No. Tipping is not expected in Japan and can even be considered rude. Excellent service is the standard and included in the price.

Is tipping expected in Europe?

It varies by country. In most of Western Europe, tipping is optional and rounding up or leaving 5-10% is appreciated. In the UK and Scandinavia, service charges are often included.

How much should you tip in restaurants abroad?

It depends on the country. In the US, 15-20% is standard. In most of Europe, 5-10% or rounding up is common. In many Asian countries, tipping is not expected at all.

Should you tip taxi drivers when traveling?

In countries where tipping is customary (US, UK, Middle East), rounding up or tipping 10-15% for taxis is common. In most of Asia and parts of Europe, it is not expected.

Tipping Guide by Country (2026)

Not sure whether to tip? Every country has different customs. This guide covers tipping etiquette for restaurants, taxis, hotels, and tour guides across 36+ countries.

Europe

Country	Tipping Culture	Summary
Croatia	Appreciated	Tipping is appreciated in Croatia, especially in tourist areas. Round up or leave 10% for good service.
Czech Republic	Optional	Tipping is customary but not mandatory. Rounding up by about 10% is the norm for good service.
Europe	Optional	Tipping norms vary by country. Generally optional in most of Europe; service charges are often included.
France	Included	Service charge (service compris) is included by law. Small extra tips are a kind gesture.
Germany	Optional	Tipping is not mandatory but rounding up by 5-10% is customary at restaurants.
Greece	Appreciated	Tipping is customary but modest. Greeks appreciate a small tip for good service.
Hungary	Optional	Tipping around 10% is customary for good service. Tell the server the total amount when paying rather than leaving money...
Iceland	Not expected	Iceland has high service wages. Tipping is not customary and not expected.
Ireland	Appreciated	Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. Service charge is sometimes included.
Italy	Optional	A coperto (cover charge) is included on bills. Small tips are appreciated but not required.
Portugal	Optional	Tipping is appreciated but not expected. Small amounts for good service are common.
Spain	Optional	Tipping is not expected but leaving small change is common.
Switzerland	Included	Service charge is included by law. Small extra tips for good service are appreciated.
Turkey	Appreciated	Tipping is customary and appreciated in Turkey, though not as rigid as in the US.
United Kingdom	Optional	Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. Service charges are sometimes added to restaurant bills.

Asia

Country	Tipping Culture	Summary
Cambodia	Optional	Tipping is not traditional in Cambodia but is appreciated in tourist areas. The service industry relies partly on tips f...
India	Optional	Tipping is not mandatory but small tips are appreciated for good service. Baksheesh culture exists for small favors.
Indonesia	Appreciated	Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. Tourist areas expect small tips more than local areas.
Japan	No-tipping	Tipping is not customary and can be considered rude in most settings.
Philippines	Optional	Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. Filipinos are gracious and will never expect a tip, but service workers apprec...
Singapore	Not expected	Tipping is not part of Singaporean culture. A 10% service charge is added to most restaurant bills automatically.
South Korea	No-tipping	Tipping is not part of Korean culture and can sometimes cause confusion.
Thailand	Appreciated	Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated, especially in tourist areas.
United Arab Emirates	Optional	Tipping is optional but appreciated. Many restaurants add a service charge, making extra tips a bonus.
Vietnam	Not expected	Tipping is not part of Vietnamese culture but is increasingly appreciated in tourist areas.

North America

Country	Tipping Culture	Summary
Costa Rica	Appreciated	A 10% service charge is included in restaurant bills by law. Additional tips are optional but appreciated.
Hawaii	Mandatory	Standard US tipping norms apply. Tips are expected and form a significant part of service workers' income.
Mexico	Expected	Tipping is an important part of Mexican service culture and expected in most settings.

South America

Country	Tipping Culture	Summary
Argentina	Expected	Tipping is expected in Argentina. A 10% tip is standard at restaurants and for service workers.
Colombia	Appreciated	A voluntary service charge (propina voluntaria) of 10% is added to restaurant bills. You can accept or decline it.
Peru	Appreciated	Tipping is appreciated in Peru, especially at restaurants and for tour guides. Not as strict as US norms.

Oceania

Country	Tipping Culture	Summary
Australia	Not expected	Australia has a strong minimum wage. Tipping is not expected but appreciated for great service.
New Zealand	Not expected	New Zealand does not have a tipping culture. Service workers are paid a living wage.

Africa

Country	Tipping Culture	Summary
Egypt	Expected	Tipping (baksheesh) is deeply embedded in Egyptian culture and expected in almost every service interaction.
Morocco	Expected	Tipping is expected in Morocco and part of the service culture. Small tips are given frequently throughout the day.
South Africa	Expected	Tipping is expected in South Africa and an important part of service workers' income. Standard is 10-15%.

Quick Tipping Reference

Where Tipping is Expected

United States, Canada, Mexico, and parts of the Middle East have strong tipping cultures where 15-20% is standard at restaurants.

Where Tipping is Optional

Most of Western Europe, Australia, and parts of South America. Rounding up or leaving 5-10% is appreciated but not required.

Where Tipping is Not Expected

Japan, South Korea, China, and parts of Southeast Asia. In Japan, tipping can even be considered impolite.

General Rule of Thumb

When in doubt, observe what locals do. If a service charge is included on the bill, an additional tip is usually not expected.

Planning your travel budget?

Tipping is just one part of your travel costs. Check our full country budget guides for accommodation, food, transport, and more.

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