Tipping in Italy is much different than the tipping culture in the United States and even other European countries. It is not uncommon to see travelers tip because otherwise they feel guilty or it is simply a habit, but before your trip to Italy it can be helpful to read about tipping culture and why it is different. The easiest answer is that you are never required to tip anyone. But as with anything in Italy, there are many exceptions.

Restaurants

Tipping your waiter or waitress is not expected in Italy, virtually ever, but leaving a small something is kind especially in the case of excellent service. Unlike in the United States,where they are typically only compensated two or three dollars per hour, Italian waiters are supposed to be paid a “living hourly wage”. This is because in Italy it is not the expectation that waiters should rely on tips for their income, so by not tipping you are not taking anything away from them. But don’t get me wrong, they are not necessarily making a huge sum of money either, so leaving a few extra euros will most likely be appreciated.

Additionally, you will often see servizio, coperto or pane e coperto, listed on the check which means that there is a service charge already included in your total. The charge for servizio should be printed on the menu so you can check how much it is before you even order. Pane e coperto, is a charge for bread, utensils and napkins, and is usually calculated per head.

However, if you do not see these listed on your bill and you feel that you received excellent service, you can either round up your check or hand your waiter a euro or two. When you pay with a card most of the time there will not be a line for you to leave a tip, but even if there is, it is still better to pay your tip in cash to ensure that it reaches the correct waiter or waitress.

Italians rarely tip at restaurants, but in cities with many tourists such as Rome, Venice, and Florence, some of the waiters will expect a tip from American visitors, or will “casually” mention to you that the tip was not included on the bill. This should not influence your decision to leave a tip because the more Americans that leave tips the more that they will begin to expect them, and they are only mentioning the tip to you because you are a foreigner, as they would never say that to an Italian customer.

Cab Driver 

The exact same philosophy applies to taking a cab. A tip is in no way expected from you, but if the driver helped you with a lot of luggage, or if they were extremely friendly and you enjoyed your ride, it is acceptable to give a tip for longer trips. However, if your ride is short and you didn’t have luggage, I would say that there is absolutely no need to leave a tip to your driver. If you feel the desire to tip it is appropriate to round up your fare or give an extra euro or two. This is especially true if your fare was €29,70, and you would like to round up to €30.

Hotels

When staying at a hotel in Italy there are definitely some situations where it would be kind to give a tip. If someone helps you with your luggage or brings your bags up to your room, it is okay to hand them a little extra. However, you are again not obligated to do so. The same can be said for the cleaning staff if you have received great service from them.

Other Services 

If you are in Italy and happen to get a hair cut or another type of service it is nice to round up or leave a nicer tip to your hairdresser depending on the quality of the service.

In terms of tour guides, a tip is not expected, but it is a kind and appreciated gesture if you enjoyed your guide and the tour.

Do as the Romans do 

When you are traveling it is important to keep an open mind and accept the nature of the culture and the behaviors of its people, and when visiting Italy, it is very important to adopt a go with the flow attitude. Rules are viewed as fluid rather than concrete, so it can often depend on where you are and who the person is with regards to accepting a tip. When you enjoy the food, service, or general experience, it is always kind to leave something extra, but if they don’t accept your gesture, don’t let that keep you from tipping someone else who may greatly appreciate it.

By: Julia Morton