Do You Tip in Italy?
QUICK ANSWER
Tipping in Italy is modest and often unnecessary, because restaurants usually add a cover charge called coperto, and sometimes a service charge. For good service you might round up or leave a few euros, but the US-style 15 to 20 percent is not expected. Italy uses the euro and tap water is safe.
Italy's tipping customs confuse many American visitors, largely because of the cover charge you will see on restaurant bills. Understanding it means you will not overpay or feel awkward. Here is what you need to know about tipping, plus the euro, power adapters, and tap water before you dig into your first plate of pasta.
Do you tip in Italy?
Tipping in Italy is modest and not obligatory, which surprises many US visitors. Most restaurants add a small per-person cover charge called coperto, which pays for the table setting and bread, and some also add a service charge, servizio; check your bill for both. Because of this, the American habit of tipping 15 to 20 percent is not expected. For good service, rounding up the bill or leaving a few euros is a kind gesture, and for a special meal you might leave 5 to 10 percent, but many locals leave little or nothing beyond the coperto. For a coffee at the bar, simply leaving small change is fine.
What currency is used in Italy?
Italy uses the euro (EUR), as part of the eurozone. Cards, including contactless, are widely accepted in cities, hotels, and larger restaurants and shops, so you can rely on them much of the time, though a law requires merchants to accept card payments. Still, carry some euros in cash for small purchases, espresso at the bar, markets, tips, coperto, and smaller family-run places that prefer cash. Withdraw euros from a bank ATM for a fair rate rather than using airport exchange counters, and when an ATM offers to charge you in dollars, decline and choose euros to avoid a poor conversion. A no-foreign-fee card saves money.
What power adapter do you need for Italy?
Italy uses Type C, Type F, and the distinctive Type L plugs, on a 230-volt supply. A standard European round-pin adapter covers Type C and F sockets, which are common, but Italy's Type L has three pins in a row, so a universal travel adapter is the safest bet to fit every outlet you encounter. Travelers from the US, UK, and elsewhere will need an adapter. Mind the voltage too: at 230 volts, Italy is higher than the US 120 volts, so confirm your devices accept 230-volt input. Chargers for phones and laptops are almost always dual voltage, while single-voltage US appliances can be damaged without a converter.
Can you drink the tap water in Italy?
Yes, tap water in Italy is safe to drink. It is treated to European standards and is clean and safe across the country, including in Rome, Florence, and Venice. Rome is famous for its many public drinking fountains, called nasoni, which flow with fresh, safe water you can drink and refill bottles from. In restaurants, however, waiters typically serve bottled water, and asking for tap water is less common, though you can request acqua del rubinetto. Some travelers prefer bottled for taste, which is a preference rather than a safety issue. For drinking on the go and refilling at fountains, Italian tap water is excellent.
Tipping in Italy is modest and optional because restaurants add a coperto cover charge and sometimes a service charge, so just round up or leave a few euros for good service rather than 20 percent. Italy uses the euro, a universal adapter handles its Type C, F, and L outlets on 230 volts, and the tap water is safe, with Rome's public fountains free to drink from.
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