Tipping in Belarus

If you’re traveling to Belarus, you’ll want to plan your flights, hotels, or other accommodation, rental car, and tours. You’ll check to see what the most popular things to do in Belarus are and figure out the local customs. One of the most important local customs to get a handle on is tipping in Belarus.

So, do you tip in Belarus? You do tip in some situations, but not others. Read on to find out if you tip at restaurants, hotels, taxis, on tours, or at the hairdresser.

Visit Belarus: Tourism and Visa Information

Are you taking a trip to Belarus? Traveling to Belarus is an interesting experience. Until very recently, there were very few Western tourists visiting the Republic of Belarus. Belarus travel is becoming an emerging tourist curiosity, but Western tourism is still at a small base. Visit Belarus and enjoy a tourist destination that’s hip but not yet overrun by hordes of foreign tourists.

Belarus Visa Required?

Historically, Belarus lacked tourists because the Belarus visa regime was not tourist-friendly. In the past, most foreign citizens required visas before traveling to Belarus. While visas are still required for many nationalities, Belarus introduced a visa-free travel arrangement relatively recently that applies to some foreigners entering Belarus. Check whether you can benefit from visa-free travel to Belarus or if you need a visa.

In 2018, an order made visa-free travel applicable to foreign nationals from 74 different countries for a stay of up to 30 days. This visa-free travel arrangement is only applicable if you fly into the Minsk National Airport. Besides being a passport holder from one of the 74 countries, you’ll need to buy a Belarus travel insurance policy that covers up to 10,000 euros of medical care before you leave for Belarus.

If you are you are arriving in Belarus from Russia, the visa-free travel arrangement does not apply because there are no border controls between the two countries. Different rules apply elsewhere, such as at land borders.

Tipping at Restaurants in Belarus

Eating out at restaurants in Belarus is relatively inexpensive. Even so, do you need to leave anything extra for good service, or is the service included in the bill?

Do you need to tip waiters at restaurants in Belarus?

Yes, you need to tip your waiter in Belarus. Tipping is expected and not leaving a tip is considered to be rude. Waiters rely on your tip income to make ends meet as their salaries are low, and tipping is customary.

How much should I tip at restaurants in Belarus?

You should tip your waiter 10% of the total bill for good service. Although many tip guides suggest a range of 5 – 10%, a tip of 10% is the standard tip for good service.

Is a service charge already included in the bill?

A service charge is rarely included in a restaurant bill in Belarus, which is why waiters rely on tip income in Belarus.

Tipping at Hotels in Belarus

After you arrive from your flight to Belarus, you’ll likely be staying at a hotel. Belarus has a variety of hotel options for every budget. Besides wanting to know about the hotel amenities, what time breakfast is, when the check-out time is, and where the local attractions are, you’ll want to know whether you are expected to tip the hotel staff in Belarus.

Do you tip at hotels in Belarus?

No, you don’t have to tip at Hotels in Belarus. This is because hotels normally have an included service charge as part of your hotel bill.

Tipping Tour Guides in Belarus

Are you taking a tour while you’re in Belarus? If you are, you’ll want to know whether you should tip your tour guide to avoid embarrassment.

Do you tip tour guides in Belarus?

No, you don’t have to tip tour guides in Belarus but it is becoming increasingly common to tip.

How much should you tip a tour Guide in Belarus?

If you want to leave your tour guide a tip, leave the equivalent of $5 – $10, €4.50 – €9.00, or £4 – £8. Your guide will appreciate it.

Tipping Taxis In Belarus

If you’re visiting Belarus, taking a taxi can be a convenient way to get around town as well as to and from the airport. Before taking a taxi, you should read up on taxis in Belarus to avoid being price gouged, which can easily happen if you hail a taxi. You can learn more about taxis in Belarus by clicking on the link here. Besides educating you on taxis in Minsk, it goes over the various Uber equivalents in Belarus, such as Yandex Taxi.

Besides making sure you don’t get ripped off by your taxi driver, you’ll want to know about taxi tipping etiquette in Belarus. Are you supposed to tip the taxi driver or not?

Do you tip taxi drivers in Belarus?

No, you don’t need to tip your taxi driver in Belarus. Tipping taxi drivers is not a thing so don’t do it while in Belarus.

Is there Uber in Belarus?

No, there isn’t Uber in Belarus but there are a number of Uber equivalents. Yandex Taxi is one of the more well-known taxi apps, but there are others that you can use.

Do you tip Yandex Taxi drivers in Belarus?

No, you don’t need to tip your Yandex Taxi driver in Belarus. Tipping a Yandex Taxi driver isn’t a thing in Belarus and neither is tipping regular taxi drivers. Do as the locals do and don’t feel bad about not leaving a tip.

Tipping Hairdressers in Belarus

Are you thinking about getting your hair cut or styled in Belarus? If you are, you’ll want to know what the proper tipping etiquette is at hair salons. Is tipping your hairstylist the same as at home, or is it different?

Do you tip your hairdresser in Belarus?

No, you don’t have to tip your hairdresser in Belarus. Just like at hotels and in taxis, tipping culture hasn’t expanded much outside of restaurants in Belarus – yet.