Tipping in Europe, country by country

The short version

In most of Europe, tipping is smaller and less automatic than in the United States. Service is built into the menu price or added to the bill as a service charge, so a tip is a bonus. In a sit-down restaurant, round up or leave about 5 to 10% for good service. Before you add anything, read the bill: if it already shows a service charge (service compris, servizio, szerviz), you do not need to tip on top of it.

TODO (delete when done): add one or two sentences about tipping moments you remember from your own travels, for example a bill with a service charge you did not expect.

How do I tell whether service is already included?

Look at the bottom of the bill and the fine print on the menu. These phrases are the ones you will meet most often:

Bill terms that affect your tip
Term	Where	What it means
Service compris	France	Service is included in the prices. A further tip is optional.
Servizio	Italy	A service charge added to the bill. If it is there, you do not need to tip on top of it.
Coperto	Italy	A per-person cover charge for bread and table service. It is not a tip, and staff do not necessarily receive it.
Servicio incluido	Spain	Service is included. Tipping is not expected.
Bedienung inklusive	Germany, Austria	Service is included in the prices. Rounding up is customary.
Szervizdíj	Hungary	A service charge, often 10 to 15%, added to the bill.
Service charge	United Kingdom	Often 12 to 15% added to the bill. It is generally discretionary, and you can ask to remove it if service was poor.

How much should I tip in each country?

These are norms for a sit-down restaurant with table service. They are guidelines, not rules, and sources differ slightly on the exact figures. At a counter, a bar, or a market stall, you generally do not tip.

Typical restaurant tipping by country
Country	Typical	Watch for
France	Service is included. Leave small change or a few euros for good service.	Nothing is expected in bars.
Italy	If there is no service charge, round up or leave a small amount, no more than about 10%.	A coperto may be listed on top of your meal.
Spain	Not expected. Round up or leave €1 to €2. Around 10% in higher-end restaurants.	In tapas bars, keep the change.
Portugal	Round up or leave €1 to €3.	Some places add a small service fee.
Germany	Service is included. Round up or leave 5 to 10%.	Say the total you want to pay as you hand over the money, rather than leaving coins on the table.
Netherlands	Service is included. Round up, or leave 5 to 10% for good service.	Rounding up in bars is common.
Austria	About 5 to 10%.	Higher-end places and large groups tend to tip toward the upper end.
Greece	Service is built into prices. Round up or leave €1 to €2; 5 to 10% at nicer restaurants.	Tavernas: rounding up is plenty.
Poland	About 10% in sit-down restaurants in Kraków, Gdańsk, and other tourist cities.	Not expected in bars or at counters. Check the bill for a service charge first.
Czechia	Round up, or leave 5 to 10%.	Tourist-area restaurants often add an 8 to 10% service fee.
Hungary	If a service charge is on the bill, you need not add more. If not, about 10%.	The charge is often 10 to 15%.
United Kingdom	If a service charge is added, you need not tip on top. Otherwise about 10%.	Not expected in pubs, where you order at the bar.
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland	Not expected. Locals round up.	10% is considered very generous.

Should I tip in cash or on the card?

Cash is the safest. In many countries a card terminal asks for a tip only if you choose to add one, and it may go to the business rather than directly to your server. If you want your server to get it, hand over cash with the bill or tell them the total you want to pay. If the terminal offers a percentage prompt, you can enter a custom amount or skip it.

What about taxis, hotels, and tours?

Taxis. Round up to the nearest euro, or to the nearest 5 or 10 zloty in Poland. Add a little more for a long ride with luggage.
Hotel porters. About €1 to €2 per bag, where they help you.
Housekeeping. Not expected in most places. In Greece, €1 to €2 a day is a common courtesy.
Tour guides. A few euros per person for a good guide on a group tour, and more for a private guide. Free walking tours run on tips, so decide what the tour was worth to you.

What happens if I don't tip?

In most of Europe, nothing. Staff are generally paid a regular wage, and nobody will chase you. In tourist-heavy places such as Kraków, Prague, and the big Italian cities, a small tip for good service is common and appreciated.

Budgeting for a trip? See our guide to tourist taxes in Europe, or start with the first-time checklist.

Frequently asked questions

Is tipping mandatory in Europe?

No. In most European countries tipping is optional and smaller than in the United States. Service is usually included in prices or added as a service charge, so a tip is a bonus for good service.

How much should I tip at a restaurant in Italy?

Check the bill first. If a service charge (servizio) is included, you do not need to add more. A cover charge (coperto) is not a tip. If there is no service charge, rounding up or leaving a small amount is enough, and no more than about 10%.

What is coperto?

Coperto is a per-person cover charge that some Italian restaurants add for bread and table service. It is listed on the menu or the bill, and it is not a tip.

How much do you tip in Poland?

About 10% in sit-down restaurants is increasingly normal in Kraków, Gdańsk, and other popular cities. You do not need to tip in bars or at counters. Check your bill for a service charge first.

Should I tip with cash or by card?

Cash is the safest way to make sure your server gets the tip. If you pay by card, you can usually tell the server the total you want to pay, or enter a custom amount on the terminal.

Where the figures come from

Rules and prices change. Last checked October 8, 2026.