Tipping in Austria
Tipping is appreciated in Austria, but not obligatory.
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Tipping quick reference
| Service | Recommended | Range | Payment | Service charge? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant Rounding up or about 5–10% is customary, handed to the server when paying | 5% | 5–10% | Card or cash | No |
| Taxi Rounding up or about 10% is customary | 10% | 0–10% | Card or cash | No |
| Hotel housekeeping Not expected; a small note per night is a kind gesture | €1 per night | €0–€2 | Cash only | No |
| Hotel porter Not expected; a small tip per bag is appreciated | €1 per bag | €0–€2 | Cash only | No |
| Hairdresser Not expected; around 5% or rounding up for good service | 5% | 0–10% | Cash only | No |
| Tour guide Guides appreciate a per-person tip after a good tour | €3 per person | €1–€5 | Cash only | No |
| Spa & massage Not expected; around 5% for good service is appreciated | 5% | 0–10% | Cash only | No |
Tipping Culture in Austria
Tipping in Austria — Trinkgeld — sits between the “expected” culture of the US and the “included by law” model of France. Austrian menu prices already build in service, so there’s no separate service charge line to check for, but leaving 5–10% is still the accepted way to say the service was good, and most locals do it. It’s less rigid than it sounds: rounding up is enough for a quick coffee, while a full restaurant meal calls for something closer to 10%.
The mechanics matter as much as the amount. Austrians don’t leave cash on the table — you hand the tip to the server directly when you pay, typically by naming the total you want to pay rather than counting out change. If you pay €27 for a €25 bill and say “27, stimmt so” (“27, that’s fine”), the extra €2 is understood as the tip. This is worth knowing in advance, since leaving money behind on the table can come across as unusual rather than generous.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Service is already in the price. Austrian law builds service into menu prices, so a tip is a genuine extra, not a top-up on a missing wage.
- Hand it over, don’t leave it behind. The norm is to tell the server the total you want to pay (bill + tip) as you hand over cash or card, not to leave coins on the table.
- Card tipping is catching on but cash still wins. More venues accept a tip by card, but handing cash directly remains the more reliable way to make sure the server keeps it.
- Tour guides and porters appreciate small cash tips. A few euros per person or per bag is a genuine thank-you, not an expectation.
Tipping FAQ for Austria
Is tipping expected in Austria? It’s customary rather than mandatory. Since service is already included in the price, a 5–10% tip is a way of rewarding good service, not making up for a low wage.
How do I actually give the tip in a restaurant? Hand the money to the server when you pay and state the total you want to pay, rather than leaving cash on the table — for example, rounding a €25 bill up to €27.
Do I need to check for a service charge? Rarely. Austrian restaurants build service into their prices by law, so a separate charge on the bill is uncommon outside a few high-end venues.
What’s a normal tip at a café? Rounding up to the nearest euro is enough for coffee or a quick bite; save the 5–10% for a full sit-down meal.