How Much Money You Should Tip A Cabbie In Europe, Per Rick Steves

Visiting destinations around the world does not only involve figuring out simple ways to save money on airfare, trains, or any other modes of international travel –- it also involves a budget calculation to determine how much you'll need to spend on more local transportation such as buses, subways, taxis, or ride-share services. That's where travel expert, Rick Steves' advice and knowledge can help you out. Not only has Steves globe-trotted around the world for years and made European countries his subject of expertise, but he has also compiled his worldly wisdom into his European travel website. He even includes tips and tricks on topics like how much to tip in a foreign country.

Per Steves, if you are headed off to Europe, and planning to take a taxi or ride sharing service as your primary form of transportation when you land, there is a simple rule of thumb you should know about tipping your driver: round up. When in doubt, Steves reminds American travelers that tipping ultimately comes down to your own personal finances, and the level of services you are receiving.

Just like how Rick Steves points out that it's rude to tip with coins in certain European countries, he also highlights the right way to add gratuity for a local ride. Steves' advice is that for most short rides –- think going from your hotel to a restaurant -– travelers should simply add the difference to the next highest euro as their tip. For example, if the cost of the ride is €15 in fare, give the driver €16.

With longer rides, Steves recommends travelers round up to the nearest 10 euro instead. For example, if the fare is €26, giving the driver €30 would be an adequate tip. With that said, Lonely Planet notes that France, Russia, and Switzerland are outliers when it comes to taxi driver tipping expectations — with drivers typically getting 10% or 15% in gratuity on top of the fare's total cost. On the other hand, Icelandic and Scandinavian taxi drivers typically do not anticipate a tip at all at the end of the ride.

Rick Steves knows that there are plenty of mistakes to avoid when it comes to tipping in Europe, but all of the rules and customs are fairly easy to navigate so long as you are polite, considerate, and understanding of various customs or practices at your destination. One thing to keep in mind, is to know when a taxi driver goes the extra mile for great service, as well as when they do not. Any driver who carries your bags, opens and closes your door, and manages to get you somewhere like an airport quickly and safely should have an extra few euros added to their tip. However, if you feel the driver was subpar, or is ripping you off, Steves notes that there is no problem skipping the tip all together.

Travel + Leisure's 2024 tipping guide highlighted that, in Europe, hospitality and services workers like bartenders or baristas, tend to not expect a tip so long as you treat them with kindness and consideration. If you have been friendly and polite, do not sweat a final calculation once you get your bill — unless you are dining with full table service. At that point, check to see if there is a "service included" charge already incorporated in your bill. Similarly, depending on the country, you should tip tour guides, as well hotel staff like concierges and housekeeping, particularly if there was an extra service you asked for during your stay.