When traveling abroad, local policies on gratuity and service charges can be confusing and the practice of tipping in Rome is no exception. When you ask around, you’ll hear many different thoughts about tipping practices and you might even come across some establishments that take advantage of this confusion with naive tourists in highly trafficked areas.
For this reason, it is a good idea to educate yourself about all the ins and outs of tipping in Rome before you go. This way, you’ll be able to better navigate these tricky waters and probably save yourself more than a few euros in the process!
One thing to keep is that more often than not it isn’t obligatory and always appreciated. With so many different opinions and policies about tipping in Rome, the best bet is to use the following information as a guideline and do what makes you most comfortable for an enjoyable and relaxing trip to Rome!
Tipping in Rome: The Ultimate Guide
In general, the basic rule of thumb in Rome is that you don’t need to tip. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t in all cases but the need for tipping in Rome is very different than in the United States. For starters, service professionals in Rome are generally paid a higher hourly wage or a monthly salary that provides a high enough income to compensate for the work.
Whereas in the United States, tipping is expected because workers are paid a fraction of the minimum wage with the expectation that tips and gratuity will make up the difference. This isn’t to say that you don’t tip in Rome. In fact, due to a massive influx of naive American tourists who were unaware of the local practices of tipping in Rome, it has gradually become expected that some small tip is left for services rendered.
Be aware though that the amount of tips that are customary are far lower than what you would expect in the United States.
One thing to also be aware of is that many establishments and services have started including tip amounts in the form of service charges or servizo incluso. Be sure to ask for receipts or read the bill to keep an eye out for this inclusion. Even if you can’t read in Italian, look for that phrase or something similar so you aren’t inadvertently paying more than you need to.
When service charges or fees are included in the price, you are not expected to leave a tip in any amount. Even keeping these guidelines into consideration, there are still so many subtle practices when it comes to tipping in Rome that change depending on the establishment or service provider. Read on for a more in-depth look at the different tipping practices for each of the various situations you might run into during your visit to Rome.
There are a few different things to keep in mind with regards to general etiquette while tipping in Rome. It is a commonly accepted rule, no matter where you are in Rome or the wider world, that cash is king and vastly preferred to leaving tips on a credit card. Even if you are paying for the services with a credit card, you would do well to carry small bills and change in order to leave cash tips where applicable.
Not only does it make tipping the appropriate amount easier, it is easier for the service person to get their money. Another good rule of thumb is to deliver any tips directly to the person whom you are tipping. By delivering the money straight to their hands, you are ensuring the right person gets the money and avoiding any hard feelings or the appearance of poor social graces by leaving money that never makes it to the intended recipient.
One last thing to keep in mind when tipping in Rome is to be sure that you practice modesty. Because tipping is not always obligatory or expected, it comes across as overly flashy or pretentious when the customer leaves inflated tip amounts. The key is to show appreciation for good service while avoiding the impression of being overly flush with excess cash, especially when you are leaving gratuity in a situation where it is not expected in Rome.
Restaurants
Dining out during your trip is where you are most likely to run into confusion when it comes to tipping in Rome. You’ll find that in the United States expects anywhere from 15% to 20% in tips on a meal, but amounts that high are not the norm in Rome! If the service charge is not included in the meal, you are still only expected to leave roughly €1-€2 per person at the table and never more than 10% of the total bill.
As with tipping in America, the choice to leave a gratuity is based on the quality of service provided. If service is included but you feel the server went above and beyond, you’re free to leave a few extra euros as an additional tip. Conversely, if you felt the service was lacking or negligent, you are under no obligation to leave a tip.
There are a number of other situations in which you are not obligated to leave a tip. If you are grabbing a small meal as take out, you can avoid tipping unless you think the server truly deserves additional compensation.
Another situation in which gratuity is not expected is when dining at small, owner-operated establishments or those that are not frequented by tourists. Because the accepted policy is not to leave a tip, many of the smaller shops and cafes will not expect it, especially outside the busier tourist heavy sections of town.
Overall, tipping in Rome at restaurants and eateries boils down to what is most comfortable and appropriate for you while respecting the established etiquette of the locale. Don’t go overboard and pay attention to your surroundings and receipts and you’ll be good to go!
One interesting fact to keep in mind before judging the quality of service at a restaurant is that servers will not bring the check to you unless you explicitly ask for it. In America, you usually don’t have to ask or the server will ask you if you want the check, but in Rome, this is not the custom.
Before giving poor marks for service, if you feel like you have to wait a long time for the bill, remember that servers in Italy and Rome specifically will always wait for the patron to request it, because people tend to sit at the dinner table for a long while after finishing dinner or between courses and servers don’t want to make patrons feel rushed or unwelcome.
Bars and Cafes
When stopping at a bar or cafe in the city, you will find two different situations in which gratuity could be confusing. One good way to think about it is if you are taking up table space for a period of time or you open a tab for more than one drink, you should leave a tip if the service charge is not included in the bill. Otherwise, it’s perfectly acceptable to leave the change left over from the exchange.
This generally shouldn’t exceed €1 per drink, depending on the price. Generally it will add up to much less than that per drink. If all else fails and you would feel more comfortable erring on the side of caution, you can revert to the 10% rule as with restaurants. Leave as much as you would feel comfortable leaving without exceeding 10% for larger bills and you should be perfectly fine. Again, you are always within your right to not leave a tip if the service charges are included in the bill or if the service was terrible.
Tours
It was never obligatory to leave a gratuity for tour guides, but in recent years, this has become more common practice when tipping in Rome. Tour guides are paid a rate that includes this compensation and it is generally built into the price of the tour or experience. Due to the influx of American tourists and their practice of tipping, it is becoming more and more customary to leave a little extra for tour guides at the conclusion of the experience.
As with expected gratuities all over Rome, it is best not to go overboard with the amount that is left as a gratuity. If you find the tour guide to be particularly helpful or enjoyable, you could get away with a few euros per person. Just because it is more common does not mean it is obligatory, so as with most service industry situations, if the tour was less than satisfactory, you are not required to leave additional money as an added tip.
Hotels
When staying at hotels, it can often be confusing who, when and how much to tip, whether you are tipping in Rome or anywhere else in the world! When navigating the tricky waters of gratuity in Rome, it’s best to tend toward modesty than to come across as pretentious. For this reason, you should only tip those who are directly helpful to you.
Housekeeping staff won’t expect more than €1 a day and porters will generally be happy with the same amount per bag that they carry for you. Depending on how often you use their services, a particularly helpful valet or concierge would be satisfied with no more than €1-€2. Hotel bars and restaurants will follow the same rules as any other bar, cafe or restaurant in Rome. Beyond that, you shouldn’t really run into any other situations at the hotel that would require leaving additional money as a tip.
Taxis
Taxis can be another confusing area when it comes to policies around tipping in Rome. Depending on both the service as well as the length of the trip, the acceptable tip amounts can range anywhere from nothing to €2, but if the driver goes above and beyond, such as helping to carrying heavy luggage or bags, you could leave a few more euros if you feel that it is earned.
One thing to keep in mind, especially when utilizing hotel transportation services to and from the airport, is that taxis in Rome can and often will add an additional surcharge amount per piece of luggage to cover the porting in addition to the transportation, but it can be hard to tell when this occurs. If you would feel better playing it safe, modesty is key and a few euros would suffice to ensure that you feel more relaxed and you don’t appear to be showing off.
Tipping in Rome can seem confusing to many, including even those who live there! For every person who swears that you don’t have to leave a tip, you’ll hear another person claiming that it is absolutely expected when dining, drinking, traveling or staying in the city. The social etiquette around tipping is a fluid and ever-changing thing, heavily influenced by the massive tourism sector that Rome is known for.
Due to this influence, particularly by American tourists so accustomed to tipping, it has become more commonplace to leave tips. The tip amounts are far smaller and modest in comparison to American tipping practices, so you won’t have to worry about blowing your budget on unexpected gratuities. It is best to remember the very basics. You can usually get away with pocket change for smaller purchases, and €1-€2 will be more than sufficient in most situations.
*Uber is available in Rome and if you decide to use one versus a cab, you can tip directly in the app if you choose to do so.
Anything over a 10% gratuity for anything is considered overkill and travelers tossing monstrous tips at servers and service professionals will not always leave the impression they hoped for in doing so. You’ll rarely find anyone turning down a tip of any amount and because it is not obligatory in almost every situation, you won’t run into issues with leaving too little. Be sure to carry small bills and tip modestly when it is earned and you’ll fit in just fine when tipping in Rome!
This is merely a guide on tipping since it is so hard to know when you show up to different places. However, if you want to continue to tip the way you do in America, no one will be offended.
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