Tipping in Italy: What's Included and What Isn't

Italian restaurant bills confuse a lot of first-time visitors because of one line item: the "coperto." Understanding it clears up most of the confusion around tipping here.

Restaurants

Check your bill for "coperto" or "servizio" line items before deciding whether to add anything. The coperto is a per-person cover charge that has nothing to do with service quality — it's charged even if your server never smiles at you. Some restaurants, especially in tourist-heavy areas, also add a "servizio" (service) charge of around 10%, which functionally replaces a tip. If you don't see either, rounding up the bill or adding roughly 5-10% for genuinely good service is appreciated, particularly at sit-down trattorias rather than quick counter service.

Cafes and bars

Italians overwhelmingly drink their espresso standing at the counter ("al banco"), where tipping essentially doesn't happen — you'll often see a small tip jar for spare coins, nothing more. If you sit at a table ("al tavolo"), you'll usually pay a higher price specifically because of table service, and no additional tip is expected on top of that.

Taxis

Not customary. Italians pay the metered fare and that's the end of the transaction; rounding to the nearest euro is fine but not required.

Hotels

A euro or two for porters who help with bags, and a similar small amount left for housekeeping at the end of a multi-night stay, is a reasonable and appreciated gesture at mid-range and upscale hotels. It's not expected at budget accommodations.

Tour guides

For a private guide or a walking tour, 5-10% of the tour cost (or a flat €5-10 for a half-day group tour) is a fair, appreciated tip for a guide who went out of their way to make the experience good.

The bottom line

Italy sits in the "check the bill first" category: once you know whether coperto and servizio are already there, the rest of the decision is just about how good the experience was — not an obligation you're trying to avoid.