In Ireland, tipping is not required. While tips are sometimes appreciated, there are other times when your tip might even be refused. The Irish pride themselves on delivering a service for the sake of it, not for an additional tip. If anywhere, tips will be expected more often in a large city like Dublin than anywhere else in Ireland.
Knowing when to tip in Ireland can be tricky if you aren't accustomed to the culture. For example, some may find it odd that it's acceptable to tip at a restaurant, but not at a pub. These guidelines will help you navigate the unique culture around tipping in Ireland.
Note that if you are traveling to Northern Ireland, where you'd go to visit Belfast or the Giant's Causeway, you will be technically in the United Kingdom, where the currency is the Pound sterling and tipping customs may differ slightly from the Republic of Ireland, where the official currency is the euro.
Hotels
Irish accommodation providers, in general, have factored in all costs. You are not expected to tip excessively in Irish hotels and no tips are needed if the hotel is small and staffed directly by the owners, such as a small bed and breakfast or guest house.
- The exception is tips for housekeeping: you should leave €2 per day (and leave the tip per day, because who cleans your room may change every day).
- Porters who help carry your bag to your room might expect a tip of €1-2 per bag. If you do not wish to tip them, you can politely refuse and carry the bag yourself.
- If you take advantage of the hotel concierge and receive great advice and service, you can leave a tip of €1-2.
- You don't need to tip the doorman for holding the door or hailing a cab, but if they go above and beyond, you can tip them €1-2.
Restaurants and Pubs
At bars and pubs, tipping is uncommon. At restaurants, however, you'll likely find that a service charge has already been added to your bill. In this case, no further tipping is necessary, but you can leave a little more if you're extra happy with the service.
- If you are unsure if a service charge has been included, you can tip your server 10 percent to 15 percent of the total bill. You can also round up to the nearest even amount. If the service was truly terrible, you can try to dispute the service fee.
- At fast-food restaurants in Ireland, it's not necessary to tip.
- Tipping bartenders in Ireland is rare, however, rounding up your bill or leaving small change is appreciated. If your bartender went above and beyond and you really want to show your appreciation, you can offer to treat them to a drink.
- When you see a tip jar at a cafe or bistro in Ireland, know that tipping is totally optional. If you'd like, you can leave a few coins.
Transportation
At the end of your trip, your taxi driver is obliged to give you a printed receipt, which will not include a service charge. If for any reason you need a receipt including tips, you can ask for an additional handwritten receipt.
- Taxi drivers in Ireland are generally not expecting a tip, but you can round up your fare to the nearest even amount if you like.
- If you take a shuttle from the airport, you don't have to tip your driver but you can give €1 per bag if they assist you with your luggage.
Tours
When it comes to tourism and sightseeing tours in Ireland, tipping is a little more common.
- For a private tour, you should tip your guide 10 percent of what you paid for the tour.
- On a group tour, it's likely that a basket will be passed around at the end of the tour. In this case, it's appropriate to contribute €1-2 or more, depending on how satisfied you were with the tour. It's possible that your guide might refuse the tip, but you can insist.
- If you are in a semi-private group, you could also choose to pay €10 per person in your party (if there are three of you, you'd contribute €30).
Spas and Salons
At spas and salons in Ireland, tipping is more common of a practice. However when you go to pay your bill, check to see if a service charge has already been included.
- At a hair salon, it's normal to tip your stylist 10 percent of the final price. You can also give €1-2 to the person who washed your hair, but this is optional.
- At a spa, you can tip 10 percent of the final cost for treatments like massages, body scrubs, or facials.
Luck Money
When in Ireland, you may run into the tradition of luck money. After you pay for something, the other person might hand you back a coin or small bill for good luck. In theory, this will ensure that you bring your business back to them. You can think of it like a reverse tip. This is less likely to happen at a hotel or restaurant, but it could happen when shopping at a market or at a family-owned shop.
