Tipping In Vienna: What's The Norm For Meals?

Tipping culture in Vienna, Austria, can be confusing for visitors. While tipping is not obligatory, it is customary to express appreciation for good service. In restaurants, it is considered rude not to tip unless you are extremely dissatisfied with the service. In general, it is recommended to round up the bill or add around 5-10% as a tip. However, there is no hard and fast rule, and the amount can vary depending on the type of restaurant and the quality of service. It is important to note that service charges are rarely included in the bill, so leaving a tip is standard practice. When paying, it is customary to hand the cash directly to the server and state the total amount, including the tip. This guide will help you navigate the tipping culture in Vienna and ensure you show your gratitude appropriately.

How much to tip

Tipping culture in Vienna can be confusing for visitors, but it's considered an important way to show gratitude for good service. While it's not obligatory, failing to leave a tip is often seen as a sign of dissatisfaction with the service.

When it comes to how much to tip, there are a few guidelines you can follow. Firstly, it's worth noting that service charges are rarely included in restaurant and bar bills, so leaving a tip is standard practice. Typically, Austrians will round up the total bill or add around 5-10% as a tip. For example, if your meal costs €30, you might leave €32 or €33. In more casual dining establishments, rounding up to the nearest euro or two is generally sufficient, while in upscale restaurants, you may want to consider leaving a slightly larger tip of around 10-15% of the total bill.

When paying, it's customary to hand the cash directly to the server, stating the total amount you're paying. For instance, if your bill comes to €6.50, you would hand over a €10 note and say "eight". This practice also applies to taxi drivers and other service providers. If you're paying by card, you can ask the server to add the tip to the total or simply hand over some cash as a tip.

In cafes, a tip of around 10% is common for good service. If your bill is less than €10, rounding up to the nearest euro is usually sufficient. For drinks, rounding up to the nearest euro or leaving a euro or two is standard practice.

While these are general guidelines, it's important to note that tipping is a personal gesture, and you can adjust the amount based on the service quality and your own experience.

When to tip

Tipping culture in Vienna can be confusing for visitors, especially as service charges are often included in the bill. However, it is customary to leave a small additional tip. Here is a guide on when to tip:

Restaurants and Cafes

When dining out in Vienna, it is customary to leave a tip of around 5-10%. For example, if your meal costs €30, you might leave €32 or €33. It is common to hand the tip directly to the server when paying, rather than leaving it on the table. This is seen as a sign of respect for their work. If you are paying by card, you can ask the server to add the tip to the total amount.

For casual dining, rounding up the bill to the nearest euro or two is sufficient. In more upscale establishments, you may want to leave a tip of around 10-15% of the total amount.

Taxis

Rounding up the fare to the nearest euro is standard practice for taxi journeys. For example, if your ride costs €18, you could give the driver a €20 note.

Hotels

It is customary to tip hotel staff, particularly housekeeping. Leaving a few euros per night for housekeeping is a way to express appreciation for their hard work. For porters, €1-2 per bag is the norm, and for concierges, tipping €5-10 for exceptional service is common in upscale hotels.

Tour Guides

If you have hired a guide for a tour, tipping between €5 and €10 per person is customary.

Bars

Tipping in bars is generally modest, with rounding up to the nearest euro or leaving a euro or two being common practice.

Salons and Spas

In salons and spas, tipping around 5-10% of the total bill is standard.

When Not to Tip

In self-service establishments, such as bars where you order at the counter, a smaller tip may be given. However, no tip is expected if it is a fast-food restaurant or a takeaway.

Alternatives to Tipping

If you prefer not to give a monetary tip, there are other ways to express your appreciation. You could leave a thoughtful note with your compliments, share a glowing review online, or give a small gift, such as local snacks or souvenirs from your home country.

Who to tip

Tipping culture in Vienna can be confusing for visitors, but it's an important part of social interactions and shows respect for the service provided. While it's not obligatory, failing to tip is considered rude and a sign of dissatisfaction with the service.

So, who should you tip? Well, the list is fairly extensive and includes:

• Waiters and waitresses: Restaurant staff are the number one priority when it comes to tipping. Service charges are rarely included in bills, so a tip is expected. The standard amount is between 5% and 15% of the total bill, depending on the type of restaurant. In casual dining establishments, rounding up the bill to the nearest euro or two is sufficient, whereas in more upscale restaurants, you should consider tipping 10-15%. When paying, it's customary to hand the cash directly to the server, stating the total amount you're paying, e.g. if the bill is €9, you hand over a €10 note and say "€10". If you're paying by card, you can ask the server to add the tip to the total.
• Taxi drivers: It's standard practice to round up the fare to the nearest euro for taxi drivers.
• Tour guides: For guided tours, a tip of €5-10 per person is customary.
• Hotel staff: This includes porters (€1-2 per bag), housekeeping staff (a few euros per night, left on the bed or in the room when you depart), concierges (a few euros for exceptional service), and doormen (a simple thank you is usually enough, but you can give €1 for good service).
• Hairdressers and salon staff: A tip of around 5-10% of the total bill is standard.
• Spa and wellness centre staff: If you receive a spa or beauty treatment, a service charge may be included in the price. If not, leave a tip of up to 5% for exceptional service.

Other people you might consider tipping include bartenders (round up to the nearest euro), airport shuttle drivers (around €1 per bag if they help with luggage), and anyone who comes to fix something in your home.

How to tip

Tipping culture in Vienna can be confusing for visitors. While tipping is not obligatory, it is customary to show appreciation for good service. Here are some guidelines on how to tip in different situations:

In Restaurants and Cafes

When tipping serving staff in restaurants and cafes, it is customary to add between 5% and 15% to the bill, rounding it up to a convenient number. For example, if the bill is €9, you can round it up to €10. If the bill is €25, you can round it up to €28. It is flexible, and you can always tip more if you wish. However, it is not expected.

When paying, state the total amount you are paying, including the tip. For instance, if the bill is €6.50, you can hand the server a €10 note and say "eight". This practice also applies to tipping taxi drivers.

If you are paying by debit or credit card, you can ask if you should add a tip to the total or pay the bill amount and then give some coins or notes as a tip. It is not common to leave money on the table as a tip.

For Other Services

For taxi drivers, rounding up the fare is standard practice. If your ride costs €18, you can give the driver a €20 note.

For tour guides, a tip of €5-€10 per person is customary, depending on the length and quality of the tour.

For hotel staff, such as porters, it is customary to tip €1-€2 per bag. For housekeeping, you can leave a tip of €1-€2 per day, usually left on the bed or in the room when you check out. For the concierge, a tip of €5-€10 is appropriate if they provide exceptional service.

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can adjust the tip amount based on the service quality and your personal experience. Tipping is not compulsory, but it is considered rude not to tip if you received satisfactory service.

Tipping controversies

Tipping in Vienna and Austria has a long history, stretching back to the feudal system where serfs would offer tokens of gratitude to their lords and masters. Over time, this practice evolved into a more structured form of gratuity, with tipping becoming common in the hospitality sector during the 19th century. By the 20th century, tipping had become an everyday occurrence in Vienna and across Austria. Today, tipping is still customary, but Austrians view it as an acknowledgment of good service rather than an obligation. This perspective adds a unique layer to the dining experience for visitors.

However, tipping in Vienna is not without its controversies. One of the main debates revolves around the idea that service staff should receive fair wages and not have to rely on tips. Locals argue that this would create a more equitable work environment. On the other hand, tourists often feel pressured to tip, even when they are unfamiliar with the expected amount. This dynamic can create an uncomfortable situation for those unfamiliar with Viennese customs.

Another controversy arises from the absence of a service charge on bills. While service charges are common in other countries, they are rarely included in restaurant and bar bills in Vienna. In 2023, one restaurant's decision to add an automatic service charge caused an uproar, with less than 10% of people supporting the idea in an online poll. This incident highlights the importance Viennese people place on their tipping culture and their preference for leaving a tip as a gesture of gratitude rather than having it included in the bill.

The appropriate amount to tip is also a subject of discussion in Vienna. While rounding up the total bill or adding 5-10% is generally accepted, there is no standard rule. Visitors from different cultures may have different expectations, leading to confusion for both servers and patrons. For example, Americans typically tip within the range of 10-25%, while Austrians usually tip within the range of 5-10%. This discrepancy can create uncertainty when it comes to tipping etiquette.

Additionally, the adoption of no-tipping policies by some restaurants has sparked conversations about the evolving nature of hospitality and customer service in Vienna. Traditionalists who view tipping as a form of gratitude may raise eyebrows at these new policies, further fuelling the ongoing debates surrounding tipping in Vienna.

Frequently asked questions