Norway has a reputation for being pricey and is one of the highest cost-of-living cities in Europe, but tipping is generally not required in Norway.
There are some circumstances when you might want to tip if you’ve received good service, here’s a breakdown of where and when to tip in Norway.
Restaurants and Bars
Small tips for service workers don’t go unappreciated, and most often travelers round up their bill to the nearest whole number in place of a percentage-based tip. It’s not mandatory to tip in restaurants and bars, and check whether a service charge is automatically applied to your bill.
Be aware that floor and kitchen staff pool their tips at the end of the day, so if there is a specific person you’d like to tip, do so discreetly with cash and directly to them.
Hotels
Unlike other destinations, in Norway, it’s uncommon to tip housekeepers, concierges, doormen/bellhops, and other hotel staff. Gratitudes and service charges are included in your nightly rate, so there is no need to tip any hotel staff during your stay.
Room service will see an extra service charge on the bill, so there’s no need for an additional tip, but a small gesture of thanks could be left for the maids/housekeeper at the end of your stay if they have provided an above-expectation service to you.
Spas and Salons
In spas and salons, it’s not necessary to leave a tip as gratitudes are included in the price of your treatment. If you do wish to leave a tip, it’s recommended to give a 10% tip on the total price.
Some salons and spas in Norway pool tips, others don’t, so if you want the tip to go to a specific person then hand them the tip directly otherwise it can be calculated into the day’s earnings and split with all staff.
Tours and Guides
As with most tours, the guides are not expectant of tips due to their wages, and tips or service charges are often included in the ticket price. If you’re on a free tour, it would be appreciated to leave a tip for the guide.
On pre-paid tours, it’s down to your preference whether you’d like to tip the tour guide at the end of the day if they have provided you with a great experience and you’ve appreciated their time and knowledge.
Taxi
It’s common for Norwegians to tip their taxi drivers, but it’s not common or expectant by the driver. Most people in Norway only leave a tip if they’re paying cash and the amount rounds up to a whole – 10, 20, 30, etc.
If you’re feeling extra generous to your taxi driver and would like to tip them, it’s recommended to round up the fare to the nearest 10.
