Culture & sights

Do You Tip in Luxembourg? The Honest Answer

5 min read

Restaurant bill and euro coins on a cafe table in Luxembourg City

The rule: service compris

Luxembourg law requires restaurants to include service in the listed price, and the bill will not add a separate service charge. That means you are never obliged to tip, and no waiter will chase you down the street for skipping it. What people actually do is round up the bill or add a small extra for genuinely good service. On a $38 dinner you might leave 40; on a $72 dinner, 75 or 80. Anything above 10% would be read as either American or slightly odd.

Coins are fine. If your coffee is 3.20, dropping the change from a 5 is normal and appreciated. There is no cultural pressure and no guilt-tripping tip screens on card terminals — though newer payment machines in touristy spots have started suggesting 5, 10 or 15%, which locals routinely skip past.

Taxis, hotels, bars, hairdressers

Taxi drivers expect a round-up, not a percentage. A 14.60 fare becomes 15. Hotel porters get 1-$2 a bag if they carry it; housekeeping is not tipped by locals, though a $5 note left on the pillow at checkout in a nicer hotel is a kind gesture. Bartenders are not tipped per drink, but if you run a tab and it comes to 46, you might say make it 50.

Hairdressers, spa therapists and tour guides sit in a different bracket — 5-10% for a job you were pleased with is normal, handed over in cash rather than added to the card. Food delivery drivers appreciate 1-$2. In none of these situations will withholding a tip cause offence; it is a bonus, not a wage top-up.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add a tip on the card machine?

Most terminals let you, but many older ones don’t. Locals prefer cash tips because they go directly to the server rather than through payroll.

Is it rude not to tip at all?

No. Service staff are paid a proper wage and do not depend on tips. Rounding up is polite but skipping it entirely is normal, especially for coffees and quick meals.