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Tipping in France 💰

How much do you tip in France? Compact guidelines plus an interactive calculator with live currency conversion — for restaurants, taxis and guides.

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The rules at a glance

Situation	Tip	Note
🍽 Restaurant	0–10 %	Service compris — rounding up is enough
🚕 Taxi	0–5 %	–
🧭 Guide	5–10 %	–

Usual tipping currency on the ground: EUR (Euro).

When to tip in France

In France, tipping is not expected but welcomed. At restaurants the norm is around 0–10 % of the bill; for taxis 0–5 %, and for guides 5–10 %. Check your bill for an existing service charge — if included, you can give nothing extra or just a small amount.

How to pay a tip in France

Easiest in cash and in EUR (Euro), small change ready before you head ashore. Cards work in many restaurants too — add the tip to the amount or write it on the slip. In many countries small notes are more appreciated than large ones.

Tip calculator

Basis: In Europe and most countries, tips are calculated on the total bill including VAT/service. In the USA, it is common to tip on the pre-tax amount — simply enter the pre-tax subtotal there.

Conversion uses live ECB rates (with fallback). Values are guidelines only, without guarantee.

Frequently asked

How much do you tip in France at a restaurant?
Rule of thumb: 0–10 %. Service compris — rounding up is enough

Do you tip taxi drivers in France?
Rule of thumb: 0–5 %.

Which currency should I use for tips in France?
Easiest in EUR (Euro) – have small change ready before you leave the ship.

Cruise ports in France

In France, cruise ships call at 17 ports — from Ajaccio (Korsika) to Villefranche-sur-Mer. Tipping rules apply everywhere the same way; prices on the ground can vary slightly per port.

Ajaccio (Korsika)

Berth in the city harbour — the centre with Napoleon's birthplace is directly opposite.

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Bastia (Korsika)

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Bordeaux

Smaller ships berth on the Garonne in the middle of the city, larger ones at Le Verdon.

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Brest

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Calvi (Korsika)

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Cannes

Tender port — boats dock right at the old harbour near the Croisette.

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Cherbourg

Terminal at the Gare Maritime, centre about a 15 minute walk.

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La Rochelle

Berth at La Pallice about 5 km from the centre, shuttle buses are usual.

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Le Havre

Terminal Pointe de Floride – shuttle into the centre; starting point for excursions to Paris.

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Marseille

The MPCT terminal lies deep in the industrial port – the cruise line shuttle to the Vieux Port is all but essential (taxi about 25 EUR / 20 min).

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Nizza

Smaller ships use port Lympia, larger vessels often tender off Villefranche.

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Porto-Vecchio (Korsika)

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Saint-Malo

Usually a tender port – boats land near the old town walls.

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Saint-Tropez

Tender port — boats land right in the middle of the old harbour.

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Sète

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Toulon

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Villefranche-sur-Mer

Tender port in the bay — trains to Nice and Monaco leave from the station above the berth.

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Sources and freshness

Values from common travel practice, cross-checked with country guides and travel publications. Last updated: 2026-09-08. All values are guidelines only, without warranty.

The calculator for your journey

This tipping calculator is available in your browser for free and without an account. The Portolana app is still in development.

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