“How to do tipping in Finland?” is a question many travelers have. When I’m traveling, I love to feel confident about local norms and customs, especially when it comes to the delicate subject of money.
As a Finn, I’m happy to offer you ten tipping guidelines to Finland because tipping might be very different here than in your home country.
The basic tipping rule in Finland is that nobody is expecting you to tip. On the other hand, nobody will object if you do.
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Here’s what this post will cover. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
- 1 How Prices Are Displayed in Finland
- 2 How to Tip in a Finland
- 3 Is It Rude to Be Tipping in Finland?
- 4 Tipping at Finnish Restaurants
- 5 Tipping at Finnish Cafes and Bars
- 6 Tipping at Finnish Hotels
- 7 Tipping in a Finnish Taxi
- 8 Tipping at Finnish Shops
- 9 Tipping at Finnish Hairdresser
- 10 Tipping for “Troubles”
- 11 Tipping on Finnish Nightclub Lines
How Prices Are Displayed in Finland
Reading prices is very simple in Finland: the price of a product or service has service and taxes always included.
You’ll only see one price in Finland and that’s the price you are expected to pay.
How to Tip in a Finland
If you want to give a tip, you can do so in cash or by allowing an extra charge on your card. It’s also okay to leave coins.
If you use your card to give a tip, you can let the waiter know the price you want to pay. Furthermore, it has also become very popular that the card terminal itself asks you if you would like to give a tip.
The idea is to make tipping easy for you if you would like to do it. However, there’s no pressure. You’ll just need to select YES or NO to continue.
Is It Rude to Be Tipping in Finland?
No. It’s not offensive to give a tip in Finland.
Tipping at Finnish Restaurants
As said earlier, there’s no mandatory need to tip in Finland.
You can pay the bill as it is or, if you want, you can round the bill up to the nearest convenient figure or leave a larger tip. All styles are good in Finnish culture.
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Tipping at Finnish Cafes and Bars
Again, it’s normal to pay the bill as it is.
You can leave a tip if you want. You may sometimes spot a tip jar on the counter too.
Tipping at Finnish Hotels
Tipping at hotels is rare in Finland. Also, there’s not a hotel valet or porter culture in Finland.
Tipping in a Finnish Taxi
Taxi drivers don’t expect a tip in Finland.
If you want, you can round the bill up to the nearest convenient figure. All taxis in Finland accept card payments.
Tipping at Finnish Shops
Again, no tipping is required.
Whether you are looking for some clothes, cosmetics or a lawnmower, there’s staff ready to help you free of charge.
Tipping at Finnish Hairdresser
If you have an appointment with a hairdresser or beautician, the tipping situation is still the same; nobody is expecting a tip from you. The price includes the service.
Tipping for “Troubles”
If you are staying as a guest with a Finnish host, you should not leave any money behind to pay for the ”host’s troubles.” That would be quite strange for a Finn.
Same goes if you are renting a summer cabin.
That all being said, it’s polite to leave extra money if you break something or, for example, leave the cabin in a complete state of mess.
I would say that a Finn doesn’t think of that as tipping, but more as a thank you for taking care of the trouble you put them through (by the extra cleaning or extra shopping).
Tipping on Finnish Nightclub Lines
The only place in Finland to have somewhat regular tipping happening might be the line of a nightclub.
If you know the bouncer, you can cut the queue by giving a good tip when you enter or exit the bar. This is done discreetly with a handshake.
Is tipping a part of your culture? What else would you like to know about tipping in Finland? Comment below and let me know!
Looking for more information about Finnish culture? Check out some of my other posts:
- 5 Odd Things about Finnish People and Money
- Easy Rules to Finnish Small Talk
- 30 Cultural Facts on Finland that Help You Understand Finns
- How To Understand Finnish Culture on Compliments and Gifts
- Finnish Greetings: How to Use Them and the One Word You’ll Need
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About Varpu
I’m the founder of Her Finland. I love cultural tidbits, aha moments, Finnish folklore, and cinnamon buns. My newest interest is learning bird songs. Read more about me..
Suvi
Thursday 16th of May 2019
Yes, leaving a tip is not mandatory, but if you get good service/food/whatever it is not wrong to leave a tip. It is entirely up to the customer, whether they feel that a tip is in place. This whole post is absurd. And deleting negative comments is also quite questionable.
Minna
Thursday 16th of May 2019
Ou my God! ! That's just so not true. . Waitreses like me have so low salary so l our living money is the tips. And service is not included in the check.. the hole Finnish restaurant community have read this and we think that you have to go and work restaurant one year and then write this text again.. unbelievable shit. . Don't write staff if you don't know the right things.
Ravintola Duunari
Thursday 16th of May 2019
Mene roskiin.
Doesn't matter
Thursday 16th of May 2019
Hopefully you won't ever step in a restaurant where I work.. That text was some great bullshit. Yes, it's not mandatory go leave tip in finland but it is VERY MUCH APPRICIATED for good food and service! Don't teach foreigners not to tip..
Jonne Urmas
Thursday 16th of May 2019
Hello Varpu! As a Finnish long-term restaurant worker I would like to comment a few things in your text:
First of all you say about tipping in Finland; "You never have to tip" - That is true, tipping in Finland is not necessary, that is the word I would use
You say "In my opinion no tipping is just a positive thing" -Why on earth would you say that, you put your own opinion to the foreign people as it would be a fact! Tipping in Finland is something you do if you think you have got really nice food/service/experience, and that is not a bad thing. Tipping has no limit in Finland, for example a 5 euro tip from 300 euro dinner is nice, and it makes the staff that has served you a really nice feeling. It is true that it is not common in Finland, that is why if you want to show to staff/server that your are happy what you have received, tipping is totally okay and it makes the staff feel good!
I don't want to get all the arguments here 1 by 1, but I just would like to know, why do you bring your own negativity against tipping here. Why can't you be objective with this and tell many people who read your site how things really are? Tipping is not mandatory in Finland, but it is totally allowed and it is not a bad thing, as you say! It is true that no-one wont give you evil eye if you don't tip, but you forgot to say that your tip (no matter how much it is) will definitely make the people who have served you feel good and positive.
I don't mean to argue your opinion, it is totally okay to have one of your own, but please don't bring your own opinion out as a fact of Finnish culture. Thank you!