Tipping In Croatia: The Complete Guide 2025
Tipping in Croatia is commonplace, but is it mandatory or expected as it is in other parts of the world?
We’re so lucky to have travelled throughout Europe and to have spent several months in Croatia alone, so it was important to us that we got the whole tipping business right here from the start.
As English travellers tipping isn’t something that’s second nature to us. In the UK, tips are often included in the bill or not expected at all. Things are changing slightly, but it certainly isn’t the same as it is in America for example, where tips make up a large part of the waiters actual salary.
It can be hard to know what’s expected or polite when travelling in other countries, so we always make sure we do our research before we go to avoid any awkward encounters! Croatia was no different, and we enjoyed an incredible visit with all our local knowledge memorised before we went.
In this post we’ll share exactly what we learned about tipping in Croatia so that you can avoid awkward situations or feeling bad that you did the wrong thing! Read on to find out more.
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Table of Contents
- Is It Rude Not To Tip In Croatia?
- Who Should You Tip In Croatia And How Much?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Rude Not To Tip In Croatia?
In Croatia, tipping is generally appreciated and expected for good service in restaurants, bars, and other service industries. While it is not considered rude per se not to tip, leaving a tip is a customary practice and is considered a gesture of appreciation for the quality of service received.
Hoonestly, you’d have to receive pretty bad service not to leave a tip in a restaurant. Although it isn’t ‘expected’, we found it kind of was expected. Confusing huh!?
A typical tip in Croatia is around 10% of the total bill. However, it’s always a good idea to check if a service charge has already been included in the bill, as some establishments may add a service fee automatically.
We found this was often the case in the more touristy places we visited like the old town in Dubrovnik. Often when visiting restaurants that were a little more off the beaten track there was no tip included.
Ultimately, while it may not be considered rude not to tip, leaving a tip is generally appreciated and is a way to acknowledge good service.
Who Should You Tip In Croatia And How Much?
This is always so confusing for us! In America we got used to tipping everyone and everything that helped us in any way, but in Croatia it’s a little more selective.
We’ve detailed the main places you’ll probably want to tip, but remember, it isn’t mandatory so you don’t have to. You might get some dirty looks if you don’t though!
Tipping In Bars And Restaurants
Restaurants, cafes and bars (anywhere with table service) is the main obvious place to leave a tip. Although as we keep saying it isn’t mandatory, it is expected here and you’ll often find it’s added to the bill anyway so you don’t have to think about it.
A typical tip in a restaurant or cafe is around 10% of the total bill.
Tipping in bars is also appreciated, particularly if the bartender provides good service or goes the extra mile. You can tip around 10% of the total bill or leave some loose change, depending on the amount and quality of service received.
If it’s somewhere without table service then you might see a tip jar on the counter for you to leave some change for the bar tender. It’s not quite so expected to tip in walk up places but it’s obviously always appreciated.
Tipping Tour Guides In Croatia
If you have a guided tour or use the services of a driver for an extended period, it is customary to tip them. The amount can vary based on the length and of course the quality of the service.
A general guideline is around 10-15% of the total cost of the tour or service.
Common trips in Croatia include boat trips (check out the best things to do in Korcula). If you hire a private skipper for the day you might want to pay a larger tip than if you’re on a group trip. We’ve included a section for skippers before for people chargering yachts here, as that’s a little different!
Tipping In Croatian Hotels
When staying at a hotel, it is common to tip hotel staff who provide direct service, such as bellhops, porters, and room service attendants.
You can tip around 5-10 kuna per bag for bellhops and porters, and a similar amount for room service.
I always find this super awkward as we often don’t have any change on us when we first arrive at a hotel. It’s fine to explain this and find the staff later if this happens to you!
If you’re staying somewhere where the service is exceptional, like in some of the most luxurious hotels in Dubrovnik, then you might want to tip a little more. We found the staff where we stayed in Korcula to be incredibly helpful so we left a bigger tip to reflect this.
You can decide based on the level of assistance you receive.
Tipping Taxi Drivers In Croatia
We actually used Uber while we were in Croatia. It’s super common, especially in larger cities and tourist hotspots. Uber asks if you want to leave a tip at the end of the journey so you can decide if this is something you want to do.
We tended to round the fare up, or leave a bit more for longer journeys. It’s not obligatory but a nice gesture if you receive good service.
Tipping Sailboat Skippers
Since chartering a sailboat involves a more personalized service, tipping the skipper is generally seen as a way to acknowledge their efforts and expertise.
As a general guideline, a tip of around 10% of the total charter cost is often appreciated. However, this is not mandatory, and you can adjust the tip based on your satisfaction and budget.
You should factor in a tip into the total cost of your trip, as a longer trip such a week long charter can end up being quite a lot (but remember they worked those hours too, so it’s only fair!) You will also want to check other details with the charter company, like whether you will need to provide meals for the skipper and any other ‘hidden’ costs.
You will usually hand the tip over to the skipper or captain at the end of your trip, and if there have been other crew on board then the captain should split it.
Remember, tipping is optional, and if you feel that the service did not meet your expectations, you are not obligated to leave a tip. It’s ultimately a personal decision based on your experience and satisfaction with the skipper’s services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your most commonly asked questions about tipping in Croatia answered!
Is Gratuity Included In Croatia?
We found in restaurants and cafes it was kind of 50/50. The tourist places we visited like Zagreb usually included a 10% tip as standard. It seems tips are more expected in these places due to the high numbers of international visitors, so they know most people will leave a tip when asked.
In the more rural places we visited, like the outskirts of Cavtat, tips didn’t tend to be included, so we would just add on 10% of the bill. Almost everywhere had the option available on card machines so we didn’t worry too much about carrying change.
Is 10 Kuna A Good Tip?
A tip of 10 kuna can be considered a modest or minimal tip in Croatia, particularly in restaurants or cafes where the total bill is higher. While there is no fixed rule for tipping amounts, 10 kuna may be seen as a small token of appreciation rather than a substantial tip.
For reference, 10 kuna is roughly equivalent to a few US dollars or euros. When tipping in restaurants or cafes, it is more customary to leave a tip of around 10% of the total bill. However, tipping practices can vary depending on the region and the individual’s perception of what constitutes a good tip.
If the service was exceptional or you had a particularly enjoyable experience, you may want to consider leaving a higher tip to reflect your appreciation.
How Do You Ask For The Bill In Croatia?
To ask for the bill in Croatia, you can use the following phrases:
- “Molim račun.” (Pronounced: moh-leem ra-choon) – This simple phrase translates to “Please, the bill.”
- “Možete li mi donijeti račun?” (Pronounced: mo-zhe-teh lee mee do-nee-yeh-tee ra-choon) – This phrase means “Can you bring me the bill, please?”
- “Hvala. Mogu dobiti račun?” (Pronounced: h-vah-la. mo-goo do-bee-tee ra-choon) – Here, you first say “Thank you” (hvala), and then ask “Can I get the bill?”
You can use these phrases when catching the attention of your server or waiter/waitress. It’s common to make eye contact, raise your hand slightly, or politely say “excuse me” before requesting the bill.
Croatian hospitality staff are generally accustomed to these requests and will promptly bring you the bill, but they usually speak great English too so you can get their attention in English and then practice asking for the bill in Croatian if you’re feeling a little shy (like I always am!)
They really appreciate you trying to speak Croatian even if you get it a bit muddled. They will often have a little laugh with you and help you out, so the more times you try the easier it gets!
Conclusion: Tipping In Croatia
In conclusion, tipping in Croatia is customary and appreciated in various service industries across the country, and we found a small tip went a long way here. While it may not be considered rude not to tip, leaving a tip is a common way to show appreciation for good service.
Remember, in most places a 10% tip is seen as the standard, so if you’re ever in doubt you can stick to that! If you’ve had a more personalised service like a private tour or a charter skipper then you might want to leave a bigger tip for excellent service.
Remember to be aware of local practices, check if a service charge is already included, and adjust the tip amount based on your experience and satisfaction.
Tipping is ultimately a personal decision, but leaving a tip is generally seen as a way to acknowledge and appreciate good service.
