A Guide to Tipping in Norway

With its Viking history, stunning fjords, fantastic skiing, and opportunities for seeing the northern lights, Norway has become one of Europe's most popular destinations for adventurous travelers. Whether you plan on trekking through its dramatic landscapes or checking out the museums in the capital city of Oslo, Norway has something for everyone, but it also has a reputation for being rather pricey. With one of the highest costs of living in Europe, visitors might be relieved to learn that tipping will not be expected of them on their trip to Norway.

Similar to its European neighbors, Norway's tipping customs are entirely optional, because the employee's wage is already built into the final price. At restaurants, you'll see this reflected in the service charge, and at hotels, gratuity is lumped into your nightly rate. Familiarize yourself with the value of the Norwegian krone (NOK), the local currency of Norway, so you understand the value of these charges, but know they are built in to allow the average hospitality worker in Norway to earn at least 167.90 NOK per hour, which is about $19 USD.

If you wish to show a little gratitude for good service, a small tip will not offend service workers in Norway. Many Norwegians tend to round up their bills to the nearest 10 or 100 NOK in lieu of a percentage-based tip.

Restaurants and Bars

Tipping at restaurants is a nice gesture, but it's not mandatory. Keep in mind that the floor staff and kitchen staff will pool their tips at the end of the shift, so if there's a specific server you want to give your tip to directly, it's best to do so discreetly and in cash.

• Because a service charge is already added to your bill, your waiter won't be expecting a tip, but it's very common to round up the bill to the nearest amount. If you feel like the service you received was really something special, you can add a tip of about 10 percent.
• When drinking in a bar or enjoying a coffee at a cafe, you're not expected give anything extra, but you can leave a tip if you are especially pleased with the service.

Hotels

In Norway, it's uncommon to tip housekeeping, concierges, doormen, bellhops, or any others working at your hotel. In fact, it's rare for most Norwegian hotels to even have porters, as most Norwegians choose to carry their bags up to their rooms themselves. Gratuity is covered when you pay your nightly rate, but for great service, you can give a little more for housekeeping or anyone else who provides you with a service during your stay. For example, if you order room service, you should see an extra service charge on your bill. In this case, there's no need to tip anything more, unless you feel that the service was exceptional.

Spas and Salons

At spas in Norway, it's not necessary to leave a tip, since gratuity is likely included in the price of your treatment. However, if for some reason it is not or you feel like showing appreciation for the good service you received, you can leave about 10 percent for a tip or round up the final price to the nearest 10 or 100 NOK.

Tours

Whether you choose to take a city tour of Oslo or take a day cruise on a Viking ship through one of Norway's gorgeous fjords, you're likely in for a good time. For any of these tours, gratuity will be included in the cost of your ticket. Your tour guide won't be expecting a tip, but if you'd like to show your gratitude, any extra amount would be appreciated and accepted.

Taxis

Some Norwegians might tip their taxi drivers, but most won't. It's pretty uncommon, but if you are feeling generous, you can round up your fare to the nearest 10 or 100 NOK, especially if the driver took you somewhere far or if there was heavy traffic.