Tipping protocol can vary from what it is in the States. Overseas, tips are not always expected but are usually welcomed. Whether to tip or not is completely at your discretion.
Hotel Housekeeping/Breakfast Staff
Private Day Tour with Driver Guide
Point-to-Point/Town-to-Town Transfers
RESTAURANTS
Ireland and the UK: Most restaurants will not include a service charge unless there is a party of six or more. Be sure to ask the waitstaff if a service charge is already included in your bill. If you want to show more appreciation, you could leave one or two Euro/Pound coins on the table. If service is not included, we suggest adding 10%-15% to the total bill based on the level of service you feel you received. In Ireland, the new 2022 tipping law ensures all gratuities/service charges do go to the waitstaff.
France: Here are some guidelines for tipping servers in France: When dining in a restaurant, the service charge is often included in the bill as "service compris" or "service inclus." This charge is distributed among the staff. If you are satisfied with the service, it is customary to leave a small additional amount as a gesture of appreciation. This is usually around 5-10% of the total bill.
Bill Etiquette: When paying the bill, it's common to leave the tip in cash rather than adding it to the credit card payment. Hand the cash directly to the server or leave it on the table before you leave.
Round Up: If you receive good service in a café or casual setting, you can round up the bill to the nearest euro as a tip. For example, if the bill is €9.50, you can leave €10.
Polite Gesture: When tipping, it's polite to say "merci" (thank you) to the server to express your gratitude. Remember that tipping is discretionary, and you should only leave a tip if you feel that the service was deserving. Additionally, it's always a good idea to check the bill for any included service charges before deciding on the amount of the tip.
Germany: Tips in restaurants and bars are not required, however, we recommended adding 5-10% to round up the total of the bill, generally ending with a full Euro amount.
Greece: Tips in restaurants are typically expected. If not already included in your bill, we recommend adding 5-10%.
Iceland: Tipping is generally not expected in Iceland. Service charges are typically included in the bill, and Icelanders do not rely on tips to supplement their income. In restaurants, hotels, and for other services, the cost of service is included in the price. This means that the price you see is the price you pay, and it already includes fair compensation for the staff.
While tipping is not the norm, it is not entirely unheard of. If you receive exceptional service and feel inclined to leave a tip, it will be appreciated, though not expected. A small amount, such as rounding up the bill or leaving a few hundred ISK (Icelandic Krona), is sufficient.
Italy: Every restaurant includes a service charge, so tipping is not required or expected. During a recent visit to Venice, a waiter made a joke about keeping my five Euro change as his tip. It’s important to be careful in more populated areas like Venice where the waitstaff is used to getting tipped only because Americans are unaware that they do not have to. If the establishment does not include a service charge, we recommend leaving between €1 – €5 for your server at casual eateries and a 5-10% tip at fancier restaurants.
Portugal: Tipping practices in Portugal may differ from other countries, so here are some guidelines for tipping servers in restaurants and cafes:
Service Charge: In Portugal, a service charge is often included in the bill, typically around 10%. Look for "serviço" or "serviçe" on the bill to see if it has been added. If a service charge is included, additional tipping is not expected but is still appreciated for exceptional service.
Rounding Up: If a service charge is not included, it is customary to round up the bill or leave a small tip. For example, if your bill is €18, you can round it up to €20 or leave a few euros as a tip.
Leaving Cash: If you wish to leave a tip, it's best to do so in cash directly to the server. They often prefer receiving tips in cash rather than adding it to a credit card payment.
Small Amounts: Tips in Portugal are generally not as high as in some other countries. Leaving 5-10% of the bill as a tip is considered generous for good service. However, tipping is discretionary, and you can adjust the amount based on the level of service received.
Polite Gestures: While tipping is appreciated, it's also common to express gratitude verbally by saying "Obrigado/a" (thank you) to the server for their service. It's important to note that tipping practices can vary, and some establishments may have different expectations. If you're unsure, you can ask the staff or check if the service charge is already included. Ultimately, tipping in Portugal is not obligatory but is a way to show appreciation for good service.
The Nordic Countries: Every restaurant includes a service charge, so tipping is not required or expected. If the establishment does not, we recommend leaving up to a 10% tip. Most locals will round up the total of the bill to the nearest even amount.
Spain: Tipping customs in Spain are different from those in countries where tipping is more prevalent. While tipping is not obligatory in Spain, it is appreciated for good service. Here are some general guidelines for tipping servers in Spain:
Restaurants/Cafés: It is common to leave a small tip in restaurants or cafés if you are satisfied with the service. The usual practice is to round up the bill or leave a tip of around 5-10% of the total amount. For example, if your bill is €18, you could round it up to €20 or leave a few euros as a tip.
Bars: In bars, tipping is less common, especially if you're just having a drink at the counter. However, if you receive table service or if you order a more complex cocktail, you can leave a small tip, such as rounding up the bill or leaving loose change.
Cafeterias/Coffee Shops: Tipping is not as customary in self-service establishments or coffee shops where you pay at the counter. However, if someone provides exceptional service or goes out of their way to assist you, you can leave a small tip as a gesture of appreciation.
Taxis: Tipping taxi drivers in Spain is not mandatory, but it's common to round up the fare or leave a small tip, especially if the driver provided good service or helped with luggage. For short rides, rounding up to the nearest euro is sufficient, while for longer trips, you can consider leaving 5-10% of the fare as a tip.
Remember that tipping customs can vary among individuals and regions, so these guidelines are approximate. It's always a good idea to assess the quality of service you received and tip accordingly. If you're unsure, observing local customs or asking locals for advice can provide additional guidance.
Switzerland: Every restaurant includes a service charge, so tipping is not required or expected. Most locals will round up the total of the bill to the nearest even amount. For groups of 10 or more, an 8-10% tip is recommended.
BARTENDERS
It is very rare to tip a bartender in any part of Europe. Most bartenders do not expect it, and some may even refuse it. However, please feel free to leave 1-2 £ / € on the bar if you find it necessary but this is certainly not required.
We would say that if you develop a rapport with the bartender, you could offer a euro/pound or two with the phrase, “and one for yourself!”
HOTEL HOUSEKEEPING / BREAKFAST WAITSTAFF
Ireland and the UK: Tipping housekeeping and breakfast waitstaff are not expected.
France, Greece, Italy, Switzerland and Portugal: It is customary to leave €1-2 on the nightstand for housekeeping each morning as well as leaving the same on the table for hotel breakfast staff service.
Iceland & the Nordic Countries: It is not customary to tip hotel staff in Iceland, whether it is the maid or the bellman. Their services are included in your bill and nothing more is expected from you. However, if you did want to leave a small tip for your maid, you could leave it in an envelope for them or simply hand it to them if you see one another.
Germany: For housekeeping in hotels, we recommend €3-5 per night.
Spain: It is customary to leave €2-5 on the nightstand for housekeeping each morning as well as leave the same on the table for hotel breakfast staff service.
PORTERAGE/LUGGAGE ASSISTANCE
Germany: We suggest tipping porters €1-3 per bag. For the concierge, we suggest €10-20 for the overall experience IF they are securing items for you during your stay.
Greece: We suggest tipping porters €1-2 per bag, but no more than €5.
Iceland & the Nordic Countries: We suggest a range between €1-2 per bag when traveling independently. No tipping is expected for concierge services.
Ireland, Italy and Switzerland: We suggest a range between €1-2 per bag when traveling independently. If you are assisted by a concierge and receive exceptional service, it is customary to give them a tip of €1-5.
The UK and France: We suggest a range between € / £ 1-2 per bag when traveling independently. For the concierge service in the major cities, you should tip at least € / £ 10-15 depending on the difficulty of the task that has been performed. We recommend tipping the hotel doorman € / £ 2 for hailing a cab if you ask him to do so. No more than a € / £ 5 tip would be appreciated for the concierge service outside major cities.
Spain and Portugal: We suggest a range between €1-2 per bag when traveling independently. For the concierge service, you should tip at least €5-10 depending on the difficulty of the task that has been performed.
DAILY TOURING & ACTIVITIES
WALKING TOUR GUIDES
In most of Europe, if you have a fantastic time and wish to tip your guide, your guide will be more than happy to receive it. If you are on a private tour group and really enjoyed yourselves, we recommend about 20 – 30 £ / € total for a group of 20 people and under. For non-private scheduled tours, we suggest about 5 £ / € per person.
Iceland & the Nordic Countries: Tipping is not expected, but is appreciated, so if you are very happy with your tour, you could tip the guide the equivalent of $2-5 per person, or tip $20-$40 tip per day/tour.
PRIVATE DAY TOUR WITH A DRIVER GUIDE
For a full day of private guided touring, we suggest between 10-25 £/€ per person. The general consensus among driver guides is a tip in the form of cash in the local currency.
GROUP DAY TOUR
Germany: We suggest tipping tour guides around 10% for paid events or €5 for free tours.
Ireland and the UK: A day tour operated by a local tour operator with a mixed group of travelers, we suggest between 5-15 £ / € per person. At times a separate guide may accompany the driver in which case a tip should also be considered for their service.
Italy and France: A day tour operated by a local tour operator with a mixed group of travelers, we suggest €10 per person. At times a separate guide may accompany the driver in which case a tip should also be considered for their service. For a half-day tour, we suggest €5 per person.
Spain: A day tour operated by a local tour operator with a mixed group of travelers, we suggest between €2-5 per person. At times a separate guide may accompany the driver in which case a tip should also be considered for their service.
Portugal: A day tour operated by a local tour operator with a mixed group of travelers, we suggest around €5 per person.
Iceland, the Nordic Countries, and Switzerland: Tipping is not expected as it will be included with your tour. (It may not be included with the tour, this will vary). If not included, you may tip between $20- $40 tip per day/tour.
DIRECT PRIVATE TRANSFERS
AIRPORT TRANSFERS
In most of Europe and the UK, we would suggest tipping the following amounts based on the group/vehicle size for a standard airport transfer with a driver up to 30 mins. If the transfer is longer then we would increase the tip accordingly.
Car (1-3 passengers): 5-15 £/€
Standard Van (3-5 passengers): 10-20 £/€
Large Van (5-10 passengers): 20-30 £/€
Mini-Buses (10-20 passengers): 25-40 £/€
Bus (20-50 passengers): 30-60 £/€
The general consensus among driver guides/airport transfers is a tip in the form of cash in the local currency.
POINT-TO-POINT / TOWN-TO-TOWN TRANSFERS
In most of Europe, for private driver services under 4 hours, we suggest using your discretion based on a range of £ / € 5-10 per person. If the drive is over 4 hours, we suggest between £ / € 10-15 per person. Again, this is all depending on the length of the drive and the total number of passengers, and your appreciation of the service provided. Your point-to-point private driver will not be required to offer touring services so in any chance they do during your drive, it is best to keep this in mind to guide what tip you would like to offer. The general consensus among driver guides is a tip in the form of cash in the local currency.
TAXIS
When using a taxi cab in most of Europe, we suggest at least rounding up your bill to the nearest £ / € or giving a few coins, though tipping is not expected unless your taxi cab driver gave helpful information for touring the area or answers many of your questions during your drive.
MULTI-DAY AND MULTI-LOCATION TOURS
PRIVATE DRIVER GUIDING
For multiple full days of privately guided tours, as always, the gratuity is entirely at your discretion and the amount of gratuity should depend on the level of service that you feel you have received. Here are the generally accepted and suggested norms:
2-4 travelers: 15-20 £/€ per person, per day
5-8 travelers: 10-15 £/€ per person, per day
8-20 travelers: 8-10 £/€ per person, per day
20+ travelers: 5-8 £/€ per person, per day
The general consensus among driver guides is a tip in the form of cash in the local currency.
At times a separate guide may accompany the driver in which case a tip should also be considered for their service.