Do they tip in Italy?
Do they tip in Italy?
Tourists often ask: “Do I have to tip in Italy?”, “How much to tip?”, “Is tipping required in Italy?”
Tipping can be quite a sensitive question in some countries. But not in Italy! In Italy tipping is not obbligatory. It is always nice to thank your guide, your waiter, your taxi driver or the hairdresser for the service. But nobody will judge you stingy if you won’t tip.
There is no any special rule or amount of tips that you should leave in Italy.
Tipping in bars, restaurants, hotel
In the cafes you often find a jar on the bar where you can put some coins. If you had a coffe break in a bar, you can put there 20-50 cents.
In the restaurants you will find “Coperto” in your bill. Note: This is not the charge for the service as mostly tourists think. Coperto doesn’t go to the waiter. Coperto is the charge for the bread, salt, oil, napkins and all the “free” stuff that the restaurant provides. So, you can thank your waiter leaving couple of euro.
So, remember, that “service” is not included in italian restaurants. You can give 1-2 euro for each person to the waiter if you liked his service. In case you did not like it, you don’t need to tip.
Of course tipping is always welcome for the room cleaners, porters, taxi drivers and other staff that provide you a comfortable service during your trip, but remain on your consideration.
Tips for excurcions and guided tours
As for the tour guides, tipping becomes more common. In contrast to the staff in restaurants and hotels, who have contracts and monthly payments, tour guides are freelancers. They get fixed price for each tour they make. So if you liked you tour guide, enjoyed your excursion and had a great time with this person, it will be very nice to tip. Of course it is up to you anyway. There is no any special price in this case and no one ever will judge you for not tipping.
To tip or not to tip?
Certainly, it is not rude tipping. Tips are welcome. But the amount of tips is up to you. In bars 20-50 cents are enough. To waiters in restaurants 1-2 euro per person. In hotels and to taxi drivers 1-2 euro. To the tour guides 5-10 euro.
The last but not the lease, join our city bike tour in Milan and our guide will give more tips about travwling in Italy, they will tell you more about italians and the italian culture and traditions. We will show you the hidden gems of Milan that other tourists will not find!
