Tipping in Paris
The answer is, no. Not really.
At restaurants, the government already includes a 15% service charge on your check (listed as seriv compris). So it is unnecessary to add additional money. If you are paying in cash, and receive change back you can leave a few coins can be left as a sign of appreciation to your server.
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For instance, at a cafe, two expressos could be something like 3.60 Euros. If you pay 4 Euros to the server, he will give you back 40 cents and you could leave that.
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For lunch or dinner, you could leave a couple of Euros extra. If you pay by credit card, you can either leave nothing or if you have a few coins, feel free to add them to the tray.
But seriously, do not feel like you are going to piss off the server if you leave nothing. Unlike in the United States, the waitstaff is professionals with salaries, they are decently paid and make a good (and sometimes excellent) living.
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A few other tipping situations:
- If you ever go to the theater, you will be escorted to your seat (usually by women). She will expect a pourboire (tip) which is usually 1-2 Euros per person.
- In hotels, you do not have to tip the valet
- You should tip your taxi driver 1-2 Euros
There you have it!
AUTHOR BIO
Andi Fisher
I am married to a French man; I lived in France for 3 years and have been to Paris more than 50 times. I am always a tourist, so the information, tips, and tricks I share are created to help you!
Tips
- Flights
- Look for fares using sites like Skyscanner or Expedia.com.
- From the West Coast to France (Paris), I typically fly Air France or United. From the East Coast, I typically fly Air France or Delta.
- If you travel frequently, consider investing in a Priority Pass for access to airport lounges. You’ll have a place to relax before your flight and charge your devices, plus you can eat and drink for free (without paying crazy airport prices!).
- Accommodation
- I use Expedia.com, Booking.com, and Hotels.com to find lodging. Always check TripAdvisor reviews before booking!
- If you want to stay in a rental, look at VRBO and Plum Guide.
- Transportation
- For rental car agencies, try Rentalcars.com. When traveling in Europe, I use AutoEurope to make reservations. They find the best rates and let you compare car rental agencies. I typically book with Sixt.
- For transportation from CDG Airport to anywhere in Paris, consider pre-booking with Get Transfer. It’s a stress-free option, and you can request an English-speaking driver.
- Tours + Atractions
- I book tours with companies like Viator and GetYourGuide. Both have a wide variety of activities for every travel style. Other companies to look at include Tours by Locals and Withlocals.
- If you’re visiting a city with multiple attractions, check out a discount pass, such as CityPASS or Go City.
- Context Travel is another option, and they offer more education-based activities.
- If you are looking to buy attraction tickets, check out Tiquet.
- Don’t Forget Travel Photos
- One of my favorite things to do is to get photos taken of me while on vacation. Flytographer is a great option, with photographers worldwide.
- Peace of Mind
- Travel insurance is important to cover unforeseen accidents, illnesses, threats, or cancellations. I always travel with insurance and recommend SafetyWing, SquareMouth, or Travelex Insurance.
- If you have flight delays and feel you deserve compensation, I encourage you to check out AirHelp. I use them for all my flights.
- Planning
- Check out Le Shop for my digital travel planners and Paris planner!
Excellent summary Andi 🙂
Though I'd say that you will piss off the server if you don't give him anything at all. There's a good reason for that: Americans are famous in France for being very generous. Maybe a little bit less nowadays because of currency conversion, but still. You guys have a reputation here 🙂
My personal point of view, being French. I tip anytime I can (hairdresser, valet, taxi driver, just to name a few). At the end of the year, it won't really have any impact. But obviously if you really feel the person in front of you doesn't want to work, then no tip 😉
I'm always quite spoiled by the fact that "un pourboire" is not absolutely required when I'm in France. Admittedly, I still leave something for helpful vendors, wait staff, and other service people, no matter where I am in the world. I didn't know about the theater though; thanks Andi!
Yet another reason to move to Europe!
In France, we often tip the hairdresser. =)
But now, people tip less and less.
Good tip! (no pun intended). You don't tip in Ireland either, I found that out the hard way.