You've Been Warned: Rick Steves Tells Americans To Avoid This Tipping Habit In Parts Of Europe

Europe and the U.S. may share a lot when it comes to history, culture, and language, but American travelers must keep in mind that it's still a largely different place from their homeland. The saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" applies doubly when traveling through European countries, and it's especially crucial at the dining table. Rick Steves, America's premier Europe travel expert, has long warned that one very American habit — dropping coins on the table and walking away — can come off as clumsy or somewhat impolite in parts of Europe, especially in Germanic countries. Perhaps ironically (or understandably), the tipping habit in America has classist European roots.

In a place like Germany or Austria, Rick Steves says the better move is to have cash ready and tell the server how much you'd like to pay once they bring you the bill. "For example, if paying for a €10 meal with a €20 bill, say "Eleven, please" ... while handing your money to the server. The server will thank you, keep a €1 tip, and give you €9 in change," Steves writes on Rick Steves' Europe. 

Following that advice will also help you avoid another popular mistake: tipping too much. It's almost like these European countries sit in the middle of two global extremes. In America, heavy-handed tipping is welcome or even encouraged; meanwhile, in some Asian countries, you'd never be expected to leave a tip at all. Steves says restaurant tipping across Europe is generally more modest, with 5% often enough and 10% already generous.

If tipping in places like Germany or Austria feels unusually low to Americans, that's because the system behind it is different. In the U.S., tipping often functions as part of the pay structure, so it's not just a mere extra thank-you. Federal law allows employers of tipped workers to pay a cash wage of $2.13 an hour, so long as tips bring them up to the $7.25 federal minimum. This helps explain why a third of American consumers consider tipping an obligation, according to a Pew Research Center study. So, it's not that Europeans leave small tips; it's more like Americans are used to giving out unusually large tips to help cover abysmally low wages.

In contrast, in Germany and Austria, restaurant workers' earnings are determined by minimum wage legislation or collective agreements. That means a German or an Austrian waiter is typically expecting a regular wage first and considers tips a nice bonus. In Germany, for example, the statutory minimum wage is €13.90 an hour in 2026. This type of socioeconomic infrastructure is part of the reason why Germany and Austria are among the best countries in Europe for retirees. Meanwhile, Switzerland's official tourism guidance says service is already included in menu prices and leaving a tip is a personal choice.