tipping in Hungary

Tipping tour guides is probably the most difficult to generalise about because tours can vary wildly. An expensive country-wide group tour backed by an international tour operator is one thing; a free walking tour around Budapest is another. The best approach is to try to get information beforehand: drop into a travel agency or call the tour operator for some advice. Alternatively, you can ask fellow travellers in your group whether they will be leaving the guide and bus driver a gratuity and, if so, how much. An indicative amount for the guides running the free walks is Ft 500.

Hungarian spas often have a ticketing system where you pay for access to different pools, baths and saunas in the complex. There are, of course, masseurs and attendants providing extra services and minding areas such as the locker rooms. The attendants should be given the standard one or two-hundred Forint tip, but you should obviously give something more to the masseurs. About Ft 500 will do.

You are expected to add a further 10% to 15% gratuity to your restaurant bill and you generally need to tell your waiter of the tip. Check that a service fee has not already been applied and then tell your waiter how much to charge on your card or, if you are paying by cash, how much you expect in change. It’s a little tricky at first, especially if language barriers are involved, but it shouldn’t cause too many problems on the whole.

Tipping in Hungarian hotels is not terribly complicated because you have to tip virtually anyone you come into contact with. 200-forint coins are excellent tender in hotels as you can use them to cover the tips for porters and bellboys, maids and room service attendants as well as bar staff and waiters. If you’re sending concierge on errands, you will need to give them Ft 500 or more for their trouble.