To tip or not to tip? That is the question!
Knowing whether to leave a tip when you’re traveling can be very confusing. In some countries, tipping is obligatory while in others, it’s just appreciated. Then there are those countries where it’s uncommon and unexpected and even those where tipping is considered an insult. It’s not easy to keep track of what you’re supposed to do!
The best approach is to research your destination before you go to know whether tipping is customary or not. As a general guide, we’ve put together a list of 10 countries where you don’t have to tip in most situations. Check them out below!
10 Asia: South Korea
Try to tip in South Korea and you might just be met with a few funny looks. Like other Asian countries (some of which appear lower on this list!), South Korea does not include tipping as part of its culture. Because it’s not a South Korean custom, it’s not an obligation or even expected.
In some destinations that are visited by thousands of tourists, tipping is accepted even if it’s not part of the local culture. But you’ll find that some establishments in South Korea will actually refuse a tip even if you offer it to them.
9 Asia: Singapore
Another Asian country where it’s not customary or obligatory to tip is Singapore. Located in Malaysia, Singapore does receive throngs of tourists and is a popular layover destination for those traveling between Europe and Australia or New Zealand. Your tip probably won’t be refused here and you can tip the waiter if you thought the service was exceptional, but it’s not necessary.
In Singapore, many restaurants actually add a 10% surcharge to the final bill, so you would have already covered any extra payment. To sum it up, you can tip in Singapore if you want but it’s certainly not expected!
8 Europe: Switzerland
In some European countries, tipping is customary. In Switzerland, it’s not. It’s customary for restaurants to include a service surcharge in the final bill, and this will also be included in the price of other goods and services.
That said, Switzerland can be a bit confusing when it comes to tipping. Although tipping is not customary or expected, it is appreciated in some restaurants. It’s not odd to round up the bill to the nearest price or leave a tip of 5 – 10%. Even though it’s not part of the culture, it is still done sometimes, so you’ll have to use your best judgment.
7 Europe: Denmark
Another European country where tipping isn’t really a thing? Denmark. Like other Nordic countries, Denmark is not a destination where you’ll have to worry about tipping the types of people that you would have to in the United States. This is because, by law, service charges are already included in your bill.
You can leave a small tip at a restaurant if you feel inclined to, but know that it will probably be split amongst all the staff. If you want to tip a particular server, it’s best to hand the cash to them.
6 Oceania: Australia
Known for their easygoing and laid-back attitudes, Aussies aren’t used to the tipping thing. It’s not customary to tip when dining out in Australia, nor is it customary to tip taxi drivers, hotel staff, or anybody else. Wages tend to be a lot higher in Australia than they are in the United States, so you don’t have to feel guilty about not leaving a tip. Generally, workers aren’t counting on them like they are elsewhere.
In Australia, you might notice tip jars near the cash register at cafes and coffee shops. You can put something in the jar if you wish, but it’s not required.
5 Asia: China
China is another country in Asia where tipping is not customary. In most places, you’ll find that tipping is not common and you’ll stand out as a clueless tourist if you try to leave a tip. As a rule of thumb, you won’t have to worry about tipping at all when you’re traveling through China.
However, there are a few exceptions to the rule. In locations like Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau, tips are expected because these places are more influenced by western culture. You might also like to leave a tip when dining at a high-end restaurant, or when traveling as part of a tour.
4 Europe: Finland
The Nordic countries can be quite expensive compared to the rest of Europe. But the good news is you won’t be expected to leave a tip most of the time! That is definitely true of Finland. While not technically part of Scandinavia, Finland is still a Nordic country and is yet another nation where it’s just not obligatory to leave a tip.
When you get your bill in Finland, whether you’re at a restaurant or at your hotel, the service charge would have already been added. You can leave a tip to show special appreciation for outstanding service, but it’s not required.
3 Asia: Japan
In most countries where tipping is not expected, you can still get away with leaving a tip. Even if tipping isn’t part of the culture, workers will still appreciate you leaving a tip. Japan is not one of those countries. Tipping is not customary and can actually be considered rude. If there’s one place you want to avoid leaving a tip, it’s here!
Depending on the situation, leaving a tip can actually be an insult. Luckily, the situation may not even arise because many meals are paid for at the front counter so you won’t even have the opportunity to leave a tip with the waiter.
2 Europe: Belgium
Belgium is one of the hidden gems of Europe that many travelers coming from the United States tend to bypass. Nestled beside France, Belgium has a ton to offer travelers and should definitely make it to your bucket list. And if you do happen to visit the stunning European nation, you won’t have to worry about tipping!
Tipping is not customary in Belgium, whether you’re in a touristy area of not. Most bills include a service charge of 10 or 15%, so you don’t have to feel guilty about not leaving anything extra. If you do want to acknowledge great service, though, you can leave a tip and it won’t be taken as an insult.
1 Europe: Iceland
Traveling to Iceland can be expensive. Prices tend to be quite high compared to what Americans are used to. Thankfully, you don’t have to worry about tipping on top of those already-high prices. Iceland is another European country where tipping is not compulsory nor is it expected.
Tipping is not common as the majority of the bills that you receive while in Iceland will already include gratuity. If you still want to leave a tip, it won’t be declined or considered rude!