Tipping, Italy

Displayed:   times.

Tips are customary in Italy, but not essential. The tradition of the tip remains impervious to change, even though cafe or restaurant prices now more and more often include both cover charge and service. On paying the bill, if it is paid in cash it is a matter of leaving a few notes from the change, or saying to the waiter "va bene così " ( it's all right ), when the difference between the amount paid and the actual bill automatically becomes the tip. When using a credit card, there are two possibilities: if the total on the credit card slip is the same as the bill, again leave some notes as a tip; but if the amount or the total are blank, simply round up the total to include the tip when signing the credit card slip.
Hotels
A service charge of 15% to 18% is added to hotel bills. When all-inclusive prices are quoted, the service charge is already included. It is customary to leave an additional tip even when the service charge is already included. Only as a guideline, and depending on the category of your hotel, the following tips are suggested: chambermaid: 1,000 lire a day; concierge: 3,000 lire a day, additional tip for extra services; bellhop or porter: 1,500 lire per bag; doorman (for calling a cab): 1,000 lire; room service waiter: 1,000 lire minimum; more depending on amount of bill; valet service: 1,000 lire minimum; hotel bar: 15%
Restaurants
A service charge of approximately 15% is added to all restaurant bills. It is customary, however to leave a small tip for good service as follows: waiter: 5% to 10% of check. You are now required by law to obtain an official receipt when eating at restaurants.
Cafes and Bars
15% if at a table and if a bill does not already include service charge. 200 lire (change) while standing at a counter or bar drinking an espresso, cappuccino, etc. 500 lire or more while standing at a counter or bar having cocktails or other alcoholic beverages, sandwiches, pastries and desserts.
Theatre ushers
1,000 lire; more if very expensive theatre or opera seats
Taxis
10%
Sightseeing guide and driver
2,000 lire minimum per person (for half day tours) and 2,500 lire minimum per person (for full day tours) or 15% of cost of the tour.
Service station attendant
1,000 lire or more for extra service (cleaning windshield, giving directions) All major credit cards are honoured in Italy.

Rate this tip:

Rate!

Add Comment >>

Your Name:

Your Comment:

General Tips about Italy

» Required travel documents for Italy
» Alarm telephone number
» Permissible concentration of alcohol in the blood
» Electric power
» Area code to Italy
» Stamps in Italy
» Weather
» jesuit church in Rome
» How to avoid being robbed
» Queues in front of the Colosseum
» Hostelling in Rome 2 Fiesta Terrace Hostel
» Hostelling in Rome 1 Stargate Hostel
» Chiesa di Santa Maria in Campitelli
» Portico d'Ottavia
» Piazza Cavour and Palazzio di Giusticia
» Piazza Vittorio Emanuelle
» Templi Repubblicani
» Ancient Palaces above the Circus Maximus
» Streets of Centro Storico
» The Roman Aqueducts
» Via Appia Antica
» Circo Massimo
» Chiesa di Domine Quo Vadis
» Appia Antica
» Jesuit Church in Rome
» Taste the chestnuts
» Drop in for a glass of wine
» Better don't go here
» Drop in for a pizza
» Forum Boarium
» Pons Aemilius (Ponte Roto)
» Carcere Mamertino
» Museo Nazionale Romano delle Terme
» The obelisk in front of S. Maria sopra Minerva
» Santa Maria sopra Minerva
» The Forum of Julius Caesar
» Domus Aurea
» Tiber River
» Trevi Fountain
» Santa Maria in Cosmedin
» Mouth of Truth
» Santa Maria degli Angeli
» Via del Corso
» Theatre of Marcellus
» Domus Flavia
» Domus Augustana
» Holy See
» Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi
» Castel Sant' Angelo
» Vittoriano
» Stadium of Domitian (2)
» Stadium of Domitian (1)
» Stadium of Domitian (General)
» Pantheon
» Palazio Senatorio
» Piazza de Campidoglio
» The Cordonata
» Santa Maria in Aracoeli
» Antiquarium Forense
» Domus Tiberiana
» Orti Farnesiani
» Umbiculus Urbis
» Arco Constantino
» The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
» The Curia
» The Basilica of Maxentius
» The Temple of Vespasian
» The Temple of Saturn
» The arch Septimius Severus
» The temple of Venus and Rome
» The Temple of Vesta
» Basilica Giulia
» Basilica Emilia
» Lapis Niger
» The Sacred Way
» Colonna Traiana
» Fori Imperiali
» The Roman Forum
» Historic Centre of Rome
» Electricity
» Currency
»
Language
» Climate/Clothing
» Italian wines
» What to eat in Italy
» Healthcare and Medical Assistance
» Shopping
» Laundry and Dry Cleaners
» Electrical Appliances
» Some rules to follow when ordering a coffee in Italy...
» AGRI-TOURISM
» Castel Gandolfo
» Savona
» The Cinque Terre
» Sardinia
» Piedmont
» Latium (now Lazio in Italian)
» Veneto
» Amalfi
» Baiae
» Benevento
» Ravello
» Salerno
» Ischia
» Capri
» Puteoli
» Campania
» Calabria
» Basilicata
» Abruzzo
» The Colosseum, Rome, Italy
» Valley of the Caffarella, Rome, Italy
» Rome's ZOO, Italy
» Assisi, Italy
» Pompeii, Italy
» St. Peter's Basilica, Italy
» The Colosseum, Italy
» Florence, Italy
» The tower of Pisa, Italy
» Vento, Italy
» Tuscany, Italy
» Liguria, Italy
» Campania, Italy
» Basilicata and Molise, Italy
» Apulia, Italy
» Amalfi Coast, Italy
» Lake Como, Italy
» Venice - Basilica dei Frari
» Venice - Galleria dell'Accademia
» Venice - Rialto Bridge
» Venice - Palazzo Ducale (Doges' Palace)
» Venice - Basilica di San Marco (St Mark's Basilica)
» Saint Agnes
» Villa Borghese
» Villa Borghese
» Trajan's Column
» Trajan's Column
» Palazzo Farnese, Rome
» Circus Maximus
» Cloaca Maxima
» Castel Sant'Angelo
» Arch of Titus
» Arch of Constantine
» Ara Pacis
» Aqueduct
» Appian way
» Piedmont
» Padua
» Verona
» Lido
» Torcello
» Burano
» Murano
» Peggy Guggenheim Collection
» Ca' d'Oro
» Ca' d'Oro
» La Fenice
» Bridge of Sighs
» Venice Arsenal
» Doge's Palace
» Piazza San Marco
» San Marco di Venezia
» Mont Blanc
» Etna
» Sicily
» Naples
» Milan
» Siena
» Florence
» Venice
» Tipping
» Roma
» YOUTH HOSTELS

   More travel tips about Italy