Can you imagine! You’ve just finished the most delicious dinner ever on vacation and you’re trying to catch the eye of the waiter to call him over and get the bill. Suddenly it dawns on you that you have absolutely no clue what to tip or what on earth the tipping customs of this country could be. It gets worse; you follow your common sense and pay what seems about right, and in the process metaphorically slap your waiter in the face.
Similar misadventures can happen to you in taxis, hotels or at the bar. But it doesn’t have to be like that! We’ve put together an overview for you on what to tip all over the world. We’ve included how much to tip in each country and their respective tipping rules. It’s this easy to find out exactly what to tip and where.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do…
Their house, their rules, right? And there is an unbelievable amount of differences throughout the world in terms of how to go about tipping and what the rules really are. But why is it so important to pay attention to the practice anyway? Worst case scenario, you could offend or even insult your server or guide and you won’t dare to venture into the surrounding area again for fear of meeting them. Plus, the idea of going on vacation is not to feel extremely awkward or uncomfortable, right?
In lots of Asian countries at the moment, the subject of exactly what to tip – or when to – is more difficult. People working in customer service in Japan and Korea don’t accept any tips – officially at least.
Even countries in Europe handle tipping completely differently. Southern lands like Spain and Greece are used to tips and will certainly take it as an impolite gesture or as dissatisfaction with their service if you leave nothing behind. In the North on the other hand, for example in Norway, you don’t need to think about what to tip all, it’s already included in the bill and nothing more is expected or needed.
So it’s all the more important to get a clear overview concerning how and what to tip in countries across the world. And this is where to find it!
What to tip in Europe
Belgium
- Restaurants / bars: a service charge is normally included already, but leave loose change if you’re very happy.
- Hotels: don’t tip
- Taxi: don’t tip
Croatia
- Restaurants / bars: 10-15% for whole courses but loose change for a small number of drinks
- Hotels: 1 – 2 € for cleaning staff per day and for the porter when he carries your luggage
- Taxi: loose change
Czech Republic
- Restaurants / bars: 15%
- Hotels: 3 – 5 € for the cleaning staff, slightly less for the porter
- Taxi: round up
Estonia
- Restaurants / bars: 5 – 8 %, although locals don’t tend to tip.
- Hotels: 1 € for the cleaning staff
- Taxi: round up if you were pleased with the service, but no need to.
France
- Restaurants / bars: 10%
- Hotels: 1 – 2 € for the staff
- Taxi: 10 – 15 %
Germany
- Restaurants / bars: 10 – 15 % or round up
- Hotels: 3 – 5 € for cleaning staff per night and porter for good service
- Taxi: round up to the nearest Euro
Greece
- Restaurants / bars: 5 – 10 %
- Hotels: 1 € for the cleaning staff and porter
- Taxi: no need
- Boat trip: 5 – 10 % for the captain
Hungary
- Restaurants / bars: 10 %
- Hotels: 2 – 4 € for cleaning staff per night and porter per service.
- Taxi: round up
Iceland
- Restaurants / bars: included
- Hotels: none
- Taxi: none
Italy
- Restaurants / bars: max 10 %
- Hotels: 1 – 2 € for cleaning staff per night and porter per bag
- Taxi: no need
Russia
- Restaurants / bars: 10 % given in cash directly to the waiter
- Hotels: 2 – 3 € for cleaning staff
- Taxi: up to 10 % and make sure to negotiate the fair before getting in
Scandinavia
- Tipping is not necessary
Spain
- Restaurants / bars: 10 % for good service
- Hotels: 4 € for the cleaning staff per night and 2 € for the porter, but only at high-end hotels.
- Taxi: round up
Switzerland
- Restaurants / bars: 5 – 10 % but not a must
- Hotels: Service is included in the price, but you can still leave a few Euros for the cleaning staff
- Taxi: 5 – 10 % or round up
Turkey
- Restaurants / bars: 5-10 % for good service
- Hotels: 10 – 20 Turkish Lira for the concierge and 5 per night for the cleaning staff and 5 per bag for the porter.
- Taxi: round up
The United Kingdom
- Restaurants / bars: 10 – 15 %
- Hotels: 1 – 2 € for cleaning staff per night, the same for porters per bag.
- Taxi: loose change
What to tip in Asia and in the Pacific
Australia & New Zealand
- Restaurants / bars: 10-15%
- Hotels: 1 – 4 € for cleaning staff per night and porter per bag
- Taxi: 5 €
- Tips may be rejected here
Cambodia
- Restaurants / bars: 1 € each
- Hotels: 1-2 € for cleaning staff and porter
- Taxi: 1 € each
China
- You should only tip in touristy places like luxury hotels.
India
- Restaurants / bars: 10%
- Hotels: 1-3 € for cleaning staff per night and porter per bag
- Taxi: normally included in the price you negotiated
Indonesia
- Restaurants / bars: loose change
- Hotels: Included in the service charge, but still appreciated.
- Taxi: 10%
Japan
- In restaurants, bars and hotels there’s no need to tip.
- Taxi: round up
Malaysia
- Restaurants / bars: Included in the bill, but round up with good service
- Hotels: 1 € for cleaning staff and porter but not expected
- Taxi: No need
Philippines
- Restaurants / bars: 10%, if it’s not included in the bill already
- Hotels: Normally already included in the price
- Taxi: 10%
Singapore
- Restaurants / bars: included in the bill
- Hotels: loose change up to 1 €, but not expected
- Taxi: Around up or give loose change
South Korea
- Not expected
Taiwan
- Restaurants / bars: 10-15%, if not included in the bill
- Hotels: 2-3 € for cleaning staff per night and porter per bag
- Taxi: 10%
Thailand
- Restaurants / bars: 1 € pro person
- Hotels: 1 € for the porter and cleaning staff if good service. Not expected but low wages mean it’s very much appreciated
- Taxi: 1 €
Vietnam
- Restaurants / Bar: 10% if not already included in the bill
- Hotels: 2 € for the cleaning staff and porter
- Taxi: round up
South Pacific
- People don’t tip here
What to tip in the Middle East
Dubai
- Restaurants / bars: Included in the bill already, but still welcome
- Taxi: Not expected but you can round up
Egypt
- Restaurants / bars: 5-10% on top of what’s already included in the bill.
- Hotels: 1 / 2 € for cleaning staff per night and porter per bag, plus more for the concierge.
- Taxi: 10-15%
Iran
- Tipping is encouraged but not always expected. Sometimes tips have to be offered more than once because the rules of politeness mean the people serving you may reject your offer up to three times out of custom.
Israel
- Restaurants / bars: included in the bill, but you can also leave some loose change
- Hotels: 2 – 6 shekels for cleaning staff per night and porter per bag.
- Taxi: 10 / 15%
Jordan
- Restaurants / bars: 5-10%
- Hotels: 1-2 € for cleaning staff per night and porter per bag.
- Taxi: 10 – 15%
Qatar
- Restaurants / bars: 15-20%
- Hotels: 2 – 4 € for cleaning staff per night and porter per bag.
- Taxi: 5 – 10 Riyals
Saudi Arabia
- Restaurants / bars: 10 – 15% is normal. Don’t ask for a doggy bag, as many restaurant works depend on leftovers for themselves and their families.
- Hotels: 1 – 2 € for cleaning staff per night and porter per bag
- Tips should be given subtly and in an envelope if possible along with a ‘thanks’ to the server.
United Arab Emirates
- Restaurants / bars: 15-20%
- Hotels: 2 – 3 € for cleaning staff per night and porter per bag
- Taxi: Not done often, but you can leave some loose change for good service
- Only tip toilet attendants who have a cash bowl out
What to tip in Africa 
Morocco
- Restaurants / bars: 10% if it’s not included in the bill already
- Hotels: 2 – 5 € for cleaning staff and porters
- Taxi: round up
- Give any tips over subtly and in an envelope if possible
Südafrika
- Restaurants / bars: 10-15%
- Hotels: 1 € for cleaning staff and porters
- Taxi: 10%
What to tip in North Middle and South America
America
- Restaurants / bars: 15-25% depending on how good the service is
- Hotels: 1 – 3 $ per night for staff
- Taxi: 10 – 15%
Argentina
- Restaurants / bars: 10%
- Hotels: 25 Pesos for the porter
- Taxi: Round up, up to 10%
Brasil
- Restaurants / bars: Included in the bill already
- Hotels: 2 € for cleaning staff and porters
- Taxi: round up
- Boat tours: 10 € per day
- Tips should be given subtly
Canada
- Restaurants / bars: 15-20%
- Hotels: 2 – 4 € for cleaning staff and porters
- Taxi: 10-15%
Chille
- Restaurants / bars: tips are already included in the bill, but you can tip a further 5-10%.
- Hotels: 1 – 2 € for cleaning staff and porters
- Taxi: round up
Columbia
- Restaurants / bars: 10% if included in the bill and 20% if not
- Hotels: 1 € for cleaning staff and porters and for smaller family-run businesses, 10 € at the end.
- Taxi: None
Costa Rica
- Restaurants / bars: Service charge is already included, however further tips are welcome.
- Hotel: 0.5 – 1 € for cleaning staff and porter per day.
- Taxi: 1 € if you have heavy bags or the driver provides you with some other extra service.
Ecuador
- Restaurants / bars: Normally already included in the bill
- Hotels: 1 € for cleaning staff and porter per day/bag
- Taxi: Not expected but appreciated
Mexico
- Restaurants / bars: 10-15%
- Hotels: 2 – 3 € for cleaning staff and porter per day/bag
- Taxi: Not expected unless you experience above and beyond service
- Make sure to give tips subtly.
Nicaragua
- Restaurants / bars: 10%
- Hotel: 0.5 -1 € for cleaning staff and porter per day/bag
- Taxi: No tips as you will probably be over-charged anyway
Peru
- Restaurants / bars: 10-15%
- Hotel: 1 € for cleaning staff and porter per day/bag
- Taxi: None
The Carribean
- Restaurants / bars: 15-20% of not included in the bill
- Hotels: 15 € per week for staff
- Taxi: 15%
Sounds a tad complicated, right?
But there are a few rules which you can more or less depend on. Number one? Always tip in cash. Tips paid with a card are not often seen by the actual server or hotel staff who helped you. But you were hoping for something more specific?
In the Middle East, for example, it is almost always better to tip – subtly – and directly the person who provided your service. And it’s also always better to tip in the local currency – otherwise, it can be really hard for them to go about changing the money. The same counts for tipping in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Japan and the Philippines. In contrast though, in Egypt, people actually prefer getting dollars or euros, or basically anything other than the Egyptian Pound as their tip currency.
As a general rule, private tour guides in West Europe should receive between 30 – 50 Euros a day on top of the fee, while personal drivers tend to get about half of this. In Asia, the Pacific and Africa, you normally only need to tip your private guide about 20 Euros, while a personal driver once again receives about half. In the Americas, 10% of the total bill is a safe bet, while in the Middle East, 10-15% is expected.
Do you have an especially difficult, unusual or time-consuming request for your hotel concierge? In that case, an appropriate tip could help you out a lot. Or… you want to make sure that the cleaning staff takes extra care of you and your room? Ditto!
Of course, all this tipping can get expensive… Take a look at these tips on how to travel cheap in Europe, to save a little cash on the side.
Wouldn’t it be lovely, to just know everything in advance? Yes! But that doesn’t ever seem to pan out properly when we’re on vacation, does it? Other than attempting to remember some of the etiquette of your destination, just make sure to listen to your gut and stay polite. That way you can keep everything friendly, even if you do step it in a bit 😉
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