How do you ask for the bill, and how much do you tip?
Short answer
You ask for the bill by catching the waiter's eye and saying “hesap, lütfen”; it does not arrive on its own. A tip is not compulsory but is common: at a sit-down meal people leave five to ten per cent, a little more if they were pleased. At a counter or a standing place no tip is expected.
In Türkiye the bill is not brought to the table unasked; not hurrying a guest is considered courtesy. It comes when you ask, and in most places you pay at the table — paying at the till is also normal, and if the waiter says “kasadan” that is the way being pointed out.
Tipping is measured. At a sit-down meal five to ten per cent is left; if a service charge is already added (the receipt will say “servis”) there is no need to leave more. Adding a tip on a card terminal is not possible everywhere, so cash is easier.
At counter places — döner, çiğ köfte, simit — no tip is expected. If you drank tea at a coffee house, leaving the small change is customary, but nobody counts it.
Related records
These are also easy to miss
Updated: 2026-10-06 · The guide offers technical and cultural information, not health advice.