I belong to several Facebook groups which focus on traveling to Italy. Recently someone innocently asked what is the customary amount for tipping a tour guide in Italy. Answers ranged all over the place. One particular reply that stood out to me was someone who abruptly replied: “We never tip. The tour cost includes the tip!” (Explanation mark his, not mine.) 

Now, I almost never reply to these types of posts. Often, there are very helpful replies from others already posted. But this one required an immediate reply from me to correct him. And so others wouldn’t read his comment and think he was right. His reply to me was no reply at all but a snarky laughing emoji. 

With this Facebook post in mind, and with summer travel right around the corner, I am writing a short post with tipping guidelines in Italy. I hope you find it helpful and valuable for your next trip to Italy or elsewhere in Europe.

TIPPING YOUR GUIDES IN ITALY

The Facebook poster needed to be corrected; the tour price never includes a tip that goes directly to the guide. Tipping your tour guide in Italy has almost become the unspoken norm. While no guide should ever outright ask for a tip, if you’re traveling from the U.S. or Canada, it’s practically a given that clients will tip at the end of the tour. Because I run a business and tend to bring groups larger than a family (12 – 16 people), as a group, we typically tip around 5 Euros per person for tours lasting 3 – 4 hours, and 10 Euros per person for all-day tours. This amount is the minimum. I have gone above this if they are very insightful, and I can tell the group appreciates their expertise. 

If we stop for lunch, I always invite the guide and driver to join us at no cost to them. Asking the guide and driver is not really typical. However, I could never enjoy a meal knowing they are not eating! However, you don’t need to feel like you have to do this yourself. It is not the norm, but just a nice gesture that is always appreciated. I find that the guide, who is always fluent in English, will almost always join us. The driver, who doesn’t always speak English, and thus may feel unconvertable joining us, will typically turn down the invite. 

If you are working with an instructor or teacher of any sort, such as enjoying a cooking class, taking an art class, or even an Italian language course, consider using the same rate for the instructor that you would a guide.

TIPPING YOUR RESTAURANT STAFF IN ITALY

Waitstaff in Italy are decently paid, and don’t rely on tips as part of their income. Not in the way tipped workers do in the US. But I want to offer a few words of recommendation. If you review your restaurant bill a see a cover charge (labeled as “coperto”), know that this is not a tip. But rather an extra charge that just about any food establishment charges if you sit down to enjoy any food or drink at their facility. This fee covers the napkins, breadsticks, and other items you might find on your table, like bread and tap water.

Again, this is not for the staff and is a typical fee everywhere food is served, so there is no need to question it on your bill. It’s usually 1 – 3 Euros per person, not per table. The cover charge is for table service only. You will not be charged this fee if you’re enjoying an espresso at the counter. This said, consider tipping 10% of the bill for excellent service.

Group Dining

If you’re traveling as a group, typically a group of 6 or more, you might also see a service charge on your bill, labeled servizio in Italian. The service charge, on the other hand, is similar to a tip and does go to the waitstaff, so if you see this charge, you do not need to leave an additional tip to the waitstaff. So review your bill at the end, and decide on tipping based on whether a service charge was already included. If not, and you happen to be a larger group, and are happy with the service consider a 10-15% tip. Generally, all tips are collected and shared equally among the staff at night’s end.  

TIPPING YOUR DRIVER IN ITALY

Cab drivers typically don’t expect a tip, but feel free to round off your payout to the next Euro. Just so that neither you, nor the driver, have to worry about change. Tipping your driver for a private airport transfer is appreciated. It gets more complex if you hire a driver for the day to take you around for eight or more hours. For example, as a group, we always tip our day-long drivers who are available for us for the entire day. Along the way, they may stop us to take a scenic picture. Or have to stop for an unexpected bathroom break, or even make a gelato stop. They are typically with us all day long, and not tipping them for a full day of driving would be uncalled for. Tip at least 10% of the service cost.

TIPPING HOTEL STAFF IN ITALY

Tipping hotel staff in Italy is customary and very much appreciated. At a minimum, leave behind a few Euros daily for the housekeeping staff, especially if it’s a small hotel where you get to know the team by the end of the week. As a group, I usually estimate 20 Euros per room for the week for housekeeping staff. If you are not traveling with a group, the people occupying it can leave this in the room directly. It can also be left behind with the hotel reception specifying that it’s for the housekeeping staff. If you’re staying for several days or more, tipping your breakfast staff is also appreciated, and I estimate about the same amount. If you need help with luggage, tipping a few Euros when the service is offered is expected. 

TIPPING IN ITALY: US Dollars or Euros?

In Italy, the Euro is the currency used, so tipping should be in Euros whenever possible. Tipping in Euros saves the recipient from having to go to the bank and exchange the dollars into Euros. Also, the total amount goes into their pocket, rather than the bank taking a small percentage. That said, if you’re at the end of your trip, and that is all you have, feel free to leave dollars. I have spoken to more than one service worker who has told me that they save up all their foreign currency that they have received as tips during the year, and exchange it all at the end of the year. It’s like receiving a nice little bonus for them!

Remember that tipping should always be in cash, whether dollars, Euros, or whatever other currency you have, as you cannot add it to any credit card payment. So keep some small bills and change on hand specifically designated for tipping. In Europe, the one Euro and 2 Euro bills come in coins, so keep those handy. But don’t tip with anything smaller than a one Euro coin, just like you wouldn’t tip with nickels and dimes in the US. 

IN CONCLUSION

I want to reiterate that Italians don’t typically tip. It’s not very common in their culture, and certainly not the 10 – 15% we’re used to here in the US. That said, tips are appreciated and almost expected if you are an American or Canadian or otherwise visiting from outside of Italy. So if an Italian tells you that they don’t tip, they’re right, but that doesn’t mean that you, as a visitor, shouldn’t. 

Whenever you’re in doubt and wondering if you should tip this person or not, don’t overthink it; do it. I’ve yet to meet someone offended by receiving a tip.