Europe Tipping Guide by Country
One of the biggest questions that comes up when traveling is tipping culture in other countries. Even I find myself in the situation of reaching out to friends who live where I am visiting to make sure I’m not committing some sort of faux pas.
Unlike the US, where it is standard to tip 20% to 25% everywhere, tipping is not required, nor expected in most European countries, as they are paid a living wage AND service is already included in the bill. Tipping in most of Europe is for exceptional service and most locals do not tip. If your service was subpar or just mediocre, you are not obligated to tip, nor should you feel pressured to tip. Saying that, you can leave a tip if you feel the service was exemplary and want to say thank you. Unlike Asian countries, tips are not considered offensive in Europe except for the Nordic countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland) so don’t be surprised if they choose not to accept the tip, or tell you it is not necessary.
Since traveling is supposed to be fun and not stressful, I’m here to take some of that stress away with my cliff notes guide to tipping in Europe by country. But first, some guidelines by category if you choose to tip.
Dining
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS look at the bill. If service is included, that is a big signal that you do not need to tip. I know a lot of the people reading this are American, and know you sometimes can’t help it (I’m guilty as well!), but all you are really doing is propagating bad behavior and encouraging some businesses to scam American tourists into tipping, or being pressured to tip. True story, one of my friends tipped 25% over the 15% service charge that was already charged to our bill (so basically a 40% tip and the service wasn’t great). The waiter ran away so fast, he left his cell phone at our table. Saying that, if service is not included, you had a great time, services was exemplary, tip accordingly!
Rounding up is standard and customary if you choose to tip. For instance, if your bill is 47€, just leave 50€
When you do leave a tip, it’s essential to use cash. In France, you used to be able to tell the server to add how much you wanted to add, but you are no longer allowed to do that. If you do tip, avoid tipping in small coins, as that would be perceived as an insult. It is better to leave no tip at all.
Don’t assume the person providing you a service could use the extra cash. Trust your gut and read the room. I know it’s hard because America is such a tipping culture, but many cultures and businesses do find it offensive. If they reject the tip, don’t force it.
Going back to propagating bad behavior, American tourists are now signaled out for those who want to take advantage, since Americans are known for leaving big tips. Only tip if you want to reward truly exceptional service, never feel forced or obligated into doing so; tipping is voluntary.
Hotels
I did not include hotels in the by country because think that really is up to everyone’s own personal discretion—i.e. how messy did you leave the room, did you use the staff a lot, did you bring 10 wardrobes that someone had to bring up?…. You get the drift.
Hotels are the exception to the rule IMHO because you can’t put a price on comfort. Unless the culture finds it completely offensive, always tip at hotels at your discretion. For instance, I use the concierge and guest services extensively prior to and during my stay, so I usually leave an envelope with those individuals before my departure. If you aren’t the neatest person, make sure to leave something for housekeeping daily. I usually ask for extra bottled water daily, so leave them a nice tip because it saves me time on going to the store and money since i’m not paying for the 10€ mini bottle in the fridge. A lot of luxury hotels don’t accept tips and have actually rejected them, but it’s never a loss being thoughtful; just be respectful and don’t try to push it on them if they say no. I will also add that most hotels now also add a discretionary service charge to your stay, so you shouldn’t feel the need to tip, as it is now included. Do what feels right to you. based on the service you receive.
Beauty Services
Here I’m referring to hair, nails, waxing, you get it. I normally tip a few euro as a way of saying thank you, but it’s completely unnecessary and some people reject it, especially at high end salons. I don’t do it all the time, but on a case by case basis. In some places like London, tips are expected for beauty services and they make it easier now with a prompt on the cc machine. If you do choose to tip on selected beauty services, make sure to check the bill. In some cities, service is already included in the bill you receive, so unless you want to really go above and beyond there really is no need to.
Taxis/Car Services
Know you will see my mention of “taxi” (this refers to ubers, car services, etc) in the by country breakdown below. That is for a normal ride. I normally tip them more when I travel because the help me with my bags when I arrive at the airport and get to my destination. And if you know me, I don’t travel light!
The countries
Scroll to see tipping culture by country…at least the ones I have visited so far. As I visit more countries in Europe, will update, so make sure to check back here or my instagram.
Please note that tipping culture may vary between different regions and establishments within a country, so these expectations may not apply universally. Remember, when in doubt, google or ask a local!
