Berliners tip the most of all Germans while on holiday, says new survey

A new survey of 2.000 Germans has found that Berliners are the most generous tippers of all German tourists when on holiday in another country. Who is the most tightfisted? 

Germans like tipping, Berliners love it

By European comparison, Germans are known to be generous tippers. They tip in cafes, taxis, and at the hairdresser. Wherever you are, they are tipping. Sometimes, the service can be terrible, and they will still tip on principle.

According to a survey of 2.000 Germans conducted by travel agency TUI, Germans not only tip regularly but are also quite consistent in how generously they tip. Only 37 percent of respondents said they tip more when they are on holiday than in daily life.

But how much German tourists tip when on holiday varies depending on where in Germany they are from. Berliners, not known for their cheery spirits, are surprisingly the most generous tippers. According to TUI, 35 percent of Berliners tip at least 10 percent or more during their hols.

By comparison, 30 percent of people from Hamburg tip 10 percent or more while on holiday, 21,3 percent of people from North Rhine-Westphalia and only 14,1 percent of people from Saxony. On average, only 21,2 percent of German tourists tip 10 percent or more, but only 3,3 percent are tightfisted enough to leave the table completely empty.

Younger people leave bigger tips

The survey also revealed differences in tipping habits by age and sex. Younger people are considerably more generous, with 25-to 34-year-olds tipping twice as much as 55-to 65-year-olds. 

And men typically tip more. 25 percent of men tip 10 percent or more, compared to 17 percent of women. Hospitality workers, cleaners and hotel employees are the three groups who most regularly receive tips from German tourists.