How to Tip in 25 Countries Around the World
This article is adapted from Travel + Leisure
There are 196 countries in the world and they all have different tipping practices. Should you leave your spare change? Tack an additional 20 percent on the bill? Don’t wait until you’ve already plowed through your tapas in Madrid or devoured your flat white in Sydney to figure out whether or not you should leave a tip.
A good rule of thumb is to try and pay your tip in cash. When you tip on your credit card, that kindly server may not see your generous tip. Plus, some restaurants may not be equipped to accept gratuities via credit cards. Instead, hand a cash tip directly to the server. Also, be sure to tip in the currency of the country you are visiting. Dollars may be worth more, but they aren’t necessarily a server’s currency of choice.
1. Buenos Aires, Argentina
After you’ve cleaned the last dot of chimichurri off of your plate, ordered the dulce de leche and asked for the bill, remember that it is customary to add a 10-15 percent tip. Gratuities should be made in cash whenever possible.
2. Sydney, Australia
Wait staff in Australia are paid a livable wage, so they don’t need customers to prop up their paychecks. That means, they don’t expect tips, However, you can if you want to. If you receive excellent service, there’s no harm in rounding up the bill or leaving a few extra dollars. Same goes for taxis: Tips are not expected, but always appreciated.
3. Prague, Czech Republic
Always check the bill to see if service charge has been included. If not, tip between 10 and 15 percent. Tips are not expected, but are becoming standard—especially in tourist areas. In taxis, there’s no need to tip on a flat fare that was agreed upon in advance. Otherwise, round up or add 10 percent to the bill.
4. Dubai, UAE
A 10 percent service charge is typical at hotels, restaurants, and bars.
5. Paris, France
As anyone who studied high school French knows, the words “service compris” mean that service is included. That phrase appears on most restaurant bills in France, meaning you don’t need to tip. However, most people leave change or round up a little on the bill.
6. Rome, Italy
Leave a few Euros on the table, but not more than 10 percent of the total. Before you tip, though, scan the bill to see if the restaurant has already charged you for service (typically listed as “coperto”).
7. Tokyo, Japan
For the most part, the Japanese keep it simple—don’t tip. Good service is simply part of Japanese life.
8. Marrakech, Morocco
The streets of Marrakech are filled with restaurants offering steaming pastillas, bowls of b’ssara, delicate briouate, and the little deep fried potato balls known as makouda. Try them all and when you pay the bill, tack on an additional 5-10 percent to your restaurant bill.
9. Playa del Carmen, Mexico
It’s now customary to tip about 10-15 percent of the bill at restaurants. At bars and casual road side taco stands, you can get away with less. It’s worth keeping in mind that the minimum wage is under $5/day, so it can’t hurt to be generous.
10. Barcelona, Spain
Service is typically included in restaurant bills in Spain, and there’s no need to leave an additional tip. However, if the service is particularly good or you’re feeling generous, add 10 percent to the bill in a high-end establishment. You can also just leave your change or round up to the nearest Euro in more casual spots. In bars, there’s no need to tip at all.
11. Cape Town, South Africa
Like in much of the world, diners taking advantage of Cape Town’s vibrant food scene typically add a 10-15 percent tip to their restaurant bills. Hotel porters usually receive R10 to R20 per bag (that averages to about $1 a bag) and it’s customary to round-up the fare for taxi drivers.
12. Bangkok, Thailand
It’s not necessary to tip in restaurants in Thailand. However, it’s customary to leave a few baht on the table. You can give a few baht to porters and round up the fare in taxis.
13. London, United Kingdom
After a meal in England, Scotland, Wales, or Ireland, the first order of business is to inspect the bill to see if service has already been included. If not, add between 10 and 15 percent to the bill (or more if the service is particularly good). There’s no need to tip in pubs.
14. Hong Kong, China
Tipping has never been part of life in China. Whether you’re eating fried buns from a street vendor in Shanghai or dining in style at Heritage in Beijing’s Wanda Plaza, tipping is simply not necessary.
15. Lisbon, Portugal
Guests should tip around five percent at coffee shops and 10 percent in restaurants, basically leaving more when there has been more service. If you’re in a tourist-heavy area, check the bill to see if service has already been added. There’s no need to tip cab drivers, but it’s always appreciated if you round up the fare.
16. Hanoi, Vietnam
Be prepared to tip. Leave five to 10 percent on your restaurant bill. There’s no need to tip hotel porters or taxi drivers, but feel free to leave change.
17. Istanbul, Turkey
Tips (or bahşiş in Turkish) are not necessary in inexpensive establishments around Istanbul, but they are always appreciated. In higher end spots or restaurants in tourist-heavy areas like Sultanahmet (the Old City), tips of about 10 or 15 percent are expected.You usually cannot include the tip on a credit card charge. Instead, hand your server their tip in cash (Turkish lira, not American dollars).
18. New York City
While New York City feels like a world unto itself, it’s (still) part of the United States. That means that whether you’re dining at a Thai restaurant in Queens, an Italian joint in Staten Island, eating Pakistani food in Hell’s Kitchen, or downing Hong Kong-style dumplings in Chinatown, you’ll still need to tip 15-20 percent on your bill, as per custom. As for taxi drivers, the new credit card payment systems in cabs make it hard to pay less than 15 percent.
19. Budapest, Hungary
Like much of the world, it’s typical to tack on 10-15 percent to your bill for good service. Restaurants in busy areas of the city tend to include service on their bills, though, so it’s always worth checking. It’s recommended to tip both gas station attendants and public washroom attendants between 100-200 Forint, which is equivalent to 33-66 U.S. cents.
20. St. Petersburg, Russia
Tipping in Russia has always been optional, but appreciated. As the country becomes more Westernized, it’s slowly becoming more expected. Most people leave a 10 to 15 percent tip at sit-down restaurants, while coffee or a quick sandwich at a café might merit rounding up the bill. Remember that all tips must be in cash, as credit cards aren’t set up to include tips.
21. Kathmandu, Nepal
As more visitors make their way to Nepal, tipping has become more common. In restaurants, it’s worth checking to see if the restaurant has included a 10 percent service fee in the bill. If not, leave 5-10 percent for good service.
22. Ubud, Indonesia
Tipping is not customary in Indonesia, but as visitors from around the world flock to the island-nation, tipping has become more common (but still not expected). Some restaurants include a 10 percent service charge on the bill. If not, patrons can also add 10 percent of their own. Taxi fares get rounded up and porters get around $1 a bag.
23. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
In Amsterdam, there’s a law stating that restaurants must include a service charge in the price of the meal, which does away with all of this frustrating tipping politics. Most people leave a small tip (or fooi, in Dutch) of five or 10 percent for good service at a good restaurant, while snacks or coffees merit just a few coins on the table. Similarly, taxis include tips in their rates, but most people still round up.
24. Siem Reap, Cambodia
While tips of any size are always welcome, a dollar or two is the norm.
25. Cuzco, Peru
In tourist-filled towns like Cuzco and big cities like Lima, tipping is becoming customary. It’s typical to add an extra 10-15 percent to a bill at a hotel bar like Sumaq Machu Picchu or at a high-end restaurant in Lima. That said, a few extra Soles can go a long way and make the difference for a struggling restaurant—if you can afford more, the tips will be truly appreciated.