Tipping

In the big "Search" box at the top of this page next to the magnifying glass, type in "tipping" and "Italy." Lots of responses. Here is one recent one https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/proper-tipping-in-italy

Do the quick search to find many other threads on this topic.

The quick answer is that Italy is not a tipping culture and you don't need to pay anything beyond the price listed. You don't need to ever tip anyone for anything.

Donna

No tipping anywhere from me in Italy.

I make an exception for the bell boy (if any) who takes my suitcases up to the room (I usually leave a euro or two), mostly because I feel sorry for anybody who has to carry my wife's suitcase (she needs a packing class for sure).

I don't know much about tour guides, since I don't use them, but I presume that if you pay a price for a tour, then why would you add anything else to that? You don't tip your dental hygienist when you go for your dental exam or the banker when you go to get a loan.

The American custom of tipping certain workers (like restaurant servers, etc.) is a scam which perpetuates the practice of those particular employers of not paying those workers a living wage. Note that many of those restaurant employers are usually the type who hire only undocumented aliens and then support political candidates who want to build border walls (I personally know a few of those 'small business' owners).

We did not tip at restaurants, but did round up. It was odd, but I was glad of it. We tipped our Walks of Italy tour guides. One was the Pristine Sistine and the other was underground colloseum, forum, etc. they were wonderful, not slackers, knew their stuff and seemed excited to share it. We gave them $20 each, and they were very appreciative. We didn't see many tip, maybe $5 if someone did. We did not tip the private driver from Positano to Naples. We tipped the bellman a $1 per bag.

Lulu, I hope you didn't actually tip in '$'. If you did, any appreciative reply you got was purely good manners. Any Italian presented with US currency would have to go to a bank or currency exchange to change it into real money (€), which would take time, and the charges changing such a small amount would leave them with virtually nothing.

And, as the others say, tipping in restaurant and anywhere else you get charged for the service is not necessary in Italy, and not in many other countries. As far as tipping is concerned, the USA is an aberration.

Don't tip in Italy. Having said that, I admit I used to tip, and still do if a hotel staffer brings me some hardware like a new adapter and iPhone charge cable late at night, well it's more like I pay for the hardware, not really a tip. BTW, those adapters can fail, it's a good idea to pack more than one.

But looking at it from both sides, it's best Not to tip in Italy, it's Not their practice so they don't know what to do with it, or may be wiley enough to make you think you have to tip them and will try to get as much as they can from you before you realize what's going on. So don't tip.