14 Countries Where You Do (and Don’t) Need to Tip
Updated: May 17, 2019Tipping is confusing in general, but all bets are off when visiting a foreign country where customs and expectations may be completely different than they are back at home.
France
The home of croissants and bouillabaisse and, not to mention, the 2019 Women’s World Cup, is high on every traveller’s bucket list.
In a restaurant: The tip for your server(s) is included in your bill as a service fee, but it is customary to leave some additional euro coins on the table if the service was memorable. Note that if you’re paying with a credit card, there’s typically not even an option to add a tip during that process, so be sure to bring some cash with you.
At the bar: Leave some spare change or round up to the nearest euro.
In a taxi: Drivers aren’t expecting a tip, but again, round up if you were pleased with the ride.
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Brazil
Samba the night away in Brazil and always know how and when to tip.
In a restaurant: A 10 per cent tip is usually included on your restaurant bill. If it is not, feel free to add this nominal percentage as a tip for your server(s).
At the bar: No tip is necessary.
In a taxi: Just round up the fare to the nearest real (Brazilian currency) if service was good. There is not an expectation of an additional tip above and beyond the round-up.
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Italy
Order your pizza, pasta, and Prosecco and then use these simple gratuity guidelines while travelling and tipping in Italy. Learn a bit of the language too with these useful Italian phrases.
In a restaurant: The tip is usually included in the bill, but many locals and tourists alike will leave an extra €1 to €2 on the table for good service. If you do not see a tip included on the bill, tip your server around 10 per cent.
At the bar: Round up to the nearest euro per drink. It is okay to give a good tip, although this is never expected.
In a taxi: Tips aren’t expected but round up if the ride was pleasant.
Thailand
Thailand is known as one of the most exotic and affordable travel destinations in the world—even if rampant tourism is ruining places like Maya Beach—but do you tip your server or not?
In a restaurant: At casual restaurants, leave spare change on the table. After a nice dinner, hand a 10 percent tip in cash directly to your server.
At the bar: Tipping the bartender for your drinks is not expected.
In a taxi: Tipping isn’t expected, but most drivers will round up the fare.
Spain
You want to know if you’re supposed to tip after tapas as well as after enjoying one of the longest lunch breaks in the world.
In a restaurant: Tip €1 to €2 for casual meals and five to 10 per cent for fine dining. Tip in cash by handing directly to your server, especially at an outdoor café, to prevent anyone from swiping the bills and coins from the table.
At the bar: Tipping for drinks is not expected.
In a taxi: Round up the fare if you were happy with the ride and the driver. If you do tip, sometimes the driver will wait to make sure you get inside your hotel or rental apartment safely.
Greece
There are endless amounts of ancient history to learn about while visiting Greece, but before you order your first plate of grilled halloumi, learn the basics of tipping while visiting the mainland and these 18 remarkable Greek islands.
In a restaurant: Some restaurants will round up your bill automatically—if they do, don’t tip on top of that. If there is no round-up on your bill, tip five to 10 per cent in cash.
At the bar: Round up to the nearest euro when drinking at a bar.
In a taxi: Tipping isn’t expected, but you can round up if you enjoyed the ride and/or the conversation with the driver.
Germany
Everyone dreams of attending an Oktoberfest or touring Germany’s winter markets at Christmastime, so brush up on the country’s tipping protocol now.
In a restaurant: Most locals tip up to 10 per cent for good service, depending on the meal. For lunch, round up to the nearest euro or €5. After dinner, tip your server five to 10 percent of the total meal cost.
At the bar: It’s customary to leave an extra euro after each round of drinks.
In a taxi: If the ride was pleasant, round up to the nearest euro.
Dubai
Not just a foreign city and emirate, Dubai is a wild card unknown for most travellers when it comes to the expectations for tipping. Here’s how to handle tips after meals and in taxis in Dubai.
In a restaurant: On top of service charges, locals generally tip an extra 10 to 15 per cent depending on the quality of the service received.
At the bar: Tipping bartenders isn’t expected.
In a taxi: Tipping isn’t expected, but you can round up the fare if the ride was smooth.
Dubai is also home to one of the most expensive luxury hotels in the world.
United Kingdom
From lunch after visiting the Loch Ness monster in Scotland to drinks on Brighton Beach along the south coast of England, here’s how and when to tip during your next trip to the United Kingdom.
In a restaurant: Some restaurants add a service charge to the bill. If they don’t, tipping 10% is fine. Note: The U.K. has a relatively high minimum wage so unlike in the U.S. the servers aren’t dependent on your tips to make a living.
At the bar: Tipping bartenders isn’t expected.
In a taxi: You can round up the fare or hand the driver a couple of extra pounds if the ride was a good one.
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Russia
Have a trip to Russia planned but don’t know whether or not tips are an expected part of the local culture? Fear not, Babbel knows all about tipping in Russia.
In a restaurant: There is no expectation of tipping in Russian restaurants, but feel free to leave a 10% tip if the service was good.
At the bar: Tipping bartenders isn’t expected.
In a taxi: It is not expected that you tip your taxi drivers, but you can round up the fare to the nearest whole hundred Russian rubles.
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Ireland
Whether you’re headed to Dublin or visiting one of these undiscovered gems of Ireland, you’ll want to know how to tip.
In a restaurant: Some restaurants add a service charge so double check the bill before plunking down an extra 10 to 12.5 per cent for exceptional service.
At the bar: No tip is expected but if you are with a large group at the bar, consider leaving behind a euro or two as a pleasant ‘thank you’ to your friendly Irish bartender.
In a taxi: Unless the driver went above and beyond (helping with luggage, provided some insider’s information on the area, etc) you shouldn’t feel obliged to tip. Of course, rounding up to the nearest euro is always a welcome touch.
Sweden
Famous for ice hockey and Ikea minimalism, you probably don’t know as much about tipping culture in Sweden.
In a restaurant: Tipping 10 per cent is customary for good table service at a restaurant for all meals.
At the bar: Tipping your bartender, no matter how charming, is not expected in Sweden.
In a taxi: Just as after a delicious meal, locals generally tip approximately 10 per cent for good service in a taxi cab.
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The Caribbean
While tipping expectations may vary by island, Caribya.com offers up some standard guidelines to follow regardless of whether yours travelling to Jamaica, St. Maarten, or one of these heart-shaped islands and lakes.
In a restaurant: An automatic gratuity charge of 10 per cent is usually factored into the final bill. Additional tipping for outstanding service is at your discretion but is not expected.
At the bar: A tip of $1 to $2 per round of drinks for bartenders is customary.
In a taxi: It is customary to tip taxi drivers a dollar or two for short, in-town rides but do plan on tipping more on holidays, after midnight, and on Sundays.
Japan
Whether you are preparing for a trip to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics or going to check out the cherry blossoms, these helpful Japan tipping rules of thumb will help you travel confidently to the “Land of the Rising Sun.”
In a restaurant: Tipping is not expected, and if you try to leave a tip it may be refused.
At the bar: Not expected.
In a taxi: a tip is not expected and may be turned down. This is one of the many cultural difference between east and west visitors experience when travelling in Japan. It keeps costs down but it does take some getting used to when arriving from a tip-happy country like Canada.
