Do you tip in Dubrovnik?

Unlike some countries where tipping forms a significant portion of service workers’ wages, in Croatia, and specifically in Dubrovnik, tipping is more a gesture of appreciation than a mandatory custom. Service charges are typically already included in the prices you see, so any additional tip you leave is purely a personal choice, a way to say thank you for great service. So, do you tip in Dubrovnik? It’s entirely up to you and how satisfied you are with the service.

This article will help clarify the ins and outs of tipping culture in Dubrovnik. We’ll explore recommended amounts for various situations, from dining at restaurants and grabbing coffee at cafes to showing gratitude to your tour guides and taxi drivers.

Do you tip in Dubrovnik – general rules

Tipping in Dubrovnik is appreciated, but not always expected. Croatia, including Dubrovnik, has a tipping culture that differs from countries like the United States, where tips often form a large part of a service worker’s earnings. In Croatia, service staff are generally paid a fair wage during tourist season, so tips are not a necessity for their livelihood. This means you should not feel pressured to tip if the service was not up to your expectations. Still, a thoughtful gratuity for excellent service is always well-received and shows respect for the effort provided.

Is tipping customary in Dubrovnik?

The answer is both yes and no, depending on the situation and the individual you ask. While it is not as deeply ingrained as in some Western cultures, tipping has become more common, especially in tourist-heavy areas like Dubrovnik.

How much to tip in Dubrovnik?

For general situations, if you decide to tip, there are some unwritten rules to follow. For smaller amounts, it is common to simply round up the bill to the nearest whole Euro. For larger amounts, a tip of 10-15% of the total bill is considered appropriate if you are happy with the service. For other services, a fixed amount of a few Euros is often suitable. These amounts are recommendations, and you are always free to tip more if you feel the service was exceptional. The main idea is to reward good service, not to follow a strict percentage rule.

How to tip in Dubrovnik?

The most common way to tip in Croatia is with cash, even if you pay your main bill with a credit card. While some establishments now allow adding a tip to card payments, it is still relatively new, and cash is often preferred by staff. So, it is a good idea to carry some small Euro notes and coins for this purpose. This ensures your tip goes directly to the person who served you.

Tipping in Dubrovnik restaurants

For sit-down meals in mid-range restaurants, a tip of 5-10% of the total bill is considered appropriate. If you experience truly exceptional service, where the staff went above and beyond to make your meal enjoyable, you might consider increasing this to 15%. For more casual eateries, like pizzerias or traditional Croatian konobas, a smaller percentage or simply rounding up the bill to the nearest whole Euro is a common gesture.

When leaving a cash tip, the customary practice is to place it discreetly under a small plate or inside the receipt wallet. This ensures the waiter can collect it when clearing the table, a polite and sophisticated way to show your gratitude. Remember, the waiter will not bring the bill until you ask for it, so simply request the “račun” (rah-choon) when you are ready.

At fast-food places, bakeries, and ice-cream shops where you order from the counter (same as in tobacco and regular shops), tipping is generally not expected.

Tipping at cafes in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik, like the rest of Croatia, has a vibrant coffee culture, where enjoying a leisurely cup is a ritual for many locals. Common practice is to simply round up the bill to the nearest whole Euro. For instance, if your coffee costs €2.80, leaving €3.00 will be more than enough. This applies regardless of what you are ordering – a simple macchiato, a soft drink, a beer or any other drink.

Tipping taxi drivers in Dubrovnik

When it comes to taxi drivers in Dubrovnik, tipping is generally not a strong custom and is not widely expected. Unlike some countries where a tip is almost a given, in Croatia, opinions on tipping taxi drivers are quite divided.

This means that if you choose not to tip, it will not be considered rude or unusual. The fare you are quoted or that appears on the meter is the final price, and there is no obligation to add anything extra. Of course, if you feel the service was particularly good, perhaps the driver was very helpful with luggage, provided useful local information, or navigated traffic efficiently, a small gesture of appreciation is always welcome.

The most common practice for tipping taxi drivers, if you decide to do so, is also to simply round up the fare to the nearest whole Euro. Likewise, if the fee is, for example, 18 Euro, it would be customary (but, again, not obligatory) to round it up to 20 Euro.

Tipping with ride-hailing apps

With the rise of ride-hailing apps like Uber and Bolt in Dubrovnik, many travelers now pay by card through the app. These apps often include an option to add a tip for the driver directly within the application, typically suggesting amounts like €1, €2, or €5.

How much to tip tour guide in Dubrovnik?

Tipping your tour guide in Dubrovnik is highly recommended and is a common practice. When deciding how much to tip, consider the friendliness and hospitality of your guide, how much you enjoyed the tour, its length and its cost.

For a general guideline, if the tour cost, for instance, €100 per person, a minimum tip of €10 per person is appropriate. However, if your experience was truly exceptional, exceeding your expectations in terms of insights, engagement, and overall enjoyment, it’s not unusual to increase the tip amount accordingly. For private tours, where the guide dedicates their time and expertise exclusively to your group, you can consider a more substantial tip.

Tipping at hotels in Dubrovnik

If you’re staying at a hotel in Dubrovnik, note that tipping is generally not a requirement, especially in standard accommodations. The staff, including housekeepers and bellhops, receive regular wages, and their service is part of the overall hotel experience. Therefore, you should not feel obligated to tip for routine services.

In higher-end establishments, such as 5-star hotels, or if you receive exceptional service that goes beyond the usual duties, you can leave a small tip. For housekeeping staff, if you wish to leave a tip for their daily service, a common practice in high-end hotels is to leave around €3.00 to €5.00 per day. It is often recommended to leave this amount with a small note, perhaps on your nightstand, to ensure it is clearly intended for the housekeeping team. For porters who assist with your luggage, a few Euros for their help is also a kind gesture.

Tipping boat crew and skippers in Dubrovnik

If you are on a private boat tour, a multi-day cruise, or a shorter excursion, tipping your boat crew and skipper is recommended and often expected.

For shorter excursions or day trips, a tip of 10-15% of the total cost of your cruise is a standard guideline. You can always tip more if you feel they provided a special service, perhaps by finding secluded coves, providing excellent local insights or ensuring every detail of your journey was perfect. The tip amount is expected to be higher when it comes to a private boat tour. It is generally best to hand the tip directly to the skipper or the crew leader at the end of your trip, who will then distribute it among the team.

Tipping at hairdressers and salons in Dubrovnik

In case you decide to visit a hairdresser or salon in Dubrovnik for services like a haircut, styling, or nail treatments, remember that tipping is generally not a strong expectation. If you are particularly pleased with the service, the skill of the stylist or the overall experience, leaving a small tip is a kind gesture. Croatians often refer to this small tip as being “for coffee” (za kavu), implying a modest amount. Typically, a few Euros would suffice for standard services.

Tipping for massage services in Dubrovnik

When it comes to tipping your massage therapist, the approach in Croatia is similar to other personal services. It is a gesture of appreciation rather than a strict requirement. Massage therapists, like other service professionals, earn a salary, and the cost of the service covers their expertise. In case you decide to tip, a few Euros, similar to the amount for hairdressers, would be an appropriate gesture for a single session.

Tipping for food delivery in Dubrovnik

Food delivery services have become increasingly popular in Dubrovnik in the last couple of years. In comparison to some other service providers, food delivery drivers often have lower pay, so while tipping is not strictly mandatory, it is certainly appreciated. For most food orders, a tip of one or two Euros is generally sufficient for orders up to €20.00. If you are placing a larger order, or if the delivery involves a longer distance or a more complex route, you might consider tipping a little more.

Many popular food delivery apps used in Dubrovnik, such as Glovo or Wolt, offer the convenience of adding a tip directly through the app when you pay by card.

Tipping in Dubrovnik – a bonus for great service

Even though tipping isn’t as deeply ingrained in Croatia as in some other Western countries, it’s a valued gesture for good service. Here’s what to remember: service charges are typically already included in the prices, so any extra tip is a personal choice – a bonus for staff who went above and beyond.

Always carry some small Euro notes and coins since cash tips are often preferred over adding to a card payment. Keeping in mind this approach makes it easy to show your appreciation and just focus on enjoying Dubrovnik’s incredible history, landscapes, and vibrant culture.

Photography: Pexels

Get in touch:

Explore Our Tours: