Tipping Culture In Switzerland: Family Guide

Tipping in Switzerland — Young Explorers Club

In Switzerland, prices usually include service (often shown as “service compris“), and staff earn higher wages. Tipping is modest and optional.

Overview

Locals and visitors treat tipping as a polite thank‑you, not an obligation. People commonly round up the bill or leave small coins. For truly outstanding service, adding around CHF 5–10 or about 5–10% is appreciated. We, at the Young Explorers Club, recommend carrying small Swiss notes, coins, or a payment app before tipping in restaurants, transport, hotels, guided tours, and childcare.

Key Takeaways

• Service usually included: Many bills show “service compris.” Tipping remains optional and functions as a thank‑you.
• Cafés and bars: Round up or leave small coins (CHF 0.50–2).
• Restaurants: For excellent service, add about 5–10% or CHF 5–10.
• Taxis and deliveries: Round up or add CHF 1–3 for short rides/drops; for longer trips or help with luggage, tip roughly 5–10% or CHF 1–5.
• Hotels and resorts: Porters CHF 1–2 per bag; housekeeping CHF 2–5 per night; ski instructors CHF 5–30 depending on lesson length.
• Be prepared: Keep small Swiss franc notes and coins handy and teach children polite tipping gestures. Always check the bill for included service or in‑app tipping options.

Typical tipping situations

• Restaurants & cafés: Round up small bills; for notable service, add CHF 5–10 or 5–10%.
• Bars: Leave small coins or round up to the nearest franc.
• Taxis & deliveries: Round up or add a few francs; larger tips for long rides or heavy luggage.
• Hotels: Porters and housekeeping receive small, per‑service tips; concierge tips only for special favors.
• Ski instructors & guides: Tip according to lesson length and quality—usually CHF 5–30.
• Childcare & babysitting: Small gratuities are appreciated but not required; consider rounding up or adding a modest fee.

Practical tips

• Carry change: Keep small notes and coins, or set up a local payment app that supports tipping.
• Check the bill: Look for “service compris” or built‑in service charges before tipping.
• Teach children: Show polite gestures like rounding up or saying thank you rather than expecting a set amount.
• When in doubt: A small, sincere tip or rounding up is always appreciated and culturally appropriate.

If you have specific situations you expect to encounter (e.g., long guided tours, multi‑day ski lessons, group dining), I can give tailored tipping suggestions.

Quick essentials: What families need to know about tipping in Switzerland

We, at the Young Explorers Club, keep this simple for busy families. Service is normally included in Swiss prices, and VAT of 7.7% applies to most goods and services. You don’t need to tip large amounts — small gestures are common.

Restaurants and cafés are usually marked with service compris on the bill. Staff earn higher wages and living costs are high, so tips are modest compared with the United States. Families can either round up the bill, leave loose change, or add a small percentage for great service.

Quick rules for families

Here are clear, practical gestures families can follow:

• Round up the bill in cafés and casual eateries. A few francs is fine.
• Leave small change or add 5–10% in more formal restaurants if the service was excellent.
• Tip drivers and guides with a small amount when they help with luggage or give extra support.
• For hotel staff, leave a couple of francs per night for housekeeping if you want to show appreciation.
• Childcare or activity instructors do appreciate a modest tip for outstanding attention.

Reading the bill and planning ahead

Check prices before you sit down. Many menus show VAT and state service included. Ask politely if you’re unsure how service is handled. For larger family groups, check whether a service charge or cover fee has been added already. We suggest keeping small notes and coins handy so kids can learn simple gestures of appreciation without stress.

For practical family planning and other helpful travel tips, see our Family trip advice.

Eating and drinking: Restaurants, cafés and bars

We, at the young explorers club, keep tipping simple for families travelling in Switzerland.

Before adding anything, we always check the bill for “Service compris” or an explicit service fee.

In restaurants we usually round up on small bills; that typically means CHF 1–5 on everyday checks.

We treat a 5–10% tip as reserved for excellent service or special occasions, not as a standard expectation.

For large groups we watch for an automatic service or gratuity charge—some venues add around 10%—so we check the total before leaving anything extra.

At cafés and bakeries we usually round to the nearest franc or leave coins (CHF 0.50–2) after a quick coffee or pastry.

When we go out in the evenings to bars and nightlife spots we tend to round up per drink or leave small notes; cocktail bars often see CHF 1–2 per drink.

We don’t expect a 5–10% tip in regular bars; rounding is perfectly acceptable.

When planning a family trip in Switzerland we suggest keeping a few small coins handy so tipping stays effortless.

Practical family examples we use as rules of thumb

• Family meal CHF 120 → typical tip: CHF 0–10 (round up, or CHF 5–10 for very good service).
• Casual café bill CHF 18 → typical tip: CHF 0–2 (rounding to CHF 20 is common).
• Large table with service charge already added → typical tip: CHF 0 unless service was exceptional.
• Cocktail bar, four drinks CHF 40 → typical tip: CHF 4–8 or simply rounding per drink.

Getting around and deliveries: Taxis, ride-hailing, public transport, takeout and delivery

We at the Young Explorers Club keep tips simple so families can move with confidence. Swiss tipping is casual and modest. Small gestures are common; large percentages rarely are expected.

Taxis and ride-hailing

We usually round up to the nearest franc or add CHF 1–3 on short trips. For longer rides, adding around 5–10% is fine if you prefer. Airport transfers or drivers who help with luggage commonly get CHF 1–5 depending on how much they carry and how much help they give. If you book through an app, check whether it offers an in-app tipping option; otherwise have cash ready.

Public transport

We never tip on trains, trams or buses. Tickets and service are covered by fares. If someone goes out of their way to help you with directions, a small thank-you in words is enough.

Delivery and takeaway

We round for takeout — CHF 1–2 at pickup is common. For food delivery, drivers often receive CHF 1–3 for small orders. Increase that for heavy items, long distances, or bad weather. Cash is usually appreciated at the door, but many apps now let you add a tip electronically.

Quick tipping guide for families

• Taxi short ride: round up or add CHF 1–3
• Taxi long ride: add ~5–10% (or CHF 2–5 extra)
• Airport/luggage help: CHF 1–5 depending on service
• Public transport: no tip expected
• Takeaway pickup: round CHF 1–2
• Food delivery: CHF 1–3; more for heavy or poor weather

Practical tips we recommend

• Carry small change for quick rounding.
• Teach kids to hand tips politely.
• If you pay by card, check whether the terminal or app allows adding a tip before you leave.

For broader family travel planning, see our family trip resource.

Hotels, ski resorts and seasonal services

We, at the Young Explorers Club, lay out clear tipping expectations so families can travel without surprises. Keep small CHF notes and coins ready; cash is the preferred way to leave a tip and it avoids confusion at busy resorts.

Porters / bellhops: CHF 1–2 per bag. We hand tips directly to the porter when bags are delivered.

Housekeeping: CHF 2–5 per night, left at the end of the stay; increase for extended service or special requests. We leave cash with a short note so staff know who it’s for.

Concierge: CHF 5–20 depending on complexity — CHF 5 for simple directions, CHF 20 for sourcing hard-to-get reservations or tickets. We tip at checkout or hand it to the concierge after the service.

Reception staff: Tipping isn’t required. We give a small CHF 5 thank-you for exceptional help.

Ski instructors: CHF 5–15 per person for a half-day private lesson; CHF 10–30 per person for a full day. We reward good instructors generously; this supports local guides.

Lift/gondola staff: No tip expected. We thank them verbally for friendly help.

Ski rental staff: A small round-up or CHF 1–3 for exceptional service is appreciated. We round up when equipment fitting is fast and helpful.

Service charges: Hotels often include service in the bill. Tips remain discretionary and are still appreciated if service was excellent.

Practical family examples we give to parents:

• Family of four with four bags → CHF 4–8 for the porter.
• Housekeeping for a 3-night stay → CHF 6–15 total suggested.
• Private family ski lesson (4 people) → CHF 20–50 total depending on satisfaction.

We recommend these simple practices to make tipping easy:

• Keep small bills in a dedicated envelope.
• Leave tips in cash at the room or hand them to staff directly.
• Add a short note for housekeeping with the amount and a thank-you.
• If unsure because the bill shows a service charge, ask the front desk politely; tips still go to staff directly.

Quick tipping guide

Below are the main amounts to follow when time is tight — save this list on your phone before you head to the slopes:

• Porter: CHF 1–2 per bag
• Housekeeping: CHF 2–5 per night (leave at end)
• Concierge: CHF 5–20 (depends on task)
• Reception: CHF 0–5 for exceptional help
• Private ski instructor: CHF 5–15 half day; CHF 10–30 full day
• Ski rental: Round up or CHF 1–3

We, at the Young Explorers Club, also suggest reading our family trip guidance for broader planning and packing tips; see our family trip resource.

Services, childcare and activities: Guides, beauty, babysitters and tours

We, at the Young Explorers Club, advise families to treat tipping in Switzerland as a polite thank-you rather than a strict obligation. Customs vary by service and region. Cash still matters for small tips, but rounding or adding a small percentage is common in urban areas.

Private guides and group tours

For private guides, a guideline is CHF 5–10 for a half-day and CHF 10–20 for a full day. Pay more for exceptional knowledge, flexibility or if the guide handles logistics for kids. For group tours, tipping isn’t required, yet CHF 2–5 per person or a modest family amount is appreciated. For multi-day coach trips, consider CHF 1–3 per person for the driver at the end of the tour.

Beauty and personal care

Hairdressers: Add 5–10% for good service, though many clients simply round up to the nearest franc or five. Nail salons and other beauty treatments: a small extra or rounding is fine; 5–10% remains optional and welcome for standout service. We recommend giving cash directly to the person who served you when possible.

Babysitters and childcare

For short babysitting stints, CHF 5–10 extra is a suitable token. Overnight stays, special duties (overnight feeding, medicine, travel supervision) or last-minute bookings should include a negotiated gratuity or a higher hourly rate. Agree the rate up front and note any tip as a thank-you for extra attention.

Practical tips for families

At times it’s easier to pool small tips when several family members use the same service. For example:

Quick tipping guide

• Private guide (half-day): CHF 5–10 per family member or CHF 10 pooled for a family of four.
• Private guide (full day): CHF 10–20 per person or a larger pooled tip for extra efforts.
• Group tour: CHF 2–5 per person or a small family contribution if you prefer.
• Tour bus driver (multi-day): CHF 1–3 per person at trip’s end.
• Hairdresser: round up or add 5–10% for good service.
• Nail/beauty: small extra or 5–10% optional.
• Babysitter (few hours): CHF 5–10 extra; overnight—negotiate or add higher gratuity.

We recommend carrying some small Swiss franc notes and coins for tips. Many small providers prefer cash, and rounding is easy when you don’t want to estimate percentages. When paying by card, ask if the tip can be added; don’t assume it will be distributed to staff.

We also tell families to be explicit about expectations. For sitters, confirm duties and whether they include bedtime, meals or late returns. For guides, state whether you expect child-friendly stops or extra time. Clear communication avoids awkwardness over pay and tips.

See our family activities pages for kid-focused tour ideas and how to plan outings where gratuities are simple and transparent.

Practical tips, regional phrases, common mistakes and FAQs (family quick-reference)

Payment habits, regional phrases and family rules

We, at the Young Explorers Club, advise keeping some cash on hand: small CHF coins and notes make tipping simple. Card terminals may allow tip entry, but they don’t always; in-app tipping is becoming common for delivery and ride apps. Check the bill for “service compris” before adding anything extra. Carrying a few coins is easy — see our guide on what to pack for family trips.

Regional differences are subtle. German-speaking cantons tend to be more reserved. French- and Italian-speaking areas show similar habits with local nuance. Teach kids the short local phrases; they make a big impression:

• German: “Stimmt so, danke.“
• French: “C’est bon, gardez la monnaie, merci.“
• Italian: “Tenga pure il resto, grazie.“

Set simple family etiquette rules before you travel. I suggest we use two quick principles:

• Round up small amounts at casual cafés.
• Add CHF 5 for special dinners, or 5–10% if service was outstanding.

For extra family planning and activities in Switzerland, we link practical resources such as family trip, local family activities, and specific ideas like family activities in Vaud. Parents preparing for a camp stay can read our parents’ guide, explore thrilling camps, or plan which program to pick with advice on how to choose the best camp and choosing a camp. If you’re looking at specific options, check our note on Camp Montana or read about your first summer camp.

Common mistakes, FAQs and quick-reference scenarios

Below are easy scenarios you can use word-for-word when teaching kids or deciding on the spot:

• Casual café visit: bill CHF 18 → tip: round to CHF 20 or leave CHF 0–2.
• Family restaurant dinner: bill CHF 120 → tip: CHF 0–10 (CHF 5 typical); CHF 6–12 if exceptional (5–10%).
• Taxi trip CHF 28: tip: CHF 30 (round up) or CHF 2 (about 7%).
• Hotel porter (4 bags): CHF 4–8 total.
• Half-day private guide for family: CHF 20–40 suggested.

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Assuming large mandatory tips — that’s not required in Switzerland.
• Forgetting to check whether the bill already lists “service compris”.

FAQ:

• Do I need to tip at public restaurants? No — a small rounding is appreciated but not mandatory.
• Is tip taxed? Tips left privately are not taxed at the consumer level; employers handle wages and accounting. Consult local tax guidance if you need specifics.

Key phrases to remember:

• Cash preferred
• Card terminals may allow tip
• In-app tipping
• Round up
• CHF 5 special dinners
• Service compris

Sources

Below are suggested sources related to tipping culture, wages, VAT and practical guidance in Switzerland.

MySwitzerland — Tipping and service in Switzerland
Swiss Federal Tax Administration — VAT rates
Swiss Federal Statistical Office — Wages and earnings
SWI swissinfo.ch — How to tip in Switzerland
Expatica — Tipping in Switzerland: How much should you leave?
The Local (Switzerland) — Tipping in Switzerland: how much should you leave?
Lonely Planet — Tipping in Switzerland
OECD — Average wages
Eurostat — Earnings and labour costs
SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) — Travel information (public transport services)