Tipping in Norway: Do You Tip In Norway as a Tourist?
So you are traveling to Norway want to understand if tipping is customary? With rising inflation and increasing cost of travel in an expensive country like Norway, knowing how much money to keep aside for daily expenses and tips in Norway is a fair concern.
Having visited Norway a few times now I have observed that Norway has its own set of practices with regards to the service economy and tipping, which is influenced by its strong economy, high wages, and cultural norms. So to better understand tipping in Norway, we will delve into:
1) Whether one needs to tips in Norway? 2) Understand tipping practises in Taxis, Restaurants and Hotels 3) Tipping expectations on tours as well as cruises.
Do I tip in Norway in 2024?
Norway boasts one of the highest standards of living in the world, this is supported by a strong economy focused on natural resources such as oil, gas, and fishing. Additionally the country also has a comprehensive welfare system as well and strong labor market regulations in place that help ensure fair wages and working conditions for its workers.
Workers in Norway receive relatively high wages compared to those in many other countries, which shouldn’t come as a surprise! This includes employees in the service industry, such as waitstaff, hotel employees, and taxi drivers, who are paid adequately and do not rely on tips to supplement their income. As such this level of financial security diminishes the necessity of relying tips as a means of getting fair compensation for service type workers.
Nonetheless, there can be exceptions to this. So below, is a breakdown of tipping practices in the most common services areas you will encounter as a tourist.
Tipping in Norway for Taxis
The cost of taxi rides in Norway can vary significantly depending on the city, the time of day, and the distance traveled.
For a typical short ride within a major cities like Oslo, Bergen, or Trondheim, you can expect to pay around NOK 150-250 (approximately $15-25 USD) for a 5-10 kilometer journey. For longer rides, the cost will increase accordingly, with an average fare of NOK 400-600 (approximately $40-60 USD) for a 20-30 kilometer journey.
Longer trips, such as inter-city rides, can cost several hundred NOK (eek!). I would opt for public transport wherever possible or renting a car if doing any intercity traveling in Norway.
Tipping Practices for Taxi Rides in Norway
First off tipping taxi drivers in Norway is not expected. Taxi drivers are well-compensated, and their wages do not rely on tips. This is reflective of the wider cultural norm in Norway with tipping not being a standard practice.
While it is not at all expected, you could choose to round up the fare to the nearest convenient amount as a small gesture of appreciation. For example, if your fare is NOK 185, you might round it up to NOK 190 or NOK 200. This is entirely voluntary and based on personal preference. However, this is not customary and should not be seen as an obligation.
Alternatively, you can also tip directly through standard rideshares apps which enable you to provide a descretionary tip on top of the fare charge such as Uber and Bolt.
Tipping in Norway in Hotels and Restaurants
Tipping in Norway in restaurants and hotels is not standard practise. As with other service workers, restaurant and hotel staff receive fair wages. This financial security reduces the reliance on tips as a significant part of their income unlike other countries where there is major reliance on tips to form part of one’s overall income in service professions.
However if you feel that the restaurant or hotel staff has provided exceptional service, you may leave a small tip as a gesture of appreciation, although this is rarer practice and not at all expected.
In addition, restaurant menu prices are inclusive of all taxes and charges, these are already included in the item prices on the bill. On a recent trip to Norway, I was splitting a large dinner bill amongst a group of friends and was pleasantly surprised how much easier this is in Norway. When you receive your restaurant bill, the total is literally the total of all the menu items ordered, with no additional taxes and tips added or expected on top.
Tipping Tour Guides in Norway
Tipping in Norway on Group Tours
On organized group tours such as a fjord ferry tour, tipping is not expected. Tour guides are compensated adequately by the tour companies. If the tour guide provides exceptional service or goes above and beyond to make the experience memorable, a small tip is appreciated but not required or expected.
Private Tours
For private tours, tipping can be more common but is still not obligatory or expected. The personalized nature of private tours means more reliance on the individual tour guide, so it might warrant a small tip if the guide has provided exceptional service.
Amount to Tip: A tip of NOK 100-200 (approximately $10-20 USD) for a half-day tour or NOK 200-500 (approximately $20-50 USD) for a full-day tour would generally be appropriate, depending on the level of service provided. Again these are general indicative guidelines and entirely descretionary.
Tipping in Norway for Walking Tours
I would say, this is generally an exception to the no tipping culture in Norway, especially free tours. Guides typically work independently or for small tour companies and operate on a tips basis. Tipping acknowledges the guide’s hard work, knowledge, and effort in delivering an informative and engaging experience
The amount can vary depending on the length and quality of the tour. I recently did a free walking tour in Bergen with TwentyTour. Here we tipped about NOK 100 per person for a 2 hour walking tour which was considered standard practise for a highly fun and engaging tour. There was a very minimal charge for booking the tour itself, hence it was considered common practise to tip here.
Tipping on Norwegian Cruises
There are many international cruise lines operating in Norway that have their own tipping guidelines which are more aligned with global practices.
Follow Cruine Line Policies
- Service Charges: Many cruise lines automatically add a daily service charge or gratuity to your onboard account. This typically covers tips for cabin stewards, dining staff, and other service personnel. The amount can vary but generally ranges from $10-15 USD per person, per day.
- As with most cruises, passengers often have the option to adjust these charges at the end of the cruise if the service was not satisfactory or if they wish to tip more for exceptional service.
- Tips for Dining staff are usually covered by the automatic service charge.
Norwegian Currency
The local currency in Norway is the Norwegian krone
10 Norweigan Krone = $1 USD / £0.70 GBP
Final Thoughts on Tipping in Norway
So there you have it – I hope this guide has given you the best practises and norms when it comes to tipping in Norway! Norway is already an expensive country, so its good to know that tipping here is not expected or common practise.
Norway FAQs
Do You Ask for the Bill in Norway?
In Norway, it is customary to ask for the bill at the end of your meal in a restaurant or cafe. Unlike some countries where the bill might be brought to you automatically, in Norway, it’s considered polite to request it when you are ready to leave.
Do You Need Cash in Norway?
Like most Scandinavian countries, I have found Norway to be super card friendly, and digitally savvy. Literally all transactions are most transactions conducted electronically. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, even for small purchases and at small farmers markets. Mobile payment solutions like Vipps are also popular.
Nonetheless, I would say it’s good to carry a small amount of cash for emergencies or places that might not accept cards. There are two instances where I definitely used cash first parking in the countryside, although parking apps are available, if reception is challenging it may be best to carry cash as back up. Second time I used cash was when tipping our free walking tour guide. Some guides may now offer their bank details, but for ease it is still best to have cash on hand to give them.
How expensive is Norway?
Norway has a reputation for being one of the most expensive places to visit and live! So just how expensive is Oslo and Norway in general? Check out my blog post on expenses in Norway’s largest city of Oslo – covering everything from the cost of accommodation to food and dining and transportation.
Are you heading to Norway? Check out our other Norway Guides you may find useful
