Tipping In Norway - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - Nothing or 5-10% If Exceptional
🍔 Fast Food - Not Expected
🍹 Bar - Not Expected
☕️ Café - Not Expected
🚕 Taxi - 0-15% Acceptable
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - Not Expected
🛏️ Housekeeping - Not Expected
📸 Paid Tour Guide - Not Expected
🚶 Free Walking Tour Guide - Check Tour Website
Tipping isn’t customary in Norway since most staff in the highly unionised service industry are paid a good wage. Given Norway is one of the most expensive countries in Europe, you’ll probably appreciate the lack of tipping culture.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Norway using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Norway Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Norway
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
Norwegian wait staff don’t expect tips since they tend to be paid a good wage and aren’t as reliant on the supplementary income. That being said, you won’t risk insult if you do tip. Instead of a tip, a simple “Takk” (Thank You) is perfectly acceptable.
Some establishments, particularly on the higher-end, may add a service charge and it’s customary to pay it unless you’re dissatisfied (you can ask for its removal in that case).
Feel free to tip 5-10% (service charge or not) but reserve that for absolutely outstanding service (even then it’s completely optional). Bear in mind most restaurants pool tips, split them between all staff and add them to wages.
Card-based payments are the norm here. You’ll be in the minority if you use cash and some places don’t even accept it.
So, if you are tipping, tell the waiter your total with tip before they hand you the card machine.
Tipping In Bars, Pubs & Cafés
Bartenders, café baristas and wait staff won’t expect tips.
If you’ve ordered a lot of drinks, feel free to round up to the nearest kr10 but that’s completely optional. Tips, like in restaurants, are usually pooled and split between all staff.
Again, you’ll usually need to pay (and tip) by card since a lot of establishments won’t take cash.
Tipping Taxi Drivers
Tipping your taxi driver is completely optional. If your service was great, feel free to tip 0-15%. Alternatively, just round up your fare to the nearest whole number.
Bear in mind that taxis tend to be expensive in Norway so opt for public transport if possible to save a lot during your trip.
Tipping In Hotels
It’s neither customary nor expected to tip porters, doormen, housekeepers or the concierge in Norway, even in high-end hotels.
Tipping Tour Guides
Since Norwegian tour guides and drivers tend to be well compensated, tips aren’t really common or expected.
“Free” walking tour guides are another story. They’re reliant on tips for their income. In fact, a lot of them pay a fee to their tour company so they’ll actually lose money on you if you don’t tip.
Customary tipping rates vary for “free” walking tours so it’s best to check the company’s website (or your booking details).
Which Currency To Use
Only pay or tip using the official currency of Norway, the Norwegian krone (Symbol: kr, Code: NOK, Plural: kroner).
Cash is not king in Norway. Most establishments prefer debit and credit card payments and it’ll be the only option in some places.
Ha en fin tur! - Have a nice trip! 🇳🇴🏔️🌲🎻
