Tipping in Italy

Things you should know  regarding tipping in Italy:

There is nothing that is more characteristic of Italians than their individuality and tipping in Italy follows this character trait of theirs.

The way Italians tip is one of the customs that has changed more than any other in the last twenty or thirty years. In many ways it’s like trying to hit a moving target.

So how much should you tip while you are traveling in Italy?

Except for when they receive exceptional service or want to demonstrate great generosity Italians no longer tip as they did up into the 1970’s. Now this new rule is probably more definitive as you move towards the north and less so as you move south, but in any case here are some exceptions to the new Italian tipping custom.

   •  When a porter carries you bags up to your room in a hotel you should tip them a few Euro.
   •  If you are using a public bathroom and there is an attendant with a plate containing some coins you usually should leave a small amount of money.
   •  In bars or cafes where you stop to buy a donut or ask for a glass of mineral water you can also leave a small tip but only if you want to.
   •  Whenever someone does something out of the ordinary or truly meritorious and they would classify as being a hired worker or laborer you can consider offering them a tip. It doesn’t hurt to first ask any other English speaking Italians that may be nearby what they think before doing so.

In train stations there is a fixed number of Euro that you pay for every bag the porter carries for you. The bags are referred to as per collo. No tip is required here, because you are already paying an amount established by the local authorities.

Regarding tipping in restaurants: If you see the words pane e coperto or servizio on the printed menu then some of what appears on your bill (called il conto) will be for the service you have received. In some restaurants an extra charge is applied to large groups of people, but this is rare. Tipping would not be expected in most places or situations unless a really large group ate together and you had a waiter who obviously went out of his way to take care of you.

Taxicab drivers do not have to be tipped unless you want, and more important you should read the English instructions that are supposed to appear on the interior of the cab where the tariffs are carefully delineated. If you cannot find the printed sheet called Tariffe, then ask the cab driver for it. Also be aware that there are many fake taxi cab drivers. If a taxi does not have a license and a meter that measures time and distance on the inside they are illegal, besides being ready to fleece you.

Although some of the best service you will receive will be while traveling through Italy someone somewhere may not serve you the way they should and in these cases you have no need to tip them no matter what the Italian custom for that situation may have normally dictated.

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