Tipping in Austra and Europe in general.

When we were in Austria in 2015 we would just round up - If the bill was 27 Euros we would round up to 30, for example. I believe that this is the custom in Austria.

A previous post on this topic: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/austria/tipping-in-vienna

An innocent question that unleashes a hornets nest of opinions!

Quick summary of previous threads.
Some Europeans find the American habit of tipping offensive because they see it as imposing our cultural values on their country vs. taking the time to understand cultural norms as guests and abiding by those cultural norms. I realize that your question is doing just that, seeking to find the cultural norm so you can follow it. Good for you!

Others feel extremely uncomfortable if they don't give a tip and extremely cheap if they don't give a big tip, no matter what the custom in the country is. They feel that they should be able to tip if they want to.

A million opinions on this. I tend to go with the approach that you started with: What is the cultural norm for the country.

There is no European habit of tipping, it is different in every country. But one thing is common: You are never forced to give a tip like in the US, because the staff does not rely on the tips for their living, nevertheless they appreciate the tips.

The vast majority of European countries have all-inclusive prices, i.e. taxes and service charges are included in the price given in the menu. This fact should be stated in the menu. Sometimes it is tried to add an extra charge, e.g. for service, to the bill of clueless tourists, though.

Tips in Austria are usually between 5% and 10%, but only if you appreciated the service. You give the tip by saying "round it up to ..." when paying the bill. (In other countries e.g. you leave tip on the table when leaving, but not in Austria if you want to follow the local habits.)

What I do is this in Austria and Germany...round off. If the establishment is "eines feines Lokal" ie, with white table clothes, etc. I round off, say the bill is 22.20 Euro, or 22.60 Euro, Then I tell them that it's 24 Euro.

If the place has a more basic atmosphere, depending on the neighborhood of its location, ie, in non-tourist area, eg, across the street from the Nußdorfer U-Bahn station frequented only by locals, a "workmen's restaurant," and the bill is 15.20, then I say 16 Euro. Now if the bill at this basic place is, 15,60, I'll round off to 16 Euro. You might feel cheap leaving only 40 cents behind, but the locals in that same setting would do likewise or leave nothing at all. Most likely, you can expect this establishment to be "cash only."

I've run into restaurants, very nice places in Vienna , located in the center, ie tourist areas, where it was "cash only"

In Austria and Germany and most European countries the prices on the menu are 'Endpreise' (literally translated: final prices). On the menu it often says at the bottom of the pages 'Mehrwertsteuer und Bedienungsgeld sind inbegriffen' (or: inklusive) or variations of this, e.g. 'Die Preise beinhalten Mehrwertsteuer und Service' or: 'Inklusivpreise'. This means VAT and service are included. This is so by law and it is the case even if it is not printed on the menu. Different from the US the servers are paid enough by their management to make a living. This is why they don't have to show that fake friendliness like many servers in the US. Sometimes cheeky servers say to non-European tourists or handwrite on the bills that tips are not included. They don't even lie, because the service charge is included, but not the tip. Service charge and tip are not the same. So all is about rounding up like wmt1 and Fred explained above. American tourists not knowing about this and giving tips of 15 - 20% make the day of every European server.

Thank you all very much for this information. Our group was conflicted as to what to drop because felt like you had to tip as in the U.S. and others believed as you said that rounding up is sufficient.

Regarding the seating or service fee that we have seen on some bills, is this a required charge or more of a tourist sucker tax?

Thanks in advance.

"...had to tip as in the US...." No way in Germany and Austria, totally the opposite in Germany and Austria. There have numerous times especially in past years where I left nothing., say the bill was 12,85 (written in German style) either in DM or Euro. I paid exactly that amount, didn't even round off the last 15 cents or Pfennig.

Regarding the seating or service fee that we have seen on some bills, ...

In Austria (and Germany, as well as in most other European countries) all prices in the menu have to be "all-inclusive". Nothing has to be added to the total, nor are you forced to give a tip.

Nevertheless some posh places require "Couvert" (cover charge, about €3 per person).

By the way, lesson 101 for American tourists: Ice water is never served in Austrian restaurants.

Even in the UK, where a service charge can added to the bill, it is not a tip as it goes to the restaurant. This also is nearly always set up as a voluntary charge too, so if you feel you haven't had acceptable service you can ask for it to be removed.