Tipping in Turkey
Turkish culture is all about hospitality. Turks are genuine when they try to make you feel at home, and you will benefit from this tradition wherever you go. While the country doesn't have a strict tipping culture, if you feel generous during your trip, people will definitely appreciate a small tip for good service.
Tipping in Turkey is quite modest compared to the tipping culture in the USA - it is not a norm, but it is appreciated. It is not an obligation, but sometimes, in some hotels and restaurants, it does provide you a better service. If you received bad service or already paid service charges, don't feel an obligation to leave a tip. Other than tipping hotel staff and tour guides and driver, you will probably not tip very often. When it comes to amount, it is up to customers to decide based on the service they've received. Generally, expect to tip about 10% of the bill, or if you are very satisfied with the service, 15-20% would be good. Please note that in some high-class restaurants, a service fee (kuver or servis ücreti in Turkish), usually 10%, might be automatically included in the bill.
It is not common to include the tip on a credit card charge. You should tip in cash, in local or foreign currencies (USD, Euro, GBP). For foreign currencies, use small bills instead of coins, as it is difficult to exchange them in Turkey. Generally, it is considered a nice gesture handing the tip directly to the person who has served you.
- tipping at restaurants has become very common throughout Turkey; 10% - 15% is considered appropriate, and you can leave it in cash on the table or hand it ot you waiter.
- when you tip hotel staff, 3 to 5 usd per day may be a reasonable amount, 1-2 usd per bag for porters too… In some hotels you may notice a Tip Box.
- guides and drivers appreciate your tips, and you should award them if they deserve it. If you are in a small, private tour group, you may consider tipping your guide 20-40 USD per day (for entire group, not per person) and for driver slightly less. Again, this amount can be lower or higher – all up to you. They appreciate receiving the gratuity in an envelope. It is also good to know that, when you get a good service, instead of giving a very low amount, it is better not to tip at all.
- if you have hired a taxi driver for longer trip or have arranged a private transfer service, you can give a small gratuity, 5-10% of the fare…
Guides and drivers, members of Felicity Travel family, are always well paid. They are motivated to do their job and do not have any expectations from guests. Our guests always ask about tipping, so we prepared this text to help you understand how it functions in Turkey. It is our job to create memorable trips, and positive feedbacks from our guests are the best tip we can get!