Traveling to a new country can be a thrilling experience with lots of exciting activities and unique cultural experiences. One of the most important questions travelers have is how much they should tip for services in their new destination. Berlin, Germany travelers are no exception!

It’s not always easy to know the tipping etiquette in a different place-do you leave a tip. Round up? How much or what percentage do you give? Getting this wrong could be awkward and embarrassing! To help make your travels smoother, we’ve created an article about how much to tip in Berlin, so you won’t ever find yourself at a loss on who or how much to tip.

From cafes and restaurants all the way through taxi drivers and tour guides – get ready for everything that you need to know when it comes to tipping in Berlin. So read on if rocking up prepared is your thing!

Tips in Restaurants

Germany has a different approach to tipping compared to other countries. While gratuities are expected in many places, it’s not mandatory and is usually offered as an extra show of appreciation for good service. In restaurants, it is common practice to round up the bill or leave a 5-10% cash tip at the end of the meal. It’s important to note that tips should not be over 10% of the total bill and should always be given directly to the server rather than left on the table.

Tipping etiquette in Berlin can vary depending on where you are eating – most cheaper restaurants do not accept credit cards so you must tell your waitress how much you want to pay before swiping your card. Some restaurants will have a service charge included in your bill but if this isn’t indicated then it is expected that you leave a tip for your waiter or waitress. Waiters often rely heavily on tips as part of their income, so don’t forget to take care of them! When paying by card, make sure that you also add a tip if possible; although this depends on each restaurant’s payment system. As with all places, if you feel like you’ve received excellent service it’s nice (but not required) to give more than 5-10%.

Tips in Taxis

Taking a taxi in Berlin is a convenient way to get around. It’s important to note that tipping is not mandatory, but it is customary and appreciated if you received good service. The most common tip for taxi drivers in Berlin is rounding up the amount or giving 10% of the bill as gratuity. Half of Germans tip in taxis so it’s worth considering adding a small gratuity when taking one.

When taking shorter trips, customers may round up to the nearest euro while for longer journeys, customers may add 1-2 Euros or up to 10% of the bill if the service was good. If you’re unhappy with the ride, don’t feel obligated to leave any tip at all.

Tips in Bars and Cafes

Tipping in Berlin bars and cafes follows the same customs as dining out. It’s customary to leave a small tip of 5-10% after paying for your meal or drink. The amount you choose to leave is up to you, but it’s best to avoid making the waiter dig for small amounts of change (e.g. five or ten cents).

You can also round up the bill as a form of tipping, which is a common practice in many cafes around Berlin. For example, if the total comes out to €7, you can give €8 and tell them “stimmy’s so” (which translates literally to “is that okay?”) This way, they’ll know that your extra euro is meant as a tip.

When tipping at bars in Berlin, keep in mind that bartenders don’t expect generous tips like restaurants do; A euro or two should suffice if you’re ordering one drink. However, if you plan on staying for an extended period of time and ordering several drinks throughout the night then it would be appropriate to give more than just a couple of euros at the end of your stay.

Tips in Hotels

When visiting any hotel in Berlin, it is important to know the tipping customs and etiquette. The average tip in budget hotels is usually one euro per bag for a porter if available. A euro can also be left on the nightstand of budget hotels as an appreciation of cleanliness by the maid. Luxury or mid-range hotels usually expect two to three euros per service provided, although this amount may vary depending on your experience at the hotel. It’s worth noting that tipping isn’t mandatory for cheap establishments like hostels or campsites.

If there is valet parking, you can give a small tip to the parking attendant as they often provide additional services such as car cleaning or gas filling (around five euros should suffice). Tipping customs also apply when using taxi cabs in Berlin – though not mandatory, you should consider leaving a few coins behind for good service (five percent of your fare being an appropriate amount).

Tips for Tours and Excursions

When it comes to tipping on tours and excursions in Berlin, there are no set rules. However, it is generally recommended to tip your guide at least 5 euros for a paid tour and much more than that (upwards of 10-15 euros) for a free tour or donation-only tour. The average tip amount may vary depending on the size of the group, the length of the tour, and the type of service provided by the guide. Tipping is also customary when taking taxis or other forms of transportation such as buses or metro. A small gratuity (around 2-3 euros) is usually expected when using these services.

When visiting hotels, people typically leave around 1 to 3 euros per night for housekeeping services; however, this gesture is not mandatory nor expected in most cases. And lastly, tips are rarely given in bars and cafes as table service isn’t common practice here—although you may find yourself leaving loose change (around 0.50 € -1 €) out of goodwill towards staff members who have been especially friendly or helpful during your visit!

Tips on Other Services

Service

Tip Amount

Tipping Customs

Taxis

1€ to 2€

Tipping taxi drivers anytime you take a ride is customary.

Hairdressers

5% to 10%

Hairdressers in most hair salons should be tipped around 10%.

Klo Damen

50 cents

It is more of a mandatory service charge, so don’t forget to tip.

Hotels

1€ for porters, 1€ for maids

Leaving a euro for porters and maids is customary.

Tours & Excursions

Generously

Tour guides in Berlin should be tipped generously.

Cloak Room

0.50€ to 1€

Tipping the cloakroom is optional and people give 0.50€ to 1€.

Room Service

1€ to 2€

Tipping 1€ to 2€ is optional when ordering room service in hotels.

Tipping customs in Berlin vary depending on the kind of service you are receiving. In restaurants, tipping 10% of your bill is common. It is more normal to undertip than overtip in Berlin, so if the total was higher or if you were treated right, rounding up the bill and adding a little on top is generally appreciated. For taxis, tipping the driver a euro or two anytime you take a ride is customary. Hairdressers in most hair salons should be tipped around 10%, and they have their own piggy bank for tips. Klo Damen, who are attendants in many public restrooms, should be tipped 50 cents but it is more of a mandatory service charge. In budget hotels, tipping the porter a euro per heavy bag and leaving a euro on the nightstand for the maid is customary. For tours and excursions, tour guides in Berlin should be tipped generously, especially if you’re taking a free, donations-only tour. Finally, tipping at the cloakroom (coat check) is optional and people give 0.50€ to 1€.

When Not to Tip

While tipping is generally appreciated in Berlin, there are certain situations when it’s not the norm. Tipping is not necessary in cafes for a quick cappuccino or cold drinks. No tip is required for bartenders in bars. Likewise, no tip is expected for coat checks in clubs that usually costs a couple of euros.

The less something costs, the less likely you need to leave (much of) a tip. People rarely tip in fast food restaurants like McDonalds or Burger King and tipping isn’t expected when there is no table service. In addition, people rarely tip postal workers, and leaving a tip in hotel rooms isn’t expected either. Finally, tipping at the cloakroom is optional and people usually give 0.50€ to 1€ as gratuity depending on how many items they check in/check out from the cloakroom counterpart staff person involved with the process per time unit(each hour/day).

Conclusion

No Image Found Tipping in Berlin is not compulsory, but if you want to thank someone for providing a good service, it is customary to show your appreciation in the form of a gratuity. As such, understanding tipping norms and etiquette in Berlin will help ensure that everyone involved receives the appropriate amount.

The amount of tip depends on the kind of service provided and the occasion. For example, at sit-down restaurants and classy bars, it’s conventional to round up your total bill before paying or leave around 10 percent as a gratuity; while at casual bars and coffee shops, leaving some coins in the tip jar is expected.

When taking cabs or using other services like cloakrooms or hairdressers, a small cash tip would be gratefully received by staff – usually 1 to 2 euros per luggage for porters; 2 to 3 euros a day for chambermaids or cleaning staff; 5 to 10 euros for concierges or reception desk personnel; 50 cents to 2 euros for coat check attendants; and 5-10 percent of your final bill when visiting salons.

Finally, remember that tips are voluntary acts meant only as an expression of satisfaction with a job well done – so use them wisely!