Is tipping in Paris required? No, tipping in Paris is not required. C’est tous, c’est ça. Americans, rest easy. If it feels strange to not leave gratuity, you should go ahead and tip anyway—no one in France is going to get mad at you for expressing your thanks for high-quality service with some extra euros. It all just comes down to identifying the right situations where tipping in France is acceptable, and the appropriate amounts. (Speaking of politeness in France, don’t forget to say “bonjour” to the proprietor when entering any establishment.) For some advice regarding the matter of tipping in Paris, I sought advice from a handful of Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists who are experts on traveling in France: Camilla Davidson, the head of destination management for France at Red Savannah; Jonathan Alder, founder of Jonathan’s Travels; and Murray Mitchell of Jacada Travel.
Tipping is not an expected part of the culture in France, certainly not as much as it is in the United States, Davidson explains: “In many instances, there is a sense of pride that pricing is ‘all-inclusive’ and that service is not expected beyond the cost you are charged.” That being said, service professionals such as taxi drivers, servers, hairdressers, and hotel porters will always appreciate it when a bill is rounded up or when you offer a couple of extra euros for a job well done. One thing to note: If you’re paying by credit card, you may not always have the option to add a tip to your card payment, so it’s a good idea to carry some coins and notes to leave a tip in cash.
Here’s how much to tip in Paris, organized by situations and the appropriate amounts.
Do you tip at hotels in Paris?
Tipping at a hotel is generally optional. For bell service, Mitchell of Jacada Travel advises travelers that €2 per piece of luggage would be appropriate, if they wish to tip at hotels in Paris. As for hotel concierges, Alder of Jonathan’s Travels says, “Unless they’ve attended to a special favor or request, it’s not necessary to tip a concierge in France as it is a prestigious and well compensated position.”
Occasionally, some properties might add a voluntary service charge to your final room bill, but this is typically at your discretion, according to Davidson of Red Savannah. For your edification, she says, you can certainly ask how it is allocated and who will get it. After all, you want to be sure that your appreciation reaches its intended recipient: “If a bartender has made a particularly excellent cocktail or you loved your spa treatment, offering a tip for great service is hugely appreciated—but it’s not an expectation in the same way it would be in the United States.”
Do you tip at restaurants in Paris?
At restaurants in Paris, tipping is not required. As ever, it is a way of showing your gratitude. Murray says that, by law, a service charge is included in the final bill, but for exceptional service, he recommends a 10% tip, which would be considered very generous.
