A few months ago, an article about Americans living abroad ran on CNN.com. One of the subjects interviewed, an individual with way more followers than me, shared the revelation: “There’s no tipping in Italy!”
I was really sorry to see it, both because it’s not entirely accurate and because it gives the impression that as a visitor to Italy, you’re somehow getting away with something by not tipping. And I’ve heard even more extreme takes, like that service staff will be offended if you leave a tip. That one really makes me laugh.
I’ve been living in Italy for 15 years, and I’ve seen the practice of tipping evolve a lot in that time. So, to set the record straight, here’s the deal on tipping in Italy—when to do it, when you can skip it, and how much to tip.
The yeses and maybes of tipping in Italy
The short answer is yes, we tip in Italy, just not as much as in the US. Here’s why:
Italian workers, whether in restaurants or other industries, are paid a fixed monthly salary, with a minimum monthly stipend set by the state, not by employers. Waitstaff earn decent salaries and, for many, being a waitperson is a career—not just something they do until they finish school or find a “better job.” And unlike in the US, waitstaff in Italy are not dependent on tips for their livelihood.
The other piece of the equation is cover charge, which will show up on your bill as servizio, coperto, or pane e coperto—the latter translates to “bread and cover.” It’s a small fee that almost every sit-down restaurant charges, and it’s anywhere from €1 to €3 per person. So, assuming a €2 cover charge, a table of four would see a total of €8 added to their final bill.
In theory, that cover or service charge is supposed to take the place of a tip. In practice, patrons, including Italian customers, are more and more inclined to leave a tip. But they do so in smaller amounts and with much less sense of obligation.
With that in mind, here’s guide for when, where, and how much to tip in Italy:
Waitstaff
- If you’re dining in a restaurant or anywhere you’re getting table service, reward good service with a small tip of about €1 per diner. You can also just round up on the check, say leaving a total of €50 on a €47 tab.
- If you’re a large party that’s staying for several hours (this is Italy, after all) and running up a big tab, leaving €10—or even €20 for a really big night—on the table will endear you to your server next time you visit.
- There is no need to tip more than 10% of the total bill.
- If you get indifferent or rude service, of course you don’t have to leave a tip.
- If you want to make sure your server gets the tip, hand it to them, rather than leave it on the table.
Baristas and bartenders
Your espresso or cappuccino will likely cost between €1 and €2 at all but the most touristy bars. If you want to leave a little change for the server at the coffee bar, even if it’s just 10 or 20 cents, that’s fine. There may be a tip jar at the bar so feel free to plunk a coin in it.
The same goes for bartenders, and maybe even moreso. A tip is not expected, but if you and your party do tip the bartender a euro or two, you may get that next round of drinks faster than non-tipping patrons will.
Taxi drivers
Your cab driver will appreciate, but not expect a tip. If you do tip, a euro or two is fine, and nice to do if he or she has been extra helpful or chatty.
Hotel staff
For hotel workers, you can tip as you might in a hotel in the US, but just not as much. If you want to leave a tip for housekeeping, €1 or €2 is fine in all but the fanciest of hotels. Be sure to tip each day of your stay, because there might be different housekeepers on different days.
Tour guides
Your tour guide might hover when a tour is completed, and it’s not just so they can say “bye” to everyone. They’ll appreciate a tip, which could be anywhere between €1 and €5 (per member of your group) depending on the length of the tour and how knowledgeable the guide was.
More tipping tips
- While some restaurants may allow you to add a tip to a credit card payment, most will not. Tip with cash to ensure your server gets the tip.
- Don’t overtip. I suppose there’s nothing wrong with it per se, but it’s just not necessary.
- Remember that in most restaurants, your server won’t bring you the check until you ask for it.
Again, I strongly encourage you to ignore the “no tipping in Italy” crowd. Ultimately, tipping is a gesture of kindness and goodwill. It makes you a better visitor, and Italy needs more people like you. Plus the amount you tip here in Italy is much lower than what might be expected in other countries, including the US. So when you tip a little here, you feel good, your server feels good, and everyone wins. Bravo!
