Planning a trip to Paris, Zurich, Dubrovnick and Athens. Looking to understand tipping practices in each country (naming the cities on the off chance it's different for some cities vs the rest of the specific country). Info I've found in researching is a bit old so wanted to ask here for current info. Thank you!

It must be written on our hard drives but Americans, including myself, simply can't leave a cafe or any other establishment without leaving something....anything. Otherwise we feel horrible. Cabs, hotels, sailing on a ship. You feel horrible. I generously tipped a waiter in Switzerland who was likely mandated to get paid more than I make, with full benefits and free college. It is impossible. Can't speak to your individual destinations, but it's largely not expected, or given. I guess. But I can't stop.

Round up. Or if you must, 5 or 10%, no more.

Overtipping by Americans contributes to some very negative views of them and, in some cases, undermines local cultural norms.

Please, leave your tipping "culture" at home.

Believe me, I get it. But when here please know waiters and waitresses depend on tips for a living wage so don't be cheap, and leave the non-tip culture at home! 20% is appropriate. It may be maddening, but that's the way it is.

Ditto ^^^ This is the best way to assuage your tipping angst. If you simply can't bring yourself to leave nothing, leave a small amount - rounding up the bill up is a good option but 5% - 10% wouldn't be outrageous. (Leaving nothing is perfectly OK BTW).

Thank you for your replies. I was asking to try and avoid being one of those ugly Americans. I agree, wildiowa that it seems to be hardwired as someone brought up in the US to tip but my frugal self will be happy to set that aside (for the most part other than rounding up) on this trip.

Good for you! And kudos for asking.

Tipping is not required in France, but they are getting so used to Americans leaving extra money for no reason that they kind of like it.. A lot of the payment terminals even have the tip percentage option on them now. Be sure to press "no tip."

leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photos

leave the culture alone please

In Athens it is relatively common to tip (from the locals as well), you don't need to overthink it though, I personally leave 1-2 EUR for foods and drinks under 50 EUR. But I am young so I think it depends not only on what you consumed but also if you are a student etc (I am not talking about expensive dinning etc, I have no idea about that).

Americans are roundly criticized and spoofed upon for their tipping practices, but I can honestly say that it speaks volumes if they are viewed negatively and dumped on for insulting the locals and distorting local economies by generously leaving a pile of cash on the table when they leave, for nothing, when they are not expected or required to do so. Crazy world, no?

It is common to tip in Dubrovnik and Croatia in general. It is not mandatory and no one is going to freak out if you do not tip but rounding up the bill, or tipping 5 to 10% is normal even for locals. I usually tip 10% in a restaurant, a euro if I am sitting down to drink something in a bar.

Thank you for those specifics. Sorry to hear it's gotten where it shows on payment terminals in France. It's gone too far in the US, imo, with it coming up on self-serve payment terminals even!

Good to know - thank you!

Good info - thank you very much for the reply!

In many European countries a service charge of 10% or so is automatically added to your bill, so if you leave a large tip you are tipping twice. You may still want to leave a small tip if you’ve had good service, but 20% is OTT.

https://www.forexchange.com/blog-en/...pean-countries

Thank you - will be on the lookout for any added service charges.

You might not see a service charge as a separate item on the bill, it might be included in the price.

I just checked the menu in the online website of a restaurant my neighbours and I are going to for lunch tomorrow. In small letters at the bottom of the page is the sentence:”A discretionary service of 10% will be added to your table and is split evenly amongst the team”

Sometimes it’s better to find out in advance rather than waiting until you get your bill.