You have booked your flight and hotels, packed your backpacks, decided from where to start your journey; you are all set for your so longed Europe tour. But, have you ever considered the fact of tipping in Europe? How much should you tip or where you should tip? Some of the tourists who come to Europe may feel anxious about the idea of tipping. For, they cannot judge the situation when they should offer a tip, and which amount of it. Gratuity has become a social etiquette in more or less every nook and corner of Europe.
Tipping is nothing but a certain amount of money that a customer gives a service worker in addition to the basic price of the service, in exchange for satisfactory service. But, which amount of tipping you would offer, depends on the area or location you are in. Tipping is not mandatory; but in some situations, like in the restaurants, it has become such a common practice, that if you don’t, people may look upon you in such a way that you can feel to be disgraced.
Unless you are a person with deep pockets, you should have a crystal clear idea of the rules of tipping in Europe, before you plan your vacation. This will help you to finance the whole trip in a proper way. But don’t push yourself too hard to learn about this custom; it’s not that much intricate. Following is a quick tutelage regarding the norms of tipping practice in different countries of Europe.
Austria
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In Austrian restaurants, the local people as well as the tourists, either round up their bill or give around extra 5-10% gratuity in cash, directly to the waiter. Not only in hotels, bars, and restaurants, people also give tips to the taxi drivers, gas station attendants, tour guides, according to their level of satisfaction with the service.
France and Monaco
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In France and Monaco, there is always an inclusion of taxes (around 15%) in the restaurant and hotel bills. So, none expects you to tip the waiter or room service boy a few extra Euros further. But, frequently, people leave a euro or more than that as the tip to the waiter, if the service is good. The local people and the tourists, usually pay 15% of the metered charge as a tip to the taxi drivers.
Italy
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Like France, in Italy also the service charge shall be incorporated in the bill. This means tipping is not an instantaneous custom that you have to follow in the restaurants. But, still, it is considered to be a generous gesture; if you are happy with the service you may leave a few Euros on the table.
Germany
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In Germany, no matter which restaurant you choose to dine out, there’s always an inclusion of 15% service tax in the menu price. But, if you like the service, you can either round up the bill or give 5% as a tip to the waiter, as a token of gratuity.
Spain
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In every restaurant and bar in Spain, you have to pay serviced tax along with the price of your meal and drink. However, in hotels and restaurants, bars, taxis, etc., tipping is a common gesture that most people show.
Hungary
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Here, gratuity is an appreciable decorum; people customarily tip from 5 up to 15% of the total bill to the waiters, bartenders, taxi drivers, etc. Some places even hold a tip jar, expecting people would like to show their gratitude.
Iceland
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When you go visit Iceland, you don’t need to embrace the tipping culture. For, there, gratuity is not a compulsory social practice.
Netherlands
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In the shops, restaurants, and bars of Netherlands, you will also find the inclusion of Value Added Tax and service charges in the bill. Even so, most of the people, tip the waiter, taxi drivers up to 10% of the bill, being satisfied with their service.
Switzerland
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In the restaurants of Switzerland, although there’s always an additional service charge in the bill, people customarily round up the total bill amount. If you feel generous, you may tip from 5-10% to the waiters and taxi drivers.
Greece
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In Greece gratuity is not mandatory, but appreciated. In restaurants and taxis, you may round up your bill, or give tip 5-10% direct to the waiter.
United Kingdom
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In the UK, tipping is not that much essential, you have to follow. For, the hotel and restaurant bills always contain a 10-15% service tax with it. But, feel free to offer a gratuity to the waiters, room service staffs, and taxi drivers, as a token of appreciation.
In European countries, tipping is considered to be a way to show your heartfelt appreciation for the service. So, get prepared and try to carry some extra amount of cash in the local currency.
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