Coperto, servizio and mancia explained
Three things on an Italian bill regularly confuse visitors:
- Coperto – a flat cover charge per person for bread, cutlery and table linen, usually €1–3 and up to €5 in tourist areas. It goes to the restaurant and is not a tip. It’s perfectly legal as long as it was on the menu before you ordered.
- Servizio – a percentage added for service, mostly in touristy places. It also has to be shown in advance. Servizio incluso means it’s already built into the prices.
- Mancia – the actual tip. Always voluntary, always on top.
Rome is the exception: a regional law in Lazio bans the coperto. Some restaurants charge for bread (pane) instead – you’re free to send it back if you don’t want it.
How much to tip at an Italian restaurant
Italians tip modestly. Italy’s official tourism site suggests around 10% if you were happy with the service, while many guidebooks consider 5% plenty and 10% generous. A simple rule of thumb:
- Servizio on the bill: nothing extra needed.
- Pizzeria or trattoria: round up, or €1–2 per person.
- Restaurant with good service: 5–10%.
Bars and cafés
In an Italian bar, espresso is usually drunk standing at the counter (al banco). There, leave nothing or a 10–20 cent coin. Sit down at a table (al tavolo) and the same drink costs more – that surcharge is on the price list and isn’t a tip. With table service, round up or leave €1–2.
Taxis
Italian taxi drivers don’t expect more than a rounded-up fare. If the driver wrestles your suitcases in and out, €2–3 extra is normal. In the calculator, choose “Taxi / Rideshare” and use “Round total”.
Hotels
- Porters: €1–2 per bag.
- Housekeeping: €2–3 a night.
- Concierge: €5–10 if they’ve sorted out something tricky, like museum tickets or a table at a fully booked restaurant.
Tours and guides
On group tours of the Colosseum, the Uffizi or Pompeii, around €5 per person for a half day and €10 for a full day is a common thank-you. Private guides usually get about 10%. Free walking tours rely entirely on what participants give.
Tipping by card in Italy
Many Italian card terminals simply have no tip function, so carry some coins or hand the tip to your server in cash. Lately, some restaurants have started pre-filling a “mancia” or “contributo volontario” line on the bill. It has to be clearly voluntary, and you can ask for it to be removed.
Useful phrases: “Il conto, per favore” (the bill, please), “Il servizio è incluso?” (is service included?) and “Tenga il resto” (keep the change).
Worked example: a trattoria in Florence
Dinner for two, a bill of €62.00 – including €5.00 coperto and no servizio:
| Tip | Amount | Total | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round up | €3.00 | €65.00 | €32.50 |
| 5% | €3.10 | €65.10 | €32.55 |
| 10% | €6.20 | €68.20 | €34.10 |
The coperto doesn’t count towards your tip. Had the bill already included servizio, paying the total as it stands would be fine. Continuing to Switzerland or Croatia? The customs change again.
Sources
Last reviewed: . Based on official tourism boards, laws and public authorities, consumer organisations, and established travel guides and media. Tipping is always voluntary – all figures are guidelines.
- italia.it (official tourism site): money, payments and tipping italia.it
- Lazio Region: Regional Law No. 22/2019, Art. 75 (coperto ban) regione.lazio.it
- Gambero Rosso: the rules on coperto gamberorosso.it
- AFAR: tipping in Italy afar.com
- Il Post: “mancia” and “contributo volontario” lines on bills (2026) ilpost.it
- Rick Steves: Tipping in Europe (travel guide) ricksteves.com
