Do you have to tip in Switzerland?
No. In Swiss restaurants the tip has been included in the price since 1974, according to GastroSuisse. Anything extra is voluntary, a matter between you and the staff.
Ep. 40 · Ding or Clonk? · 56 seconds. Watch
The real rule
Why the Swiss laugh, and what it means if you're new here.
Restaurant prices in Switzerland already include the service, and the rules on price display say the price you see must include any surcharge that is not optional, service included. So the bill is the bill. Rounding up after a good meal is a thank-you, not a duty.
Blüemli's verdict: Clonk. Not required. Service has been included in restaurant prices since 1974. Extra is voluntary.
TRINKGELD: literally: “drink money”; really: a small thank-you, never a must Ueli's Word
Be like Ueli. Round up if you liked it. Say merci.
Learn more: How to fit in socially in Switzerland
The rule, explained
GastroSuisse says it plainly: in Swiss hospitality, the tip has been included in the price since 1974. An extra tip is voluntary, a matter between the guest and the staff. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, SECO, explains the rule behind the menu in its FAQ on price display: the price shown must include surcharges of any kind that are not optional, namely for reservation, service or processing. So the number on the bill already pays for the service. Rounding up after a good lunch is a thank-you. Sam's twenty percent is his own choice, not a rule.
Sources: GastroSuisse, Trinkgeld; SECO, FAQ Preisbekanntgabe
Questions people ask
Is service included in Swiss restaurant prices?
Yes. It has been included since 1974 (GastroSuisse), and the price shown must include non-optional service surcharges (SECO).
How much should you tip in Switzerland?
There is no required amount. An extra tip is voluntary, between guest and staff (GastroSuisse).
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