinely poor service. Europeans don't tip bad service.

Exceptional service warrants more generous tips. If a server goes significantly beyond normal service, increase your tip accordingly.

Group dinners often include automatic service charges. Check your bill carefully. Large tables (6+ people) frequently see 15-20% added automatically.

Street performers and tour guides operate differently. Free walking tours expect €5-15 tips per person. Paid tours don't require additional tips but €5-10 for excellent guides is appreciated.

Regional Variations

Tourist areas always expect higher tips than local areas. Restaurants in Trastevere (Rome's tourist area) expect 10% while neighborhood trattorias expect coins.

Upscale establishments expect higher tips than casual places. Fine dining warrants 10-15% even in countries with minimal tipping cultures.

Fast-casual and fast-food establishments don't expect tips. Counter-service restaurants, cafeterias, and quick-service places operate tip-free.

Learning Local Customs

Observe locals when possible. Watch how residents handle bills and tipping. This provides better guidance than general rules.

Ask hotel staff about local customs. Concierges can explain regional tipping expectations accurately.

Don't stress about perfect tipping. Minor mistakes don't offend. Europeans understand tourists aren't familiar with every local custom.

When in doubt, round up modestly. This works across Europe without offending anyone.