The rules for tipping in Italy are somewhat murky—which also tends to be the case with tipping in other places around the world. The tradition of tipping dates back to 16th century England but the custom still remains ambiguous hundreds of years later.

We’ve traveled to Italy many times and are always uncertain about the tipping protocol. There are several reasons why: Tipping is culture-specific and personal attitudes about tipping vary widely. Moreover, the etiquette of tipping is always in flux.