Tipping in Andorra in 2026: How much to leave and when? The definitive etiquette guide

One of the most frequently asked questions among tourists visiting the Principality is whether to tip in Andorra, how much is customary, and in what situations it is necessary or simply well-regarded. The quick answer is: tipping in Andorra is completely voluntary, but it is appreciated and practiced in many contexts. If you want to arrive at the restaurant, the hotel or the taxi with clear ideas, this guide explains everything.

Is there an obligation to tip in Andorra?

No. In the Principality of Andorra, tipping is voluntary, just as it is in Spain and France, the two countries surrounding the territory. Tipping in Andorra is well-regarded, and it is very common to leave between 5% and 10% of the total amount in bars and restaurants if you are satisfied with the service received.

Unlike in the United States or the United Kingdom, no one here will look down on you if you don't leave a tip. Service sector workers in Andorra have a regulated basic salary: the minimum wage rate for 2026 is set at €1,525.33 per month, which provides a more solid salary base than in many countries where tipping is practically a mandatory supplement to wages.

That said, leaving a tip when the service has been good is a gesture of recognition that local workers always appreciate, especially during high season, when the pace in restaurants and hotels can be frantic.

Tipping in restaurants and bars in Andorra

The restaurant context is, by far, where tipping is most practiced in Andorra. In Western Europe, the tip is not always included in the bill, but it is usually between 5% and 10% in restaurants. Andorra, due to its position and culture, follows this pattern exactly.

How much to leave in an Andorra restaurant?

• Informal restaurant or daily menu: leaving the change or between €1 and €2 is more than enough.
• Mid-range restaurant with à la carte menu: between 5% and 8% of the total is customary.
• Gastronomic or fine dining restaurant: between 8% and 10%, or even a bit more if the service has been exceptional.
• Tapas bar or cafe: not necessary, although leaving the change is well-regarded.

How is tipping done in Andorra?

The most common practice is to tell the waiter when paying "keep the change" or to leave the bills and coins on the table before leaving. There are no specific plates or envelopes for tips as in other countries.

If you pay by card, and the card machine does not offer the option to add a tip (which is common in many Andorran establishments), the most practical thing is to have a couple of euros in cash on hand to leave physically on the table.

Looking for a good place to eat in Andorra? In our section Where to eat you will find an updated selection of the best restaurants in the Principality, with real prices and ratings.

Tipping in hotels and accommodations

In the hotel context, tips are given more occasionally and for specific services. In hotels, it is common to leave €1 per day for room service and €1 per piece of luggage. These are the European standards that apply perfectly to Andorra.

Hotel services where tipping is customary in Andorra

• Bellhop or luggage porter: €1-2 per suitcase is customary. If you have a lot of luggage or if the transfer to the room was complicated (small elevators, high floors, hotel with multiple buildings), increase to €2 per item.
• Housekeeping staff: €1-2 per day, left on the nightstand or bed with a small note. Many tourists overlook this, but it is one of the most appreciated gestures by hotel staff.
• Room service: between €1 and €2 per order, especially if you ordered outside regular hours or if the order was complex.
• Reception and concierge: it is not customary to tip at reception for check-in or check-out. However, if the concierge has managed special reservations for you, found tickets for an event, or provided personalized attention that goes beyond the basic, between €5 and €10 is a completely appropriate recognition.
• Hotel spa: if it includes a therapist or personalized treatments, the same logic as in independent spas (see below).

Don't have accommodation yet? You can see all available options on our website, from mountain hotels to apartments and glamping, with real-time prices and availability.

Tipping in taxis and private transport

In taxis, it's common to round up the fare, and in hotels, luggage handling is rewarded with a 1 or 2 € tip per bag. This European pattern is exactly what applies in Andorra.

How much to tip in Andorra's taxis?

If your fare costs €7.40, rounding up to €8 is customary. If the taxi driver has helped you with luggage, explained something about the area, or the journey has been long (for example, from the Spanish border to Andorra la Vella), adding an extra €1 to €2 is a well-received gesture.

The VTC and private transport services follow the same logic. If you've had a good experience and re-hire the same service, a small cash tip at the end of the journey is always appreciated.

You can book private transport and VTCs to and from Andorra through our Mobility section, with fixed rates and no surprises at the end of the journey.

Tipping in activities, instructors, and guides

This is perhaps the category where most doubts arise. Andorra is a destination for activities: skiing, snowboarding, hiking, canyoning, via ferrata, quad routes, and a long etcetera. Do you tip the ski instructor? What about the mountain guide?

The answer is yes, and in this context, tipping carries significantly more cultural weight than in other services.

Image courtesy of Grandvalira Resorts

Ski or snowboard instructor

A ski instructor spends between 2 and 4 hours (or a full day) with you, adapting their pace to yours, correcting, motivating, and in many cases being the key to whether the day on the slopes was memorable or a disaster. For guided excursions and activities, it is customary in Europe to give a tip of 5 to 10%.

In the case of ski lessons, a tip of between €5 and €15 at the end of the lesson or course is perfectly normal. If there have been several days of lessons and progress has been notable, you can be more generous: €20-€30 for a 5-day course would not be excessive at all.

Mountain or nature guide

Mountain guides charge regulated fees, but a tip at the end of a long excursion, especially if there has been improvisation, extra care, or difficult moments, is a common acknowledgment. Between €5 and €15 per person for a full-day activity is customary.

Adventure activities (canyoning, via ferrata, rafting)

Adventure activity instructors usually work in small groups with high safety involvement. A tip of €5-€10 per person at the end of the activity is completely normal.

Want to see what activities you can book in Andorra? From guided excursions to snow and adventure experiences, you have over 150 options available on Andorra.com

Tipping in spas and wellness centers

Andorra boasts a remarkable wellness offering, led by Caldea in Escaldes-Engordany, the largest thermal complex in Southern Europe, and complemented by the spas of many mountain hotels.

In a spa or massage center, tipping the therapist is common when the treatment has been particularly good. The norm is between 10% of the treatment cost or directly €5 to €10 in cash at the end of the session. Pool or reception staff are not tipped to the same extent, but the person who gave you a massage or personalized treatment is.

Cash or card? How to tip in Andorra

Andorra is a highly digitized destination when it comes to payment: the vast majority of establishments accept credit and debit cards, and paying with a mobile phone is increasingly common. However, for tips, cash remains king for a very practical reason: it goes directly to the person who served you.

When you pay by card, the tip (if the card machine allows it) is usually recorded in the establishment's system and may take time to reach the worker. In cash, it's immediate and personal.

Summary table: how much to tip by service

Mistakes tourists make with tipping in Andorra

Years of visiting or residing in the Principality give you perspective on the most common mistakes:

1. Not carrying cash for tips
This is the most common mistake. Andorra accepts cards almost everywhere, but for occasional tips at the hotel or to the guide at the end of the day, cash is irreplaceable. Withdraw some cash upon arrival.

2. Forgetting the hotel cleaning staff
Bellhops usually receive tips, as do waiters. But the housekeeping team remains anonymous. They are the ones who make your room spotless every day. Leave €1-2 on the nightstand before you leave.

3. Tipping in bars when it's not necessary
There's no obligation to leave a tip in a bar when you simply order a beer at the counter. However, if the waiter has been serving you all afternoon on a terrace with multiple orders, it makes sense to leave something.

4. Confusing "service included" with the tip
In Andorra, it's not common for establishments to add an automatic service charge to the bill (unlike some European countries or the United States). If you don't see this item on your bill, the waiter has not received any tip for that service, and it depends on your gesture.

5. Giving very small tips for high-value services
If you've booked a day of skiing with a private instructor for €200, leaving a €1 tip at the end is more of an insult than an acknowledgment. Scale the tip in proportion to the service received.

6. Not tipping group activity guides
In group activities, such as excursions or canyoning, many tourists assume the guide is already well paid. That might be true, but a collective tip (which the group shares at the end) is an acknowledgment of their personal effort and the experience they created for everyone. Organizing a group tip of €5-10 per person is a gesture that professionals in the sector never forget.

Plan your trip to Andorra with all the information

If you are organizing your visit to the Principality, remember that on Andorra.com you have all the information you need to prepare your trip: from activities and experiences to accommodations with real-time availability, including transport options and the best restaurants.

And to complete your planning, don't miss our general guides in the Plan, with everything you need to know before coming, or the guides for Destinations if you want to delve deeper into a specific parish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Anna
Article written and updated by the local team at Andorra.com