Curious which country doesn't do tipping? I've never really been out of the US and assumed all countries tipped
Rick Steves to the rescue for European countries.
Restaurants
Restaurant tips are more modest in Europe than in America. Servers are paid a living wage, and tips are considered a small bonus — to reward great service or for simplicity in rounding the total bill to a convenient number. In many countries, 5 percent is adequate and 10 percent is considered a nice tip. Locals just leave coins on the table, round up, or often don't tip at all.
Resist the urge to tip American-style. If your bucks talk at home, muzzle them on your travels. As a matter of principle — if not economy — the local price should prevail. Please believe me — tipping 15 or 20 percent in Europe is unnecessary, if not culturally ignorant. You're just raising the bar and messing up the local balance. And it's bad style.
Tipping is an issue only at restaurants with table service. If you order food at a counter (in a pub, for example), don't tip. At sit-down restaurants, the tipping etiquette and procedure vary slightly from country to country.
In Mediterranean countries, the "service charge" (
servizio in Italian,
service in French,
servicio in Spanish) can be handled in different ways. Sometimes the menu will note that the service is included
("servizio incluso"), meaning that the prices listed on the menu already have this charge built into the price. When the service is not included
("servizio non incluso"), the service charge might show up as a separate line item at the end of your bill. Most fixed-price tourist deals include service.
In the northern and eastern parts of Europe, the menu or bill is less likely to address the "service charge," but you can usually assume that it's included in the prices. Lately, some restaurants — especially those in well-touristed areas in Germany and Austria — have added a "Tip is not included" line, in English, to the bottom of the bill. This is misleading, as the prices on any menu in these countries
do include service. I wouldn't tip one cent more at a restaurant that includes this note on the bill.
Since most European credit-card slips don't have a line for adding a tip, plan on tipping in cash. Typically, it's better to hand the tip to the server when you're paying your bill than to leave it on the table, particularly in busy places where the wrong party might pocket the change.
In Germanic countries, rather than leaving coins behind on the table (considered slightly rude), locals usually pay directly: When the server comes by with the bill, simply hand over paper money, stating the total you'd like to pay. For example, if paying for a €10 meal with a €20 bill, say "Eleven, please" (or
"Elf, bitte" if you've got your German numbers down) while handing your money to the server. The server will thank you, keep a €1 tip, and give you €9 in change.
Don't stress about tipping in Europe. If you're unsure what to give, ask a local (but not a server) about the tipping norms for that country. Virtually anywhere in Europe, you can do as the Europeans do and (if you're pleased with the service) add a euro or two for each person in your party. In very touristy areas, some servers have noticed the American obsession with overtipping — and might hope for a Yankee-sized tip. But the good news is that European servers and diners are far more laid-back about all this than we are. Any tip is appreciated, the stakes are low, and it's no big deal if you choose the "wrong" amount. Don't lose sleep over walking out of a restaurant in Europe without tipping.