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Is it customary to give tips in Switzerland? If so, how much are you expected to tip? Is it 10% of your restaurant bill as in many other countries? What about other services like porters, tour guides, hairdressers, etc?
In Switzerland tips are automatically included in bills (the “service charge”). It isn’t like in the U.S. where you tip on top of the bill. That’s been standard since 1974 when labor unions demanded that restaurants integrate tips into bills. With other services like hair dressers, that didn’t happen until the 80s.
It really depends on the situation. In shops and fast food restaurants nobody will expect tips. Giving a tip there would be exceptional.
Some Swiss tip taxi drivers by rounding off fares, but it is not expected.
Restaurants are the only possible exception. The more service is involved and the friendlier the waiters/waitresses, the more likely customers are to tip. Many Swiss will give tips equal to between 5% and 10% in restaurants (sometimes in bars as well).
Many Swiss will tell you that they give tips when they receive good service. For this reason, service personnel may expect tips if they feel they have done a particularly good job. But nobody will complain if you do not tip.
Kind regards
My experience has been similar. If the service is good, I will always tip at restaurants. Normally you pay the bill first, then leave the tip after. Not like other places where you pay the tip with the bill.
I’m also interested in how this works, as I visit Switzerland often.
