Advice on Tipping in Europe

Tipping is entirely at your discretion and should reflect the service you receive/expect, but lots of VBH clients ask us for our tipping advice, so we are sharing that here.

Recommended gratuities:

Restaurants:

European servers are well paid and tips are considered a small extra to reward great service or to round the bill to a convenient number.

• When ordering food or drink at a pub or counter tipping is not necessary. 

• Check to see if service is already included. If it is, additional tipping isn't necessary. 

• If service is not included, a tip of 5% to 10% is welcome. Tipping the same as we do in the United States is not necessary. 

• Servers prefer to be tipped in cash even if you are paying the bill with a credit card. 

• Tipping varies by European Country. 

• Restaurant prices in France often include a 12–15 percent service charge. Additional tipping is not necessary.

Taxis

• Round up to the next Euro on the fare for short cab fares or up to the next 10 Euro for longer cab rides. 

Housekeeping 

• Housekeeping tipping is not required but if you are inclined you can leave a few Euros each night. 

Transfer company driver: 

• 2 to 5 Euro per person, depending upon length of trip

Luggage assistance: 

• 1 to 2 Euro per bag 

Private Excursion Guides/Driver: 

• Half Day Tours - 10-20E/person

• Full Day Tours - 20-40E/person