A Guide to Tipping Etiquette in Different Countries

Where to give how much

• Spain

  5-10% in the restaurant, but only with good service and preferably in cash on the table; not necessary in a taxi, but rounding up is appreciated if the service is good; in the hotel 1 euro per night for cleaning staff, 1 euro per piece of luggage for porters

• France

  15% is already included in the restaurant, but with good service you can leave a few coins on the table or round them up; round up in the taxi; in the hotel about 1 euro per night per person per service employee, 1 euro per piece of luggage for porters

• Italy

  unusual in a restaurant, but with good service you can leave a few coins on the table or round them up, maximum 10%, preferably in cash; round up in the taxi; in the hotel about 1 euro per night per person per service employee, 1 euro per piece of luggage for porters

• Austria

  About 10% in the restaurant and in the taxi; in the hotel 1 to 2 euros per day for the cleaning team, 1 euro per piece of luggage for porters

• Deutschland

  5-10% in restaurants and taxis; in the hotel 2 to 5 euros per day for the cleaning team, 1 to 2 euros per piece of luggage for porters

• Scandinavia

  Usually included in the restaurant bill, but rounding up is appreciated; otherwise generally unusual, but in Finland porters expect 1 euro per piece of luggage in the hotel

• Greece

  10-15% in the restaurant, preferably in cash on the table; round up to 10% in a taxi; in the hotel about 1 euro per night for the cleaning team, 1 euro per piece of luggage for porters

• Cyprus

  Partly included in restaurants, otherwise around 10%; round up to 10% in a taxi; in the hotel 10% of the final bill for the entire staff in the tip box

• Türkiye

  Not tipping is considered impolite (except in the bazaar, where the price is negotiated anyway); 10-15% in the restaurant is usual, preferably in cash; round up in the taxi; There are often tip boxes in the hotel, otherwise 2 to 3 francs per day for the cleaning team and 50 centimes per piece of luggage for porters are usual

• Egypt

  In fact, everyone expects baksheesh everywhere and at all times (except in the bazaar), and the badly paid staff in the tourist industry depend on it; 10-20% in restaurants and taxis; in the hotel 15 to 20 centimes per night for the cleaning team, 20 centimes per piece of luggage for porters; sometimes show a temple guard against baksheesh locked areas.

• USA

  15-25% in the restaurant, sometimes already included; in a taxi 15-20%; Tips are also expected elsewhere (bar, hotel porter, etc.), even if the service is bad, because the poorly paid staff depend on them; who gives too little risks bad comments; in the hotel $1 per bed per night for housekeeping, $1 per piece of luggage for porters

• You have

  15-20% in the restaurant; 10-15% in taxis; in the hotel 2 to 3 francs per day for the cleaning team, 1 to 3 francs for porters

• Maldives

  usually included in the restaurant, but rounding up to 10% is appreciated; Agree price in taxi before departure including tip; in the hotel 1 to 2 francs for the cleaning team, 1 franc per piece of luggage for porters

• Thailand

  10% in the restaurant, often already included in the bill; Agree price in taxi before departure including tip; in the hotel 2 to 3 francs per night for the cleaning team, 50 centimes to 1 franc for porters

• Japan

  Basically no tip, because excellent service is taken for granted everywhere

What if you are not satisfied with the service?

There are different opinions. Some actually don’t give anything. Others make it dependent on whether the service was actually bad or the food – since the latter isn’t the fault of the waitress, there’s no reason to compromise if she’s tried. A deliberately small tip is also a way to show dissatisfaction with the service. However, it is better to openly and honestly complain about what was not okay. In good restaurants you are then offered a dessert or even a price reduction.

There’s another thing to remember in restaurants: Few other professions demand so much attention while offering the opportunity for financial penalties for mistakes. Remember: Everyone can have a bad day or simply not have the time to give everyone the same amount of attention due to a large number of guests.

What if you’re out of spare change?

This is a typical problem after arrival. It is best to exchange the large bills from home or from the local ATM for small ones and coins as quickly as possible. In better hotels this is usually no problem. Hotels also often have a tip box that you can use to give a lump sum of money to the entire staff, larger bills also fit there.