If you’re confused about tipping in Hungary, you’re definitely not alone. I posted a video about this just last week and the questions are still rolling in. It’s Sunday morning here as I pack up for a family holiday and I still see people freeze at the card machine every day. When we first moved from Canada, my husband and I tipped twice more than once just to avoid looking clueless. Here’s how tipping really works in Hungary in 2025 so you can keep your forints and your dignity intact.
How the service charge really works
Most sit-down restaurants in Hungary add a service charge, usually 10–15%. As the Hungarian Consumer Protection Office clarified again last year, “The service charge must be clearly shown on the menu and the bill. Its maximum is 15% for private guests.”
So if you see that charge , say 12% at Brody House, where I filmed my tipping video, you’re done. That’s your tip. It’s taxed, shared among staff, and part of a bigger push to stop the old cash-under-the-table habit. Or as one Hungarian commenter put it in a 2025 expat thread: “If it’s listed, you’ve already tipped – unless you really want to tip again.” (r/budapest, Jan 2025).
When we add a bit more
Of course, rules aside, we all make judgment calls. Andrew and I don’t tip for the sake of it , but we do still leave a bit extra, in cash, when the service is genuinely good. A friendly chat, someone going the extra mile, or the vibe that says ‘worth it’ – that’s when a quiet 1,000 forints discreetly handed over feels right. There’s no pressure, just a human nod of thanks.
Where the card machine catches people out
This is where even seasoned expats pause. Many cafés, pubs or bars don’t add a service charge — but plenty do, and then they nudge you again. One recent Budapest Reddit post summed it up: “I paid for my coffee, it already had 12% added, then the machine still asked for 15% more. No thanks.” ([r/budapest, Feb 2025]).
If you’re ordering at the bar, carrying your own tray, and the terminal flashes a bright ‘Add Tip?’ — don’t feel guilty about tapping No Tip. There’s no hidden crime in refusing. Hungary isn’t the US: tips are nice, not mandatory. The only rule is to check the bill first.
When there’s no service charge
Plenty of smaller spots – cafés, casual bars, snack shops – skip the service charge altogether. That’s where tipping in Hungary goes old-school: 5–10% is normal if someone brings your drink or meal to the table. For counter service, locals often round up a few hundred forints. As the local expat site Hungary Unlocked reminds visitors: “Counter? Round up. Table service? Add 5–10% in cash if you liked it. Card terminals? They can be cheeky so check first.”
According to the Hungarian Competition Authority, the service charge is a legal wage element and must be listed on the menu and receipt.
It really is that simple: no charge, tip a bit. Charge listed, you’re done.
Who does what
If you’re American or Canadian, you might feel it’s rude not to add something more. If you’re German, you might round up politely and consider the matter closed. A Hungarian friend told me, “We don’t tip twice. We’re not Americans. It’s covered.” – which sums up the local view perfectly.
One 2025 Budapest holiday group post broke it down nicely for confused tourists: “Service fee shows up as szervízdíj. If that’s on the bill, don’t add more unless you really want to. You won’t offend anyone.” ([Budapest Holiday Group, Facebook, March 2025])
Card terminals in Hungary often prompt for extra tips – check your bill first so you don’t pay twice.
Taxi, takeaway and the odd delivery
People often ask if the same tipping rule applies to taxis. Budapest drivers don’t expect American-style big tips, but rounding up to the next 500 forints or adding about 10% is standard. Couriers who deliver takeaway? Most locals slip 250–500 forints in cash if the delivery was quick and the service decent. Again: not mandatory, but friendly.
Always check the bill
The easiest way to avoid paying twice is also the most obvious: check the bottom line. Some restaurants list the service charge in tiny print at the back of the menu, or tucked into the bill’s fine print. If you’re not sure, just ask. No one will flinch, it’s perfectly normal to check.
A final reality check
Tipping in Hungary is practical, not precious. The service charge does the job. If you want to top it up for genuine service, do it in cash and quietly. We usually do because we almost always have our dog with us and staff so often go the extra mile bringing her water too. If the card terminal tries to guilt you for an extra twenty percent on a drink you carried yourself, smile and skip it.
This is the sort of small, daily thing that trips people up far more than visas or tax numbers. It’s why I filmed my Brody House video in the first place, and why I write these guides for people who’d rather skip the ‘awkward tourist’ phase as quickly as possible.
It’s all in my HOW TO HUNGARY guide too: real costs, local habits, places like Brody House that help you feel part of the city, not just stuck on the edges of it. If you’re still tipping twice after reading this – well, at least the bar staff like you.
Anikó Woods is a Canadian-Hungarian writer, technology specialist, and digital strategist who swapped Toronto traffic for Hungarian bureaucracy. She’s the creator of HOW TO HUNGARY: Budapest & Beyond. Since moving to Hungary in 2017, she’s been deep in the paperwork trenches—fact-checking, interviewing experts, and helping others make sense of the madness. Her writing turns chaos into clarity, with a few laughs (and wine recommendations) along the way.