Hi all. This has been bugging me for a very l ong time. I have asked both Italians and non Itlaians this question and wanted to know what you all thought?? Do you leave a tip at the public bathrooms in Italy and if so, how much? I am Italian American and have been living here in Italy for ten years and still do not have an answer. Lucia

Only if there is a person who supervises the bathrooms and who is obviously there with a basket on a counter etc. Otherwise no.

Depends. Yes, the pun is intended! I agree with Gloria. I will always leave a tip if an attendant is present.

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Depends. Yes, the pun is intended!

Not sure why this is an Italy question. I do the same for an attended bathroom here in the US, as at a theater.

If there is a person there, and there is toilet paper in the stalls, I leave a tip.
At Pompeii, I left a biggger tip the first time I used it that day and then didn't leave anymore on subseqwuent visits to the same bathroom.
Since bathrrom visits are 0.75 euros at termini, I leave that amount.

In the US, I don't ever remember seeing a bathroom attendant even at Broadway theaters.

If they're clean and well tended, absolutely! That's money well spent as far as I'm concerned.

In a month in Rome and Florence in the last year, only once have I seen an attendant in a bathroom.

This used to be common in NYC and suburbs when I was growing up--in restaurants, theatres, department stores, private clubs. I never see them in Boston these days--but maybe I am moving in the wrong circles.

Attendants are still to be found in many NYC theatres. As anywhere, if they are providing a service, I leave a tip.

For comparison: I just returned from a trip to Germany, and it seems to be accepted by almost everyone there that toilet attendants are tipped .40 or .50 euro in "mass public" locations large like museums, highway rest stops, etc. When caught short of that amount, I sometimes was forced to leave less, but never got a sour look or remark as a result. At autobahn rest stops you must pass through .50 euro turnstile machines to gain entry to the toilets, but you get back a coupon for a .50 rebate on any purchases you make there. Not a bad system. Without exception, all the bathrooms I used during my several-week visit were spotless and well stocked. If they hadn't been, I wouldn't have left a tip.

The question was about leaving a tip or not. Basically, if there an attendant, and a plate, and maybe on the plate evidence of money being left by my predecessors, and, above all, if the place is clean and well taken care of, I do.

And this is definitely not an Italy-specific topic. I've linked it to the Everything about Travel forum.

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Originally posted by Marian:
Not sure why this is an Italy question. I do the same for an attended bathroom here in the US, as at a theater.

I hate those bathrooms! I can reach for a towel myself. Thank you!

Definitely only leave a tip if the bathroom is clean. I can remember more than one argument with the attendants at the bathrooms in various Autogrills when I refused to tip because it was so filthy. Why pay when you're not getting the service?

I do when the "environment" tells me I have to.
And when I do, I don't feel much resentment. After all, I feel vaguely sorry for anyone who has such a job.

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and maybe on the plate evidence of money being left by my predecessors

This reminds me of plates I've seen that have coins glued to them. I discovered this once when I tried to make change (I thought that's why the coins were there). Obviously there are people out there who steal tips from toilet attendants.

I was at the Majestic theater in New York in October 2008 and there was no bathroom attendant.

Near the Forum by the Capitoline Hill (before it was all closed up) there was a not well marked bathroom there with an attendant in 2005. I was below the bathroom and I couldn't tell if it was a bathroom or not from where I was. The attendant was looking out the door. I shouted up to her: "Toilets?" and she nodded her head and motioned to me. My daughter was having issues and needed a bathroom right away. I got my daughter up to the bathroom. I left the attendant a larger tip that ususal because she had helped us.

Another time on Capri near the port the ladies that ran the pay bathroom there helped me. It was 5 pm, and they were going home. I ran up to them and asked Toilets? They stopped and nodded. They reopened the door and let me in. I left them a bigger tip also, because they didn't have to accomodate me.

I have no problems paying for a clean bathroom, but when I have a meal at a restaurant, I think I should be able to use the bathroom for free.
A coffeeshop in Naples had a .50 charge. Even if you bought a cappuccino and a pastry. To me that is extreme.
BTW, I visted Naples last week, and it was very, very clean. No trash problems.
I saw more trash along the side roads.

Mark

I leave a little something when an attendant is present and the place is clean. I have walked past many an attendant who was sitting at the table while the bathroom floor was filthy and stinky or toilet paper rolls were empty. So, just like anywhere, a tip is given when warranted.

In Budapest it is more a case of paying a fee than of tipping. They hang signs telling you how much you must pay.
The attendants offer a wide range of service quality.
Everything from sitting in a chair by the door and doing absolutely nothing to the little lady on Margit Island who, before allowing me in the bathroom,
swept the floor; wiped of the toilet seat; wiped off the sink; lit an incense; and hung a fresh linen towel for me.
Good thing I wasn't having an emergency.
Here's a picture of the towel. Yes, it was stained, but I had no doubt that it was clean.