Anyone who traveled the world a lot, knows that tipping culture varies greatly in different countries. While in some countries, tipping is expected and even mandatory, in others, it might be considered to be rude or inappropriate. Usually, how to tip in a specific country is one of the most important cultural habits to know during a trip in a new country. So here, we’ve got you covered, with our guide for everything you should know about how to tip (and not to tip) in Israel.
How to tip in Israeli restaurants
As in most western countries, tipping is most common in restaurants. In Israel, while tipping is not mandatory, it is considered rude not to leave a tip at the end of a meal. In most Israeli restaurants, waiters and bartenders do not have a basic salary, and their entire income is based on tips. For that reason, a tip is certainly expected by waiters and bartenders at the end the meal.
So how much should you tip in Israel? The general rule of thumb is to leave at least a 10% tip in a restaurant. However, in many cases when the service was extremely helpful or friendly, most people would leave a 12-15% tip. This is a much lower amount compared to most places in the United States, where tipping is 15-20%.
When it comes to bars, bartenders usually expect a tip of a few ILS, which is not related to the amount you paid at the place. In addition, it’s important to note that some places, and especially popular restaurants in Jerusalem or in Tel Aviv, will add a service charge to the bill automatically, so keep that in mind before you leave a separate tip.
While most waiters in restaurants and bars in Israel definitely expect to receive a tip at the end of a meal, it’s important to know that in self-service cafes and restaurants, in which you order and take your food yourself at a counter, you will not be expected to receive a tip at the end of a meal.
Tipping in Israeli hotels
While tipping in hotels in Israel is not mandatory, it is customary to tip when receiving specific extra services. For example, if you get assistance with your luggage from a porter or a bellhop, they would expect a 15-20 ILS tip, and the same goes for valet services. In addition, it is not mandatory, but leaving a tip to the waiters in the hotel’s restaurants would be a very welcome gesture.
Should you tip taxi drivers in Israel?
Unlike the U.S and other western countries, where tipping taxi drivers is the norm, it not mandatory to do so in Israel. Usually, if you pay by cash, the drivers will get you the change back without asking you. While they would certainly be happy to be tipped regardless, you wouldn’t be expected to do so.
Where else should you tip in Israel?
In addition to the most common places where it is expected to tip in Israel, here are some other situations in which you might be expected to leave a tip.
Tours
If you join a guided tour during your Israel trip, whether it is a one-hour or multi-day tour, you would be expected to leave some tip at the end. Generally, it is expected to tip both the driver and the tour guide. Of course, the amount of your tip would depend greatly on the extent of the tour you took, but generally, the guides would expect to receive a tip of 15-20 ILS per person for tours that last less than half a day, and about 50-100 ILS per person for full or multi-day tours.
Spa
As in many other countries in the world, it is expected to leave a tip when visiting spas in Israel. Generally, a tip of al least 20 ILS would be expected.
