Are you headed to Croatia? Then, you’ll need to know how to tip – after living here for the last 11 years and traveling across the country for 24 years, I have learned a thing or two about gratuities. Here in this tipping in Croatia guide for 2025, I cover accommodation, restaurants, tours, and taxi services to help you avoid those awkward encounters.
No matter if you’ll be in Zagreb or Dubrovnik, the etiquette for tipping is the same across the country.
When visiting any country in the world where tipping is much more common than anywhere else, it can be a drama when it comes to asking for the bill; it can be uncomfortable, to say the least!
Now, if you’re visiting Croatia, the good news is that there is not a big tipping expectation. However, it has become more and more customary and expected.
Generally, gratuities are not widely expected, but that certainly doesn’t mean they’re not appreciated! In fact, tipping is generally expected in some sectors now, particularly in the food and beverage space.
The standard rule of thumb to use here is that if you feel you experienced outstanding service and staff who were friendly gave you attentive service, then, by all means, go ahead and leave a few extra euros – NOT KUNA; we no longer use kn and now use the euro.
It’s worth remembering that servers at your local konoba, restaurants, and cafes are on low incomes. Although they do not expect you to leave a tip, every little does help.
So, you want to show your appreciation, but how much of a tip do you leave?
Again, it’s not carved in stone, which takes the pressure off a little. Tip whatever you feel is appropriate because the amount of tip you leave reflects how much you appreciate the service provided by Croatians.
On the other hand, if service is sub-par or not to your liking, you’re not obliged to tip anything – I know I certainly don’t usually tip in that case!
If you want a more general guideline regarding what to tip, check out this rough guide to help you through this murky and sometimes awkward subject.
Locals working in hospitality, especially during the summer months, earn very little and often only reach minimum wage.
Currently, wait staff earn around 1000 euros per month, so if you did enjoy the table service they gave you, know that a tip of any amount will be greatly appreciated and will make a real difference.
Skip Ahead To My Advice Here!
Tipping In Restaurants
Restaurants do not have a hard and fast rule about tipping, which is entirely down to you. But I know you’re wondering, as the most common question we get about tipping is, ‘How much are you supposed to tip a waiter?’
If you want to leave a tip, you could round up the bill and tell them you don’t want the change, which would be very appreciated. In higher-class restaurants, e.g., fine dining, the most common amount is to tip 10 to 15 percent tip of the total bill as a tip if you feel the server deserves it.
If you’re paying by credit card, you probably won’t find the facility to leave a tip this way, so you would have to leave cash on the table instead.
In larger restaurants, a note to pay attention to is that there isn’t already a ‘service charge’ that’s been added to your bill.
Local Tip: Make eating in Croatia easy with this year’s list of Best Restaurant Winners in Croatia.
How To Tip At Bars And Coffee Shops
Again, there are no rules here, but if you want to round up the bill, it will be appreciated. For instance, if coffee is 1.70 euros, it’s nice to pay with a 2 euro coin and leave the change as a tip.
Beach bars in Croatia often have a tip jar, so plonk in any amount you think the team deserves.
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How To Tip In Your Food Delivery Drivers
Food delivery drivers receive notoriously low salaries no matter what country we’re talking about, and Croatia is no different. If you order food, the delivery driver will be very grateful for your tip, so in this case, you can give whatever you feel or round up the bill.
How To Tip On Cruise Ships In Croatia
The general rule here is 2.5-5 euros per person per day. But, again, there is no hard and fast rule, and it is up to you if you leave a tip or not.
How To Tip Your Skipper, Captain, And Boat Crew
If you’ve been off on a sailing charter in Croatia, you’ll undoubtedly want to tip your skipper/captain or crew. After all, they’ve shown you around and given you a true experience, so a tiny tip is nothing in the grand scheme of things.
If you enjoyed the experience, a good tip is between 5-15% of your charter cost. It is customary to leave a tip in an envelope – given to the captain; they will know the protocols within the team for sharing tips.
How To Tip Your Taxi Driver In Croatia
There is no rule in Croatia that you must leave a tip for cab drivers, but that will be very appreciated if you want to round up your bill.
You should expect to experience some issues with taxi drivers in Croatia, and, on the whole, they should use a taxi meter to take you from A to B without hassle. But that is not always the case (sorry to say!).
However, if you’re going quite far, the driver may prefer to charge you a flat fee instead; this will be communicated to you when you get in the taxi, and you can say yes or no. You should also not have to pay extra for your luggage.
You can hail a taxi on the street or head to a local taxi rank. If you’re visiting a smaller village or off-the-beaten-track area, ask a local for a taxi company’s telephone number.
So, while tipping taxi drivers isn’t necessarily expected, if you do use the same driver several times during your trip and you’re happy with the quality of service received, you’re welcome to give them
a tip, totally at your discretion.
Local Tip: Octopus Transfers is the new go-to for excellent private and shared transfer services. Whether you need airport transfers, excursion transfers, or help to get between the historic cities, you will find your needs met. Again, a tip is always appreciated for drivers who give you excellent service.
Guide On Tips For Uber Drivers
Uber is a very convenient way to get around and can be especially useful if you don’t want to hail a cab on the street or you’re not sure where the nearest taxi rank is.
However, do remember that Uber fares depend on the time of day, so if you’re traveling during peak time, you’ll pay a little more; but even then, it won’t be a huge amount if you’re not going too far.
If you choose to use Uber, you don’t have to tip your driver, but again, if you feel the service was worthwhile, you can choose to round up the fare or tip them an amount you see fit.
How To Tip Hotel Porters
There is always that awkward moment when a hotel porter has helped you carry your heavy bag up the stairs, and you’re not sure whether it’s okay to tip or not.
It’s nice to do so, and if you want to, then the general amount varies from 1-2 euros per bag. If you stay in a costly hotel, you might want to increase the tip amount slightly to show appreciation.
Hotels & Daily Maid Service Tipping Guide
Your maid looks after you throughout your stay, so it’s always nice to leave a little something at the end of your visit if you want to say thank you. The general amount here is around 1 euro for every night of your stay.
How To Tip Tour Guides
If you head off on a tour and you feel that your guide helped make it memorable for you, you could give them a 1-5 euro tip per person, and they will be very appreciative of it.
As you can see, Croatia is pretty laid-back about tipping, making the whole subject much easier on guests! You don’t have to tip, but it will always be significantly received if you want to show your appreciation.
Again, there is no hard and fast rule here; however, if you do take a private tour and the guide is extremely helpful with your group, it’s a good courtesy to tip. A tip around 10 or 15 euros is a reasonable amount here.
How To Tip Hairdressers & Spa/Salon Staff
Staff in hairdressing and beauty salons do not expect a tip, but if they give you excellent service and you leave feeling uplifted, it’s worthwhile.
The best advice is to tip between 10-20% in local currency of the cost of the service. If your hair was 20 euros, then leave 2-4 euros.
How To Tip Tattoo Artists
Again, there is no specific necessity to tip tattoo artists, but if you are pleased with the final result, you can tip between 15-20%, especially if the tattoo is large and has taken a large chunk of time. However, if the tattoo is relatively small, perhaps round up the amount to the nearest whole.
When To Tip In Euros Or US Dollars
There are some situations when international currency is more appreciated than the local currency, but equally, there are some situations when the local currency is the only way to go.
As a rule of thumb, always tip Croatian currency in bars, restaurants, cafes, salons, hotels, maids, porters, etc. Basically, any service you’ve received locally.
However, you can tip in Dollars to tour guides, transfer drivers, cruise captains, skippers, or crews. Here, it’s any service you have received that you booked beforehand, e.g., as an international service.
- Trinkgeld
- Napojnica
- Bakšiš
- Manča
Don’t Go Over the Top When You Tip In Croatia
As we mentioned, there is no real tipping culture in Croatia as there is in North America, and some people still feel incredibly uncomfortable about it. While most people appreciate it deep down, a certain modesty must be kept in mind.
The best route here is not to go over the top. You’re just going to come over as ‘flashy,’ and you’ll make the recipient feel uncomfortable.
While large tips are seen as a treat in many other countries, you will appear to be showing off in Croatia and won’t be appreciated.
Is tipping customary in Croatia?
Tipping is not obligatory in Croatia, but it is appreciated for good service. It’s common to leave a tip in restaurants and cafes for certain services, especially if you are satisfied with the service.
How much should I tip in restaurants?
A typical tip in restaurants is around 10% of the bill. However, you can adjust the tip based on the level of service and your satisfaction. Some restaurants may include a service charge, so check the bill before leaving an additional tip.
Do I need to tip in cafes and bars?
Tipping in cafes and bars is not mandatory, but you can leave some loose change or round up the bill as a way to show appreciation for the service.
Should I tip taxi drivers?
Tipping cab drivers will not expect tips. But, it is common to round up to the nearest whole euro as a courtesy. You can say, “Keep the change.” For exceptional service or help with luggage, you can add an additional tip of 10 percent.
Are there service charges added to bills?
In some Croatian hotels and spa establishments, a service charge may be included in the bill. Always check the receipt to see if a service charge has been added before leaving an additional tip.
Is tipping required for a private tour or guides in Croatia?
Tipping tour guides is not mandatory, but it is customary to tip them if you enjoyed the tour. A typical tip is around 5-10% of the total cost of the tour.
Is tipping on a credit card possible?
There is talk about making that possible, but so far, no; if you want your server to receive the tip, then you should have cash ready and hand the tip directly to them.
Should I tip hotel staff in Croatia?
Tipping hotel staff is not obligatory, but it’s a small token of appreciation for good service. You can leave a small tip for the housekeeping staff or the concierge if they provide you with helpful assistance.
Can I tip in foreign currency In Croatia?
It’s best to tip in the local currency (euro) to avoid confusion or inconvenience. If you only have foreign currency, you can ask if it’s acceptable, but it’s better to exchange some money for euros for tipping purposes.
Now, you have the proper etiquette and tipping practices for my homeland. Do you feel ready?
We are arriving to Dubrovnik several days before our tour starts. Can you suggest some things to do there? We are not “game if thrones” fans so we kinda took that off the list. There are lots of cave tours and Montenegro tours but the all get such mixed reviews we are not sure which ones are actually good.. and trustworthy. Could you please advise??? Thank you!!!
You’ll love Dubrovnik, here are some ideas here https://www.chasingthedonkey.com/things-to-do-in-dubrovnik-croatia-travel-blog/ and also here that you may like https://www.chasingthedonkey.com/day-trips-from-dubrovnik-croatia-travel-blog/.