Are you heading to Italy and unsure about the tipping culture? It’s good that you are researching the subject as it is likely very different from your home country. This article is all about paying, tipping, and service etiquette in Italy. We’ve also added in some helpful phrases that will come in handy when asking for the check.
Pro Tip: If you are planning a trip to Italy, check out our dedicated pages on Rome, Florence, Venice, Amalfi Coast, and Tuscany. From there, you can reach tons of other content. Bookmark as you go!
Credit Cards, Tipping And Communicating In Rome
Regardless of what I tell you in this article, transitioning to a completely different way of service will be a culture shock. It is important to remember that everything is a give and take.
Spoiler: Tipping is close to non-existent in Italy. A few euros here and there. That said, don’t expect your waiter to stop by and ask you how things are going every 45 seconds and to refill your water every time you take a sip. Honestly, I prefer it that way because you can actually have a conversation without being interrupted.
Cash Or Credit?
The currency in Italy is the Euro.
An important thing to remember about Italy is that cash is still king, it’s still necessary to carry a reasonable amount of cash around with you at all times to avoid getting stuck.
In general, most restaurants will allow you to pay with a credit card, which becomes more and more prevalent each year. The same goes for large shops and tourist attractions, but for drinks, coffee, transport tickets, and small items, cards often aren’t accepted.
There may be a 10€ minimum on card payments. Why can’t you pay for a coffee with a credit card? A cappuccino normally costs 1.20€ to 1.50€ in Italy instead of the usual $5 in Western countries. This is why it is expected to pay in cash.
Rule of Thumb:
For less than 10€, pay cash. For more than 10€, you can probably pay credit as long as there isn’t a “Solo Cash” sign on the door.
The Good News:
The Italian word for credit card is carta di credito. Any Italian shop owner will understand when you ask, “Credit Card?”. They also will know to respond, “Cash” if they don’t accept credit cards. Don’t stress.
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Tipping
Tipping isn’t particularly expected in Italy. I’ve tried to convince visitors that you just need to leave some extra change, a euro per person, regardless of check size, but it normally falls on deaf ears.
To simplify things, I have created different levels of tipping to help people understand:
Super Duper – Leave 20%. Upon departure, the restaurant staff will throw a mini party in your honor! While some diners may give you playful side glances for snagging the waiter’s attention, your server will feel like the MVP. Who knows, you might even get a secret handshake for your next visit!
Extra Nice – Leave 10%. It’s more than what’s expected in Italy, so your waiter will be grinning ear to ear, and you’ll earn some serious karma points without causing any cultural confusion.
Roman – Leave a euro or two extra per person. Wait staff will be very happy and welcome you back in the future.
Nothing at All – Not feeling the tipping vibe? No worries! Your food will still be served with a side of smiles upon your return, and the waiters will greet you like an old friend, no tip required.
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Communicating In English Or Italian
One of my favorite things to watch is travelers trying to string together Italian words into sentences from a guidebook. I have been that traveler in many countries, and the worst part is when the person you are speaking to actually understands you and responds!
Let’s not romanticize the “key phrases” part of a guidebook here and keep it simple. The below phrases will make you look like a pro because you’ll get simple responses such as “si” or a finger pointing at the bathrooms.
Remember that C’s have a hard “ch” sound, unlike Spanish.
How much does this cost?
Quanto costa?
Check, please.
Il conto per favore.
Do you take credit cards?
Posso pagare con la carte?
Where is the bathroom?
Dov’è il bagno? or simply “bagno?”
Water?
Acqua?
Table for 2, please.
Tavolo per due, per favore.
Can you order for me?
Fai te?
The last recommendation is by far my favorite. If your waiter is Roman, they will accept the challenge and bring some tasty food.
A key phrase is “certo” (cherto), which means “of course”. Romans use this all the time, so you may hear it instead of “si”.
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