As one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world, the question invariably arises: Do you tip in Paris? For many of us, tipping at restaurants and for various services is an ingrained habit, depending on our local customs. But as always, when traveling to different countries, we inevitably should learn and respect another set of rules—and that includes how much to tip. Fortunately, especially for travelers from the United States, tipping in Paris—and in Europe generally—is really quite simple: Tipping is not expected in French culture, at least not as much as it is in American culture.
“Tipping in Paris is more of a discretionary act to reward good service rather than an obligation,” says Marie Anne Pain, the chief concierge at the Hôtel Lutetia, one of the French capital’s five-star Palace hotels. “There is no strict expectation, and service staff do not rely on tips as a significant part of their income because of the included service charge.”
As for exactly how much to tip in Paris, the percentages vary between types of services rendered. To get some insight into tipping in Paris, I reached out to some travel specialists and experts on traveling in France: Nick Cunningham, the destination manager for Europe at Scott Dunn; Camilla Davidson, the head of destination management for France at Red Savannah; and Jonathan Adler, founder of Jonathan’s Travels and a Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist.
Here’s how much to tip in Paris, organized by situations and the appropriate amounts.
Do you tip at hotels in Paris?
Tipping at a hotel is generally optional. For bell service, tip the bellman handling your baggage about two euros per bag, Cunningham says, and up to five euros depending on the level of service (more for truly stellar service) and/or the hotel (white-gloved assistance usually merits more).
As for hotel concierges, Adler says, “Unless they’ve attended to a special favor or request, it’s not necessary to tip a concierge in France as it is a prestigious and well compensated position.” That said, Cunningham recommends tipping 20 to 30 euros for more involved requests, like securing hard-to-get reservations at star restaurants or more out-of-the-ordinary tasks, such as helping organize a wedding proposal.
Do you tip at restaurants in Paris?
Standard tipping at restaurants in Paris is between 5% and 10%. The highest percentage—or even more—would mean your server or the establishment as a whole offered some truly excellent service, Cunningham says.
Do you tip at bars and cafés in Paris?
If you order a drink at a bar, it’s polite to leave small change, says Pain of Hôtel Lutetia. Tip one euro per drink or a couple of euros for good service. At cafés, a euro or two is customary, Adler says. For what it’s worth, this is one of the best reasons to keep a coin purse on you for all the coins that you’ll rack up as you go shopping and eating through Paris.
Do you tip in taxis and drivers in Paris?
Tip your taxi driver well if they have gone above and beyond to make your trip more comfortable, Adler says: “This could mean making extra stops, loading heavy luggage, or sharing city recommendations.” For more standard pick-ups and drop-offs, a taxi driver won’t be upset if you round up the taxi bill, but it’s by no means essential, says Davidson of Scott Dunn
However, if you have a private driver, chauffeur, or guide, Davidson recommends tipping more: “They are enormously appreciative of gratuities, so a 50-euro tip per day would be considered very generous, if you feel it’s representative of the service rendered.”
Do you tip in spas in Paris?
A service charge is often already included at spas in Paris, but it’s always best to ask to make sure you know what’s already included in the treatment price, Adler says. Otherwise, it’s recommend to tip your spa therapist 10 to 15 percent of the cost of the service rendered.