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You have planned a beautiful trip to the Iberian Peninsula. On the program: cultural visits, a bit of relaxation under the generous sun and, above all, a host of restaurants to try out to familiarize yourself with the local cuisine. You are already anticipating the good food, especially since in this part of Europe, establishments are rather cheap. But at the end of the meal, should you leave a tip? And if so, how much? We will answer these questions in this article.
🥘 What to eat in Spanish restaurants? Discover our guide to eating the best tapas in Barcelona.
Should You Lave a Tip in Spain?
In Spain, leaving a tip is not compulsory, as in the USA for example. The service is included in the final bill, but a small gesture is always appreciated, especially in restaurants.
Apart from upscale establishments in tourist areas, restaurant salaries are not very high in Spain. On average, a waiter salary is around 15,000 euros a year in Barcelona and Madrid, and the majority of jobs are fixed-term.
Other trades may also be subject to a small tip, such as taxi drivers (or VTC), baggage handlers in hotels and tour guides at the main historical attractions of the country. These are often people’s side jobs.
How Much to Tip in Spain
Leaving a tip in Spain is appreciated. But how much should you leave? In general, it is customary for it to be between 10% and 15% of the bill.
A roughly equivalent tip also applies to guides, if you appreciated their work. If you take a taxi, there is no need, but rounding up the amount is always appreciated. With VTC applications, leaving a few cents (or a few euros) extra is much easier.
We hope you now know whether to leave a tip in Spain and how much to leave. We will continue this series with other countries because habits diverge a lot in Europe.