How to tip around the world: Finland
The ‘land of a thousand lakes’ is not only breathtakingly beautiful, it’s also the official home of Santa Claus, and one of the best places in Europe to see the Northern Lights. In short, Finland is a bucket-list destination.
Whether you’re planning to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis or go island-hopping in the Turku Archipelago, you’ll never run out of cool things to do in Finland. But there’ll come a time when you’ll need to know the etiquette surrounding tipping in this stunning country.
To help you figure it out, we’ve created a series of guides for tipping in different places. Read on to find out where, when, and how to tip in Finland.
Note: Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, remember to check current travel restrictions before booking travel.
Tipping tips
The basic rule for tipping in Finland is that nobody expects tips, as workers in the service industry are paid a good basic wage. However, there’ll be no complaints if you do decide to leave something.
As there are no hard and fast rules, the amount you leave is up to you.
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Restaurants
Tipping in Finnish restaurants is simple, as it’s not done – unless the food or service blows you away. In that case, tip anywhere between 10 to 15% of the bill.
Bear in mind, a service charge is often included in the bill, so the amount you see is the amount you’re expected to pay. Anything extra you give is a bonus.
Bars and pubs
Wondering how much tip to leave in a Finnish bar? If you particularly enjoy your salmiakki koskenkorva (vodka and salty liquorice cocktail), show your appreciation by rounding up the amount on your bill, or by leaving the bartender some change. Otherwise, tips aren’t necessary.
Want to try some other delicious Finnish delights? Check out these weird Nordic foods you probably never heard of.
Hotels
Tipping in Finnish hotels is rare, unless a member of staff has gone the extra mile for you. However, it’s good manners to tip porters something small for lugging your bags up the stairs.
Taxi drivers
Finnish taxi drivers don’t expect a tip. But feel free to round up the fare and tell the driver to keep the change: pitäkää loput!
Tour guides
As with everything else, tour guides don’t expect tips. If you insist on it, 10% of the ticket value is plenty.
Should you pay by cash or card?
You can pay by cash in Finland, but most places are set up for card payments. Finns are dedicated users of plastic, so don’t be surprised if you get strange looks if you try and pay for your coffee with a 50 EUR note.