While all the guidebooks are bound to inform you that tipping is part of the Austrian culture, what they may not explain is how it’s done. Tipping in Vienna, and Austria in general, is more than just ‘part of the culture’—it’s ingrained in everyday life. To blend in, you need to not only tip but make it as natural as breathing.
Understanding Tipping in Vienna
It’s important to note that tipping in Austria (and most of Europe) doesn’t follow the same rules as in North America. Here, waiters get a fair salary and any potential tips are just an extra reward for an extra effort. Forget about 15% or 20% as a must! Viennese people tend to tip around 10% but it’s actually all about rounding up, which makes paying easier and quicker. And don’t worry, you don’t need to carry around a stash of cash to tip—if you’re paying by card, you can still tip! Just tell the waiter the total amount you’d like to pay before they enter it into the payment terminal. Simple. Lastly, and most importantly, your tip should reflect your satisfaction. If you enjoyed the service, it’s natural to leave a tip to show your appreciation.
Cash or Card?
Paying with a credit card has made traveling and life in general easier than ever before. But we would recommend that you always carry some cash with you because... you never know! While credit cards are increasingly accepted in Vienna, especially in larger businesses, restaurants, and hotels catering to tourists, you may still encounter places that only accept cash. This is especially true for smaller shops, local cafés, and traditional markets like Christmas markets, where cash remains the preferred payment method.
Now that you know what you're getting yourself into, let's dive into the HOW of tipping in Vienna:
Step 1: Start Developing an Abject Fear… of Small Change
It sounds ridiculous, but anything below a 1€ piece is of no interest to you whatsoever. Developing this fear makes tipping significantly easier. If you can convince yourself that cents don't exist, even better. Who uses them anyway, except for that one annoyingly meticulous person at the supermarket, counting out 20€ in small change they dug out of their sofa at 7:35 pm? No one wants to carry too much shrapnel around!
Step 2: Round It Up
With your new aversion to small change, you’ll start rounding everything up. Any cents get rounded up to the next full euro and that gets rounded up to the closet ten for higher payments.
Step 3: Don’t Be a Leaver…
No, we’re not talking about Brexit. We’re talking about the coin dump. While it’s still “OK” to leave your tip on the table after paying, that’s not the way it’s done here. Bar staff hate small change too (see Step 1!). Save them the trouble of counting out your shrapnel. If you leave it on the table, how can the waiting staff thank you?
Step 4: Announce Your Tip
“Melange, 3.20€ please,” says the waiter.
“4€,” you say.
By announcing what you’re paying, you save everyone from having to remember that small change exists. If you don’t tell the waiter the amount you’ll pay (kind of like reverse haggling), they’ll be reminded that small change does exist and will probably give you back all the smallest coins in their wallet. You’ll then sheepishly leave it on the table, of course. Instead, pretend you’re a lavish banker, splashing the cash with your rounding-up skills.
Step 5: Tip for Everything
If the place has seats and you’re sitting down to enjoy food or drinks, you tip. Whether you’ve had a meal or just an espresso, you still tip. There’s a bit of flexibility when it comes to takeaways, and most people choose based on personal preference. We personally tip even for takeaways, especially if it’s one of our regular spots. We think most waiters would agree.
Bonus Step: Tip Like You’re in the Business
Waiters can always tell when someone is also in the hospitality industry—either from the way they act or, more importantly, how they tip. Waiters recognize the struggle and respect their fellow servers by tipping a bit more generously, knowing how much tips matter in this line of work.
To really blend in, tip like a waiter. Forget the small change, forget the coins altogether, and on a good week—or after more than one drink—throw in an extra five. Vienna can feel like a small village at times, and faces are easy to remember. You don’t want to be remembered for the wrong reasons! Waiters are far more likely to remember bad tippers than good ones—what else would they talk about over their 4 am post-shift beers?
Warning: Watch Out for Sneaky Tipping
Make sure to check your receipt! We’ve recently heard stories of sneaky waiters adding a tip to the bill without telling the customer. While this isn’t common practice, it can happen in some of the more touristy places. So keep an eye on your receipt to avoid double-tipping.
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