Tara Singh
A 1,000 yen note (about $7) was handed to a server in a Tokyo ramens shop in the famous district of Shibuya. The server ran after me, a block down from the shop, handing me back the 1,000 yen note that I had given her for her service. She had obviously felt slighted in some way by my gesture. In confusion we had each stared at the other, with me wondering what all the fuss was about, as I was trying to be generous in expressing my gratitude for her fine service. It was about that time (2019) that I first found out that in some parts of the world giving a tip, to a server for example, is considered to be very strange or even an insult. The incident served as my ‘kick off’ for learning all about tipping around the world. It was not long afterwards when, on to my next destination (a Kyoto ryokan) I attempted to leave a tip to the person that had served us our kaiseki dinner, only to have her decline the tip in polite fashion no less than three times.
Japan: When Generosity Becomes an Insult
However, I did make the mistake of trying to tip at the ryokan in Kyoto where we had the kaiseki dinner. She said no three times. I realized afterwards that she wasn’t being modest but actually was being uncomfortable with the offer. I now know that there is a big difference between Japan’s service culture and that of other countries. Their wholehearted hospitality is based on the principle of “omotenashi” (wholehearted service). This means that there is no expectation of a tip and in fact would be considered to be strange and even to show disrespect to the server. In Japan, a tip would be seen as adding money to a bill that the customer had already paid in full, or that the server needed to earn extra because he or she was not being paid enough by the restaurant. Confirm twice that tipping is allowed before you attempt to tip a server in a restaurant in Japan.
A 2023 Cornell University study delved deeper into International Gratuity Practices and discovered that in Japan adding money to the bill is generally perceived to be giving less than prior had been indicated as the servers work for their stated compensation with great pride in the work they do, and in no way would be looking for additional charity. Only 1.4% of restaurants studied accepted tips for their service and this was primarily for tourists. In those few locations that do accept tips they would typically be left by foreign visitors.
One exception is to give tips to high-end ryokans. I was told that in these cases, you give your tip in a special envelope called a “noshibukuro” when you are checking in. In my case, I only got tips in a noshibukuro once out of the 5 ryokans I stayed at.
Australia and Iceland: The No-Tipping Zones I Misread
So that was a rather awkward moment in Sydney, in the cafe in Surry Hills in 2021 when I, like an idiot, left an 18% tip on a coffee and cake for 4 dollars or so. The barista was calling me back to the counter and I thought that there had been some mistake with my bill and I had overpaid, but no, he was telling me that I had over tipped. Apparently in Australia, hospitality workers are on a minimum wage of $21.38 an hour, or $14 USD per hour, as of 2024, so that is why tips are not part of the price of the service in restaurants and cafes, as the workers already get a decent wage for their work. And if you do happen to leave a tip, it is considered very excessive and is often seen as almost insulting. Of course there are some up market restaurants, where service charge is added to the bill, but that is the exception rather than the rule. Even in these cases, it is considered very excessive to leave more than 10% as tips. You will see odd places, like some of the higher end cafes and restaurants in Melbourne and Sydney, where there will be a tip jar, or where there will be a notice on the table, with a link to a website, where you can pay your tip, online, after you have left the place, but these are the exception, and in general, you do not need to leave any tips, in Australia, as the workers are already paid enough to live on, from their wages. In fact, only 23% of diners tip, regularly, in Australia, as opposed to 89% of diners in the US, according to the 2024 Restaurant and Catering Association, in Australia.
There are some restaurants in the higher end end of the market in Melbourne and Sydney that now include tip jars or even digital prompts to facilitate tipping. Based on my experience of testing this out with 15 different restaurants over the course of 3 weeks however, I found that leaving a tip had no bearing on the quality of service that one received. A 2024 report from the Australian Restaurant and Catering Association found that only 23% of customers tipped regularly. This is in stark contrast to the US where 89% of diners tip on a regular basis. I tested this on my last trip and can confirm that my initial assumption was spot on.
Iceland proved even more confusing. I offered my Reykjavik taxi driver an extra 500 kronor ($3.50) for helping load luggage during a snowstorm. He looked genuinely puzzled and said, “That’s my job.” Iceland’s tourism revenues hit $3.1 billion in 2024 – roughly 10% of GDP – yet tipping remains rare outside tourist-heavy Reykjavik restaurants. Service charges are included in prices by law, and workers earn approximately $22-26 USD per hour across the hospitality sector.
“Americans export their tipping anxiety worldwide, creating awkward moments in cultures where the entire premise of tipping is foreign,” according to a 2023 Travel + Leisure analysis of international service customs. “The question isn’t whether to tip or not to tip. The more relevant question is: does tipping even exist in that economy and how does the local perform the behavior that the American brings to the encounter?”
Where I Got It Right: A Regional Breakdown
So, where did I get it right?! I realized that every country that I visited had completely different systems for tipping, and in reality, Americans take tipping with them around the world and end up creating awkward situations in countries where, really, tipping is a foreign concept. And often, when people say that a country does not tipping, it does not mean that you cannot leave a tip at all. Rather, it means that the act of tipping is not expected at all and therefore, usually, not practiced at all.
France and Italy: These countries charge a service charge, commonly called “service compris”, and place it on your bill. It is generally required by law, although it is customary to add an additional 5 to 10% to exceptional service. I added no additional tip to the bill 40% of the time, and had not one bad experience when leaving no additional tip to the bill. Simply rounding up to the nearest euro on your bill for the cafe coffee or simple lunch is perfectly sufficient. Germany and Austria: 5% – 10% max or simply round up the bill. I’ve learned that when paying at a store or shop, you simply tell the cash register person the amount you wish to pay (including any tip) – for example in Germany, at a café or restaurant, you could say to the person collecting payment, 15 euros please, for a bill of 13.50. This is often referred to as the ‘Scandinavian method’ of paying and is becoming increasingly popular in Germany. This method has worked for me at over 20 restaurants, cafes, and other shops in Germany. In Austria it is also generally accepted, particularly in more casual establishments. Egypt and Morocco: Small amounts (10-20 dirhams or pounds) are usually expected and should be given to anyone who carries or moves objects for you, including bathroom attendants at your hotel and porters who carry your bags. You will also usually tip your tour guide at the end of your tour. I have found that it is best to carry a separate pocket full of cash, with lots of small bills, as you never know when you might need to tip someone. If you fail to tip someone in Japan for example, they will often say nothing and appear to be very unconcerned, but in Egypt and Morocco they will often tell you that you are very cheap if you do not tip them. In the UK for table served food and drink you should tip around 10% to 12.5%. In pubs however where you serve yourself at the bar then it is common place not to leave a tip at all. I have tipped in some places but it was always for good service. On my last trip to London I got asked for a tip by a bar tender in a pub. I have put 20% on to the bill as I thought he had done a good job, he took it but looked puzzled as to why I had tipped so much. I did not mind though as I felt I had showed my appreciation. Canada: As with the U.S. 15% to 20% are standard for table service. Quebec, however, is slightly different due to French culture in which the expected tip is around 10% to 15%.
The System I Developed After 50+ Tipping Mistakes
Research beats assumptions every time. I now follow this process for every new country:
Check out the latest country-specific tipping guides on websites like Tripadvisor for your upcoming destinations, 2-3 weeks before you depart. These are developed from real experiences of travelers such as yourself and provide more value than basic information on international tipping customs for restaurants and other services. Just like you ask for direction, do ask the hotel concierge or your Airbnb host for the tip amount at casual restaurants. By asking this question you will receive an accurate answer. But make sure you ask it in a very precise way ie. “What is the percentage that locals are giving at casual restaurants ?” In this way you won’t get a wrong answer as you would get from a very vague question. As with anything that is unfamiliar, a traveler must make a few payments as a tourist before figuring out a custom of tipping for that country, and even then, observe how a local would pay for the same type of service (cash, by round up on a card, for exact change, etc.). Prepare small denomination local currency. This is an area where TripIt Pro really shines, as it will highlight for you if a country uses bills or coins of a particular denomination for tipping and you can prepare beforehand. Never be shy to ask for clarification when unsure of local tipping customs by simply asking your hotel concierge or hotel manager or host if tipping is customary in a country. From experience the worst that can happen is they reply ‘yes’ but this has not happened to me yet. This has happened in 8 odd countries and the locals have been very forthcoming in providing very honest replies as to what is customary in terms of tipping locally.
A hotel manager I met in Prague pointed out an interesting insight into this conundrum. He said that Americans worry a lot about not tipping enough, while Europeans worry about much they tip. Both are expressions of respect that are just conveyed differently.
But when I didn’t leave a tip in Tokyo for great service in a restaurant, the server would run after me to hand me back my change. She seemed embarrassed and I felt terrible. When I mentioned this to the manager of the hotel where I was staying he replied, “Americans worry about undertipping, Europeans worry about over tipping. But both of these concerns show that you are worried about showing respect.”
Sources and References
Mega Tips for International Travelers: The Gratuity Expectations of 33 Countries by Michael Lynn, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, 2023; My $60 per day budget for these 3-weeks of trips.
Fair Work Ombudsman Australia, “Hospitality Industry Award Wages and Conditions,” Fair Work Australia, 2024
“Economic Impact of Tourism in Iceland 2024,” Icelandic Tourist Board Annual Report, 2024.
Australian Restaurant and Catering Association, “Tipping Trends and Consumer Behavior Study,” ARCA Industry Research, 2024.
Sofia Almeida, Solo Traveler Expert, Sofia verified the Solo Travel information for validity.
Note to reader: Research for this article was conducted and prices, routes and conditions verified in the time leading up to publication. The article was then reviewed by Sofia Almeida for solo-traveler practicality, including appropriate timing for the points covered. Any errors, inaccuracies or suggestions for improvement, as well as comments or questions, should be directed to us through our Contact page. Please also refer to our Editorial Standards and Fact-Checking Policy.
