Tipping in Prague: how much, when and how to do it

Picture a visitor from the US in a Prague restaurant: out comes the phone calculator, twenty per cent goes on the bill and a pile of notes is left on the table. The waiter would have been content with ten per cent, and may not quite follow what just happened. Nobody loses, but nobody has quite understood the other.

Tipping here is lighter, quicker and spoken. It is a custom, not a rule, and it is easy to pick up.

How much should I tip in a Czech restaurant?

Round up, or add roughly ten per cent for good service. That is the local habit in a sit-down restaurant. On a hypothetical bill of 480 crowns, you say "500" or "520", depending on how pleased you are. A tip is a thank-you, not a rescue.

For poor service, give nothing or just round to the nearest ten. No one will chase you. For great service, more is welcome, and a generous tip at a small place is noticed.

Remember that this is custom, not rule. People tip differently, and nobody counts.

How do I actually hand over the tip?

At the end of the meal, ask for the bill: Zaplatíme, prosím ("We'll pay, please"). When the server comes to take payment, tell them the total you want to pay, including the tip. With that same hypothetical 480-crown bill and a 500 note in your hand, hand over the note and say "Děkuji, je to dobré" ("thank you, that's fine"), or just "Děkuji" as you give it. They will bring no change, or only the amount you want back.

Leaving coins on the table is less usual than handing the money over with the total, so do it that way. Our guide to how a Czech pub works explains the ordering, paying and manners in detail.

What about paying by card?

Cards are accepted nearly everywhere, but tipping by card needs a word. Many terminals let the server enter the final amount. Tell the server the total including the tip before the terminal comes to the table, because it is awkward to change afterwards. Some places may not take card tips at all, and tip jars are usually cash only. Our guide to paying in Prague explains how cards and cash work in practice. If your card terminal asks whether to charge in crowns or your home currency, choose crowns; the ATM guide explains why.

Carry some small notes and coins for tips. A few ten-crown coins or a 100 note make rounding up painless; see the Czech koruna for beginners for the denominations.

Are service charges and cover charges normal?

Some restaurants, especially in the busiest tourist areas, add a service charge or a cover charge (for bread or a table setting) to the bill. These should be shown on the menu or in the prices. If you see one on the bill that you did not expect, ask politely. If a service charge has been added, there is no need to tip on top of it.

The Czech Trade Inspection Authority (ČOI) takes consumer complaints about charges, and menus are meant to show prices clearly. Most of the time a polite question is enough. Read our tourist traps guide for the tactics that work against visitors, including inflated bills and added extras.

And in taxis, hotels and other places?

Taxis. Round up to the next convenient figure, or leave a bit extra if the driver helped with your bags. Agree the fare before you travel, or use a ride-hailing app; our taxi guide explains how.

Hotels. A small tip for a porter who carries heavy bags is appreciated; housekeeping tips are welcome but not expected.

Tour guides. For a good free or tip-based walking tour, tip what feels right at the end. For a paid tour, a tip for an outstanding guide is welcome but optional.

Toilet attendants. Where there is an attendant with a saucer, leave the coins asked for, or a little more. See our public toilets guide for details.

Bars. Round up for a cocktail, or leave a coin or two for a quick beer. In a pub, a quick "keep the change" does the job.

Do locals tip in the same way?

Mostly, yes. Czechs tend to round up rather than calculate a percentage. In a place serving a lunch menu, a coin or two is fine. For more on local table manners, read our guide to Czech etiquette and the introduction to lunch menus.

Frequently asked questions

Is tipping mandatory in Prague?

No. It is a thank-you for good service. Rounding up or adding about 10 per cent in a sit-down restaurant is common.

Do I leave the tip on the table?

It is more usual to say the total you want to pay when handing over the money. Coins left on the table are less common.

Can I tip by card?

Often yes. Tell the server the total including the tip before they bring the terminal. Some places only accept cash tips.

Is a service charge the same as a tip?

A service charge on the bill replaces the need to tip. Check whether it is included before adding more.

How much do I tip a taxi driver?

Round up the fare. Agree the price before you travel, or use an app, so you know what you are paying.